Trip to Tokyo- Part 1- Traveling and Shinjuku

A lot of people wonder why I chose to live in Osaka and not Tokyo. Maybe they don't really get what Tokyo is all about- and that Osaka is the 3rd biggest city in Japan. I won't pretend that I had any clue- I only decided to live in Osaka because the housing was more affordable than Tokyo. I have been loving Osaka so far, but I couldn't go to Japan without seeing Tokyo! So Scott and I took 5 days to go visit. We got there via the Shinkansen ("bullet train"). Just to give you an idea- Osaka to Tokyo would be a 7.5 hour drive. The Shinkansen does it 2.5 hours- making about 5 stop between the 2 cities. So its freaking FAST. One way ticket was something like $130... but comparing the speed/distance to trains on the USA East Coast, and the trains in England... Shinkansen is a steal.

Don't lose that!!

Scott loves trains... even more so when he has the window seat.

Feels like an airplane...

LOOKS kinda like an airplane!

We stayed at a cheap hotel in Tokyo called the Sakura in Hatagaya, near Shinjuku. Once we battled Shinjuku Station.... it was easy to get to (for us) and everything was nice. I must say- the Western bed and toilet did not make me miss my apartment.

One photo captures the entire space... minus the bathroom.

They provided PJs too!

One of Scott's goals was to see the Square-Enix store, so we went to Hastudai Station first. We were not prepared for the insane Jesus-like Sephiroth display in the floor of the store... and damn it was awesome. The store itself was not that impressive. It didn't have any merchandise that you couldn't find in other stores. Plus they didn't have a Space Power charm like I'd hoped. Then we hopped over to Shinjuku and wandered into the skyscraper district, then Shinjuku Central Park. In addition to the photos below, we encountered some teenagers in bum costumes making a movie, an old man doing Tai Chi, and we ate at a mexican restaurant (the food was OK).

Square Enix Store in Hastudai- Scott paying his respects

I'm not that into FF7 but... wow!

*holy music plays*

Christmas Cactuar!

Park in Hatsudai.

Overpass upon overpass in Hatsudai.

Appreciating the sunny day

Maneki Neko(s)!

Shinjuku~ The white building looks like it could be Apple Macintosh HQ or something

Reminds me of the Gherkin in London.

Kinda like a futuristic Colosseum.

Oh... hello there....

Cute!

I can has lap?

THIS is why we love Japan.

This cat was very well-kept so.... it had its way with us.

Love for everyone!

Can't I just become tiny and live there?

Courtyard

Beautiful temple and a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony.

Shinjuku Central park

BIG slide!

What seems to be the problem, Officer?... and kittens.

Scott and I were walking around near Namba, strolling down the street towards the arcade like usual. Then this plainly dressed Japanese man stops right in front of us and says something neither of us could understand. He motions downward and flashes his badge as he says, "Japanese Police." Another undercover officer appeared as they asked us if we understood Japanese, and we said our usual response, skoshi ... a little. After a few more words I understood that they wanted to see my passport so I handed it over. Scott didn't have his on him so that probably looked a little shady... but what neither of us had is our address in Japan, or proof of where we live (what would that be anyways?). Through a fairly large language barrier, they asked us when we got here, when we were going back, if we were going anywhere else before going back to the USA, how we had money to be here for 3 months (always hard to explain), and if we had taken any trains that day. In the end I'm not really sure what it was about. I would say it could be a random Visa check since many foreigners outstay their visas, and Japan is very strict about immigration. However the train question made me wonder if there had been a crime committed by a foreigner and they were looking for someone. Also I noticed we got a lot of blatant stares that day... like 75% of the eyes on the street were on us. Maybe it was the power of suggestion but it sure felt like something was up! I just wish I knew what it was!

Why post a blog without a photo- so here's a different day where we saw some kittens that were sitting on the street tied to someone's bike. Yes, they just sat there, all huddled. Of course they were super snuzzly when I went to bother them. When the owner came back, he piled them into the basket of his bike and rode away. Amazing.

Oooh what? You can't just sit there like that!

How do you train cats to behave so well??

Both parties say, "Love me!!!"

Awww...<3

Trip to Minoo

We've met some Japanese friends through capoeira here in Osaka (more on that later). For the national "Thank you for working" Holiday Nov. 23rd, they invited us to go to Meiji Memorial Forest, a Quasi-National Park in Minoo that has a waterfall. That being said I assumed it would be far and hard to get to. Luckily I was wrong. We met up at Umeda/Osaka station, then got on the Hankyu Railway Takarazuka line, then switched at Ishinbashi to the Minoo line. The total transit was under an hour and only 510 Yen. Once there we followed the trail- 45 min. walk to the waterfall with a lot to see on the way. Minoo was a wonderful escape to the mountains and especially fun with some Japanese friends.

Scott, me, Saori, Massa, Tomo, and Iwakatsu

Me, Tomo, Yuzu-kun (mascot of Minoo) and Roberto. Yuzu is a citrus that grows in Minoo. It tasted like a grapefruit with some mandarin. Its only the size of a clementine but packed with seeds.

Checkin' out the Tempura Maples...

YUMM Fried leaves.

Shakuhachi Master stopped to play us a tune. Awesome!

Wash your hands before ringing the bell.

Ring the bell for luck!

Get your fortune.... er, I can't read this! I was told it said "kind of lucky." Good enough!

If your fortune is bad, tie it to the tree.

Tomo and the bridge kitty

Beautiful fall colors!

Scott showing off his origami skills. Cranes are for sissies- check out this spider!!

Mystical stairs to... somewhere mystical.

So vast.

We made it to the waterfall!

OMG monkey! The guides at Minoo said that the monkeys have learned how to get money from people and then put it in the vending machines to get drinks. I can believe that... I wonder if they like beer? Or maybe banana milk??

No bananas for monkeys. :( Sorry.

A wide variety of Maneki Nekos.

Merry Christmas!?

More info on Minoo here-

http://www.kansai.gr.jp/culture_e/nature/park/meiji.htm