Wednesday, May 23 - Tokyo, Japan
I woke up at around 4:30 a.m. - because I thought my alarm didn't work and because the sky outside was already bright. Peter and I got ready by 5 a.m. so we can go to the Tsukiji Fish Market and watch the fishermen auction their catch of the day to the buyers. We walked to the nearby Asakusa Station for the Ginza line only to find out the gate was still closed. Fortunately there was this local lady on her bike who saw us check the map and the times she told us there was another gate across the street from where we were.
We bought the one-day ticket for all the tokyo metro lines (not the toei lines). I found it easier to just use one subway network for our sightseeing although we had to use one toei line because it was the nearest station from where we were. A different ticket is used and when you transfer you will need to put the toei ticket on top of the metro ticket when you insert it on the machine and the metro/day pass ticket will be returned.
Once in the station we found our way down to Tsukiji, walked to where the markets were only to find out they were closed. One local japanese we met said they were closed 2 wednesdays a month and on weekends and holidays - this was THAT wednesday. Shucks! Even the stores surrounding the market were closed only a few were open for those unfortunate tourists like us.
At Tsukiji Market the fishermen bring their catch to the market at around midnight where they prepare them for sale early in the morning. Then the buyers come and bid on the fish. The yelling and bidding heard in this place is probably incredibly loud like the Stock Exchange in NY. We could only imagine how crowded it must be with the sellers, buyers and tourists wanting to be part of the action. This morning everything was clean, quiet and empty. The opposite of what it's supposed to be like.
We left the area a bit disappointed but not for long, as we turned the corner we found a Hongaji (sister of the one in Kyoto). As we entered and sat (separately, Peter near the middle with the locals and I on the back side for the softer chair), the bell rang signaling the start of their service. Once again our timing was perfect (they only do the service at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.). We stayed for a half hour observing their rituals and listening to their chants. It really is a good experience, quite different from what we Christians do. I stole a few shots and recorded a minute of the chant using my camera - I hope I won't get bad karma for this.
We left the Tsukiji area to the nearby Ginza just to check out the expensive stores they boast of having. No activity at the time we arrived because the locals were still on their way to work.
Next we went to the Maranouchi district for the Imperial Palace grounds. The garden area is a vast land full of trees, grassy areas and benches surrounded by a moat. We walked to the statue of a local hero, Kusunoki Masashige. Sat there at one of the shady benches, found the vending machine that sells the ice cream wafer sandwhich (like the one I had about 23 yrs ago) - it's a lot smaller now and they have more choices. Then we walked to the Sakurada-mon gate then to the famous Nijubashi bridge.
On our way to the Tokyo station which is located east of the imperial palace we stopped by the park where Peter took a short nap on one of the cool cement benches while I read and planned about our route for the day.
We explored the Maranouchi building which boasts of good restaurants - turns out there were only a few choices, we got some interesting bread and dessert from the grocery which we ate later. At the Tokyo station, a bricked building erected in 1914 but restored in 1946, stood to the east of the palace. This station is old compared to the modern Kyoto station. There were a few shops underground and the floor plan was not easy to understand. Nevertheless, we found our way to the Metro Ginza line then transfered to the Hibiya line - destination: Tokyo Tower.
Tokyo (broadcasting) tower built in 1528 is 333 meters tall. Looks so much like the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The fee for the different levels get more expensive the higher you go so we opted to skip out on that and just ventured down to the nearby park to have our snack. At that park we saw a group of preschool children with pink hats and their 3 teachers. They were told to run around the grounds until they got tired. The kids were so cute and had their own personalities, Peter and I were analysing them as they ran in front of us. We were attracted to the littlest girl called Misa (we heard them call her to get her to start falling in line). She was different from the rest, she would run with focus then later get distracted by the water in the canal. She'd get some leaves and other things to throw into the water and watch it float away. Provided us with great entertainment and laughter.
