Bekkazilla Tourizes Tokyo!

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

Another vacation thread that nobody asked for...

My recent holiday in Japan! 12 days (including 2 days of planes, trains & automobiles) 😉

Monday 6/3 - day filled mostly with planes. Lots of planes. 🥴 Flew from Akron to Chicago. Then Chicago to San Fran. Finally San Fran to Tokyo
Tuesday 6/4 - skipped entirely due to time zone changes 😵‍💫
Wed. 6/5 - after sleeping a whole 3 1/2 hours in two sittings (literally cuz of lack of reclining seats) they served us what appeared to be dinner of meat & rice

Bit later...

Looking out window. Noticed the time (and then asking for verification) - 4:30am! 😦
Land of the Rising Sun - literally! Googled after landing. Apparently Japan observes an old (wrong) time zone! 🤔

Rode my first bullet train!

Spoiler:

Kyoto station is basically a large tiered mall...

Spoiler:

Literally across the street...

Found this in our search for breakfast foods...

Didn't get this, but did buy what I thought was corn flakes. Wound up being frosted flakes. LoL 😀

Most of that day was spent wandering round the mall, then Kyoto, finding Airbnb & errands (groceries/toiletries/etc). 😳

To be continued...

 

[November]

Looks so modern and futuristic 🙂 thanks for sharing.

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

Thursday 6/6 - Took another bullet train to Osaka for day trip! Due to running late and the train times we didn't get there until afternoon

First stop Osaka Castle...

Spoiler:

Seen this kind of thing in a few places. Just thought it was neat

Pictures don't truly do this place justice. Can't really see just how MASSIVE place is unless physically there!

Main keep

quite the view!

more

Torii Gate

Hideyoshi Toyotomi statue

Hōkoku Shrine

Rokuban-yagura Turret

random phone booth! Actually kind of common over there

We took a train back to city and just walked around before catching bullet train back to Kyoto...

Back in Kyoto...

Was like an hour walk back to airbnb. So we decided just to meander our way back...

Spoiler:

Some rather large temple we walked past

another old temple amidst the modern city. Lotsa that in Japan!

Just a neat looking kind of out of place building

Seems like we're in the right place! #Pride!

Didn't know they had actual stores! You know we had to go in!

Make my own bag?

Challenge accepted! 🙂

Found this little gem a few blocks away. Best Mexican food had in months! 🧡

McScooters- they need these over here! 😀

example of 'Lost in Translation' - there'll be more 😉

Was a rather short walk back to our Airbnb from there. Pretty great first full day in Japan! 🙂

 

[Kendar]

Sounds like you had a blast. But there's a much more important question to ask....

Did you see Godzilla? And if so, did you get his autograph?

 

[Kendar]

I mean, if you go to Japan and don't get the signature of our soon to be radioactive reptilian overlord, then what's the point of the trip?

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

Friday 6/7 - Another day, another bullet train - this time to Himeji. Not as late this time 😉

Out the window on the way

didn't stop for any beef 😉

First stop Himeji Castle...

Spoiler:

Just wow!

views from the top

model of how it once was

another vantage

more cause I just couldn't help myself 😳

an idea of just how massively massive this place is!

part of the moat and wall

According to wikipedia: Himeji is the largest and most visited castle in all of Japan. Definitely my favorite!

seen this while walking back thru town

Wait what? 🤔

Took yet another bullet train back to Kyoto. Followed by another walk...

Spoiler:

another neat half inside & out street 'mall'?

weird Japanese guitars aka Sangens. No I didn't buy one.

Hey look its Colonel Sanders! Didn't eat there, though.

Just thought this was neat old truck.

Found this on one of the 'main streets' of Kyoto.

Me & GF played pool for a bit. Then some local guys thought they'd show off. They're like 'loser buys drinks'.
Guess they'd thought they'd flirt with some foreign girls and scam some free drinks. Suckers! 😎
Hustled them for a few free rounds before they eventually scampered off. 😀

Was getting kind of late. So we walked rest of the way back to the airbnb for the night.

