Day 9.5 Monday 8/16/10 – Japan, a culture of nice: Beach time booze cruise wild goose chase.

Day 9.5 Monday 8/16/10 – Japan, a culture of nice: Beach time booze cruise wild goose chase.

One of the most apparent things you notice once you enter Japan is how the culture cultivates niceness. Traveling all across the country in the United States I get a good sampling on how different regions of people are like. Traveling to the northeast you get a lot of good old fashioned hardnosed colorful attitudes, to the south some classic southern hospitality, to the north a good smattering of friendly faces everywhere but when you enter Japan, as a country, they are all unified in polite pride. Everyone you meet are happily polite and very helpful, especially to foreigners. They all take pride in their work and work hard at what they do. If there were discontent, they hide it very well as we interacted with merchants from large and small venues. Take for example, while we were lost in Odaiba looking for the booze cruise, I asked a young couple who were there visiting from northern Tokyo where the ticket office. He identified he spoke English and then proceeded to take me from place to place trying to find out where we were supposed to be, spending nearly 20 minutes walking with us. I find it very difficult to imagine a similar situation happening in the US, granted there are those rare occasions but that is the exception, not the rule. Other times we were offered help as we consulted our map looking like a lost tourist, all very friendly and helpful. Crime is rare and even in Shinjuku, the capital of seedy behavior; it’s safe to walk the streets going about your business. Japan is founded on a culture of respect and we should take a page from their example and be nice to one another.

So we started the day late again, suffering from travel weariness, going to bed late and general vacation contentedness, we finally got going to our destination, Odaiba at two after a quick lunch. We headed there to see what the tourist island offers and to try to find the booze cruise which was highly recommended to us by our friends. The booze cruise is a two hour cruise that sails Tokyo bay offering unlimited drinks to its patrons. Also in Odaiba was the life sized Gundam statue, a giant robot that has been in the hearts of the Japanese youth for the past 30 years.

We set off for Odaiba by train but first we finally wised up and bought ourselves a Sueca card, a transit card that holds cash on it for transportation purposes. In the past we would look at the transit map, figure out our fares and buy them from the ticket machines. Buying the Sueca card takes care of all the figuring of fares and transfers since it automatically figures it out for you by deducting the proper amount depending on where you go. I wish I had done that a week ago because it would have saved a ton of time and headaches trying to figure out the proper fares. You live and learn and now we know next time to just use our transit cards and let Japan do the thinking for us. Totally worth $5 for the card.

We enter Odaiba from the Tokyo Hamamatsucho Station and are greeted by a modern commercial tourist site. Odaiba is home of many museums, shopping malls, entertainment complexes, and beaches. The Fuji television station is located here as well, a unique building with a piece of it shaped like a ball that moves from one side to the other. It is a popular destination for many Japanese who want to get away, have some fun and go shopping.


We made our way to the shopping mall called the decks and located an information desk. Here we found out that the marine lines were just outside the mall and Michi did some shopping for some incredible sales on clothes. Outside we were greeted with a special event, a hello kitty event sponsored by green Tokyo. They had a water show on the beach and had a makeshift tent full of hello kitty merchandise. Being a hello kitty fanatic Michi took a look at their wares and picked up some items for our friend Erica.




We headed over to the boat dock to look for tickets for the booze cruise only to find out that the dock only serviced water taxis. Being thoroughly lost we headed inside the mall again for a bite to eat and to hopefully find an answer to our mystery. Fortunately we found another information desk where the attendant was more fluent in English and understood our request. She pointed out that the Gundam statue has been moved to the bay side and that the booze cruise is found on the main land at Hamamatsucho Station. She plotted a course for us, using the above ground rail and sent us on our way. On the way out we went to the mall food court where Michi enjoyed a curry dish with chicken and I had a Kyoto style yakisoba dish.



Before heading to the train station we walked up to the Fuji television station where they were having a special event. We looked around the station at all its favorite cartoon icons that came from it and headed out but not before stopping for a quick restroom break.


In the men’s restroom I decided to have a go with the infamous Japanese toilets, you know the one that talks to you and washes your butt. I never had an opportunity to use one just yet and the one they had inside the station was a deluxe one. All I have to say is WOW! My butt and anus have never felt better in my whole life. The Japanese are known for innovations and this definitely tops their list. Why haven't we caught on with this? The Europeans have the bidet but it doesn't even come close to the Japanese toilet. It washes, rinses, dries and keeps your but warm all in one sitting. I have to get myself one of these when I get back to the states!


