Another post and another little insight into my
five day sojourn to the capital with the parents. Oh how I do love to travel.
I’ve been amazingly lucky the past couple of months that work has slowed down a
little, giving me more time to stretch the old adventurous legs. Though what
the next couple of days reminded me is just how much I also love meeting up
again with old friends.
I’ve met some wicked people in my time here and
I’m amazed at how fast some of my friendships have formed. Non-Asian
ex-patriots in Japan constitute less than 1% of the total population so I think
it’s easy to see why ex-pat communities form so quickly. Also generally you
find that such people have a lot in common, at the end of the day choosing to
spend a chunk of your life in another country, especially one so different from
the west as Japan, is a huge decision and those who undertake it likely have
some underlying character traits.
With that being said the person I met up first
is in fact an old Japanese friend from Osaka. She helped me out a huge amount
when I first moved here and had recently moved out to Tokyo for work. Crazy
though her schedule is she had a bit of time off so asked to Join me and my
parents in some sightseeing.
We started out in Shimbashi heading towards
Hamarikyu gardens (浜離宮恩賜庭園
) an impressively large Japanese style garden
right in the middle of a bustling business district. On the walk over we came
across a rather elaborate clock tower, more than slightly reminiscent of structures
from Howl’s moving castle and the like. As luck would have it we passed by just
as it was begging to chime the hour, something that only happens a few times a
day. As it started up I could understand why. Wonderful though its whirring, clicking
and clanging was I could see it being quite a nuisance to those trying to work
in the high-rise offices nearby. Still it is a wonderfully quirky addition to
the somewhat stiff and business like atmosphere of the area.
The park was also another stark contrast. For a
start when so many giant buildings surround you it’s easy to lose track of what
is going on in ground level. The park is like an island of flatness in the
gargantuan landscape, with nothing inside taller than the trees. There were
quite a few people about taking respite from the hustle of the big city within
its calm environs, engaging in all kinds of activities, from taking their dogs
for a stroll, photography, simply chatting and in the case of a pair of old
dears we came across, painting watercolours.
I’d say the central feature of the park, though
as it’s designed with a careful balance like so many things in Japan it’s hard
to assign a centrality to it, is
the medium sized teahouse plonked right in the middle of a pond. This was in
fact the whole reason we’d come here as my mum really wanted to sit down to
some traditional match at some point. Well sit and drink we did. It was
surprisingly nice actually, much less bitter than my previous experiences.
The park faces out onto Tokyo bay and is one of
several stops for the various transit ferries carrying people around the area.
Our next goal was Odaiba (お台場) a large artificial Island just a little way into Tokyo bay so setting out
from the garden was the easiest way to go. Maybe it’s just years of ferry trips
across the Mersey when I was little but I do love them, so many pleasant
memories. The ferry we took was
pretty cool and futuristic looking, the seating area set very wide and low so
as to minimise pitching. In fact I’ve recently found out that the designer of
these ferries is the man behind none other than the epic anime space opera
“Space Battleship Yamato” so I guess I shouldn't be too shocked by their
design.
So what is Odaiba? As I mentioned it’s a giant
artificial Island situated in waterfront of Tokyo Bay. Originally developed as
the a military strong hold in the Meji period to defend against potential attacks from the sea it has now
been transformed into a centre for leisure and technological development..
When you come in off the boat the first thing
you are confronted with is a giant artificial beach. Yup a beach right in the
middle of an urban metropolis. Why not I guess and the funniest part is, it’s
not the only one. The beach itself leads to a massive a massive entertainment
complex called Decks. This thing houses many shops, restaurants and the largest
amusement arcade in Tokyo, and possibly Japan. Sadly no time to go in, but I’m
sure I’dve spent a fortune if I had.
After a nice lunch, it was time to part ways
with the parents as they were knackered bless them. I really wanted to head out
to miraikan, a museum dedicated to innovative technology coming out of Japan so
we proceeded to traverse the Island. Now aside from the supermalls and giant
buildings Odaiba is pretty flat. I reckon it would be a great place to
skateboard or cycle.
Well mostly flat that is besides a scale replica
of the Statue of liberty and a giant Gundam statue. Well if there is a giant
robot floating about I kind of have to get a picture with it now, it is
traditional. In fact this is just one of the many quirky things on this rather
modern Island, apparently there is a teleport station though I’m not exactly
sure what that entails.
In the end most places were shut, it was after
all a Tuesday? Anyway we decided to head back towards Tokyo for a bit more of a
wander as Odaiba, whilst interesting, is not the most scenic area of Tokyo.
We took a monorail and then the subway to the ritzy
Ginza. I always feel so out of place there, it’s far too stylish for a scruffy
pleb like myself. Still it is nice to walk around as the architecture is really
stunning. I always found it interesting that many of the really incredible buildings
are built by just a handful of Japanese architects. There work is a amazing
though. I should probably learn a bit more about them at some point.
The main reason we came was to check out the new
Kabukiza which had finished being refurbished just a week or so ago. You can
always tell when you are nearing a kabuki theatre as the streets become packed
with old dears. I should really try and go to a show, or at least an act,
before I leave I guess.
We finished the night by grabbing a coffee at
what is the first Starbucks to be opened in Japan. Apart from the plaque you wouldn’t really know to be
honest, it doesn’t look much different and the coffee is still rubbish. Anyway the
time whiled away as myself and my friend had a good old natter about life,
Japan, overtime, you know the important things. I won’t bore you with the
details.
Well that's it for now. Sorry I know I promised
clowns but they are coming I swear.
Mata neee.
