The “two sisters”(Nnylanna and Piberg) arrived in the japanese capital on october 12, 2008, which just happens to be my birthday, if anybody’s interested with that little bit of info. i have to admit that when my sister first broached the idea of going to japan, I wasn’t too thrilled with it. Aside from modern technology, the japayukis(filipino entertainers working in japan), the yakuza/ninjas/samurais/geishas/animes etc. that were fed to us by the american entertainment media, i didn’t know much about the japanese culture nor was i interested to know. Like every other asian country that was once occupied by japan, i still harbor ill feelings towards our former colonial masters. What do you expect when i would often hear from our older relatives that they were cruel, ruthless, scary and mean and were often depicted as such in historical documentaries and movies. i figured, we’ll have a hard time going around the country because we don’t know their language and they will most definitely dismiss us if we so much as try to ask for assistance of any kind. Little did I know that in another continent, my sister’s line of thinking about japan runs in the same way as mine. When her caucasian friends comes back from a holiday in japan, they were all in praise about japan as a country and the japanese as a people, my sister would always interject and say they are nice to you because you're white. Only last month, in a conversation with my oldest brother, who was also in Japan a year before us, I learned that before his actual trip, his thoughts were exactly like mine and my sisters’ on this subject. Funny how my siblings and i are united in our misplaced biases. Nevertheless, off we went anyway but not expecting much from it.
Tokyo is the seat of the Japanese government. it was originally known as EDO, meaning estuary. Its name was changed to Tokyo (TO, meaning east and KYO, meaning capital) when it became the imperial capital in 1868. During the Meiji Period(1868-1912), the city was also called Tokei.
As soon as we landed in Narita and was waiting for the ride that would take us to our hotel, i noticed this maybe 1½ x 2½ meter glass box packed by smokers. it’s a smoking booth, a designated area for smokers(Little miss ignoramus who’s a non-smoker has never seen one in her life). I can only imagine the quality of air inside that box. A healthy person who goes inside that box and stay there for a few hours could end up with a serious lung disease after, it was like a freakin’ sauna minus the scented oils.
Being from the philippines, where traffic is a way of life, im no stranger to flyovers stack one over the other. What’s different in the flyovers in some parts of tokyo is, it snakes between buildings! Talk about desperate situations that calls for desperate measures. Tokyo is reputed to be one of the most populous cities in the world so, the limited space is a big problem. We were told that it is not easy to purchase a car if youre a tokyo resident, one would need clearances from several government agencies to prove that you have a space where you will park that car. That said space could cost you a small fortune.
Keio Plaza Hotel is a luxury hotel located in the Shinjuku district, in the very heart of the tokyo metropolis. Our first choice was actually Hyatt Regency Hotel but much to my sister’s dismay, we lost our booking because it took forever for my visa to be released, by the time i was able to secure one, Hyatt was already fully booked. Anyway, having seen both locations, Keio is the better choice if access to Shinjuku Station is a primary consideration as it is in our case. So, all’s well that ends well.
At the risk of grossing out a lot of people here, i still would like to pay tribute to a japanese invention that my sister and i terribly missed when we left japan. we miss its heated and padded seats, its fully automated advance features which i will no longer discuss in details lest i be accused of being a first-rate crass. im referring to one of Japan’s greatest 20th century invention, TOTO and its hi-tech toilet, the Washlet…
Inasmuch as japan is the home of modern technology and innovation, it is noteworthy that they still have the squat type toilets everywhere. In the entire time that my sister and I were on tour, we oftentimes found ourselves confronted by these type of fixtures. im sorry to say, neither of us could find the courage to use one. personally, i have this fear that i might slip and my foot could end up inside.eeww…
Enough toilet talk, our first day of tour was the Mt Fuji and Hakone tour. Mt Fuji is the highest peak in Japan. It is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707. it is a well known symbol of Japan and is frquently depicted in arts and photographs. Hakone is located in the Kanagawa Prefecture. It hosts substantial tourist activities and is well known for its Onsen or hot springs. Our first stop was the FUJI SKYLINE FIFTH STATION, with an altitude of 8,000ft above sea level, i was out of breath after only climbing a few steps of the stairs that will take us to the souvenier shop, am i out-of-shape or what?
We had lunch at the Hakone Lake Hotel and I just have to write about this american couple whom we shared a table with. they were Formula One Ferrari Team fanatics and they were headed to Shanghai for the Grand Prix and just took a side trip to Tokyo. I want to write about them because the husband was asking me about the Philippines and its capital Manila. He was asking me what is the population of Manila and at that point I realized I know very little about my own country and was embarrassed to admit it to myself. Im proud to say now that ive done my research since then and for everybody’s information, Manila’s population is a little under 1.7million and with an area of approximately only 38 1/2 sq. km. which makes it, one of the most, if not the most densely populated city in the world. Thank you very much *bow*.
