Skytree
Bright may sun with the Skytree in the background.
Asakusa
My last week in Tokyo has started and I will stay in Asakusa. The area is not far from Ueno so I can go back there to check out more Museums. Also there is an astonishing amount of tourists here. Even more than I am used to. But I enjoy being in Tokyo and I am happy I extended my stay here.
A rainy night in Asakusa
Odaiba
The unicorn gundam next to Diver City Mall
When going to Odaiba on the Yurikamome Line you get to go through a neat loop right before going over the rainbow bridge and see the port from different angles. Surprisingly there is a Statue of Liberty set up here. The beach here was empty as it rained a little and the sun was hiding behind a closed curtain of clouds.
Enjoyed the Malls here. Tempted to buy an Entry Grade RX 78 Gunpla in Gundam Base Tokyo. I can’t. I shouldn’t. I wouldn’t. Would I?
Had the best Miso Ramen of my life in Aqua CiTY and went to see Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in the Cinema there. The ScreenX side projections made me nauseous but were only activated in a couple of scenes. The movie is a 3/5 for me because of some structural issues, but I was entertained every second of it. Tom Cruise thanked the Japanese people (in English) for watching and supporting the franchise before the movie which I found quite cool. I also found that watching movies in English with Japanese subtitles really didn’t bother me at all.
Lots of callbacks in this one
Pond in the Park
The rainy weather made for an ideal day to explore more of Ueno Park. Equiped with my umbrella and jacket I went back to Ueno Park to take a closer look at the shrines and temples.
Wall near Toshogu Shrine in Ueno
Shinobazuno Pond Benten
Old Things
First rough buildings I saw here in Tokyo
Later that night I went to search a Hard Off near Ueno Station. On my way and in the store I found a couple of old things.
I liked the weathered look of this shop I walked by
It is known that the Hard Off locations in the city center are not great to find bargains but it was fun browsing and seeing all the colorful GBs.
Not exactly cheap either
Ameyoko and Ueno East
Entrance to Ameyoko Street
Ameyoko was busy with lots of foreigners, restaurants, and vendors trying to sell trinkets, clothes, and souvenirs. I really wasn’t in the mood to buy anything here.
Colorful vending machines and Gashapon machines in a side street
After I got a delicious pork and rice set at the Hidakaya near my hotel I wandered down the road to find a Book Off with some nice Famicom games. I love the design of those and wish I could take some home and put them in a display case. But my backpack is already way too full and I need to be careful not to get in trouble. I thought about buying some new luggage so I can take more stuff home. No decision until now. Also, I sold most of my physical game collection last year before beginning to travel. With one major exception: My Game Boy games (without boxes). I actually bought some GB games here too. I may report about them in another post soon.
Super Famicom games and more in the Book Off Ueno
Ueno
I had to change hotels and decided to go into a different part of Tokyo Metropolis: Ueno in Taito City. It really is a lot more residential here. It’s close to many museums and to Asakusa as well as to Akihabara.
View from a pedestrian bridge over Ueno Station
I went for a long walk around the area and the park. Later I visited the National Museum of Nature and Science which was interesting as only 30% of the signs were available in English, so I had to use camera translation a lot.
Especially enjoyed the calculators and early japanese computers section
Trees in Ueno Park
Shinjuku West
One of the big stroads here.
After resting, I made my way to the other side of Shinjuku Station to see Shinjuku Chuo Park and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to relax in the late afternoon.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
There were a lot of joggers that I had to dodge or that had to dodge me. I found a peaceful part to sit down and relax the scenery. Just sitting there people-watching. There were people meditating on the grass, people walking their Shibas, groups of western people walking straight to the Starbucks or trying to find entrance to the nearest shrine.
Junisha Kumano Shrine Haiden
Soba and Palace
Cold Soba for breakfast
I wanted to make my way back to Tokyo Station to walk around the Palace. It was a super bright day. Clouds and the bright ground were reflecting the light and my legs were getting tired from days and days of walking. I decided to take it easy after I visited the Imperial Palace.
Nijubashi Bridge and Fushimi-yagura
I got some supplies from Lawson Station and put my feet up for a couple of hours.
Ikebukuro
This time to the north of Shinjuku only 3 stops on the Yamanote Line I visited Ikebukuro.
Owl is a homonym for parts of the areas name
I walked a little bit around until I went into Sunshine City to look at some shops inside. I saw a lot of western people lining up to buy Pokemon merch and I browsed a bookshop for a while.
Vending machines in the streets of Ikebukuro
After some sushi from Kura Sushi I walked some more and found some really quiet streets and a really nice buddhist temple. I enjoy the stillness of these places.
Honryūji Temple