Tokyo
Again, the itinerary indicated that we needed to plan out own adventures but @Yasuna continues to offer escorted options. You are free to join her or alternately make your own way. @Mac is still gathering intel on @Tokyo's subway and with map folded and colours locked in, he is constantly discussing the clues and nuances to the public transport. The number of people moving through these subways ... well, you just have to shake your head.
It is a "habit" as well, no doubt. The transport system is just so efficient, the network so pervasive and the cost so reasonable, everyone just piles on board out of habit. Ticket purchase and ticket validation is all automated - you barely break stride as you enter a platform.
And the fitness of the population definitely comes from navigating the tunnels and stairs that connect the services. Masses of people endlessly scaling stairs! I look up and see another three banks of stairs and groan - the locals are almost floating up these staircases.
Today's exploration
Scramble Crossing - It really wasn't a big scramble for us but there were enough people there to get the idea. The crossing is a series of 5 zebra crossing at an intersection just outside the #Shibuya subway station and because of the proliferation of high-rise buildings and associated offices, there is a lot of foot traffic. We joined the crowds and on the change of lights, scrambled across numerous times making sure we had a turn at all the crossings. Buses and cars flowed endlessly on their green light, and we were entertained by the buzzing of the tourist driven #Mario Carts as they zipped by.
Half a million people a day use this crossing and @Mac declared 500 012 on this day.
It has been a feature of the roads here that no-one jaywalks. There's no dodging the lights. And the length of time between light changes seems interminable. Plenty of time for the traffic and loads of time for the pedestrians. Once we'd finished our multiple laps of scrambling, @Yasuna took us up to an observation deck so we could watch it from above.
Hachiko Statue (Shibuya railway station) - On exit from the scramble we had time to meet @Hachiko - the loyal dog who waited for 9 years outside #Shibuya Station’s Hachiko gate. His story of waiting ended when he died. The 162 cm-tall statue was built in 1934, and today it had queues of people lined up to have their photo taken with this loyal and loving companion. So many in the queue there was no chance of us getting close so took a few from a distance.
Harijuka - Back on the train to take a quick trip via the underground for a look at the shopping district of #Harijuku. What a place of contrasts. Tall shopping malls with food and fashion, streets lined with high end stores with all the brand names for fashion (and even guitars) and an area of Japanese teen fashion that represents the diverse sub cultures of #Japan.
Some eye openers. Fish net stockings, shirt skirts, high platform boots, glitz and glamour and cute-sy were all here. And even in the rain, business was brisk.
Ducking the rain and the shops
Meiji Shrine - @Yasuna had offered everyone the options of shopping or shrines. 10 opted ro shop and we were the sole trekkers to the shrine.
The shrine was completed and dedicated to the @Emperor Meiji and the @Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the death of the emperor and six years after the death of the empress. The shrine was destroyed during the war but was rebuilt shortly thereafter by dedicated followers.
Once you enter under the first gate, there is a long tree lined avenue that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The shrine parkland includes 100 000 trees that were planted to celebrate the emperor. On our visiting day - and I assume every day - a band of loyal carers were out with large straw brooms, meticulously sweeping this avenue and clearing it of every fallen leaf.
Annual gits are made of barrels of wine and sake and the barrels that hold them make an impressive display in the avenue.
We could have taken part in typical #Shinto activities like making an offering at the main hall, buying charms and amulets or writing out a wish on a wooden tablet. We opted for a quiet stroll.
This is one of #Japan's most popular shrines. In the first days of the New Year, the shrine hosts more than three million visitors for the year's first prayers, more than any other shrine or temple in #Japan. Grateful that we jagged a quiet day.
New shoes - Had just enough time to splurge on those elusive shoes. Had spotted a #Sketchers store on the way to the shrine and we decided that if we skipped lunch we would have time to double back and source a solution. I was on the click. Walked in, spotted a couple of pink replacements and found a "Cinderella " pair that fitted like a glove. Even put them on to wear immediately and claimed a $30 tax rebate just by offering my passport. Not really a trendy or high end buy - but a good one, successfully completed in approximately 11 minutes.
Returned to the group and got a rundown on the fabulous robotic #Sushi train - have taken pictures so that we can add that to our list of revisits in the next couple of days!
Farewell Dinner - This was our final day with the group and after a quick freshen up at #Villa Fontaine, it was time to join @Yasuna for our farewell dinner celebration which coincidentally was right next door to last night's dinner venue.
Cheers from @Yasuna
Beers and rums were freely flowing and @Yasuna had personally selected some favourites for the group. Top of the list of her picks was chicken cartilage. Yes, these plates of one of her favourites were piled with battered cartilage - hard, chewy, gristly cartilage.
Not even the alcohol could help that one - @Mac did his best to keep up with @Yasuna in both the rum and cartilage department - but I think she outdid him. So much conversation around the chicken - and so much unrestrained laughter. We all adore @Yasuna's laugh and have recorded it for prosperity! Been a great group to share our adventures with and @Yasuna definitely put together extras for us and made sure everyone had the opportunity to enjoy their personal #Japan highlights.
Parted ways in the foyer with 8 members of the group - they have flights out in the early morning to NSW, Western Australia and Queensland.
We've hatched a plan with @Mrs_L_d and @Mr_P to chase the sun - with clear visibility and a predicted max of 27 - we want to see if we can catch #Mt Fuji. Tried our very best, approaching midnight, to secure bus tickets on-line to get us there - but failed to complete the transaction. There were only four seats left on that 8.30 bus - we'll just have to wing it and hope for the best.
Weather: 17 deg -overcast and wet
Steps: 18 236
KEEP CALM THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened. Cora Harvey Armstong
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