First stop, get more money. Many establishments don't take credit and especially not American Express so I had to change out some more cash since I didn't get much when I was at the airport. If I had done it at the airport, I wouldn't have lost 2.5% on the transaction. It would have been 4.5% loss but having travelers checks helped offset some of the exchange losses. With a bit more yen in my pockets we head over next door for a korean buffet and ate an ample amount of watermelon.
We take for granted that fruit is so readily accessible back in the states at when
it is a rare treat, you learn to appreciate it more. Fruit here is so rare and expensive, its like how we treat the most expensive truffle or lobster. They reverently package fruit in impact safe containers, peaches in decorative boxes for gifts to the gods, and watermelon that costs more than caviar. Fruit is a rare and special treat and they treat it so and I miss fruit because I never at it at home and took it for granted.
Next stop was shinjuku station shopping mall to cool off. This is a high end 14 story department store that sells everything you would find in a typical mall and makes an excellent place to escape from the oppressive heat and humidity. We took some pictures in front of the Cocoon building where if you notice, it has a round opening to allow for helicopters to fly in. It opens up and closes like a giant moth beast!
While traversing the 14 department levels we spotted a very unique invention that I haven't seen in the us yet. They had a pen displayed at the stationary department but it was no ordinary pen. Like any normal pen it can be used to write but that similarity stops there. What happens if you were to make a mistake? You curse yourself for not using a word processor, get out the liquid paper and fix your mistake.
Or you can get the new marvelous frixion pen, THE PEN THAT CAN BE ERASED!!!! No, it's not like the erasable pens we are use to that has to be erased wi th a rubber eraser but it erases with a special plastic that doesn't rub off and makes the ink disappear!
Yes, Michi and I were wowed by a simple pen and bought one. It's not like we pay attention to pen technology every day and it's only been out for just two years.
After being wowed by the simplest of things (shinny things come to mind) we rode our bikes to Shinjuku Station and headed to Hamamatsucho to Tokyo Tower, but first a stop at the Zojoji Temple.
The tower was built in 1959 and used as a radio transmission tower.
Now it's a major tourist attraction because you can get a birds eye view of Tokyo and all for $8.50 but that's not the best view. For an additional $4 you can head to the top of the tower 250 meters in the sky (100 higher than 150) and see a much better view.
It was a Wednesday afternoon and the tower was crowded with Japanese and foreign alike. The line was long but swift as they cram 20-30 into a small elevator up. From there the view was impressive but lackluster as it wasn't very high and didn't do very much compared to the free view from the capital building. To get higher, we had to buy a separate ticket but they only allow a so many people up there and it was a projected 60 minute wait before your group can be allowed up. Not wanting to wait and spend the extra money, we took our pictures and left the tower.
The only good thing was the closer view of the ocean. In summary, Tokyo Tower = tourist trap, Tokyo Capital Building = free with awesome audio tour and taller view.
After being thoroughly disappointed in Tokyo Tower we headed up the train to Akihabara to find a battery charger for my camera.
There we got a chance to spend a few hours looking in the massive orgy of electronics. Anything and everything can be found here. It's like a Fry's electronics on crack but different because each shop specializes in something and isn't one large store.
However all the shops are owned by one company in a grouping. There were stores with nothing but capacitors, old fashioned picture tubes, cables, etc. If you need it to repair something electronic it can be found here. Besides parts they had their typical electronic stores with laptops, iphones, etc.
We looked in shops and found quite a few interesting tidbits, one of which was a new camera stand that folds up to a half an inch and remains attached to the camera.
Besides electronics this area is an anime mecca. DVD's, Manga, figurines, anything an Otaku can dream about can be bought here. We didn't stop in any of those shops but from this outside seeing all the japanese men going in, it's a super nerds wet dream.
Being an old skool arcade gamer I was curious to see what arcades are like nowadays since the advent of home gaming consoles. What can arcades offer that a PS3 or PC can't. The answer is that the arcade industry has evolved to involve more group dynamic games. The Sega Center and Taito arcade had three levels devoted to arcade games, the first two to UFO catchers.
There were some very impressive games.
A lot of group team on team mech games but one in particular looked very interesting.
You sat in a pod and went against 7 other in a near 180 degree view of the battle field.
Another game of note is how they adapted card trading games to the arcade.
Players would take their cards and put it on the field and it would affect the game based on what you placed and where you placed it.
One in particular was a game where you commanded an army in the Edo period. Placing the cards made the army move, commanders do special powers as your army battled. I tried my hand at an elevator shooting game in which the gimmick was a prop where physical elevator doors would close as you move up and down the building.
Some cases you have to close the doors yourself to keep bosses from getting you. It was very boring.
After being electronically exhausted out we headed back home at 9 pm and made a curry dinner and off to bed.
Location:２丁目,Shinjuku Ward,Japan
Great blog! We're all living vicariously through your excellent reporting!
ReplyDeleteThank you anonymous commenter. I appreciate your feedback. I have much more to write as I have about 7 more days of adventures to be had.
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