Japan: Tokyo day 1
Aug. 28th, 2007 08:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kate_nepveu(Written Monday night, posted Tuesday morning. It took us a bit to sort out the Internet situation here, as we decided to try the Internet-by-TV. Well, that was a disaster--trying to post to LJ crashed it, just for instance--so at least until the con starts on Thursday, I'm back to half-hours in the morning on the hotel computers, and posting & checking e-mail only.)
(As a result, there is a long post about the prior days just below this one.)
Slow start to the morning. Unfortunately this wasn't because I'd caught up on my rest; instead I tossed and turned for a good portion of the night because my mosquito bites were itching fit to drive me insane. I bought insect repellent from a drugstore tonight and may take medication not prescribed for me, namely Chad's Allegra, to try and reduce the itching, because I didn't see anything looking like Benadryl in the drugstore.
Eventually we headed out into Tokyo. First we picked up good maps at the Tokyo Tourist Information Center--which is on the 10th floor of a mall/office building and seemed really grateful to have people to help. We couldn't say not to filling out a two-page survey about what we wanted as tourists in Japan, in return for which we got a free DVD on Japanese cuisine. Okay then.
Then we went to Meiji Jingu, the shrine to the Meiji Emperor. The buildings and gates are elegant and understated, and there is a very pretty and peaceful inner garden, which we saw at exactly the wrong time for anything to be blooming.
Oh, and if you are taller than 5'3", beware spiderwebs. Chad had to nearly limbo under one near the entrance.
After lunch, we went to Jimbocho, the bookstore district. Though there were only a few English-language stores (one of which was closed), it was very cheering to see stores packed literally to the roofs with books for sale.
Then we went to Koishikawa Korakuen, a beautiful Edo-era stroll garden. Unfortunately the air was still so I have a new ring of mosquito bites around my ankles, but it was worth it.
And then the longish trip back to Yokohama, just before evening rush hour (all hail the JR pass) and the comforts of our ridiculous hotel room.
ETA: pictures at http://pics.livejournal.com/kate_nepveu/gallery/0003a316
ETA2: Chad's full Flickr set for this day at http://www.flickr.com/photos/11070535@N08/sets/72157602214469355/
(As a result, there is a long post about the prior days just below this one.)
Slow start to the morning. Unfortunately this wasn't because I'd caught up on my rest; instead I tossed and turned for a good portion of the night because my mosquito bites were itching fit to drive me insane. I bought insect repellent from a drugstore tonight and may take medication not prescribed for me, namely Chad's Allegra, to try and reduce the itching, because I didn't see anything looking like Benadryl in the drugstore.
Eventually we headed out into Tokyo. First we picked up good maps at the Tokyo Tourist Information Center--which is on the 10th floor of a mall/office building and seemed really grateful to have people to help. We couldn't say not to filling out a two-page survey about what we wanted as tourists in Japan, in return for which we got a free DVD on Japanese cuisine. Okay then.
Then we went to Meiji Jingu, the shrine to the Meiji Emperor. The buildings and gates are elegant and understated, and there is a very pretty and peaceful inner garden, which we saw at exactly the wrong time for anything to be blooming.
Oh, and if you are taller than 5'3", beware spiderwebs. Chad had to nearly limbo under one near the entrance.
After lunch, we went to Jimbocho, the bookstore district. Though there were only a few English-language stores (one of which was closed), it was very cheering to see stores packed literally to the roofs with books for sale.
Then we went to Koishikawa Korakuen, a beautiful Edo-era stroll garden. Unfortunately the air was still so I have a new ring of mosquito bites around my ankles, but it was worth it.
And then the longish trip back to Yokohama, just before evening rush hour (all hail the JR pass) and the comforts of our ridiculous hotel room.
ETA: pictures at http://pics.livejournal.com/kate_nepveu/gallery/0003a316
ETA2: Chad's full Flickr set for this day at http://www.flickr.com/photos/11070535@N08/sets/72157602214469355/
