Wandering around

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We wake up rather late today for a non-shopping-mall shopping experience at Ameyoko market, a busy street close to Ueno station. There are some nice clothing items but nothing really great, and a lot of food, dried fish, dried squids, sashimi, seaweed, miso paste, etc… We don’t find it impressive for what it is said to be: Asia’s biggest bazaar. We continue our walk to the Ueno park, home to many of Tokyo’s homeless. Today, they seem to be enjoying with everybody else the superb sunshine and the cherry trees in full bloom. It’s hard to understand the importance of cherry blossoms for the Japanese; it marks the first signs of spring, but also, believe it or not, the beginning of the school year, early April, is based on the viewing season for the cherry blossoms.

As we had seen earlier in Kyoto, people are picnicking under the shade, and to do so, they remove their shoes before sitting on a big piece of sheeting with their little bentos.

I wanted to see the panda at the Ueno zoo and so we decided to take a look. The poor panda bear is trying to sleep in a concrete tiled room where some bamboo sticks are left lying on the floor. We did not expect that, but it looks like the panda bear spends some time during the day in an open green space at a later time. We also get to see two polar bears and sad lowland gorillas. In the big recreation area and for the first time since we’re in Japan, we see a big number of children. Tokyo is full of businessmen, fashionable youth, but strangely we don’t see lots of children in the streets or on public transport.

What are the things of interest we want to see or do during the rest of our time in Tokyo? East Shinjuku is one of the places we still didn’t get to explore. At the subway exit, the ‘skyscraper district’ is indicated. This is where we wander around looking at the sky, and everything that surrounds us, taking a smoking pause with Tokyo’s businessmen next to high-rise buildings. The architectural styles and shapes of building are unique and very innovative. Ahead is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, actually a huge complex, and we have a look at the impressive panorama from the 45th floor. It’s cloudy again and there is no Mount Fuji in sight but a fantastic view over the world’s biggest urban concentration (32 million inhabitants - including Yokohama).

We spend some time in Ginza at the tiny Leica gallery where a nice photo exhibition is on. We then race to catch a Kabuki play at it last show, but failed to get seated tickets. Our feet heavy from shop hopping, we give up and enjoy the night strolling in Ginza and its neon lights everywhere. We finish the day at a Muji shop.

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Tip of the day

We have a disgusting ramen in Shinjuku business area. I don’t think we’ll try another ramen after that. This cheap stuff is not our cup of tea really.

The best tourist information centre you can imagine at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. Very helpful staff.

Believe it or not, but stunning view for all over Tokyo for free from the top of the Metropolitan Government building.

The zoo can be easily avoided. Watching panda bears in this environment is really not worth it.

Photograph amateurs definitely should stop by Leica gallery. One can see old Leica cameras, as well as interesting (but small) photo exhibition (on the second floor). Leica gallery is one block away from the Sony building, in front of the book shop.