To be continued...

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

Saturday 6/8 - in the footsteps of shoguns & emperors...

No bullet trains necessary today. All Kyoto all the time 😉
Since we knew this day was gonna be chock full of things to see. We had a plan. 😊

Started with a walk to near-ish Nijo Castle...

Spoiler:

Front gate

Karamon Gate

Close up of Karamon Gate

Ninomaru Palace

Honmaru

part of surrounding moat

Onward to Kyoto Gyoen National Garden...

Spoiler:

Entrance gate

one of many outside gates

part of the outside wall

corner of outside wall

Fancy gate

inside gate

part of Imperial palace

more of exterior

more...

did I mention this place was massive (sensing a theme)?

bridge in garden area

Were hoping to see both palaces, but Sento Palace wasn't open again till later, and we were on a rather tight schedule! 😳

Home - Kyoto Imperial Palace

Kyoto Gyoen National Garden-Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan

Took train to Kyoto station and walked to near-ish To-ji Temple...

Spoiler:

Kondo Hall

Japan's tallest Pagoda

Crane/Heron/whatever in nearby pond

more...

Back to train station and onto Fushimi Inari Shrine...

Spoiler:

Outside Torii Gate

Main Hall

more...

One of MANY Torii Gates on temple grounds...

did I mention that there were many Torii gates here? 😉

neat lamp post!

more Torii Gates...

shrine stuff

these guys really like Torii Gates!

neat gold(?) statue!

After walking all day. We followed this path up for like 45 minutes. So our dogs were already barking!
Finally seen a lady walking down. Asked her how much farther up till we reached the top.
She answered another 25 minutes or so. We decided to double back 5 minuted to earlier junction to shorter path back to entrance
Maybe had it been first stop of the day we would've trudged on, but our feet were already getting a tad sore 😳

Had originally planned on one more shrine and the bamboo forrest, but was getting late. 😳
So we took the train back to Kyoto station and another train to our stop. Had late dinner at nearby Indian food place I googled.
Had one of the best curries I've had in a while. Plus waiter gave us free tiny cups of cocoa. ☕ It was incredible! 💛

So that was our last full day in Kyoto. Maybe my favorite city in Japan, overall. 🙂

To be continued...

 

[nightshade]

All these temples, but nothing about a certain girl group you worship...

 

[November]

The pagodas are cool! Probably most of it is older than my country but so much more developed! Thanks for sharing 🙂 cool to see a place that we dont have many members from.

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

Sunday 6/9 - Took longer bullet train back to Tokyo...

Back in Tokyo...

Spoiler:

Tokyo Station

Bout half block from our Airbnb. Look closer...

Yeah that's 2 Ferraris & a porsche! 😲

The neighborhood we stayed in was supposed to be posh, but kinda looked like a mix of fancy, older, kinda average & some just weird.
Hence was most of Tokyo from what I've seen. Also lotsa thin yet tall buildings round. Like vertical was only option 😉

example

After we parked our stuff we just kinda wandered around...

another example of Lost in Translation 😉

this made me giggle 😀

McScooter in action! 😆

We decided to head back for the evening. Got bite to eat at local chain (Burger Mania) up the street

Yeah that is Anne Hathaway movie playing on the wall

 

[Skanky Vamp]

that is Anne Hathaway movie playing

so the trip wasn't all good.

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

Monday 6/10 - A Day in Shibuya...

First stop Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park...

Spoiler:

Torii Gate near the entrance

long walk up this trail

neat looking lamp

another Torii gate

closer view

the shrine

Wandering around Shibuya...

Spoiler:

neat looking retro phone booth

random ginormous whale photo in alley. Nothing to see here

Knew that Tower records still existed over there, but didn't think I'd run into one

more

just had to go in!

was gonna buy something but everything was pricey!

