After my last post, we had another orientation at around 1:30, where we got to meet some Japanese college students. They broke us into groups and we introduced ourselves. As an exercise on how to use the trains, they games us different routes to take, basically in a big circle to get back. Our group walked thru the Yoyogi Park, which is right next to where we are staying.
We walked thru this park for a while until we got to the entrance of the Meiji Shrine, which was thru a giant gate called a Tori gate. One of our leaders took pictures of our group with our camera's!
This gate was HUGE. And yes those two guys were trying to do a jumping highfive haha.
After we stopped there, we headed to Harajuku Station. We bought Suica Cards, basically a prepaid train card that you just touch to a pad to get thru the station entrance instead of always having to buy a ticket. They have a penguin on them, awesome :). Harajuku station was PACKED.
After this we got on the train, and took it to Shinjuku Station. It was around this time that I was talking to one of our Japanese "E-pals," what our guides were called. She asked where I was from, and told her to University of Iowa. She thought for a second, and then said hey I know someone from University of Iowa. I asked her what their name was, and she said Chiharu! Chiharu is one of my friends who was studying abroad at U of I last year! So out of the MILLIONS of people in Japan, I found one who knows my only Japanese friend :D!!! Later she texted Chiharu, and then she called and talked to her to tell her what happened. Apparently they live right across the street from each other, and used to work together! What a small world.
Anyways, next we went to Sangubashi station and walked back to the NYC from there. After standing in the courtyard from a while, we went to go eat at Toki restaurant. There they had all kinds of great foods prepared for us as a welcome party.
I stood are and talked to everybody, it was really fun!
And now we come to the part where I get lost in Shibuya for like 4 hours. After the dinner, I decided to go wander around for an hour before I was supposed to Skype with my girlfriend Jen. I just kinda walked around looking for anything interesting.
The famous vending machines, they are EVERYWHERE;
Bike shops, there are also quite a few;
These'll fit in my suitcase right?
and Japanese Jesus;
Wait what???
I also found a small shrine or something, but it was kinda late, so I didn't want to go too far into it.
I kept walking for a while, and suddenly the buildings got taller and taller, and I found my self in Times Square New York City! Or so it seemed, it was actually downtown Shibuya!
Ok that picture sucks, but just imagine Times Square but with Japanese people, and Epilepsy inducing lights and colors everywhere. There are stores and shops EVERYWHERE. I finally stumbled upon the famous "Shibuya Scramble." This is an intersection where when the "walk" light comes on hundreds of people walk across this giant intersection, it's actually the one pictured above.
There was a street band playing, so I decided to take my first video of the trip!
I went into a few HUGE music stores, arcades and game stores, but didn't get anything. After a while I thought I should get back, but that was easier said than done. The next couple hours consisted of me trying to get back, getting distracted by cool looking stores I had to go into, and even stumbling into the "red light district" (There was what appeared to be a statue of pacman, so I assumed it was a place where they had arcades, don't judge me :/)
Anyway, after a 4 hour long trip around town, my feet hurt (still do) and I was ready to hit the sack. I woke up at noon today, and went to get ramen with some friends. Ordering was a little tricky, but totally worth it, it was AMAZING!
Thats pretty much it for now, stay tuned!
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