From the airport it's a quick 40 minute ride to the center of the city but I decided to skip sightseeing and head for the outskirts of Tokyo to the couchsurfing buddy. The first day is spend waiting the host and other guest turn up at the house but it was a good time to get to know the local town. I make up time by checking into a local Manga-kissa. A Internet cafe with loads of manga to read around as well. I get to the house around 00.01 AM and it's straight off to bed waiting excitedly for the next day.
The Sunday starts with a stop at the Harajuku part of greater Tokyo which is known for it's cosplay kids. The kids from the suburbs of metropolis gather to this spot near the Yuyuji park to play out their fantasy costumes varying from popular manga characters to their on own creations. Nowadays the days has become such an attraction that there are exponentially more tourist than cosplay kids. Yuyuji park is a host to all sorts of free attractions as local folk of Tokyo come out here to play out their part in the world of arts. You can find anything. Drums, jugglers, step dancing, hackey sacks, BMX bikes, skaters, guitars and of course the Tokyo Rockabilly Club that throws their thing down at the entrance park with big ass speakers playing the coolest 60-70's rock & roll songs with Japanese lyrics added. Just get your hair full of boot shine, boots worn out to the point of lacing them and gets your groove on!
On Monday it was time for the electronics/manga part of town which is the mekka to any die hard fan of gizmo's, hentai or old school video arcade games. The streets are filled with second hand junk (that is still appreciated here in Japan), nerds seeking for the ultimate cosplay cafe experience and the classic songs from ancient video games. You can observe the most adorable miniatures from hit animes or check out authentic Darth Vader helmets without forgetting of course, Gozilla!
On the other hand you have manga, porno and hentai that have made a small foot hold. Like the miniature shops, you can find the stuff from small rat holes to six floor shopping halls. The subjects vary from Hamtaro styled stories for kids to the stocking bondage for the big kids. Up next it was a visit to see the amazing masses of people at the Shibuya square and the Shinjuku metro station rush hour that 3 million people use daily. To make the day even more memorable, I headed out to see the Tokyo skyscraper ward with outstanding views. First it was a free visit to the 29th floor of the Tokyo NK Building followed by 41th floor views from the Park Haytt Towers Peak Bar. Accompanied by a cake and pint Guinness and the breathtaking views of the greater Tokyo, these are the moments that really make life worth living. "Where is my girl now?": I ask myself as I gaze in to the endless path of lights
Took a days rest and then it was a early wake up for the Tsujiki fish market. Get up at 5.30 and drag my corpse to the metro station for the 50 minute ride to every cats heaven. At the outer rims the action seems to have died down and I'm contemplating if we didn't get here early enough but once you get to the main market, the game is on! Once again Tokyo doesn't disappoint as I roam through endless alleys filled with squid, tuna fish, crabs, shellfish and blood filled buckets full of fish that probably haven't been discovered by any scientists yet. Trying to dodge the forklifts I realize that the place is very well airconned' and the smell of dead fish doesn't go over the top. The day has just begun but I'm exhausted. Maybe I'll head for one of those Onsens to get relaxed.
More pictures at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/timo.laaksonen/
1 comment:
argh! it souns so amazing - i wish i were with you!!!!!!!! x x x
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