We then rode the HAKONE SKY GONDOLA with its breath-taking 360degree view of the Volcanic Hakone Mountains. OWAKUDANI or the Great Boiling Valley is a volcanic valley with active sulphur vents and hot springs. A local specialty is called Kuro-Tamago or black eggs, its eggs hard boiled in the hot springs that turns black and smells slightly sulphuric. Eating 1 egg is said to add 7yrs to your life.
Next was the pirate boat cruise on LAKE ASHI…it is a crater lake that lies in the wall of the caldera of Mt Hakone, a complex volcano.
Our tour group returned to Tokyo via 2 ways, some opted to ride the bus that we have been riding all day and the others via the Shinkanzen a.k.a. the Bullet Train. Nnylanna and Piberg of course chose the latter. To say that our group was excited to ride this train is an understatement. Most of us would break into loud cheers each time a coach would so much as pass on the opposite tracks, boy, it sure is fast! As soon as one stopped right in front of us we couldnt wait to board it, some were even video taping themselves as they entered, naaaah, were not that excited ^..^ so, imagine our surprise when we found our supposedly guaranteed seats occupied by someone else. It turned out that the not-so-excited tourists, namely our group, boarded the wrong coach, we should have boarded the next one, yikes! An order to throw us out of the train was not issued, instead, a smiling train attendant told us we can occupy the empty seats. these japanese sure are a nice courteous lot.
Id also like to take note, that when we got off Shinjuku Station(the world’s busiest train station), we lost all sense of direction and we couldn’t find the street that would take us back to our hotel. In a sea of people hanging out in that part of Shinjuku(it has the largest numbers of registered foreign nationals in tokyo), we decided to approach this pretty decent-looking guy whom we assumed knows how to converse in english, big mistake, not a word of english from the guy. But he was so gracious when we showed him the map and where we were headed, he wanted to walk us back to our hotel. To make a long story short, we were able to understand each other by gestures like pointing, nodding, dissent, bowing and smiling. We saw that act of kindness all throughout our Japan trip and i have to admit at that point, my impression of japan and the japanese are changing for the better.
Day 3 is a Grand Full Day Tour of Tokyo. First stop…TOKYO TOWER…the world’s tallest self supporting steel structure, at least at that time it was still the tallest because were told that a taller one is under construction and is currently planned to open by 2011.
2nd stop…MEIJI SHRINE…immediately, i was impressed by this place. It is vast, well maintained and it is the first asian architecture of its kind that I have ever seen and I like its uniquely asian touch, makes me proud of my asian heritage. Meiji Shrine is a shinto shrine located in Shibuya, a popular fashion center in Tokyo specially among the young trendy Japanese. The shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort Empress Shoken. Meiji, the 122nd emperor of Japan was the symbolic leader of the Meiji Restoration, in which the Tokugawa Shogunate(ruled Japan from 1603-1867) was abolished. Meiji Restoration is a source of pride for the japanese as it allowed japan to become a preeminent power in the pacific and a major player in the world within a generation.
If I may add, i was quite surprised to find a serene if not spooky place like this right in the middle of a densely populated city like Tokyo, mush less in Shibuya, where the world’s busiest intersection is located. One morning, my sister at one point called my attention to a group of people, whom we assume to be office workers that were about to cross an intersection, each one wearing the same office gear, they’re like an army of black suits.
3rd and 4th stop was a drive by at the ASAKASA GUEST HOUSE and the NATIONAL DIET BUILDING. Asakasa is a former imperial residence that now function as a State Guesthouse for visiting state dignitaries.
the National Diet Building (House of Parliament). Im now reminded of a japanese drama that I saw entitled “Change” starring Kimura Takuya, my favorite jdrama actor and I now have a better understanding of how the japanese government works and how similar politicians are everywhere in the world, that they are a bunch of…don’t make me say it, ok S O _’s!
5th stop, the IMPERIAL PALACE…home of the Emperor and Empress, the current occupants of the Chrysanthemum Throne. We could only take pics of the moat, the garden, and the bridges(2) that leads to the palace, no we didn’t catch a glimpse of Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Crown Princess Masako or even Princess Aiko. To bad, we didn’t see any of those guys. they must be taking a nap.^^
6th stop, a drive through at the world famous GINZA SHOPPING DISTRICT. Of all the brand name shops in that area, we only bought an apple green umbrella because we have to, there was a sudden drizzle outside. i have to take note of this, usually, when the rain suddenly stops, the japanese leave their umbrellas in the shops where they took cover when it rains. those clear, transparent umbrellas that we see in those dramas are in all intents and purposes, disposable! we really should have just taken one from the doorman in that shop instead for paying for one at 1500yen.
7th stop, Japanese style lunch, KYO-GOZEN. Everything in that bento box was…yummy, as in!