Noticed that when an adult needed to scold a child they would take them to the side away from others and talk to them. Also when the child falls to the ground they simply urge them to stand up and ignore them when they cry.
After our snack and entertainment in the Park we meandered our way to the nearby Toei station (the metro station was quite far) for the Shibuya district. This is where all the working class japanese and the teenagers hang out. Some movies would show this area especially where everyone crosses the 5-street intersection. It is like Cubao in the Manila or Times Square in NY.
We tried to find a place to have lunch around the area, and we did! This small restaurant is a short order place. You purchase your order on a vending machine, pressing the button for your choice and a ticket will come out. You give this to the person in front of the bar you'll be sitting and your order will be given to you in no time. I had the regular plate japanese curry with rice and miso soup for only 350 yen and Peter got this pork with stuff on rice and miso soup for 500 yen. This was very popular among the locals because it was quick and cheap!
Meandering the nearby streets gave us a glimpse of what the regular folk do during lunch time. We wanted some cold soda to drink and we found it in a nearby vending machine (we refuse to go into a McDonald's or a Starbucks for this). We also got some dessert crepes and sat in a small area in the middle of the street. Met a couple from Sicily (she's English and he's Italian), gave us good tips in looking for antiques here in Japan and tips in Beijing.
We went back to the hostel to shower, cool off, and nap before going out later that night.
By 8 p.m. we found ourselves in Ameyoko shopping promenade. Vendors line the pedestrian street with a variety of goods from clothes, dried fish to food and snacks. We bought cheap unagi (eel) for our dinner for only 800 yen - they wanted us to get the last one too for 1000 yen for both but it was too much for us. We walked south but decided to take the subway down to Akihabara, the electric city. Found lots of anime stores in the area and some electronic stores. Bought musubi rice to go with our unagi.
Returned to Asakusa to look for a park to have our dinner but everything was dark so we went to the hostel and ate at the 4th floor kitchen/dining room. We didn't go out anymore because it was already late and we were tired from a whole day of walking.
I woke up at around 4:30 a.m. - because I thought my alarm didn't work and because the sky outside was already bright. Peter and I got ready by 5 a.m. so we can go to the Tsukiji Fish Market and watch the fishermen auction their catch of the day to the buyers. We walked to the nearby Asakusa Station for the Ginza line only to find out the gate was still closed. Fortunately there was this local lady on her bike who saw us check the map and the times she told us there was another gate across the street from where we were.
We bought the one-day ticket for all the tokyo metro lines (not the toei lines). I found it easier to just use one subway network for our sightseeing although we had to use one toei line because it was the nearest station from where we were. A different ticket is used and when you transfer you will need to put the toei ticket on top of the metro ticket when you insert it on the machine and the metro/day pass ticket will be returned.
Once in the station we found our way down to Tsukiji, walked to where the markets were only to find out they were closed. One local japanese we met said they were closed 2 wednesdays a month and on weekends and holidays - this was THAT wednesday. Shucks! Even the stores surrounding the market were closed only a few were open for those unfortunate tourists like us.
At Tsukiji Market the fishermen bring their catch to the market at around midnight where they prepare them for sale early in the morning. Then the buyers come and bid on the fish. The yelling and bidding heard in this place is probably incredibly loud like the Stock Exchange in NY. We could only imagine how crowded it must be with the sellers, buyers and tourists wanting to be part of the action. This morning everything was clean, quiet and empty. The opposite of what it's supposed to be like.
We left the area a bit disappointed but not for long, as we turned the corner we found a Hongaji (sister of the one in Kyoto). As we entered and sat (separately, Peter near the middle with the locals and I on the back side for the softer chair), the bell rang signaling the start of their service. Once again our timing was perfect (they only do the service at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.). We stayed for a half hour observing their rituals and listening to their chants. It really is a good experience, quite different from what we Christians do. I stole a few shots and recorded a minute of the chant using my camera - I hope I won't get bad karma for this.
