Sophisticated Fun: May 2012

Well it's now the middle of May and I have just about 2 months left in Japan. I can see the light at the end of this year long tunnel. Oh, wait. That's just lightning from this random thunderstorm we're having this evening. I'll check again when things clear up outside. Until then, I'll try to enjoy my unsatisfying dinner of questionable pieces of chicken and carrots with peanut butter. I've been ordered to leave work earlier, as in, within a half hour of the end of my shift, but that doesn't make up for the fact that I am still completely exhausted when I get home. With only 2 months left, I need to get myself together. I'm hoping to return to America looking a little more mature and not like a hot mess; however, with Japan's humid summer approaching and my self-destructive monthly eyebrow job, I don't see that happening.

I've just come down from the high of my San Francisco friends visiting me during my "Golden Week" (Why it's called 'Golden Week' is beyond me. It was ridiculously crowded everywhere and mostly raining..not so golden..). It was a much needed break and I'm happy that three of my very good friends were able to come to this strange land we call Japan.

They began their adventure in Tokyo on their own while I was at work for a couple days. I am so impressed with everyone that has come to visit thus far; finding their way on their own through Tokyo's complicated yet timely train system. Have you ever seen a Tokyo Subway map? It is ridiculous. You think you've had a stroke after looking at it. All you see are different colored lines going every which way and really long syllabic names that you can't pronounce.

And that's just the subway map. They haven't even added the JR trains or bullet trains or anything else. They stayed in Shinjuku (新宿) near the station, but somehow when they would walk out of the station to get to their hotel, they would exit from a different part of the station every time. When I arrived at the station the first time to meet them on Sunday, I went out the correct exit, but even with my not-so-smart phone I got lost every time there after. Anyway, when I arrived on Sunday I met the girls at their hotel. It was so weird to see them in person again that I couldn't even really speak. I was that excited.

When I was finally able to communicate clearly we hopped on a train to find the Imperial Palace, stopping along the way for a sushi lunch, where I less than impressed everyone with my ordering skills. What? I can point at words and hold up four fingers too. Go me. It was a beautiful day for a nice stroll in the Imperial park area. We were able to catch up and compare thoughts about Japan. We all agree--this place is a little strange, but damn. Little Asian kids are adorable. We spent some time wandering around trying to find the garden area, but no one was able to give us clear directions and we ended up at a fountain park. From there we went to Ebisu (恵比寿) to pay a visit to Yebisu beer museum where we enjoyed some beer and oddly flavored snacks. We went one stop over on the subway to Shibuya (渋谷) to see the famously crowded intersection. We spent well over an hour watching the flow of traffic from the Starbucks above the street, trying to catch a glimpse of a Harajuku girl for Megan and so Aly could truly capture the busyness that is the Shibuya Crossing. Aly wound up taking multiple frames which I should figure out how to put into a movie so you can see the herds of people crossing at one time. INSANE.

At the Imperial Palace

Fountain Park

Aly reading her guide book.

Shibuya Crossing

The next day we went to Tsukiji (築地) to see the fish market. We slept in so we missed all the auctioning action, but the little stores around the area were cute. I am so thankful that Aly got her shellfish allergy she assumed she had all these years under control and was able to enjoy the delicious fish here. Except we didn't eat anything at the fish market. Once we couldn't stand the fishy smell any longer we made our way to Asakusa (浅草)to see the Kaminarimon (雷門) and Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺). To get to the temple you pass through the gate with the giant red lantern and walk along a crowded, shop filled street. When we reached the temple we all pulled numbered sticks to choose our fortune. I got the "good fortune". Megan and Kelly got the "best fortune" and poor Aly got "bad fortune". If you want better luck you can tie your fortune to a nearby tree. Or as Aly did, angrily tie it to a tree and pick a new one. We had lunch at noodle shop where I enjoyed watching my friends struggle eating boiling hot, slippery noodles with chopsticks. Then we went near Harajuku (原宿) to Meiji Shrine (明治神宮) where we saw the beginning of a wedding! We went to Takeshita-dori (竹下通り), a popular shopping street in Harajuku where we had hoped to find some Harajuku girls, but no such luck. We then headed to Roppongi (六本木), took more than our fair share of pictures of the Tokyo Tower and had dinner at a kushiyaki (串焼き) place--like kebabs. It could be the lack of male interaction I've had here, but I thought our waiter was a cutie. And he spoke English. Winning. Finally, we ended the night at a karaoke bar, singing all the best songs from the years we lived together through college.

He invited himself into the picture..for the record...

Sky Tree

Kaminarimon

きなこきびだんご--mochi covered in roasted soybean flour

Good Fortune?

Best Fortune!

Aly, angry at her bad fortune...

Senso-ji Temple

Meiji Shrine Gate

I don't know what's happening, exactly, but it's cool!

Harajuku

Food on sticks!

Roppongi

We finally found some Harajuku girls!

@ Karaoke..the rest of the pictures are not allowed to be shown to anyone...

The next morning, we set out to find some breakfast and a photo sticker machine and then made our way towards Shizuoka (静岡), stopping at Atami (熱海) on the way. It was a gloomy day, but I wanted them to see one of my favorite places in Japan. It wasn't as beautiful as I had hoped, but they got to see and touch the ocean and go up the ropeway to the castle. We made it to Shizuoka and I took them to Kappazushi the cheap rotating sushi counter, where among four of us, we had 27 plates, 4 beers, and 4 desserts. We sluggishly walked back in the rain to my apartment to rest up for our excursion to Kyoto (京都) the next day. That will have to be saved for another post. So, until next time! またね！