Japan Day 5 - Tokyo

Sunday, 31 December 2023

We started the day with intentions to run around the National Gardens which are just across the road to us - unfortunately they are closed until the 3rd of January like a lot of things in Tokyo, so we had to make do with running on the streets. We passed by the Tokyo sports stadium and went past a memorial building for an Emperor that he built for himself before he died:

Back at our apartment we managed to put together the ingredients and kitchen utensils to make som pancakes for breakfast - no small feat in an apartment with almost nothing but the basics, not even drinking glasses.

This was good fuel for our fairly long walk to the Takeshita Street, and on to the Shibuya shopping district which includes the famous 'scramble' crossing.

The streets were very quiet until we got to this district, then it was very busy but not too bad. Jon finally got a chance to get the toffee-strawberries-on-a-stick that we'd seen sold everywhere.

 After a bit of browsing we went to the Shibuya Sky viewing platform, which Zali had cleverly insisted we book a few weeks before we left. It was a beautiful day and a great place to soak up the size of the city.  We ended up staying for quite a while up on the open rooftop as well as inside the viewing floor.

After a bit more browsing we headed home via the Metro.  We are feeling slightly more confident about it now - despite the fact it looks like this and we are still buying tickets from the ticket machine each time we travel:

In fact we felt so confident coming home we decided to split up and take different carriages to see if everyone could negotiate the change of train line and correct exit at the other end.  Jett's data isn't working so he was really living on the edge.  I ended up on the same carriage as Jon for the 2nd train, perfectly positioned to exit the subway close to the designated finish line - a convenience store near our place. Jon and I (the rules prevented us from colluding) both got to the store first and texted a photo of the proof to the losers. Who promptly texted us back a photo of their shopping basket as they were in the 'correct' convenience store - there were two within sight of each  other and Jon and I had stopped too early. Dang.

Back at the apartment we had an hour or so to relax and find some dinner before we had to head out for another activity that Zali had found before we left - an arty immersion light experience near the bay (so another two train rides away).  It was really good fun and really was immersive in some parts as we waded through water with fish projected onto it - it was really cool. 

A few more train rides back and we were home by 9ish.  Another long and fun day!