You are either already subscribed or there was an error
Your entry has been submitted
Sorry, your entry could not be submitted
Japan Diaries [Day 8]
2007.10.03
My bento (a big box like this was about 750Y ($7.50AU), and really good value! It certainly kept me full for hours!
Click here to add text
My bento (a big box like this was about 750Y ($7.50AU), and really good value! It certainly kept me full for hours!
1
Click here to add text
2
Matt (distastefully) holding up his lunch - sausage in pastry with cheese. Despite his face, he said it tasted good :P
Click here to add text
Matt (distastefully) holding up his lunch - sausage in pastry with cheese. Despite his face, he said it tasted good :P
3
Proof that I actually finished it! ;)
Click here to add text
Proof that I actually finished it! ;)
4
Some birds were sitting very near us while we ate lunch.
Click here to add text
Some birds were sitting very near us while we ate lunch.
5
Walking around the lake, we spied turtles...
Click here to add text
Walking around the lake, we spied turtles...
6
... and carp!
Click here to add text
... and carp!
7
Symmetry of the city (wasn't there a 'reflection' theme on Photoblog recently??)
Click here to add text
Symmetry of the city (wasn't there a 'reflection' theme on Photoblog recently??)
8
Walking across a bridge, pretending it's a very narrow beam (no, I don't know why either) ;)
Click here to add text
Walking across a bridge, pretending it's a very narrow beam (no, I don't know why either) ;)
9
(free cuddles in the park for everyone!) :D
Click here to add text
(free cuddles in the park for everyone!) :D
10
Pictures start now from the Imperial Palace (and Gardens).
There was an enormous space here with all kinds of fountains - this was my favourite shot from this area.
Click here to add text
Pictures start now from the Imperial Palace (and Gardens).
There was an enormous space here with all kinds of fountains - this was my favourite shot from this area.
11
Matt spied this MASSIVE wasp-type insect very close to where I was taking pictures. So of course, I captured it for your viewing pleasure ;)
Click here to add text
Matt spied this MASSIVE wasp-type insect very close to where I was taking pictures. So of course, I captured it for your viewing pleasure ;)
12
You can see Tokyo Tower in the background of this picture (which we didn't go up, considering it was a big tourist trap... more impressive from far away :P)
Click here to add text
You can see Tokyo Tower in the background of this picture (which we didn't go up, considering it was a big tourist trap... more impressive from far away :P)
13
Matt consulting our little book on which direction to go to enter the Imperial Palace area.
Click here to add text
Matt consulting our little book on which direction to go to enter the Imperial Palace area.
14
One of the old guard buildings on the outskirts of the palace grounds.
Click here to add text
One of the old guard buildings on the outskirts of the palace grounds.
15
(This section was off-limits, but I photographed it through bars... hard to tell hey?)
Click here to add text
(This section was off-limits, but I photographed it through bars... hard to tell hey?)
16
Part of the old Palace was burnt down twice, and only its foundations remain in this area. We climbed up and photographed the park from here.
Click here to add text
Part of the old Palace was burnt down twice, and only its foundations remain in this area. We climbed up and photographed the park from here.
17
This was in a separate garden of the grounds... very pretty :)
Click here to add text
This was in a separate garden of the grounds... very pretty :)
18
Moving along... in Akihabara, Matt discovers that you can buy a KFC meal combo with beer!
Click here to add text
Moving along... in Akihabara, Matt discovers that you can buy a KFC meal combo with beer!
19
This was from some sort of game show on TV that night... from what I gathered the segment was about guessing what emotion the smilies portrayed! (only in Japan!!)
Click here to add text
This was from some sort of game show on TV that night... from what I gathered the segment was about guessing what emotion the smilies portrayed! (only in Japan!!)
20
Day 8 [October 3rd]
* Our last full day in Tokyo, we plan to relax but also revisit some favourite places, and pick up gifts for friends and family.
* Once again, free Internet rocks ;)
* Purchase bento (boxed lunch) at Tokyo Stn, and we take a train to Hamamatsucho station – to eat in one of Tokyo's beautiful parks, which is absolutely gorgeous! I was very excited about fulfilling one of my most-wanted things to do whilst in Japan (bento in a park), and made Matt take some pictures, heh. Oh, and the bento contained a variety of cured/smoked fish, rices, seasonings and sweet vegetables (I posted a picture above). Despite the food coming from a station (Melbourne’s has a dodgy reputation), this stall was very popular with locals and I wasn’t sure what to choose (there were about a dozen different bento options). I end up observing others and choosing the same as three consecutive people ordered – good enough for me!
* The park is immaculate, as all the gardens/parks in Japan so far seem to be. The lake is full of turtles and carp, all appearing at the surface for a feed.
* We visit ‘The Pokemon Centre’, a big Pokemon store near the park/station (oi, no laughing :P). So much awesome stuff, we spend ages looking at little figurines (I buy two plush toys).
* Back to Tokyo station (only three stations away) and off to the Imperial Palace & Gardens. Free admission and HUGE expanses of space (though only ¼ of the grounds are actually open to the public). We purchase a map and spend a couple of hours just exploring, finding out more about the grounds’ history along the way (most of the building have been standing since the 16th century!).
* The Garden closes at 4:30pm (I’m guessing they don’t have evening lighting set up there), so we train to Akihabara for one last time before leaving Tokyo. We hunt down Mister Donut again for a sugar/caffeine fix, and go to Animate (bug anime store) to buy (more!) figures and other such things.
* I see a (teen) schoolgirl while in Mister Donut, purchasing donuts and a big glass of milk, while in school uniform (blue and white, floppy bow tie, high socks, pigtailed hair with heart ‘bobbles’ on the ends). So stereotypical ‘anime’, I gawk for a while. Also later see they women dressed as maids on a street corner, advertising an upstairs ‘maid café’ – we decide not to go in though.
* Packing! Ugh, however did we ever manage to fit everything back into our bags properly tonight?? Thankfully we shouldn’t have to repack again before leaving back home for Melbourne. I also attempt buttons on the scary high-tech toilet in our hotel room, for prosperity’s sake… was funny for a laugh, but not something I’d make a habit of doing again! *yelps*
really beautiful wasp photo... I wonder if that was the infamous Asian Giant Hornet... definitely one of the most deadly/dangerous bugs you can find anywhere on the planet...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_giant_hornet