Photos!

So you are all satisfied that this site actually has real images of Japan!
Click on the photos to make them huge!

Ueno Station. - This is a leisurely 15 min. walk from my apartment.


A temple in Ueno Park.


A statue in Ueno Park. (it's also on the back of a Hard Rock Cafe shirt that I own -- but the shirt is still in HT and not in good condition -- so come here to see the real thing!)

Tokyo Breakfast

Having just come up the stairs from breakfast, I began thinking of this.

Most of you have seen this, but just in case you haven't, watch it & enjoy:

Getting Comfortable

In a move very reminiscent of the Steve Marr of years past, Eiji contacted me this evening when he was close to getting out of work and said "Meet me at the 'New South Exit' of Shibuya station -- but in order to meet up (since I don't have a cell phone yet), you'll have to leave RIGHT NOW!!"

So, I've been to this station maybe twice before, and that was at least a year ago with Eiji guiding me. This time I was unguided, illiterate, and navigating the evening rush hour at a train station which is positioned next to the busiest intersection in the world.
However, I made it from lounging in Eiji's house to meeting him & sitting at a noodle place in about 35 min without any lostness. Great success!
*Quick local anecdote: When nearing Shibuya, an older man hopped on the train and had a cloth bag from Longwood Gardens. Not that I have any special connection to it since I'm not really into botany and haven't visited it since I was 7 or so, but it's amazing how pumped I was to see something from a relatively obscure part of the greater Philly region on a train in Tokyo!

Of course, there's still loads more of Tokyo to get comfortable with, but this was a relieving step (so, any guests, take this as some confidence that I won't be a completely useless guide when you all arrive!)


Also, today marks my first use of a rechargeable train card to buy a drink from a vending machine! There's some special excitement to be had when I can hold my closed wallet up to a machine (the card has some sort of transmitter), then press the button corresponding to what I want, and then the beverage just drops! Eat your heart out PATCO! :-P

Upon Popular Demand

(which means that Mark asked for it), here's a video of a Toto washlet.
This is a generic one that I just found on youtube since I didn't feel like spraying water all over the bathroom. Mine (at Eiji's place - doesn't look like I'll have my own at the apt.) is a little more high-tech than this, but the concept is the same. Only difference is that here I have a heated seat, 2 spray-strength options, 2 flush strength options, a remote control (even though I can't imagine not being close to a toilet that I operating by default), a drying option, and the "female clean" -- which Adam made the mistake of pressing last year -- it soaked something unmentionable!





In other news, I saw the coolest ad on a train the other day.

Remember, nearly all trains here have flat-panel screens above the doors. Some are useful (ie- which stop you're at, how long to the next stop, which side the doors will open on), and others ADVERTISE!!!!
Of course, there's no sound, since the trains are shockingly quiet.
So, the ad starts with 2 office-women, one of whom is somewhat chubby, eating what appears to be enormous yakitori (skewered meat) in a park for lunch.
Out of nowhere pops a girl with fake-leaf covered shorts and halter top, a green bazooka, and framed in the background with a green heart.
Loads of cartoon vegetables fall from the sky into a funnel on the back of her bazooka, and she smilingly aims it at these unhealthy office-workers.
Scene cuts to a photo of a little pill, which appears to be a vegetable health supplement.
The scene ends with the girl smiling, holding the bazooka behind her back, and giving a "peace" sign.
This place is so wacky - I love Japan!

Learning the Trains! - Part 2

Sorry for the reverse-chronological order. If you want a real account of my day, read the previous post first.

So, after Seijo, I figured I should learn more of town, since taking the same trains back would be easy and boring. Thus, I hopped on my usual Express to get to Yoyogi (I love that name -- it's up there with my personal favorite stop: O-kachi-machi)

Anyway, I took the train to Shinjuku Station. (the busiest in the world)
From here, I walked around a good chunk of what can be considered Tokyo's "downtown".
After stopping in a 7-11 for an onigiri (delicious rice ball wrapped in seaweed & filled with something delicious -- this time it was salmon), I relaxed in a coffee shop before returning to the station.
I hopped onto the Yamanote line of yesterday's fame (really squished at this station - and it was around noon, not even rush hour), and took it to "Nippori".

I know that most of these place names mean nothing to you all, but there's a purpose for this! Nippori will be familiar to anyone visiting me very quickly, because I will likely be too lazy/cheap to meet you at the airport, but a train called the Keisei Skyliner runs a direct route from Narita International to Nippori Station (which is a walkable distance from where I will be living). Eiji made me take the train when I visited him before, and it was no problem. So, just keep "Nippori Station" in mind (not to be confused with "Nishi Nippori", which is the next one down -- and probably means "West Nippori", but I don't feel like looking it up)

So, from Nippori Sta., I looked for familiar tall buildings (which, in the neighborhoods I'm familiar with happen to be "Love Hotels"), and worked my way back to the Kaneko residence.

