Easy morning, had a wee lie in then up for some planning. As it's a Saturday I'm aware that everywhere might be bouncing. So I head out later this afternoon to hopefully miss crowds. As I'm walking to the train station there are a lot of musicians playing in the street. There is a stage set up at Kinschico station, bit of a jazz festival going on. The music is good though I'm not sure that the female Japanese voice is doing anything for the Jazz, though nice atmosphere non the less.
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Made a bit of a mess of the trains on the way to Harajuku. Pretty sure I got on about 2 trains more than I needed to. Awww well I got here in the end, just took me about 20mins longer than necessary. I'm going to a shrine today, though I am starving, so I stopped off in some wee place for some food. Again it's point at the picture stuff. Think I had chicken. It was good anyway. I force myself to use chopsticks everywhere I go, even if there is a fork available. I'm not very good but I'm determined to get better. Currently my hand cramps up and it takes me an inordinate amount of time to eat.
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The Meiji-jingu shrine was very impressive. It has the largest shrine gates, made of Japanese Cypress, quite the place. So much for my plan of it not being busy. Wandered round for a bit and took a few shots. It was nice because you got to walk through a forest before you got to the shrine. There was plenty of the shrine to look at as well, large court yard and the opportunity to write down a wish and have it offered up! Of course a nice piece of cultural Tokyo wouldn't be anything without the usual tourist tat that goes along with it! Shops selling scrolls and plaques and all manner of things.
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After quite a long and busy train ride I arrived at Asakusa, on the far side of Tokyo. I was here to see the Senso-ji, another temple. This area is quite touristy and paints a picture of what you imagine when you think of Japan, red shrines, lanterns, Japanese txt everywhere, women wearing kimonos and the such. I arrived just as dusk was approaching and got to opportunity to take some really good shots as the temple and pagoda were lighting up. It was pretty special. Massive queue of people to walk up to the temple so I didn't bother with that, just walked around soaking up the atmosphere. I was asked by various people today to take their photo, though I'm still not happy about giving them my camera to return the favour.
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I could see the Sky Tree as I was at the temple and so decided that it was time to walk over and get the night shots that I have been wanting. Now the sky tree is the tallest building in Japan and so it may have seemed close, but it was quite the dander although it gave me the opportunity to walk along the river and see a bit of the skyline at night.
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Got to the Sky Tree and was not going to be paying the 3000 yen they were after to join a massive queue with a wait of an hour. So I just grabbed some shots of the tower from the ground and then headed round the shopping complex that has been built around it. Again there must be 10 floors, an aquarium and everything else you can think of. It's called Tokyo Sky Town. Really have made a job of it. Very impressive, it just highlights how nothing is done by half. I shudder to think of the cost involved in this bad boy. It was only completed this year and the main reason was because the current tower (Tokyo Tower) wasn't tall enough to handle the digital change over, so they needed another one and as a result the not only created an impressive tower but also a shopping metropolis!!
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As I was at the Sky Tree I was able to navigate my way home as you can see it from the street I stay on. Another deceptively long 25min walk and I was home. Tired and hungry. Dumped my bag, got a recommendation for some good Ramen and out again. Stepped in to the Ramen joint and was greeted with a Japanese vending machine, no pictures. I had to ask if anyone spoke English, luckily someone kind of did. Got some Ramen ordered and took a seat at the bar. Again, delicious and I was full after. Chatting to some boyo in the hostel who wants to go play Pachinko (a Japanese ball game) tomorrow. I said sure, cause I have been kinda intrigued myself. Bed time now though, he wants to play at 9! Mad man!