Nattō is gross, but I want to move to Tokyo
This morning for breakfast I tried Nattō, which is fermented soy beans. It was pretty disgusting, and adding the soy sauce and spicy mustard it came with made it worse. Justin told me not to feel bad about not finishing it (I ate three beans), so I didn’t!
Nattō, a kind of gross smelling fermented soy bean food.
After breakfast, we decided to go to Tokyo Tower, which is kind of like the Eiffel Tower and has an observation deck. The metro path from the hotel was such that we’d have to walk half the distance, so we just decided to walk the whole way and hope for some interesting neighborhoods.
Space for rent
All along this street there were a bunch of men sitting with maps and an array of counting devices. Shouldn’t this be automated!?
Graves
Random street
Interesting little metal markers all over the place
The utility poles are all made of metal or cement. Apparently due to lack of evergreen trees?
We happened upon a foresty area with a temple, called Hikawa jinja, so we walked around the grounds a bit and found some interesting statues. Such a peaceful little area in the middle of the city!
The symbol of water, at Hikawa-jinja Syaden
Hikawa-jinja Syaden
Hikawa-jinja Syaden
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Then we continued toward Tokyo Tower.
Noise meter at a construction site
Random street
Random street
Small sticker
High security
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Motorcycle parking
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Finally, we arrived at Tokyo Tower!
Tokyo Tower
We found the ticket counter and determined you pay first to go to the main observation deck at 145 meters, about halfway up. Once there, you can buy a ticket for the special observation deck, which is 250 meters high.
Tokyo Tower
View from Tokyo Tower
View of rooftop roller coaster from Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower
This is a not properly exposed panorama from Tokyo Tower… but it gives you an idea of just how huge this city is. Buildings as far as you can see in all directions! Larger version at http://votecharlie.com/blog/2013/CNG_9572.jpg
I’m hoping they installed the regular button first and then added handicap accessible ones later… seems excessive.
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower
After having lunch at a Chinese buffet place in the Tokyo Tower food court, we took the metro to the Imperial Palace grounds to walk around the garden areas.
Crosswalks
Most bikes I’ve seen around have these baskets attached. I don’t see that very often in SF.
Nice light pole
Easy to use metro
Where you buy your metro tickets
A simplified but more abstract subway map.
Once we arrived, a group of Japenese students approached us as asked if we spoke English. They then offered us free guided tours so they could practice their English! There were three girls and one guy, and they kind of divided themselves among the three of us English speakers and mostly recited a planned script when we encountered various spots on the grounds. Their English was good enough for us to ask lots of questions, though!
Often buildings will have the water symbol to protect against fires
At the Imperial Palace, this building housed the 400 middle strength guards.
Imperial Palace
This used to be a tower at Imperial Palace
Imperial Palace mote
Two of the students who guided us around the Imperial Palace
A tea house at Imperial Palace
Supposedly this type of tree was good for monkeys to sleep in?
Aaron socializing with the locals
Imperial Palace garden
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