We took the train to the Hamamatsucho Station, which along the way showed off a marvelous view of the Tokyo skyline from the water and rainbow bridge. By now the sun has set and it was getting close to the departure time for the boat. Upon getting there we didn't know where to go or where to buy tickets and we had less than 45 minutes left. Walking around lost I asked a young Japanese couple where the ticket counter was. We saw the ship but didn't know where to get tickets. Shogo Kato identified that they knew English and was visiting Odaiba for the day since it had been many years since he visited this island. He proceeded to walk me to the train station to ask the attendant where it was but no one was on duty. We walked back and then to the boat finding no information. On a hunch we headed down to the street level where we witness thousands of Japanese men and women in their Yukata and kimonos lining up to get on the boat. He asked one of the line assistants who pointed us to the ticket station. He then walked us to the area, identified which counter we had to be at and then left us in the line. He and his girlfriend we're so helpful we will remember how he went above and beyond the call of duty to help us out.


Unfortunately at the ticket counter we found out that we had to make reservations to be able to attend this festival and apparently in recent years it has become extremely popular among Japanese youth, especially because they had unlimited drinks during the entire three hour cruise. We wanted to see if we could make the trip for tomorrow or the next day before we leave but we found out later that this was the last week before many headed back to school and that the ship was booked for the entire week. The reason they were all wearing outfits was because they received $10 off the $30 ticket if they wore the robes, a significant savings. Saddened but this wild goose chase, we headed back to the train station and called it an early night. Hopefully tomorrow we will get some more accomplished since our time in Japan is quickly drawing to a close.

We got back, had some drinks and decided to give Dominoes Delivery a go and see what pizza was like from an American franchise.

OH BTW, please keep in mind that I composed this entirely on my iPad during the ride on the train back home.

Day 9 Monday, Japan Gave My Best Bathroom Experience in my entire life!

With a title like that, it makes you wonder what it’s all about. I was going to wait and write about it later in my day 9 update but decided to create its own post.

Japan is known for their innovations, taking simple concepts and making it better. In this case I finally got to experience the infamous innovation for your ass. No it’s not a dildo (which are innovations they are very well known for) but it’s their toilet seats. Sure the Europeans haven had bidets for decades, which is a very novel way to clean your rear end but it requires a whole ‘nother bathroom device devoted to one purpose. What if you combine it right into the toilet and make a robotic seat that does the job for you. The Japanese electronic bidet has wowed many, scared others, and baffled the simple minded American folk who love to use abrasive toilet paper to wipe their collective asses. I have to admit, I was intimidated at first with their array of controls but I love all things electronic with buttons to push so I was morbidly curious as to what it’s all about.

I will never be the same again! After spending over a week in Japan my first encounter was at the public restroom at the Fuji TV building. Being one of the biggest broadcasters in Japan, it would be the equivalent to visiting the Time Warner building in NY. They had some of the best of the best bidet inside their upper level restroom. It washed, it dried, it pulsated, it warmed my ass cheeks (not that it needed it in the summer), it did everything except sing to me (which I heard some do). I am absolutely in love with these devices. Why don’t we have them here in the US? What is wrong with our culture where we can’t have robotic toilet seats? It was one of the most memorable bathroom experiences I’ve had in my life! My ass will never be the same!

So why do they and other European countries have them. Primarily it is very sanitary but the secondary reason is that it cuts down on toilet paper usage. In a public restroom, it saves thousands of rolls a TP a month. In the standard home, hundreds of rolls are saved. I’ve read more about them and all agree that once you go electronic bidet, you can’t go back. Now I feel lonely sitting on a normal toilet. It’s just not good enough for me anymore.

Day 8, Sunday 8/15/10 - Map Navigation Level UP! Tokyo's hot hot summer - Cosplayers in heat

Yet another late start due to taking four hours to get back from the fireworks last night. But first a quick note on navigating Japan.

When I first arrived in Japan I stepped into a different world, foreign to what I grew up with.



You take a look at the map street map of Japan and and you can only say OMFG!!!



Then looking the transit map you think WTF.

I think about it like an adventure video game. I know its lame but it’s the best way I can describe it. It's like when you start playing a final fantasy game. You suddenly get thrust into this foreign world not knowing the lay of the land and have to figure out the best way get your items, weapons and quests. All you have is your trusty information device and sometimes an overhead map, and of course the destination arrow. Oh yeah, let’s not forget the cute moogle giving you tips along the way.

