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lost in metro japan

Tokyo Travel Blog › entry 2 of 4 › view all entries

I'm Tokyo, finally!!! The flight was uneventful, people were very quiet already on the plane - movie on the plane Aeon Flux - so so movie. I guess, I better turn on the charm and be chatty with some locals/foreigners. Makiko picked me up at the Airport.

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lost in metro japan

March 31, 2006

The JR Metro

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 20:58:30 EST

The Tokyo subway stations is really humbling me. They have 4 different types with varied pay amounts - same number of stations like in NYC, 400+. I kept going to the wrong station today to get back to my hostel. My japanese is as good as my German - mediocre. I finally found a white guy who directed me to the right place. I was getting desperate bec not alot of people speaks English.

Today was my first sight seeing day and I went to the Asakusa district to see some temples and cherry blossoms. The famous red Kaminarimon-gate (lantern) is located here. Asakusa Nakamise Street is filled with small shops and food stalls that leads into the Senso-ji Temple. I love the yakitori (grilled) food stalls.

The shinkansen (the fastest one)

My favorite dessert is the sweet rice with confection sugar, green tea flavored. Yeah, I was having cherry blossoms overloads in photos. There was a big incense area before you enter Senso-ji Temple. The smoke from the incense was suppose to have some healing power. So I kinda puff the smoke near my head so I can be MORE smarter.

The streets here are really confusing! I was poor example of an Amazing Race contestant today. I got lost, ALOT. Funny story about lunch, I went to a local soup place. I didn't know that I have to order my food in the vending machine, then give the ticket to the waitress. The lady needed to explain to me in Japanese that I need coins for the machine order. I better check the front area again for a machine before I start to sit and get settled to eat.

Senso-ji Temple (inside Kaminarimon gate)

Thank goodness I brought my gloves and neck gaiter bec its cold and windy here - like 40 degs + windy!! Where is Spring weather??? I hope they have better weather in Kyoto. I was freezing in the phone booth while trying to contact Emi in Akabane. Yeah, it was traumatic trying to use the phone booth with a Japanese phonecard. The instructions was in Japanese so needless to say - Aarghhhh.... It took me forever to contact her. I flagged a school girl to assist me. She hardly spoke English but she gave me her own phone card so I can use it.

I'm meeting with my friend Makiko Sat afternoon. Yes, even Sat she has to work - these people work LONG HOURS. That is it for now, internet access in Kyoto is more expensive. It’s free here at my hostel.