Tokyo 東京

I'm writing this from the Shinkansen, bound for Osaka (though posting from my friend's place because my battery ran out before).  Having been to Tokyo before, it wasn't as daunting as the first time.  I have a 3-week JR pass, so the initial confusion on metro vs JR subways in Tokyo is mostly moot, as I mostly ignored trains that weren't JR unless necessary.

Among my new experiences was Golden Gai in Shinjuku - went with two Long Islanders from the hostel.  It took a little while to get there, having to pass the one shady street in Tokyo with Nigerians who promise foreigners a good time in some nearby club.   Needless to say, don't go in.  Go to the nearby Golden Gai.  It's a series of side streets with bars everywhere that usually seat 6-10 people.    Very small and personal.  Only one we found was a bit bigger and usually has a small crowd around it.

I made a return trip to Tsukiji Market on Monday, not bothering to wake up early and try and make the auction this time.  I found a sushi place nearby (possibly adjacent to the one I went to the first time).  It had a shorter line associated with it, but the sushi as usual tasted amazing, noticeably more fresh, AND they give you a huge piece of Conger Eel (穴子) for the final course.

From there I had to fulfill a mission I promised myself for Tokyo: To track down the Pokemon Mega Center in Ikebukurou.  (Un?)fortunately, I was sidetracked by Donki houdei, Japan's crazy novelty shop (though this one didn't have nearly as much of the crazy as I hoped for - maybe I should've bought that game where two people need to try and force a pair of underwear off of the other person though).

But anyway, I found the Pokemon Center and it was glorious.  Pokemon plushies and knick-knacks galore.  I bought myself a few things and some gifts here.  I guess the only major complaint I would give the place is a general thing where things in Japan are marketed as cute, so I couldn't find Mega Aggron souvenirs anywhere. :(

Akihabara has been good to me.  The arcades here are as lively as ever, and the arcade industry is still booming.  New rhythm games, fighting games, and games of other genres.  I spent the most time playing Tekken 7, a new Mario Kart game, Person 4 Ultimate Arena, and Gunslinger Stratos.  The latter game is probably the least known in the west.  It's an arcade shooter and 3D fighter in one, where your controllers are two guns (you wield both, not just one), with one controller having movement controls and the other camera and jump controls.

Tuesday was a Hachiko hunt day.  I started in Shibuya with the original (or technically remade) statue of Hachiko, and walked to a park near Harajuku where the sakura were blooming.  But a new statue recently came up in the University of Tokyo, where the dog and his human Ueno were reunited at last.  It took a while, because the statue was not on the main campus but instead near the Agriculture Department on the northern end.  No pictures of University of Tokyo, but it was a weird dichotomy.  Some parts were endless boring buildings and other parts were beautiful parks.  It felt about the size of Princeton and was easy to get lost there.

次は関西なんや！