Shopping in Tokyo - Harajuku & Ginza

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Trip Start May 20, 2010 Previous
Entry Trip End Sep 09, 2010 Next
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  Tokyo, Tōkyō, Japan
Tuesday, May 25, 2010

After a few rainy days and a rest day yesterday we were off shopping on what  promised to be a really warm day and it was.  We were able to walk to the station to catch a train into the city with a change over at Tokyo station on to the Tokyo City Central line which would take us to Harajuku.

Noriko & I had an unsettling short period of time when at Tokyo station we had to change platforms. We got  straight on the next train but didn't notice that Rina wasn't right behind us. She was caught behind a business man on the stairs and all I had time to do was call out to her and as she ran to the doors, they closed and she was left at Tokyo station. I signaled that we were going one station but she didn't understand what I was saying so decided to stay put, knowing that all she  could expect us to  do was come back for her. She didn't panic and  at first we didn't know whether she would jump on the next train and come one station but she hadn't understood so when she didn't show we went back which was the best all round.
However it did show us how careful we had to be at all times to stick together because Rina & I didn't have a mobile in Japan. That was a bit of unnecessary "excitement" for the day - Rina however was as cool as cucumber.

Our  first shopping experience was at  Harajuku  Takeshita-dori. We really would have looked the  tourist as we didn't fit the "type" of shoppers that frequent this shopping district. Young people in all sorts of dress!  Let the photos tell the story.  I probably didn't take as many as I could have but a search of Harajuku Fashion will show you what I mean.

Down a side street we found a quiet little restaurant -  their meals from organic foods obtained from Chiba, the next prefecture where Norikos family live. It was so peaceful and the vines growing up the walls plus the buildings we could have been in a European village enjoying lunch.

From here we caught a train back to Tokyo City and began our Ginza shopping experience. the photos will tell the story.

Had to catch a train home in rush hour which was quite an experience. During this week we have learned how to ride the escalators, purchase tickets at  vending machines, read train timetables  and queue up for trains. There are marks on the platform where to line up and the train stops in the exact  spot each time so you can step straight in the door.

Naoto was at the station to pick us up for dinner at a local Sushi Restaurant which was really enjoyable trying all the different Sushi. Surprised that there were hardly any Nori rolls.

Another day over and  lots of memories. Before we came here I had no idea of what there was in Tokyo  to see and do  but searching the web for these related places will now  make a lot more sense.

I am a little behind in my blogging as we were so busy in Tokyo. We had a really good flight arriving  in Helsinki yesterday and have spent today quietly with Andrew Kerthy & Zoe. It is cold here getting down to 12 deg while outside today. I am slowly catching up on our last few days with N & N in Tokyo. We had a wonderful time with them. Yet to blog our last two days in Tokyo.

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Noriko's street	Vending Machine	Apartment Housing	Train Travel
Doggy Shop	Cosplay	Punk shop come Cosplay	Haviana Store
H & M	Eco Restaurant   Comments!	Lunch at Eco Restaurant	Ginza
Want a rest?   Comments!	Ginza	Ginza - street crossing	Tokyo city street   Comments!
Mango Moment	Rockmelon   Comments!	Ginza by night	Sushi Restaurant
Sushi Restaurant	Sushi train	Natto - don't like this!   Comments!	Select your sushi

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