For Golden Week Jeremy and I hopped a train to Tokyo. We took a bus to Okayama and then hopped on a Bullet Train. I usually hate traveling, but seeing all of Japan from the window of a bullet train was fun. I saw Mt. Fuji in all its greatness and many of the famous rice fields. When we arrived in Tokyo I was amazed at the size and crowded subway.
We got to our hotel and then headed to Ikebukuro for dinner with my friends from Fukushima. They are also teachers, we had some trouble finding the place, but once we did we were in for a treat. This restaurant was vampire themed and the waiter and waitresses were all dressed up like vampires. It was a lot of fun, the waiter hit on Jeremy and we took some funny pictures.
The night life in Tokyo was insane, the clubs are open all night and every body dances here. Compared to Tottori where nobody dances at the clubs it was a lot of fun. I can tell you more detailed accounts in person.
During the day, we went to Harajuku, the famous fashion/crazy shopping market. The streets were so crowded in some parts that we were just standing still. It was some of the best people watching I have ever experienced. Some of the people looked like they came straight out of a Japanese comic book/cartoon.
We also went to Tokyo Tower, I had been there before, but we again because it offers the best view of Tokyo. You can see the whole city. The size of the city really left me in awe. If you take downtown MPLS and multiply it by like 50, you get Tokyo. The city is quite impressive, but I can't imagine living there. Rush hour in Tokyo is a good experience. I was pushed by a man with white gloves into a crowded subway, I thought there was no way I could fit, but he pushed me in no problem.
We also went to Nikko the following Monday. It was about a two hour train ride up there, very scenic and peaceful. Once we got there it was so crowded that the peaceful place that I visited when I was thirteen had turned into a circus. Nikko Shrines became a World Heritage Site in 2005, so since then it is one of the most visited tourist spots in Japan. It was still fun seeing all of the cool shrines, but the peaceful place I remembered was taken over by seas of people.
Below is my favorite picture of my trip. The Nikko Bridge, the best picture I have taken so far in Japan.
That is the gist of my trip. A lot of wandering and subway riding coupled with some visits to temples and shrines.
Today I had my first lesson with the Special Needs kids across the street from Mitsue. It was fun, I spoke in Japanese most of the time because they have never studied English before. I taught them introductions, weather and feelings. It was a lot of fun being the first foreign person they have ever seen. They were all so interested in my hair and my eyes. I am looking forward to teaching them every week. It is going to be fun.
Until next time. JB