HUGE vinyl section!

all the classics!

surprisingly no Band Maid to be found anywhere! 😲

lots of neat looking buildings and lights here!

Shibuya's famous Scramble Crossing!

Yes we crossed it many times! 😳

more...

just trying to give a sense of the insanity of the place!

found these neat

🧡 finding Irish/English pubs in different cities/countries!

just had to go in!

Dunno if you noticed heavy iron door on 1st photo. Nearly broke my finger on way out! 😫

neat little church seen while walking

dinky little cars

weird/neat buildings

more sights...

seen these in neat multi-level mall we ventured into

Get out! Seen it's counterpart last summer in NYC!

neat looking yummy treats!

treats part deux!

and yes we went in 😳

another random out of place looking building

Turns out my pre-paid 3GB data sim card only lasted half way thru our trip!
So we spent last half of the day keeping an eye out for convenience stores that we were told might have them
Was getting kind of late by then. So we took a train back to Minato City...

Seen this fancy Italian place and just had to stop in for dinner
After the initial misorder. Had one of the best pizzas I've had in a while!

白金高輪のイタリアン・ピザ　サルヴァトーレ クオモ｜SALVATORE CUOMO

白金台に新たなナポリの風を吹き込みます！ 日本のイタリア料理界を代表するシェフ、サルヴァトーレ・クオモによるピッツァリア＆バールにモダンエッセンスを加えたイタリアンダイニング「Salvatore Cuomo」。ナポリ料理を中心にイタリア伝統の味を再現したアンティパスト、窯で焼き上げる本格的なナポリピッツァはもちろんのこと、四季折々の食材を活かしシェフのセンスが光るこだわりの料理をご提供いたします。お仲間でのお集まりや特別なご会食など、多様なシーンに溶け込む空間で、美味しく、楽しく、お洒落な時間をお過ごしください。

www.salvatore.jp

Meandered our way back to out Airbnb, but not before finally finding a new data sim card!

To be continued...

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

Tuesday 6/11 - Roaming around Tokyo...

The plan was to visit Edo Castle, Kitanomaru Park & the Imperial Palace

Spoiler:

near entrance

remnants of Edo Castle

Touka Gakudo concert hall

Guess we were too late to gain access to the Imperial Palace. So we figured to scratch that off the list on early Wednesday.
Considered taking a day and visit somewhere in vicinity of Mount Fuji, but read that was only visible for 80 days mostly November to February
So we decided to do the next best thing and find a really tall building and try to catch a glimpse from there since it was partly cloudy that day...

Spoiler:

View from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. If you look close at the right side you can kind of see the hazy outline of Mt Fuji 😳

Onto Senso-Ji Temple...

Spoiler:

Caught a glimpse of Tokyo's famous nearby Skytree!

Seen this on the way. Didn't eat there.

entrance

more...

Kaminarimon - Thunder Gate

Hōzōmon - Treasure-House Gate

Hōzōmon and Five Story Pagoda

Five Story Pagoda

opposite view

After that we walked around the area around the temple...

rickshaw bike

To be continued...

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

Tuesday 6/11 part deux - afternoon & evening in Shinjuku City...

Spoiler:

Thought this Coke machine was kinda funny given that Kabukichō (Tokyo's red light district) is located within Shinjuku 😉

seen these go karts a few times around town

So many neat looking buildings & displays!

Just like this light next to the buildings

Guys standing outside some of those places would harass the male passersby. Women standing outside would generally leave them be

just thought this looked kool

dunno what these are, but they looked kinda neat

more unique looking places

aforementioned Kabukichō and literal mysterious bar

such a great place to be at nite!

King Kong & could it be?

yes, it is Godzilla!

at least there's pretty lights!

and though there's l̵i̵t̵t̵l̵e̵ many variations!

it nullifies the night from overkill!

