I woke up to a cloudy Tuesday! I started by a stroll in the park that is close to the hotel, super nice... all these perfect flowers, green trees, lakes, people talking here and there, pic nicks going on, children playing.. just so beautiful!
I wanted to have a view of Tokyo, so I went to the ''expat area'' of Roppongi, to the Roppongi Hills which is a massive mall, from here I accessed the Tokyo City view. It was funny that there was a massive Star Wars exhibition... probably anyone except me would have gone crazy.. oups, haven't seen any of the movies, but I have to say, it was a well done exhibition! :) I may consider watching the new movie! :)
The view of Tokyo its amazing, huuuuge city! despite the clouds I could appreciate how big this crazy city is!
Then I went to the ''Eiffel Tower'' of Japan, just to take a look, really not planning to go in, but yes felt like visiting that area...not big thing really.... got lost in another park while looking for the subway and spotted a cute couple.... ok, made it, subway time to the highlight of the day which was to attend the National Sumo Tournament in Ryogoku.
I am so lucky, it just started yesterday!!!! I got tickets to go in just in time for some presentations of the most important and famous sumo players... wowwwww! the place was so nice and these guys are massive, like seriously massive! All has so many rituals, all the things they do before they ''fight'', the salt, the thing with the legs... It's all very peaceful from the way they fight to the way the people cheer for their favorites! it was quit an experience to be there, even without understanding much :)
After this traditional experience, back to contrast I took the metro and went out in Akihabara, another ''crazy land'' coool! Here is where everything can happen! Karaoke, maid restaurants and cafes, manga shops, toys you've never imagined, electronics, arcade game, neon lights and lots of fun people walking around. I had a lot of fun here just people watching, walking and going into these crazy places :)
And time to go back.. got to the Shinjuku station and I got lost! like suuuper lost in the station, twice.... agrgrgrgrgr! I really had a frustration moment here, even with Google Maps, getting lost in the station! jajaj I think it took me an hour to find my way to the right exit.. I made it, and I was really tired so I got some salad and ate in my room and got ready to go to nature the day after :):) yes, I need nature even before the hike coming up, so I decide to go to Mt. Fuji :) haaaa while I was eating it was raining like crazy, seem there was a Typhoon passing by.. yes, I panicked like crazy but was all good :)
So Tokyo... its like 10 cities in one city, a place of contrast in itself, from the traditional temples and peaceful parks to the crazy people in Shinjuku, Akihabara and Shibuya! Full of japanese, what else, who are shy but then very extroverts to dress, living one life at work and one completely crazy and over the top after work, drinking and going karaoke till very late at night.... Perfectly clean! did I mentioned that there are no bins because people take the rubbish home?! yes, only in Japan!
Good morning!! wake up, tired, yes, but there is no time to lose, especially today as it's time to go to the fish market... for guess what?! yes, Sushi breakfast! :):) I decided though to sleep a bit more and not do the special Tuna audition which is at like 4AM... I was there by 9AM when the wholesales market is still open, wow! huuuuge! very impressive! so many different types of fish, so many I've never seen before! and all perfectly clean and organised, there was even barely fish smell as all was in separated containers with ice to keep them fresh... yep, only in Japan!
I walked around the different areas and after seeing so much fish I was starving! outside there were many different shops of sushi, of course! :) I started queuing in one and realise the one next door has no one.. I thought, mmm maybe there is something wrong? but my curiosity won and I took a peek, it was full inside and they had only one spot left.. so I happily took it :) I ordered a plate of sashimi of many different fish, the tuna was the best! where can I do this of have sashimi for bfast :) I was really happy! paradise!
One thing I have to say I am not sure is how these fish are being fished and how sustainable all is..... mmmm I don;t know.. Japanese don't seem to concerned with this... they use too much plastic, etc... anyway.... for now I will drop it of my mind...
I wondered in the area to find some veggies and also places selling egg cakes and mochi sweets with strawberries and other beautiful decorations.
I walked to Giza which is the posh area in Japan with big malls and brands, all nice and shiny and people perfectly dressed!
I had a fun experience in the mall going to the toilet... for the first time this toilet started making some water noise... just way too funny! I started playing with this washlet... go out and was a huge queue.... they were probably thinking... stupid tourist has never seen a toilet! jajaja I had to laugh at myself! later I learnt that the noise is because they are so shy they feel ashamed of noise at the toilet so like this they can relax :) jajajaj
I walked around the nice area, then into the Marunouchi building and Tokyo Station which made me feel in Amsterdam!
After so much modernity it was time to go back in time and visit the other temple so I headed to Senso-ji. Wow! this was very touristic place...crowded! full of stands before reaching the temple, here the speciality were hello kitty toys and sweets of all types and forms... mochis, cookies, some balls.... only for the eyes for now! I was full of the fish, ajaj
The best of the walk to the temple was to meet these 3 girls wearing beautiful pink kimonos, I couldn't help it and ask them to take a picture with me :) so beautiful!
After the temple I went to the Sky Tower... well, at the end I never made it.... it was like Disneyland, a massive long queue of more than an hour and to be honest there is so much more to see that I'm not wasting so much time on a line :)
I decided to go to Ueno where I found a beautiful big park full of old temples, so I spent a good time there and then crossed the street to go to this crazy place, neo light and full of people :) contrast once more.
For dinner I met Kaoru, Wendy's friend who gave me some tips before the trip. We went to Mongi Street for an amazing dinner: Monjyayaki. This is like a BBQ in front of you and was one of the best meals I had! veggies and fish all cooked in front of you, so yummy!
We also had 3 drinks, my favorite I think was the plump wine! the other were with grapefruit and lemon! we had such a great conversation exchanging about life in Japan with my stories! Thanks Kaoru for all the good tips and teaching me a bit more about living in Japan and Japanese culture! and the nice presents :) so sweet!
Good night!