Behold, some videos I took today in Shinjuku. There's no sound because my camera is old -- that will probably be remedied when I feel like blowing yen at an electronics store.

Parts of Shinjuku Station & the Surrounding Area -- note the wackiness on the giant screen (which did have sound -- hence why I should get an awesome camera soon!)
The penguins on the sign at the end are mascots for Japan Rail's reloadable tickets aka- SUICA (Suica means "watermelon", but is an acronym for Super Urban Intelligence Card. -- because everything here is "super")




Here's a view of some of Shinjuku from the view of one of the station's exits.




Buddha and Metropolis

Learning the Trains! - Part 1

Today I wanted to make sure I can get to work without being lost.
So, I began (like yesterday) by walking to where my apt. is, but then I hopped onto the Chiyoda Line at Nezu Station. I made the transfer to the Tama Express - Odakyu Line in Yoyogi Uehara, and ended up at Seijogakuenmae Station (about 2 minutes from where my work is).

The work-area station is in Seijo, about as quiet of a neighborhood as exists in Tokyo. It kind of reminds me of Haddonfield (despite the 4-story semi-outdoor mall above the station).
Seijo has a few restaurants & stores, but doesn't appear to hold much in the way of nightlife or entertainment. That's fine since after work I'll usually want to head homeward anyway!
The station will always remind me of Ettore as well, since there is a 'Dean & Deluca' coffee shop at the exit I will be using. I never heard of that company until he got what I think were free cookies & coffee (and were delicious) -- so I'll probably be stopping there a lot.

So, now behold a few views of Seijo:

Even in Japan, they start celebrating Christmas too early!
(note: for some reason, KFC has become the traditional thing to eat on Christmas Day here -- I will probably be a good citizen and down a bucket when the time comes!)



Eiji's mom was very nice and gave me some sandwiches and this juice box before I set out this morning. The label didn't lie -- it was full of "brightly colored vegetables" and was indeed "delicious"!



This is looking down from the top of the Seijo Station Mall. The (partially obscured) tracks are where my train comes in.

Monday's activities

Today I walked from Eiji's house to my new apt. Time: 10 min.

Then I walked past Shinobazu pond, through Ueno park, into downtown Ueno. (this is a typical "urban Tokyo" scene, with huge buildings, lots of lights, etc). Maybe another 10 or 15 min. to get there.

I was tired then, so I stopped in a McDonald's (aka- Makku Donarudo) for coffee and a McGriddle. What an awesome sandwich!!
In the McDonald's, I saw what I think was a 40-something businessman with a prostitute. They sat next to me -- she was wearing semi-torn netted stockings and a short skirt and appeared to be about 19! So sleazy! ;-D

Then I went into an electronics store and bought a portable radio (which is a ridiculously small walkman) so I'll have commute entertainment. I hope to learn most of the new big Japanese pop songs & pick up more words along the way!

Following the purchase, I rode the Yamanote line, which is a loop, nearly all the way (about 60 min) to relax and get a feel for some areas that I'll be encountering often. This took me back to Eiji's station, which is surrounded by "Love Hotels" & I got to see one of the infamous panty vending machines (not used - so they're affordable).

Now, just before posting this & getting ready for bed, I felt an earthquake. It seemed gentle, but was definitely there! I expect to not even notice them after a while!
Anyway, I'm totally wiped out now & hope that jet lag is done.

Oyasumi Nasai.....Goodnight!

Updates!

Monday Morning -- I woke up mysteriously early. Damn Jet Lag! (thought I had avoided it!)


Yesterday I found an apartment. It is in the Bunkyo ward of Tokyo. Details to come as I confirm that I can have this!
This location is very near "Shinobazu Pond" (pictured in the Ueno link below), which means I'm near Ueno Zoo and the pandas! Also, it's maybe a 1 minute walk from a train station which (if I catch an express) will take me directly to my job. This is awesome!

Many errands to run this week. Getting a phone is a major one. I anticipate moving into the new place at the end of the week (at which point, many images and blog updates can be expected).

In other news, my body aches since Eiji and I walked all over the place yesterday & capped it off with a 4k run around the greater Ueno area.


Likelihood of eating rice today: 99.9%

Tadaima

I have arrived in Japan!
Now I'm tired after drinking a lot of wine... so more substantial updates will follow in the coming days!
BOOM!