Exploring Shibuyaku

Mt Fuji from our hotel room
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December 4, 5, & 6- Tokyo, Japan

As we left home this morning at 6:15 a.m., there was a full moon partially covered by the early morning mist which greeted us as we started our 10 day trip to Japan and India. I’m just tagging along on a business trip but am anticipating a pleasant time. Instead of doing my Christmas holiday preparations, I’m on American Airlines flight# 169 to Tokyo where we will be spending two nights before heading on to Delhi.

...stopped to get my favorite Japanese vending machine item......

Harajuku Station, Shibuya-ku
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Though we left home on Dec 4th, we have crossed the International Date Line and it’s now Dec 5th. Our flight will last for 12 hours and when we arrive the time will be 17 hours ahead of California. *****************************************************************

This will be my third trip to Tokyo and I will only have one day to explore on my own (as Gary will be working). We are staying at Cerulean Tower Hotel in Shibuya-ku on the 26th floor with a view to the west and Mt Fuji in the distance. We met with three of Gary’s coworkers last night and had a late night dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants. Though it was pleasant company, I had a hugely difficult time staying awake.

Omotosando
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On Thursday, the 6th, after the men took off for the train station and their workday, I picked up a detailed map of the Shibuya area around the hotel and plotted my course for the day......

Once past the massive Shibuya train station, I walked towards Omotesando and was surprised when I reached it in only 20 minutes. Passing the infamous Condomania, I realized I had reached my first destination earlier than planned. The Oriental Bazaar was a great spot to pick up a few gifts to take home and was fun to check out the gigantic Kiddy Land toy store. Omotesando is a pleasant street lined with Zelkova trees and lots of shops.

Tokyo phone booth
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Realizing it was close to noon, I headed west again towards the Meiji Jingu Shrine. I stopped to get my favorite Japanese vending machine items, a Kirin Green Tea (unsweetened!) for only 150 yen (about $1.25).

Entering the large wooden outer gate to Meiji Jingu, I walked along the pleasant wide walkway under the trees, a few of which were showing brilliant red and orange Autumn colors. Stopping at the “Rest House & Snack Area” of the Treasure Museum, I munched on my protein bar and some almonds (I will be good on my diet today so I can cheat in India :-) and enjoyed the serene beauty of the garden. There were not many people here today... unlike the busy weekends.

Meiji Jingu Shrine entrance
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I continued on to the shrine and took several pictures. I checked out a beautiful tree in an outer courtyard that had many small tablets of wood hanging from a wooden structure built around it. Each tablet had a prayer written on it “to the deities of this shrine”. Of course, they charge $5 for the privledge of leaving your prayer near the “sacred” tree....

I headed back to the hotel via a different route south between the futuristic looking stadium and the NHK Television Studios. There is a nice pedestrian street here which is perfect for a stroll. It would have been beautiful a couple of weeks ago when these trees were in their full Autumn colors. I continued on down Koen Dori and past Shibuya Station and on to the Cerulean Tower Tokyo Hotel ariving at 3 p.m.

Autumn colors in the gardens
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As the sun was setting at 4:15p.m., I headed out again to do some shopping at the Tokyu Department Store (East). I passed a Dean & Deluca store and after checking out the incredible selection of prepared food in different vendors booths there, I bought a grilled vegetable salad and some braised chicken to eat in our room. It’s cost was only 1,102 yen (under $10) and was quite good. The day ended with a little TV, some reading and enjoyment of the nightime view of Tokyo. Tomorrow, it’s on to India....