I did my best to prepare for this trip. Entering a foreign land without access to live Internet data and not being able to speak fluently the native language, I had to rely on my best path finding skills. Fortunately for me I have an upgraded GPS installed in my head, an internal compass and a near photographic map memory. I downloaded the map of Shinjuku in my iPad not knowing anything about it other than the roads and station. As I walked the streets for the very first time I was able to fill in my navigation data with real life surroundings, in a way unveiling the fog of war. After a day I was confident in making my way to and from the station on bike and walking the streets of Shinjuku proper. After a few more days I began to truly understand the complicated train system. After one week I can ride my bike around Tokyo and know relatively where I am. I leveled up from 1 to 5 and can tackle this complicated city with confidence. It's fun to see the progression and compare it to adventure games I played in my youth. I can remember the very familiar feeling of trying to figure out where to go find things and only after a few hours of running around the game world, knowing where to get that sword upgrade for my character.

Now, my next challenge, the Tokyo bus system. I can really say OMFG to that one!



Today was a very hot day. We first wanted to go back to the Tokyo capital building because when we went last time they had one of the towers closed, which is the one where Michi found some very nice souvenirs we couldn't find anywhere else. Riding our bikes there was a breeze.



There at the capitol building we found the souvenirs we were looking for and something else very unique to Japan. There was a kiosk where they sold little figurines but there was a unique twist I've never thought possible, you can put your face on the figure!!!!



It was so cute, unique and a great value we couldn't resist so we got a couple made. It was a simple process, you can use the built in camera to take your picture, scan a photo or insert your memory card. There was even an IR interface for beam transfers. They thought of everything!!! The only thing missing was web access or the ability to wash your butt.







Here is a pic of the finished product.



After being thoroughly wowed by yet another piece of unique Japanese technology we went and rode our bikes to Harajuku. It was a very hot day, humid and deadly. We went to Akihabara for the sole purpose of seeing Cosplayers but it was so hot, only the few dedicated appeared in this weather. We did find a pizza place called Stokey's Pizza and thoroughly enjoyed it and their happy hour. A full review will be posted in a separate review of Japanese/American food joints.







Stuffing our faces with yummy Japanese style pizza, a thorough improvement over American pizza, we went next door to kiddy land, six floors of toys. It was a fun place to see as adults and kids alike viewed the marvelous array of toys and trinkets. They had a Lego floor and a hello kitty floor. They even had a floor devoted to snoopy, yes snoopy and not peanuts. Apparently snoopy is more popular here than Mickey mouse, almost to the same star level as hello kitty.

I was personally fascinated by their technology toys. This toy featured robotic like bugs that move and wiggle. You can put them on a race track and race them down the line or place them in a maze and see if yours will wiggle it's way though it first. They also showed off their talking clock that was kinda creepy and robot spiders that have some aorta of intelligence.

Moving on from kiddy land, it got kinda late so after 8 PM all the shops are closed. It is surprising that they close so early in such a huge shopping district. It was 8:30 so we decided to ride back home. I was mounting my camcorder to my bike so Michi went ahead of me. Unfortunately I got caught at many stop lights so I never caught up with her and she had taken a wrong turn at Shinjuku and got lost for a bit. The night was a calm one as we called it an early night so we can have a slightly early start to go to the flea markets of Japan in Koenji.

Back in the states, more Tokyo stories to come!

After Day 7 I continued writing but I didn't post because I wanted to include photos, which I made harder than it ought to be.  I have all the days composed and will be putting them online through the next few days with pictures and videos to make it complete!  Thanks and I hope you enjoy our adventures in Tokyo, Japan!

Tokyo Day 7, Saturday - Blow em up Johnny: Fireworks that set your pants on fire.

Considering last night's late activities, we spent the better part of the day recovering. Made a nice egg fried rice with sea weed for breakfast/lunch and stayed in the cool room till evening. Tonight is one of Japan's largest fireworks festivals. 12,000 fireworks will be set off between 7 pm and 8:30, smaller than two weeks ago giant festival where they blew up 20,000 fireworks in two a two hour orgy of explosions. Michi got to witness part of that when she arrived. It was massive, impressive and better than any I've ever seen in the states. So without further adieu, an orgy of fireworks pictures.

- new blog composed and posted from my iPad, please comment and like when you read this!

Location:２丁目,Shinjuku Ward,Japan