Konnichiwa from Tokyo
Trip Start
Apr 08, 2005
1
241
270
Trip End
Apr 09, 2006
Tokyo,
Japan
Saturday, March 11, 2006
We head off to do some sightseeing - we are both v tired so we take a leisurly pace today.
Its a class city. Huge. Much bigger than NY and very clean. A lot of people travel by bikes. They are crazy on bikes and will nearly run you over on the footpaths. We stick to the metro/subway system as a means of transport. The metro is second to none. Fergus has to be careful of his head as many of the ceilings in the stations are too low. Despite having NO japenese, the travel systems are very simple to understand. The people are very willing to help (even though their english is not great). We enjoyed Australia very much, but its great to have arrived somewhere where we are tourists (very few english speakers/Westerners). We find many locals are turning to look at us, bow their heads, welcoming us. Its fantastic. One guy actually came up and spoke to us about how stubborn Roy Keane is, he told Fergus he was from the sticks and said he very much enjoyed Ireland on his last visit.
Our first destination is the historical Asakusa District. On entry into the Asakusa district we pass through the Kaminarman gate where a huge 670kg lantern hangs before walking through Nakamise-Dori shopping district. Amongst other things, we also visit the Sensoji temple, Asakusa Shrine and Five Storey Pagoda. The detail and decorations of the buildings is remarkable. We take a stroll through the Rokku entertainment centre and literally marvel at advanced technologies, even for simple things like ATMs and automatic doors!!!
We were just too tired to experiment with food tonight so we had a Mc Donalds for dinner! Yuck I know. Tomorrow sushi is on the menu! Afterwards we stop off at Tokyo Tower (kinda ugly by day) and Zojoji temple before climbing the world trade centre to the 40th floor for excellent night views of the city.
Our hostel is excellent. We choose it as its the cheapest (21e each) and closest to the train systems. We are very very lucky because we got the only Japenese style family accomodation in the hostel. What this entails a photo will best describe but basically its the low kitchen table/futon beds/our own bathroom etc..its really really lovely. Cant wait to sleep in it now!!
