Arriving on Planet Asia, Day 2 in Tokyo

We slept soundly in our comfortable room in the lovely Park Hyatt. We checked out (our bill came to a whopping $2.50 for a phone call we didn't realize wasn't free) and stored our luggage for another day of intense exploring. This time, I silently committed to not overheat like a wimp.

We walked to Yoyogi Park to see the Meiji Shrine. Next to us observing the shrine was an American couple and I immediately felt a kinship. Reading the sign on how to show respect to the shrine, the man tossed a single coin. I turned to him and commented that the sign clearly said "coins" (plural) and that I didn't think a single coin would cut it. Everyone laughed at my hilarity and we started chatting with them. They bragged (okay, maybe they were just making conversation) that though they are from Idaho, they didn't have a long flight because they were coming from San Fransisco. I obviously informed them that I also wasn't coming from home but from New Zealand. Soon, they asked where in Tokyo we were staying and I told them the Park Hyatt. The conversation quickly ended, though I can't for the life of me figure out why. I guess I can concede that I came off a tad elite. 

We strolled through a cheap shopping area filled with costume stores (the Japanese seem to LOVE costumes) and other trinkets to a fancier shopping area that seemed to be the equivalent of 5th Avenue in NY. We passed the most incredible looking ice cream stop that I made Josh promise me we could return to later. We stopped for lunch at a Japanese restaurant and sat at a long counter. They gave us a single menu (which seems to be a trend here) to peruse. The food was pretty good - fresh, colorful, interesting, beautifully prepared, very different flavors, not really our taste. We both confirmed that we hate miso soup. The Japanese love it. Feeling accomplished that we ate a Japanese meal, and navigated a dining experience successfully, we strutted over to Shibuya to see the famed Shibuya crossing, the busiest intersection in the world. On recommendation from friends, we found the Starbucks and viewed from the 2nd floor windows, as the lights changed and the streets when from traffic flowing, to empty to masses of people flooding the streets from every direction and then empty again. We watched a few times and then caught the train back to Shinjuku for that special-looking ice cream. 

Literal Ice Cream Sandwich

And special it was! I can officially say that I ate my first ice cream sandwich. You may wonder what planet I am from that I have never had an ice cream sandwich before. Well, I have had ice cream sandwiched between cookies. Delicious. This, however, was an actual sandwich. They placed the ice cream between 2 pieces of brioche (and looked like a chocolate challah roll). Glad I tried it but please, never again . 

We then attempted for the 2nd time and successfully visited the Imperial Palace. The gardens were expansive and well manicured. We took a break from the heat and sat in the shade on the grass.

Eventually, made our way to the delightfully named Piss Alley and experienced a totally different side of Tokyo! We walked through the alleys, where apparently you can order the most revolting delicacies such as a still-beating frog heart. We tried to stop in a tiny bar for a drink but were smothered in cigarette smoke in each one we tried so we selected a nearby restaurant above the alley for mojitos. In preparation for what lie ahead, I requested from the waiter "a very strong mojito," He laughed but the drink still tasted void of alcohol. 

We then went to the Robot Restaurant for a Robot Show that we had heard so much about. It was certainly the nuttiest "theater" experience. I cannot even come close to describing it. There were colorful lights, scattered music selections, wild costumes, ridiculous English phrases said in thick Japanese accents, and of course, robots. Josh and I watched in utter shock and alarm.

Robot Restaurant

Robot Restaurant

Robot Restaurant

Robot Restaurant

When we walked back to the hotel through the lit up streets, we saw a completely different Tokyo than the one we were in when we started our day. Tokyo sure keeps surprising us!

First Japanese meal 

Piss Alley

Shibuya Crossing