Nihon - Day 8

Day 8 - Wear Kimono around Asakusa experience.

Today started in a mad rush as I had spent too long on the internet and was now going to be late for the tour.

The tour was amazing! I can not say enough about how worth it is really was. The tour is run by 3 people, the camera man, the kimono dresser and the dance teacher. All were so wonerfully nice. The camera man was waiting for me at the Kaminarimon gate, when i arrived he took me to the dance school (not far from the gate). Here I met the two ladies. They had 4 kimonos for me to choose from, of course I chose the purple one. I then chose an obi from the selection and they did the rest.
First the kimono dresser took me into the change room where i changed from my clothes to the under parts of the kimono. I then sat down and let the dance instructor (Ms Yoko Namishima) do my hair. She put it up in a japanese bun then added a hair piece and some beautiful hair decorations. Then they both dressed me in the kimono and the obi. Then I was ready!
We walked out to the temple and walked around taking many photos. Then the dance instructor and I walked around and window shopped while the camera man took the photos back to be developed. She showed me all the places she got her dancing supplies from and a beautiful paper shop.
Many people stopped us for photos. Photos of just me, of just her and of both of us in our kimonos. It was a bit silly, but nice to be the centre of attention (in a good way).
WE then headed back to the dance school and she did a performance of one of her traditional japanese dances as a gift for me, and showed me how to twirl the fan. They then helped me undress, and I got back into my clothes.
The camera man came back and gave me 2 photos and a cd with all my photos on it. YAY! I gave them each a koala clip toy and they also gave me a beautiful kimono bag.

I headed back to the temple afterwards and had a look around, bought a few things. I bought these silly little candies that look like sushi, and two more Duramon dolls.

I then headed back on the subway.
I went back to the hotel to look through my photos and sort my souveniers then headed out to the tokyo tower as it was getting dark. I went up to the first observation tower. Besides the Tokyo haze it was a beautiful site, specially during the sunset.

I then headed to the ramen joint for more yummy ramen, then back to the hotel for an early night.

No idea what I will do tomorrow

Nihon - Day Two

Day Two - the meeting

Today I started the say on the internet and I had a message from The Melbournite. He and The other Melbournite would meet me at the hotel after they checked out at 11pm

Excellent!

I went for a short walk around the neighbourhood, not really very far just down the street and around the corner. I walked past the police station, 2 post offices at least 4 convienence stores and goodness knows how many vending machines. (FYI smokes are cheap here)
You may get lost in Tokyo but you will never go thirsty!

11.30 I was waiting in the reception area from The Melbournites when it struck me that this was rather an odd way of meeting people who are friends of a friend (in a different country).

Around 11.45am they walked through the reception door, they were not hard to spot and I seriouskly doubt i was either (look for the westerners!). They seem pretty cool. We ditched their bags in my room and headed out.

We walked around the area and ended up walking through the Zojoji Temple, behind my hotel and saw the thousands of Jizo statues (Children of the temple statues).

We walked for a long time and talked and it was good to have some people around. They showed me how to work the subway and all about the adjustment machine (new best friend). Where you can buy the lowest ticket and just put it in the adjustment machine at the other end to pay the correct money. This is PRICELESS knowledge!

We then grabbed something to eat at the Family Mart and headed back to Shiba Park, opposite the Zojoji Temple, to eat and chat some more.

We then headed back to the coffee shop at my hotel for a quick drink. i got to use some of my basic japanese and ordered a "nihon-cha" Japanese tea or green tea.

We then went back to my room where they got changed and sorted their bags and then had to go to the airport.

I spent the rest of the night in my room watching japanese TV, very interesting, and had a fairly early night.

The weather channel warns of a Typhoon in Okinowa so it should rain the better part of the week.
I had planned to check out the Tokyo Tower tomorrow but maybe instead i will head to harajuku on the subway.