Japan Day Two
Day 2 started late because Day 1 ended really late. We went out in Shibuya last night and thankfully made it back to our hotel without a hitch. We went to Vounds (something like that), Gas Panic, and Womb. I’ve been to the Gas Panic in Roppongi and knew pretty much what to expect. The Shibuya version is a lot smaller with about the same amount of people packed inside. Womb was alright — we went because it was recommended for “serious clubbers” by our guidebook. The music was OK on the main dancefloor, but nothing really to shake a stick at. Overall I loved the interior but not the sounds. We broke my rule and took a cab to get home (subway stops at midnight).
Day 2 began at noon when we headed to Ginza in search of a Freshness Burger location. We determined Freshness might be the answer to all of our morning woes. It was, and afterwards we scooted around Ginza looking at expensive watches and cheap tshirts. My favorite stop was the Hermes flagship store because of the smell. Somehow the entire store smelled exactly like the first 15 years of my life. It was really bizarre, the whole time I was overcome with nostalgia without being able to put my finger on exactly what I was nostalgic for.
After a brief Ginza tour, we ducked inside the Sony building to avoid the spitting rain. Oddly enough, nothing really much had changed since the last time I visited. When I came in 2008, I was blown away by the HD cameras and the etc. This time, the lineup was pretty much the same — not to mention I was carrying a still camera capable of even better HD than most of what I saw. I took some HD video of us being underwhelmed by the HD lineup. At the top of the Sony building I felt like I was going to faint, so we left and went in search of a smoothie.
We saw a place called “Sweet Paradise 90 Minutes” across the street and bee-lined for it. I thought ‘sweet’ was being used as an adjective…but it was a noun and we left because we needed no sweet cakes. Eventually we found a cafe to assist my faintness, but the menu was in Japanese and I ordered a really bizarre yogurt parfait with green liquid throughout.
After eating we found the Tokyo International Forum and took approximately 100 photos each inside. I am not afraid of heights but I almost got vertigo walking on the passages inside the TIF. Really really scary. Inside it felt like we had been consumed by a really skinny whale whose ribs we could see and touch. Around us there was giant medical convention but we didn’t bother them and they didn’t bother us. I did learn about Knee Replacements though, that was neat.
Next we found the Mandarin Oriental hotel, no thanks to my memory. I had been in 2008 and was convinced I could find it again. Incorrect. We toured the business district for about an hour before we finally found our way into the Mandarin Bar for a fruit plate and a $10 bottle of water. We were tricked into getting the water though. Our waitress was very cunning.
Tonight we had dinner on the 29th floor of the NS building. I don’t know what the NS building is, but there are about seven restaurants on the 29th floor so I am a fan. Now we are home and are trying to summon the energy to go out in Roppongi. Right now I don’t think we’ll make it. We changed, got supplies, and have a plan, but bedtime is coming early this year.
