Day 15: Tokyo

Since we'll be staying with H starting tonight, we figured we'd get all our laundry done. Nope, I was never one of those that brought a suitcase of dirty laundry back home from school; I always did my laundry *before* going home. First, we checked out of our rooms. Then, while we waited for our clothes, K went out and picked up some food at a nearby combini. Speaking of which, there is *never* a lack of food or drink here. There's probably a combini every few blocks and vending machines every other block!

Akihabara.


Lots of people -- yep.
Lots of random electronic goods -- yep.
Maid cafes & random 'maids' handing out ads -- yep.

Cosplay and ads with anime characters -- yep.
Costume stores -- yep.



Unexpected cuteness?


Doner kebabs? Erotic capsule toys? (This pic is the tame one... there were others with missing tops and/or bottoms, in suggestive poses.)

It is indeed an interesting place to explore. Plus, a vending machine with canned foods (like congee)...


Our next location was much more tame, Yoyogi park. Actually, we walked through Yoyogi park, stopping briefly at the Meiji Treasure House, out to the other side to Harajuku, where there were plenty of people dressed up and just hanging out...


We then stopped by the Meiji Shrine for a little bit, knowing we'd come back tomorrow. On the way there, we saw a lot of little kids all dressed up in traditional attire. Some of the little girls even had their hair and makeup done!


We weren't sure what this procession was, but when I described it to H later, he said it was probably a wedding ceremony.

It sure gets dark early now! I'm glad Japan doesn't turn the clocks back like the U.S. Our dinner tonight is in three parts.


Part 1, yummy crepes at Harajuku.

While we were waiting for the next part, big cell phone ball...


Part 2, kaiten sushi. Supposedly kaiten sushi is at the bottom of the sushi chain in terms of quality, but if that's true, a lot of the sushi places in the U.S. must be below the bottom! The scallop here was mmmmm mmm good. Nope, have never had scallop like that in the U.S. The rest of the fish was really good, too! Maybe we just got lucky in our kaiten pick ^o^


Incidentally, the tea in Japan is usually powdered. (Ingenious!)

Part 3, oden + bento. Since K couldn't eat much at the kaiten sushi (raw), we stopped at a combini afterwards and ate our goodies back in the common room at the hotel. There was another family also enjoying their dinner, speaking Spanish. After curiosity took over, I finally had the courage to ask them where they were from. Mexico. We're both a long way from home haha. It's nice to know that 3 yrs of high school Spanish hasn't been entirely lost.

When we got to H's, he was already home, and we met his friend Jennifer who's also staying over (yesterday and tonight... she's apparently in town to watch a kendo tournament!). H pulled out a go board (actual go board with legs, just like on HnG!) and he and K played. I unintentionally fell asleep on the tatami waiting for my pics from the day to transfer. We moved to the room to sleep when they finished their game hehe. H is a crazy host... he had gone out and bought new futons and a new blanket! The futon was really comfy. Since it was placed on the floor, it was just like sleeping back home ^o^