Tokyo Cont'd
Trip Start
Oct 20, 2008
1
42
93
Trip End
Jan 31, 2009
Tokyo,
Kanto,
Japan
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the 6th Century, while Christianity came to the islands in the 16th
The Crossing 2
.How similar all religions are... Although clergymen don't always interpret it this way, all religions have the fundamental objective of creating a moral society, in which people help each other and are at peace with themselves. The similarities between a Shinto shrine and a church or mosque made me think of this. Just like in a mosque, there was a fountain used for ritualistic cleansing. Just like the crucifix in a church, there was a Deity to which the worshipers prayed.
Behind the shrine, there is a large picnic area. Reminded me of Central Park, especially since there were skyscrapers right above the surrounding trees.
Walked around the neighborhood of Harajuku.
Ate at McDonald's. Promised myself that I would never eat here again.
I've seen many people wearing white medical masks. They don't wear them because all of them have leukemia, God forbid, but rather because they have a minor medical condition, like a cold
The Shibuya Crossing
.Went to the Treasury Museum Annex, since museum proper is only open on weekends and public holidays. Not worth visiting, as the collection of royal objects inside is very limited.
Japan opened up to the West only at the end of the19th Century, during the Meiji period.
Walked South to Shibuya. So many shops, cafes and restaurants. The highlight was the Shibuya Crossing, which feels like Times Square, with its digital signs and giant plasma screens. I guess, the main difference is that Times Square doesn't have thousand of people crossing the street all at the same time. The communal act of crossing was a spectacle all on its own.
Unlike in the US, here everything is small. The apartments... The cars... The people...
Had the fried chicken that Minako had ordered. During dinner, I had made a big mistake earlier in the day by throwing all of my trash in the same can. I had no idea how careful the Japanese were about recycling. Plastics, papers and organics all have to be separated. Reminded me of how complicated their metro ticketing system is. Every destination has a different price. If you have purchased a cheaper ticket, you have to go to a machine to correct it. Although the procedures might be tedious, they do it the right way.
