Since last time we have recovered from karaoke, had a day or two off, then checked out Osaka castle in the middle of the city, before meeting up with another of my friends (Showji) and had a walk around town. We ended up spending a few hours at Yodobashi Camera in Osaka - one of the largest electronics chains around. To get an idea of how large their store was, imagine a JB-Hifi, then multiply that by 5 stories. That was the size of the Osaka branch (still not the largest in Japan, more on that later).
A garden in Kyoto.
One of the main Kyoto temples.
Osaka Castle.
Unfortunately our time in Osaka was over, so we saw off Yoko one last time (and gave her some chocolates from Switzerland for being such a good tour guide) and made our way to the Shinkansen again. Upon arriving back in Tokyo, we immediately met up with Marie again (she had a day off the next day) and went to a local bar near out hostel. The next day, she took us to Harajuku, where we saw the Meiji Jingu (Meiji Shrine). This place was huge - much like Osaka Castle, it was surrounded by all sides by the urban sprawl of Tokyo.
The main gate at Meiji Jingu.
From here we had lunch at a buffet (still floored at how they charged more for males than females), before heading to a market street in Harajuku, where we bought some tshirts, gifts, and oddities at the \100 shop. Our night led us to Roppongi, the centre of Tokyo nightlife, where we had a few drinks at a bar (taking advantage of happy hour prices) before settling on some ramen for dinner.
Without Marie to guide us the next day, we made our way to Akihabara - undoubtedly the geek capital of the world. As far as the eye could see were stores selling Hobby arts (figurines), Manga (comic books) and games (games). It was here we found Yodobashi-Akiba - the largest single store I've ever seen in my life. It was larger than the one in Osaka, and 8 stories tall. I struggled to get the whole thing in the one photo.
Yodobashi-Akiba...almost all of it.
As you can guess, we got lost in there for about 4 hours, before emerging and browsing the plethora of markets that lined the streets, buying a few gifts for friends and Biddo again trying his luck at the UFO catcher machines (no such luck this time around). After two days of nonstop walking around Tokyo, we headed back and headed straight for bed (well I did, anyway).
Again, sorry for not being able to call/message but happy birthday to my brother Adrian and his new wife Nicole for the 28th. Hope you all had a good time.
Cheers, and sayonara. We head home in 3 days!
1 comment:
Dear Boys,
It all sounds terrific and the photos are very appealing. Its amazing the difference in the traditional culture as in buildings, gates, gardens and lovely crockery and food and the new, what you call geek stuff. I did not know they charge more for men's serves of food than women's serves or do you mean they charge men more because they expect them to eat more at a buffet? That might be true but you would not get away with it here.
We will be turning on very hot weather for your return so be prepared, mentally at least, if that is at all possible, given the fact that you have almost acclimatised to cold weather.
See you soon.
Judy and Ralph
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