We left the Tsukiji area to the nearby Ginza just to check out the expensive stores they boast of having. No activity at the time we arrived because the locals were still on their way to work.
Next we went to the Maranouchi district for the Imperial Palace grounds. The garden area is a vast land full of trees, grassy areas and benches surrounded by a moat. We walked to the statue of a local hero, Kusunoki Masashige. Sat there at one of the shady benches, found the vending machine that sells the ice cream wafer sandwhich (like the one I had about 23 yrs ago) - it's a lot smaller now and they have more choices. Then we walked to the Sakurada-mon gate then to the famous Nijubashi bridge.
On our way to the Tokyo station which is located east of the imperial palace we stopped by the park where Peter took a short nap on one of the cool cement benches while I read and planned about our route for the day.
We explored the Maranouchi building which boasts of good restaurants - turns out there were only a few choices, we got some interesting bread and dessert from the grocery which we ate later. At the Tokyo station, a bricked building erected in 1914 but restored in 1946, stood to the east of the palace. This station is old compared to the modern Kyoto station. There were a few shops underground and the floor plan was not easy to understand. Nevertheless, we found our way to the Metro Ginza line then transfered to the Hibiya line - destination: Tokyo Tower.
Tokyo (broadcasting) tower built in 1528 is 333 meters tall. Looks so much like the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The fee for the different levels get more expensive the higher you go so we opted to skip out on that and just ventured down to the nearby park to have our snack. At that park we saw a group of preschool children with pink hats and their 3 teachers. They were told to run around the grounds until they got tired. The kids were so cute and had their own personalities, Peter and I were analysing them as they ran in front of us. We were attracted to the littlest girl called Misa (we heard them call her to get her to start falling in line). She was different from the rest, she would run with focus then later get distracted by the water in the canal. She'd get some leaves and other things to throw into the water and watch it float away. Provided us with great entertainment and laughter.
Noticed that when an adult needed to scold a child they would take them to the side away from others and talk to them. Also when the child falls to the ground they simply urge them to stand up and ignore them when they cry.
After our snack and entertainment in the Park we meandered our way to the nearby Toei station (the metro station was quite far) for the Shibuya district. This is where all the working class japanese and the teenagers hang out. Some movies would show this area especially where everyone crosses the 5-street intersection. It is like Cubao in the Manila or Times Square in NY.
We tried to find a place to have lunch around the area, and we did! This small restaurant is a short order place. You purchase your order on a vending machine, pressing the button for your choice and a ticket will come out. You give this to the person in front of the bar you'll be sitting and your order will be given to you in no time. I had the regular plate japanese curry with rice and miso soup for only 350 yen and Peter got this pork with stuff on rice and miso soup for 500 yen. This was very popular among the locals because it was quick and cheap!
Meandering the nearby streets gave us a glimpse of what the regular folk do during lunch time. We wanted some cold soda to drink and we found it in a nearby vending machine (we refuse to go into a McDonald's or a Starbucks for this). We also got some dessert crepes and sat in a small area in the middle of the street. Met a couple from Sicily (she's English and he's Italian), gave us good tips in looking for antiques here in Japan and tips in Beijing.
We went back to the hostel to shower, cool off, and nap before going out later that night.
By 8 p.m. we found ourselves in Ameyoko shopping promenade. Vendors line the pedestrian street with a variety of goods from clothes, dried fish to food and snacks. We bought cheap unagi (eel) for our dinner for only 800 yen - they wanted us to get the last one too for 1000 yen for both but it was too much for us. We walked south but decided to take the subway down to Akihabara, the electric city. Found lots of anime stores in the area and some electronic stores. Bought musubi rice to go with our unagi.
Returned to Asakusa to look for a park to have our dinner but everything was dark so we went to the hostel and ate at the 4th floor kitchen/dining room. We didn't go out anymore because it was already late and we were tired from a whole day of walking.
posted by Mimi | 12:35 PM
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