This is all you need for a smooth trip…
Your JR ticket, an iPod and a brewski…
Travel Tools
Big Pink Dot
Kenzo Tange is a Japanese architect that has designed many buildings including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Complex in Shinjuku.
He also designed the Yoyogi Stadium and Metropolitan Gym in Shibuya next door to NHK’s studios.
What he DIDN’T design was that big pink dot that’s the mascot of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup tournament that was being hosted there.
Dun get that dot confused with this pink dot…
Ghibli Museum
The first time I went to Japan, I wanted to visit the Ghibli Museum but didn’t have the time or tickets. You need to buy them in advance from JTB travel agencies in the states before you arrive in Japan.
Ghibli is a museum devoted to the works of Miyazaki Hayao. They don’t allow photos inside but they do allow pictures outside. This is the outside of the building. What’s that on the roof?
It even has its own buses to bring you there from the Mitaka JR Station. かわいい
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“Fuji-San”!
I’m on the Shinkansen heading back to Tokyo. Yea!
And to the New Koyo. No comment.
The train is about two hours into the journey. Suddenly around the bend looking out the left side of the train,
“Fuji-San! Fuji-San desu“!
Fuji is a notoriously shy mountain; it’s usually hidden behind cloud cover. But not today. Everyone in my car rushed to the windows, whipped open their phones and started taking pictures.
I felt absolutely ancient taking pictures with my camera…
Kyoto Imperial Palace
After waking from my shochu & sento enhanced slumber, the rain stopped and I made it out to the Imperial Palace. I ran into a fellow traveller from the New Koyo in line to enter. We tried to contact each other when we got to Kyoto, but was difficult since we were staying in different places.
Kyoto was the capital until the late 1800s when the seat of government was moved to Tokyo. The palace is still here and it’s now used for enthronement ceremonies.
It was impressive. Especially the gardens. Like my backyard could look like this!
Otaku outed at Bandai Museum
Today marks 7 days until I gotta go back to SF so I decided to do something absolutely silly.
I went to the Bandai Museum in Matsudo where I saw stuff like this:
This is the Bandai Museum and there are features on every show and franchise Bandai holds.
The Gundam part of the museum is upstairs.
Here you are immersed in the world of Universal Century (UC) Gundam.
Zakus usually fall to this guy
These cosplayers are here for an event. Nice!
And of course, you’ve got the Gift Shop at the end where there are silly things to see and buy
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