Last days in Japan

Akihabara girl giving out fliers

NOTE: We are starting to get these photos organized - taking zillions but can't post them all on the blog so check this link if you want to see more:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelallplanes

We're back in Kisarazu after 2.5 days in Tokyo.
Went there on Friday to hang for the weekend. It's our last Tokyo blast for this trip, and we're sorry to see it go.
Got in Friday afternoon, and went to our hotel to drop off our bags. We then headed out. Had a great Chinese lunch. We were all a bit bagged, but walked to Akihabara, the electronics and anime centre of Tokyo, and possibly the world. The girls quickly got fatigued, and opted to head back to the hotel room. Caleb and I were up for it though. Caleb went off for a bit on his own (a foreshadowing of the next day, when he spent the entire day on his own for the first time of the trip, and undoubtably not the last), as did I. He played video games at one of the huge Sega buildings, which is floor after floor of a variety of video games, everything from those electronic crane things where you maneuver the crane over an item you want to win in an attempt to win it, to video-based instrument games, to pure battle royales between your character and a variety of opponents. There is smoking in these places, as well as multiple vending machines selling iced coffee, water, tea, soft drinks and vitamen drinks, to name a few.
Anyhoo, he did that and I bopped around, visiting all these different stores, from bizarro anime videos and action figures to floor after floor of manga books, DVDs, anime, electronics and more.

Caleb and I finally met up, walked around a bit more, and then pooped, headed back to the hotel room, getting lost for a bit. We then met Lianna's friend Ken for dinner, which was really enjoyable. We went to a typical Tokyo place on the 5th floor of a tall skinny building. We had our own booth, isolated and private. Ken kept the food coming - a kind of Japanese tappas, with everything from French fries, chicken scewers, meat scewers, eggs and more. Ken was lots of fun, and we talked for quite a while. Tired and full, we returned to our hotel, where we were in separate rooms - the kids on one side, and L and I on the other.

A word about the room from Lianna:
Artemis and I arrived at the hotel earlier than the boys. We were given a key to a second floor room, small, four beds squished inside a box. I loked out the window to see the wall of another building. I lay down to hear the whirling of a generator belt, LOUD. After about 5 minutes I said there is no way I can sleep here tonight. I left Artemis in the room and went to the lobby to complain. Being the great service you usually get in Japan, they said they would change it immediatley. We waited in the room for their call and as I am telling Artemis how terrible the sound is and how I could possibly put up with traffic noise, but this? No way. The sound stops. We run to the window and see that the belt is not moving and it is quite quiet. There is a knock at the door and the hotel clerk comes in to retrieve one of the beds. He says nothing, we say nothing. They move us to the 10th floor, a suite with a view! It is fabulous.
Liana

The next day L and I headed out for coffee while the kids slept in, as has become our habbit. A brief stop at Dotour, the Japanese version of Blenz, and then we walked around looking for something for the kids. Found an excellent bakery, and loaded up on stuff like apricot danish, raisin and nut loaves, chocolate swirl bread, and ham and cheese buns. All very good.

After returning to the room and feeding the kids we left for the our day of discovery. It quickly became evident that Caleb's long face and grumpy mood was going to be an issue. I suggested he spend the day on his own, walking around Akihabara, playing video games to his heart's content. L was a bit concerned, but soon realized this was going to become an issue, and we were going to have to do this at some point. So we loaded him up with money, the name of the hotel, directions orientation and faith in his ability as a young man, and set him on his way.


Caleb going off on his own! (shorts and black backpack)


The girls and I headed for Kanda, which is the big book area in Tokyo, which it was. We then walked through the Imperial grounds, which was quaint, and ended up in Ginza, on a Saturday, which was a show! Ginza is ground zerio (love that expression!) for brand-name designer goods: Louis Vuitton; Tiffany's, Bulgari, Chanel, Dior, Prada, and on and on they go.




Ginza Street

They actually close the streets to cars, and people just mull around, with stores packed and people shopping like crazy, even at incredibly outrageous prices. Artemis ran from store to store, becoming more disappointed with every step, as the designs, the bags, the clothes, were all very... boring! Chanel bags at over $3,000 were not really very nice at all. We finished the day with a coffee and pastry at a chi-chi place. Payed $30 bucks for it, had fun and went back to the hotel, to find Caleb there waiting for us!


Imperial Grounds-Tokyo

We were supposed to go to a ball game: Tokyo Giants were playing, but the kids could barely move. They were glued to the computer, catching up on this season's "America's Next Top Model". The didn't even want to go out for dinner. So L and I went for a great dinner down the street, and ate lots of fish!
Japan is definitely the place for eating fish and seafood. We stopped at the 7-11 on the way home, and picked up the kids some great stuff for dinner. Unlike our 7-11s, these have great food! Salads, noodle dishes, bentos and more. All fresh, as the turnover is high.


Caleb enjoying Ice Coffee

Sunday, finished off with a bang, as we went through Shinjuku, a funky fashion area, and ended up in Yoyogi park, which, to our great joy, had all these bands, set up around the perimeter, playing every kind of music imagineable!! We slowly made our way around, watching and listening. Actually bought a CD from one group it was so great. People were dressed up. At one point we came across the Tokyo Rockabilly club, which had guys and gals dressed like it was the 50s, whith HUGE duck tail hairdos, sock hop skirts, leather jackets, and even a fire-engine red Cadillac from the 50s. Very cool. And they were all dancing to 50s faves.


Singer in Yoyogi


Walking in Yoyogi Park


Another band-there were lots of these kinds of groups




Afer returning by train we were picked up by Lianna's friend Isono, as we'd made a date with him to have a pizza night at his place, which we did. They ordered 4 pizzas, from PIZZALA,which were all very good with a definite Japanese flavour. Found out that his wife is taking Hula dancing lessons and performing in different places around Chiba.

Lianna on Disney and last day...
The next day is Tokyo Disney Sea. There is also a Disneyland but we decide to try out the new Disney Sea. It is raining in the morning, great time to go, hopefully noone will be there. There are less people than usualy. We park close to the entrance, it is pouring and cold. I am wondering what the hell we are doing However we have a blast. The rain stop after lunch and we whirl around from ride to ride, not waiting more than 10 minutes for each and going on some of them more than once. We all had a blast!


Disney Sea with Chiaki






Last day before we leave to China is for last minute items and some schooling which is yet to set into any kind of pattern or schedule. I leave in the morning to Satomis Spa as I am going to be her model for the upcoming brochure and the kids and Mark stay at the house trying to get started. In the evening we have a big Gyoza making party with Satomi. They are delicious after taking hours to prepare. WOrth it for sure and now we know how to make them.


Room at Satomis - Clean up time!

Isono picks us up early in the morning to take us to the airport to catch our flight to Beijing. We are all tired but ready to go. There are tears at Satomis house, especially from her daughter Chiaki. We are all sad to go yet excited about moving on to our next adventure.

In the car Mark talks to Isono about Out of Body experiences and the meaning of time and other consciousnesses. Isono says that maybe we are brainwashed. Mark replies than maybe Isono is brainwashed. Who can tell? Isono agrees that he is definetely brainwashed. Stimulating conversation about 7:30 in the morning.

Next CHINA
Lianna