Nihon - Day 17

Day 17 - Staying Local

Today is miserable again, but will be my last full day in tokyo so I decide to set out anyway.

I headed to the river again today but turned left, as I noticed last time I came out this way that there was a park near by, and into Hama-Rikyu-Teien (detached palace garden) This garden use to only be for the Shogans.

I wandered past a european style garden, very small, and between two large buildings with the most gorgeous statues in it.

At the gate I was keenly offered a device that looked much like an iphone and would be my electronic guide to the garden. The lady set it up so I could wander and the guide would pick up on the sites and start automatically when I was in range of the site to tell me the significance. All the sites were numbered and I was given a map so I could follow where I was going.

After my auto-tour I headed back to the hotel via the Pokemon Centre, which I stumbled across on my way to the garden. This place is simular to the tamagochi place in Harajuku but much larger and busier.
I found my pokemon, despite not knowing its name and it being one of the older original creatures, I even found a squirtle for my bro. This place is a must for any pokemon fan.

Lunch was via Family Mart and was a yummy mushroom pasta dish. I then headed out again.

I headed to Tokyo tower via the garden on the other side of Zojoji Temple, and the cemetary.
The first attraction I went to was on the ground floor and was about extinct and endangered animals (I think). It was filled with cute statues of these animals. There was information all over the place but the only english was the name of the animals. The last room had school childrens colour in on the walls and a box for donation. I put some coins in and a man gave me a sticker sheet to thank me for the donation.

Next I headed to the 3rd floor for the wax museum, having picked up a discount coupon in Aqua City. The whole thing was kinda creepy with its low lights and this life size displays looking at you. Not realistic enough for you to think that they are the real person but creepy enough to totally come alive in a horror movie and kill you.
The first room had people from movies, then in the next room historical figures and great artists and inventors, old leaders (including Ho Chi Minh) and Jesus and his diciples even madam Tussaud was there. The final room held legends of Rock N Roll.

I headed back to the room to sort my stuff and make sure I had everything before leaving tomorrow .

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