Land of the Rising Sun

Friday May 1 Day 3

Day 3: Part 2

I know that technically we are now onto Day 4, but I consider this the nightlife part of Day 3, so Day 4 will start at sunrise.

By midnight I’m showering, when the alarm goes off. I feel rested in comparison to how I have been feeling since we landed. We are joined in our room by fellow students on the trip, and there’s a tiny pre-drink party happening while we get ready to go out. Roomie is set on a reggae spot, and for me it seemed a thing I had to do. When I was in Vancouver years ago I went to a reggae club named Tokyo, so it makes sense that I should to go to a reggae club in Tokyo tonight.

Bestie stayed in to catch up on some much-needed sleep, and we parted ways with the others in the hotel lobby. A recommendation from a travel book gave us the name of a place in Shinjuku that seemed not too far away. After a cab ride through the bright lights of Shibuya we were dropped in front of a place called “Open”. A tiny staircase down to the basement of a building led us into a smoke filled room with a bar at the back. Aside from the posters of Bob Marley on the wall, this place did not read reggae bar and we needed a plan B. Everyone was more than happy to help the foreign girls, so with cell phones and body language we managed to get ourselves sorted.

Helpful locals outside Open

With a locally hand drawn map in hand, and an escort in tow (that Roomie and I could have taken down if we had to), we were set out in search of a reggae club by the name of Garam.

Our reggae club tour guide

The taxi ride is short, and Roomie has made a new friend before even entering the club. We are now a group of 4 and heading up in an elevator to Garam. The doors open to another smoky room, this time we got it right, and they are playing my jam.

We party with the DJs, the owner, and our new friends, who offer us a glimpse into this side of Tokyo. We are also offered shots, and when I decline, I am quickly served a shot of Ginger Ale instead so that I can at least join in the cheers. We celebrated a birthday, Golden Week, and new experiences. I am overwhelmed by how humble and polite the people are.

Garam

We have to leave to make our breakfast curfew, so I kiss the sky in the stairwell before getting to experience live why Japan is called The Land of the Rising Sun.

Shinjuku at 5 am

It is 5 am and the streets are crowded with people, I’m thinking about breakfast and sleeping on the train.

Cue Day 4, no alarm required.

Day 3: Part 1

Friday May 1 Day 3

No matter which way I try to put it, Day 3 cannot be told in a single post.

Day 3: Part 1

Where to start, where to end, what to tell?

The alarm goes off at 5 am. I’m not one who likes to get up in the morning so my alarm criteria are lengthy; loud and obnoxious definitely top the list. It’s not just waking me up but everyone else in the room, and maybe a couple of neighbours. Needless to say it’s 5 am and I’m up and ready for the day. The itinerary is packed, which is exactly how I like to see a city. My outfit plan has already been sorted weeks before when I decided what to pack, so I was on autopilot for the rest of the day. Our group of 20 meet in the hotel lobby for 9ish to start on the day’s journey. First stop – Harajuku. I am expecting to enter a world catering entirely to Lolittas. Although I am not disappointed when we arrive, I am surprised at how Disney everything feels.

Harajuku

Even the Disney store feels more Disney, the sales girls holding teddy bears that practically come alive with their touch. With gestures, not words, it is explained to me that each bear is the likeness of a well-known Disney character and only available in Japan. I know right! Check them out:

http://www.disneystore.co.jp/shop/u_page/giftunibear.aspx

I want one of each, but there’s no time to shop because we are already late to meet for our next stop on the itinerary, Meiji Shrine. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to take pictures of everything, it is just so different from what I am familiar with at home. I have to pry myself away from the camera to seize the day, these are moments I want to be present in, this is what it’s all about.

Meiji Shrine

Good thing because this place needs attention, everything has a meaning, a ritual, a tradition and I want to know it all. Although I consider myself to be without God, I can’t help but feel drawn to the spiritual vibe of this place.   I like the idea of fortunes and lucky charms, and I grab a few of each from the shops. Of course I grabbed one for love and another for success,; really I’m open to improvement so could use a charm in every area of my life. I also received a fortune that could not have been more appropriate. To end our time at the shrine we were witness to a traditional Japanese wedding. I’m not sure if there are any superstitions around weddings and luck, but it felt like we had been chosen to witness this event, and that felt lucky to me. Grateful, I snapped a picture.

Meiji Shrine

Our next stop was the Tokyo Sky Tree. I looked forward to finally catching a glimpse of Mt. Fuji and seeing how the largest metropolitan in the world compares to some of the biggest cities I’ve seen. Japan continues to exceed my expectations, it makes my heart beat fast to see a city that sprawls farther than the eye can see, whichever direction you look. I decide from this vantage point that I could never live here, but would have to return to finish what this trip starts because it is way too big to see in only 3 days.

Skytree view of Tokyo

Our last spot of the day takes us to Senso-ji in Asakusa, one of (if not the) oldest Temples in Tokyo. Leading up to it, rows of souvenir shops, some of the best knick-knack shopping that I’ve ever done. I got so carried away picking out a Samurai sword for my nephew that I completely lost track of time and my Bestie. I had to run through the Temple (which for the record is at the very end of all these awesome shops), but managed to make it to the meet spot on time. The pictures are blurry as a result though.

Senso-ji in Asakusa

Reunited as a trio; Bestie, Roomie, and I head back in the direction of our hotel, grabbing dinner at a place we had picked out the night before. A cool spot, walking distance to our place where we sat on the floor to eat and were required to remove our shoes before entering. This was not a problem; our feet welcomed the rest after pounding the pavement all day.

Shinjuku dinner

I hatch a plan over dinner electing to go back to the hotel and sleep now, waking up at midnight to start our day. Rather than staying up all-night and grabbing a couple hours when we get in at 5 am. That way we could sleep 4 hours, wake up at midnight and stay out all night, we just need to be back in time for breakfast at 7 am. The other girls are in, so we finish eating and head to our beds. The alarm is set for midnight.

P.S. Meiji Shrine may have happened before Harajuku Day 3. It has only been 2 weeks and I have already started to forget major details. Good thing I’m getting it all down now, because at this rate I won’t even remember going to Japan at all.