Sorry not sorry just couldn't resist! Anyway quite the place. Basically Times Square well um...squared 😉

We looked around for something non-Japanese to eat, but after few places we ended up just taking train back to Minato City

snapped this on walk back. That's Tokyo Tower all lit up! 💛

We wound up eating again at nearby Burger Mania. This time they were playing Oceans 8 on the wall. 🤔
Someone there must really like Anne Hathaway! 😉 We walked the short distance back to our Airbnb and called it a nite. 😊

to be continued...

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

Wed. 6/12 - a day with emperors in Chiyoda City & a nite with the new Queens of Rock in Minato City...

Finally got to see the current Imperial Palace - not to be confused with the current Imperial Residence (Fukiage Palace)
Took the train to Chiyoda City and then walked from there...

Spoiler:

Kitanomaru National Garden including remnants of Edo Castle & current Imperial Palace...

Tatsumi-nijyu-yagura

entrance

Hirakawa-mon Gate

The Fujimi-yagura keep

Imperial Household Agency

Kitakuruma-yose entrance (Imperial Palace)

Kokyo Kyuden Chowaden

Fushimi-yagura

a view of the city beyond the Nijubashi Bridge

Fujimi-yagura and the city behind

Kikyo-mon Gate

Kikyomon Gate

last looks at Tatsumi-nijyu-yagura

Wandered around Chiyoda before taking train back to Minato City...

Spoiler:

just a neat looking building

another temple amidst the metroplis

another temple/shrine

more

just a crow hanging out. Nothing to see here...

heron/crane & various birds in creek near our airbnb

Theater was about a 25 minute walk from our Airbnb. So we decided to walk to venue...

Spoiler:

Temple/old house?

odd looking building we passed along the way

fancy gate to yet another temple

outside the venue!

sadly the only shot I got before they told us no photo/video allowed! 😳

The concert was amazing! The lights and sound were incredible! The Warning opened. Dany proved to be a world class frontwoman!
They played 12 songs including my fave song (Money)! They ended their set with a killer rendition of Evolve!
And yes Pau got the crowd (even more) involved mid-song and delivered a feral scream to boot!
Then it was a bit of a break while the crew got the stage ready for Band Maid.
Having seen them 2 times before I kinda knew what to expect. However they seemed more at ease here in their home country.
Now don't get me wrong Band Maid came to rock full force the previous shows I seen in the states.
I just think that they were more comfortable here. Back in the states I think they weren't sure of how they might be received.
Definitely felt like I got the whole experience this time around. Plus I think Saiki ratcheted it up a notch after seeing Dany own the stage earlier.
Don't think she, or the band wanted to be outdone on their home turf! 😉 Band Maid also played my fave song (Bubble)
I literally screamed when I recognized the opening riff. Of course they crushed it! dbl 💚 All the while you could see them looking offstage.
Think everyone was on the edge of their seats all night long hoping that we might get to see the long rumored song collab
Which was of course only heightened when the photo of The Warning & Band Maid together in Japan a full 2 weeks before the show!
Band Maid played 11 songs. Then Miku took the mic for a few minutes. Was wondering if they might play an encore
When all of a sudden they invited The Warning back on stage to thank them. They chatted for a few minutes.
Was hard not to notice all the talent up on one stage. So much girl power in one place!
Also so much love for each other and the fans yet with so little of the usual ego. dbl 💚
The crew quietly started to bring up soundboards one by one steadily increasing the audiences anxiety.
Till lastly they wheeled Pau's drum kit on stage and the crowd collectively lost it! We cheering LOUDLY knowing it was all happening!
Dany started things off with a literal wail. The next few minutes were just utter pure rock bliss! Hella awesome finale!
What a way to close out the best concert ever! Was on cloud 11! Nothing could dampen my mood not even the shirt I wanted being sold out.

After the show we chatted for a bit with youtube reactor we recognized before making our way back all whilst looking for a place to nab late dinner...

