Five Three O Six / Japan I

Konichiwa, everybody!

Greeting from Japan! I am writing to you from the heart of Tokyo with sore feet (already!) from three days of exploring the city. Tokyo has been excellent so far, if somewhat confusing, but I'm figuring things out little by little :)

Just a quick aside: before I left for Japan, I went to a friend's wedding. It was probably the most informal wedding I have ever been too - backyard with plastic chairs, a mix of Mexican, Lebanese and Indian food buffets, self written vows, many jokes and shoes were optional. But even without the fancy banquet or locale, it was great - to be married in the grass on such a beautiful evening surrounded by friends and family. Makes you realize that sometimes you do not need all that extra stuff. Congratulations, Sinda!

The flight to Japan was uneventful, as was the train ride from Narita International into Tokyo. As such, I assumed it would be just as easy to switch trains and be on my way to Keio University Hospital. D'oh...

At Shinjuku, I got the first taste of how many people are packed into Tokyo (later, I would learn that over 2 millions people pass through this station everyday). Getting off the train, I first walked about 200 meters before hitting the end of the platform and realizing I went the wrong way. After backtracking, I went into the heart of the station where there were about 50 signs designating various destinations... along with about five thousand people (not kidding). Unfortunately, I only knew the name of my destination - Shinanomachi station - and did not know what line it was on or how it was written in Japanese. After wandering around aimlessly for a while, asking a security guy for help (he did not speak any English) and almost taking a taxi, a helpful guy in the ticket window said "number 11" and I found my train. Whew... getting to the hospital was much easier as most of the doctors and medical students speak English (though they will deny it) and I was soon shown to my dorm by one of the students (who, incidentally, will apply for Emed match in the US next year.)

Later that evening, I met up with Shiori (friend of a friend) and went out to dinner with her and two of her friends. We went to Shibuya, a neon-lit area (actually, I think that describes most of Tokyo) of restaurants and shops, mostly catering to the younger crowd. We went to a very nice restaurant on the 5th floor of a building, designed very cosily so that you didn't even know you were up a hundred feet above the ground. The food was good (but not spectacular) and I had quality Japanese sake (very strong) for the first time. Most of the dinner conversation was either in very simple english or me trying to figure out what they were saying to each other in Japanese. Luckily, Shiori translated whenever I looked too confused. There was talk of karaoke afterwards but as they had to get up for work the next day and I was somewhat tired from the flight, we all headed home for bed.

The next day I got up at 6am (a result of the time difference, no doubt) and set off to see the Imperial Palace. For some reason, I had it in my head that the Japanese (being so industrious) would start their day at like 7am or something. But soon I realized that the grocery store did not open until 10am and the Imperial Gardens til 9 o'clock. I wandered around for about an hour and a half, listening to my Japanese language CD, towards Ginza (the highbrow shopping district) then walked back to the Palace/Gardens (you can't actually go into the palace, the royal family lives there) just in time for it to start raining. I got a few good pictures then ducked into the MOMAT (Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo) where I saw some neat exhibits and bought an umbrella. I then went back to Ginza (yes, legs aching already), into a couple of super multi-floored department stores and then to the Sony building where they showcase all their latest stuff (makes our newer computers and gadgets look lame). Then I went home for a nap (I slept for like five hours) then went out for some dinner at a local ramen shop.

Yesterday I woke up at 4:30am in anticipation of the Tsukiji Market (it's at the Tokyo port where all the fish come in from all over the world and where all the good sushi chefs go). You can eat there as well and it is supposed to have the freshest sushi ever - trust me, I would not have gotten up that early for nothing. When I got off the subway and walked toward the market, I did notice a distinct lack of noise - for all the forklifts moving and yelling that was supposed to be going on. Yep, turns out the market was closed for the holidays this week(what, people don't eat on holidays?) . D'oh! Not all was a complete loss though. I did run into a couple of other travelers (Australians) who were also staring forlornly at the empty stalls and we made plans to meet up for drinks later in the evening.

I then decided to head instead to Asakusa, where there was a cool Buddhist temple. I lit some incense and got my fortune (something about the person I am to meet is worth waiting for) and the promptly got turned around in the warren of streets next to the temple - this is why I brought that 50cent compass I got in China (left it in my room that day!) After about an hour, I found my way and went over to Ueno Park, where I saw some nice cherry trees and the statue of the Last Samurai (no, not Ken Watanabe - the real guy the movie is based on.) By around 2pm, I was exhausted and went back home for a break. Later that night, I went out to Roppongi (another place the hipster crowds hang) and met up with the Australians and their friends from New Zealand. They are leaving early next week to head home after their six month asia tour. Not too late to move to Australia/NZ...

And today I went to Harajuku, where the treadiest shops and people fill the main streets and the side streets. It's so interesting to see what people are wearing here - the fashion runs the gamut from people in kimonos to short jean skirts to business attire to punk rock to cute hello kitty stuff. After ducking into a famed conveyor belt sushi place for lunch, I then escaped to the Meiji-Jingu, the imperial gardens, close by and saw a traditional japanese wedding ceremony.

A few words on some short topics...

My dorm room is way bigger than I thought it would be. Too many movies of capsule hotels and such bending my expectations...

People - there are lots of people here. LOTS of people. It's almost palpable (figuratively) in the subway at rush hour and sometimes, I swear, like a thousand people cross the street with each light changing...

Oddly, I had a tough time finding soap in the supermarket. All smelly jokes aside, I had to go through the supermarket and two minimarts before I found my "Cow" soap bar...

Eating establishments. Sure, they have plastic food set up outside so that you can see what you want, but to get food in many places here, you have to go to a ticket machine inside and buy a ticket to give to the waiter person. Unfortunately, the ticket machine has rows of buttons and prices...but the dishes are written in Japanese! So, it does not matter if you know you want Katsu Udon - if you can't read it on the machine, you're out luck. I've taken to punching a random button, putting in money and just hoping I don't get anything too weird. Nothing bad yet... ps. the plastic food is really expensive. One of those display dishes go for about 50 bucks each.

As soon, as I figure out how to upload pictures, I'll put some up... more updates in a few bit! Hope everyone is well! :)