Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Finally getting caught up on my blog from internet cafe in Yokohama. Wandered around Shibuya trying to find one last night--ones listed in my book out of business or needed membership fee. So came home to see end of SMAP special and again wishing I had a keitai so I could moblog and not feel so behind.
Two days of haphazard sightseeing that ended great. Today was going to Yokohama. When I got here, realized basically just another city so switched tracks and spent half day in Kamakura, which is more scenic and only half hour away. Friendly people on trains today--an older man told me which station to get off at and asked me questions and an older lady on the train to Kamakura also asked me about myself and told me she had been to the U.S. several years ago. She pointed out a girl seated across the aisle with a kimono and we both complimented her. She smiled and got up to talk to us. As it turned out, she was going to visit the temples at Kamakura as well, so said we should go together.Got tourist advice at station, went to see Big Buddha, temple with irises in full bloom(Hase Cannon), temple with incredible bamboo forest, temple with hydraganeas(?) and cemetery and so-so shrine. By that time, we were both tired and my wallet was being depleted with all the admission fees adding up, so it was just as well that we didn't have time for the other temples. We parted at Yokohama Station, promising to email each other. Her name is Kazue, 23, and she works the night shift for a nursing home. Several times tourist groups stopped us to take a picture of her in her kimono.
From Yokohama, rushing to Doll Museum which closed at 6. Barely made it, and well worth my while. Cool Japanese dolls, incredible special fantasy doll exhibit with the dollmaker present, and amazing dolls from around the world collection. The latter was already closed when I went downstairs even though there were still 5 min before closing, and when I asked the main guy, he opened it up again and let me spend probably 15 minutes. According to my guidebook, there were something like 7000-8000 dolls displayed, and many of the world dolls were in a moving display which lighted up and played music. Definitely my favorite museum so far.
Next onto Chinatown. Nothing too special, just the gates, stores and restaurants. As usual, the ones that had plastic food displays or English menus were out of my price range and the cheaper looking ones had Japanese-only menus and owners. Oh well. Can eat Chinese in the States so not a big deal. Then trying to make an Art and Space exhibit that was open until 9, but took a lot longer than I thought to get there. There were two parts to the exhibit and no way to see both and at 1200 yen, I was wavering as to whether it was even worth it. The manager let me in at so-called discount price of 1000 yen for just that portion so I decided to go ahead. Basically two rooms of laser displays to walk through. Didn't think it was much at first, but second time through, realized that the first room was changing, first light with prisms, then dark. Hard to describe and pictures don't do it justice since you are wearing special 3-D glasses. Rest just some pictures from NASA and it turns out the other area was just a flight simulator and a Solar Cube sculpture which could be seen from outside anyway. Relieved that I didn't miss very much. Security guard incredibly friendly, though laughed as he said he couldn't speak English.
Yesterday--where was I again? Tjeri fish area, only too late for fish. Interesting Buddhist temple with Indian design and another nearby with scary/funny looking dragons, one of which was blond. Wandered by newspaper, but turns out you had to have reservations for English tour. Went to gardens from Daibu area, many pretty flowers. Then back to Odaiba to see Museum of Science and Innovation. Really great. Wish I had had more time there since really not enough time. Asimo and RoboDog were there but were demoed around 1-2. Just missed rescue robots, identical to ones at Tokyo Tech lab. Space, biotech,nanotech, VR demos, hands-on explanation on internet with balls representing message and address and routers. Many staff and volunteers present--very helpful!
Afterwards Venus Fort--"theme park for ladies", basically a mall where exits are impossible to find. Emphasis on clothing boutiques and chocolate. European style, with Roman-like statues and sky ceiling. Across--Toyota Showroom with roller coaster and demonstrations of their new vehicles. Two girls helped me to train station, one worked and other college student nearby. Very friendly.
Two days of haphazard sightseeing that ended great. Today was going to Yokohama. When I got here, realized basically just another city so switched tracks and spent half day in Kamakura, which is more scenic and only half hour away. Friendly people on trains today--an older man told me which station to get off at and asked me questions and an older lady on the train to Kamakura also asked me about myself and told me she had been to the U.S. several years ago. She pointed out a girl seated across the aisle with a kimono and we both complimented her. She smiled and got up to talk to us. As it turned out, she was going to visit the temples at Kamakura as well, so said we should go together.Got tourist advice at station, went to see Big Buddha, temple with irises in full bloom(Hase Cannon), temple with incredible bamboo forest, temple with hydraganeas(?) and cemetery and so-so shrine. By that time, we were both tired and my wallet was being depleted with all the admission fees adding up, so it was just as well that we didn't have time for the other temples. We parted at Yokohama Station, promising to email each other. Her name is Kazue, 23, and she works the night shift for a nursing home. Several times tourist groups stopped us to take a picture of her in her kimono.
From Yokohama, rushing to Doll Museum which closed at 6. Barely made it, and well worth my while. Cool Japanese dolls, incredible special fantasy doll exhibit with the dollmaker present, and amazing dolls from around the world collection. The latter was already closed when I went downstairs even though there were still 5 min before closing, and when I asked the main guy, he opened it up again and let me spend probably 15 minutes. According to my guidebook, there were something like 7000-8000 dolls displayed, and many of the world dolls were in a moving display which lighted up and played music. Definitely my favorite museum so far.
Next onto Chinatown. Nothing too special, just the gates, stores and restaurants. As usual, the ones that had plastic food displays or English menus were out of my price range and the cheaper looking ones had Japanese-only menus and owners. Oh well. Can eat Chinese in the States so not a big deal. Then trying to make an Art and Space exhibit that was open until 9, but took a lot longer than I thought to get there. There were two parts to the exhibit and no way to see both and at 1200 yen, I was wavering as to whether it was even worth it. The manager let me in at so-called discount price of 1000 yen for just that portion so I decided to go ahead. Basically two rooms of laser displays to walk through. Didn't think it was much at first, but second time through, realized that the first room was changing, first light with prisms, then dark. Hard to describe and pictures don't do it justice since you are wearing special 3-D glasses. Rest just some pictures from NASA and it turns out the other area was just a flight simulator and a Solar Cube sculpture which could be seen from outside anyway. Relieved that I didn't miss very much. Security guard incredibly friendly, though laughed as he said he couldn't speak English.
Yesterday--where was I again? Tjeri fish area, only too late for fish. Interesting Buddhist temple with Indian design and another nearby with scary/funny looking dragons, one of which was blond. Wandered by newspaper, but turns out you had to have reservations for English tour. Went to gardens from Daibu area, many pretty flowers. Then back to Odaiba to see Museum of Science and Innovation. Really great. Wish I had had more time there since really not enough time. Asimo and RoboDog were there but were demoed around 1-2. Just missed rescue robots, identical to ones at Tokyo Tech lab. Space, biotech,nanotech, VR demos, hands-on explanation on internet with balls representing message and address and routers. Many staff and volunteers present--very helpful!
Afterwards Venus Fort--"theme park for ladies", basically a mall where exits are impossible to find. Emphasis on clothing boutiques and chocolate. European style, with Roman-like statues and sky ceiling. Across--Toyota Showroom with roller coaster and demonstrations of their new vehicles. Two girls helped me to train station, one worked and other college student nearby. Very friendly.
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