8th stop, TASAKI PEARL GALLERY. We were shown the complete process of pearl cultivation by this japanese that kept us entertained with his funny antics. One lucky participant from our tour group had a chance to win the cultured pearl shown below, i was asked to draw the winner, haay, i was unable to pick my name nor my sisters'. question is, if by chance, i had picked my name or my sister's, does delicadeza dictate that i should return it? are you kidding me?
9th stop, SUMIDA RIVER CRUISE…Sumida is a river that flows through Tokyo. It is actually a 30minute boat ride to Asakusa.
10th stop, ASAKUSA KANNON TEMPLE a.k.a. SENSO-JI, the oldest temple in Tokyo. The first temple was built on the site in 645AD and was designated as the tutelary temple of the Tokugawa Clan in the early year of the Tokugawa Shogunate. If I may inject a little bit of history, a Shogun is a military rank and historical title for (in most cases) hereditary military dictator of Japan. A shogun's office or administration is known in English as a "Shogunate", in Japanese it was known as “Bakufu”.
The Kaminarimon - the Gate of the God of Thunder- with its huge red lantern, is the main entrance to the temple.
Around the premises of Asakusa is NAKAMISE Shopping District where souvenir shops lined the area. This is the place where my sister did a panic-buying of Silk Kimonos for herself and for friends and relatives. don’t ask me how many she bought, i didn’t even bother to count. Imagine her disappointment when we found out the it was cheaper to buy a Silk Kimono and a Yukata(cotton Kimono usually worn in summer) in Kyoto…haha…what can I do, I couldn’t stop her. After that though she started to listen to me when I tell her to look around first before parting with your money. Because im pretty tight with the cash, we ended up bringing home a couple of Yen and Yuan at the end of our trip. My sister was not too happy with that coz she said that usually, she has to withdraw extra cash from the ATM aside from the ones she already brought with her whenever she’s on a vacation, well, that’s what happens when the first thing you look for in every stop is the souvenir shop!
11th and 12th stop, a drive through KAPPABASHI, this part of Tokyo sells restaurant supplies and wax food samples, and UENO & AKIHABARA. Those food display looks really mouth-watering, but, they’re all FAKE!
Ueno is home to some of Tokyo’s finest cultural sites like the Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Western Arts, and the National Science Museum.
Akihabara is frequently shortened to Akiba in Japan. men of every nationality, shape and size, from puberty to senility, love this area because of the young japanese ladies dressed in skimpy costumes(Cosplay, costume play) providing street entertainment, sometimes waitresses or shop attendants dressed as maids for the tourists. it is dubbed as the Electric Town because it is a major shopping area for electronic, computer, anime and otaku goods, none of which i nor my sister could identify with so, end of the day for us.
Day 3 in Tokyo…head to Tokyo Station for our next major Japan destination, KYOTO. 2days before, we already bought our reserved seats in the NOZOMI train(the fastest among the Shinkanzen train series). If I remember correctly, we paid roughly 30,000yen+/- for the two tickets. The distance between Tokyo and Kyoto is about 500km+/- and at normal speeds on the Nozomi, that trip will take about a little over 2hrs at 300+/- km/hr. conventional local trains will take about 9hrs of travel for the same destination and 4 train transfers. I noticed that the Japanese lifestyle is generally very structured, they are always on time. I guess this the best time to pay tribute to another of Japan’s well-loved invention, the SHINKANZEN, more popularly known as the BULLET TRAIN. Its literal translation is “New Trunk Line”…
…the Shinkansen is very reliable, and in 2003, JR Central reported that the Shinkansen's average arrival time was within six seconds of the scheduled time. This includes all natural and human accidents and errors and is calculated over roughly 160,000 Shinkansen trips completed. The previous record, from 1997, was 18 seconds. During the Shinkansen's 45-year, nearly 7 billion-passenger history, there have been no passenger fatalities due to derailments or collisions, despite frequent earthquakes and typhoons. Injuries and a single fatality have been caused by doors closing on passengers or their belongings; attendants are employed at platforms to prevent such mishaps. There have, however, been suicides by passengers jumping both from and in front of moving trains. The only derailment of a Shinkansen train in passenger service occurred during an earthquake on 2004 when eight of ten cars of the train on the Jōetsu Shinkansen derailed near Nagaoka Station in Nagaoka, Niigata. There were no casualties among the 154 passengers. In the event of an earthquake, an earthquake detection system can bring the train to a stop very quickly. Experimental Fastech 360 trains have ear-like air resistance braking flaps to assist emergency stops at high speeds. A new anti-derailment device was installed after detailed analysis of the derailment. Travelling Tokyo-Osaka by Shinkansen produces only around 16% of the carbon dioxide of the equivalent journey by car, a savings of 15,000 tons of CO2 per year.
Enough gushing over this travelling wonder and back to our trip. Kyoto here we come…