Spoiler:

never know who you'll find over there 😉

tried to get photo of church spire with the moon

Stumbled upon another fancy burger chain we'd seen, but had yet to try. So we decided to stop in...

Not sure what kinda Coke that is? 🤔

Walked the rest of the way back to our Airbnb. Was still too buzzed to sleep. Finally nabbed a few hours. 😳



To be continued...

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

Thursday 6/13 - Last full day in Japan - a Skyhop view of Tokyo...

Not much planned for the day. Figured we do one of those touristy hop on/off bus tours of Tokyo...

Spoiler:

seen this in window display of fancy store before we hopped on bus

Bus-eye view of Skytree

one of those pulled ricksaws

another Panda themed restaurant/shop

don't think this would fly over here 😉

some sorta quasi-holiday over there? 🤔

actual maid cafe! Where's Miku? 😉

weird flower displays near bus stop 😵‍💫

seen this while walking around Marunouchi building. Get yer Murican drugs here 😉

We ate lunch in one of the upper floor restaurants. Then took some photos from the decks...

great view of Edo Castle

birds eye view of Tokyo Station

We hopped on for round 2 of the Skyhop tour...

National Diet Building

just some neat tall buildings - sorry don't know names 😳

Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower - insert jokes here - really dunno WTF they were thinking? 🤔

Tokyo Tower

After the 2nd tour we wandered around nearby Ginzu before heading back to our Airbnb...

just some neat looking house seen along the way

another random Torii Gate leading to another temple amidst the urban sprawl

did I mention all the temples in Tokyo? 😉


After a while we found a fancy Mexican place for dinner. The radio/stream played a random xmas song (Let It Snow) while we waited on our food 😀

We took a train back to Minato City and then headed back to our Airbnb for the night



To Be continued...

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

Friday 6/14 - Voyage thru time zones & space...

We didn't have to leave the Airbnb till 10am. So we leisurely got packed and ready to go.
When we got to the airport we had several hours to kill...

Spoiler:

these are kinda neat

just found the packaging kinda funny

lots of fancy stores in this part of the airport

We flew from Tokyo to Chicago and then Chicago to Canton/Akron airport.
Oddly the flight from San Fran to Tokyo seemed as long as the Tokyo to Chicago flight?
Don't know if that has anything to do with the jet stream, or just different planes? 🤔
Only slept maybe 2 hours on 2 different stints once again due to lack of reclining seats. 😫
Oh and we landed in Chicago 2 hours before we took off! 😵

Few observations about Japan...

These 4 stores are everywhere: Starbucks, 7-Eleven, Family Mart & Lawson. In fact there was a street in Tokyo that had 2 Starbucks on either side.
The one on the other side was maybe 150 feet up the street, but still seemed way too close!
BTW - according to Google, Lawson is a division of old oHIo based company that became Dairymart before Circle K or non existent! 🐄

Japan really loves it's anime characters in advertising! 🐼

Lots of women carry/use umbrellas when it's sunny! 🤔

They have this weird concept of adding an extra middle step in doorways & staircases! A small miracle I didn't stumble while over there! 😏

The next one needs to be seen to be believed...

Spoiler:

kōban (police substation)

security robot - seen these in a few places

what is this, Inspector Gadget's car or something?

hope they don't need to bring a perp in on one of those 😉

How do you expect to anyone to take the police force seriously? 🤭

Well hope everyone enjoyed this thread almost half as much as I enjoyed this trip. Later 後で

 

[Skanky Vamp]

You should have taken some pictures.

 

[BaskingINBangel]

So jealous! You got to see a lot! Thanks for sharing your pics.

 

[Stake fodder]

Thanks for posting all the pics! I had to wait till I had Wifi again instead of my limited mobile data, so I'm commenting late, but I really enjoyed scrolling through. I'm amazed how many signs are in English there, even non-retail companies.

I wonder if it's considered good luck to walk under one of those torii gates, as they had so many.⛩️ <-There's even one in the emojis.😀