Week 1: Tokyo, finally ...again!

[18.07.2007 - Wednesday] "I'm in Tokyo!" (^o^)y

... after 25h of traveling, I've finally arrived at Keisei Ueno Station.
Here, Chi picks me up and we store our luggage, until check-in time for our Hotel later that afternoon and head out for lunch.

We're going to spend my first day back in Tokyo in Asakusa (浅草 - a district of Tokyo) ...and actually I've been here before! Last year I didn't have a room for the first night and couldn't resist to trying one of the (in)famous Capsule Hotels, so I ended up in the "Riverside" ( カプセルホテル　あさくさ　リバーサイド- Homepage). Unfortunately I didn't see anything of Asakusa itself back then, but seems like I have another chance today. ^^

But back to lunch! :)
It's gonna be Okonomiyaki ( お好み焼き - oddly sometimes called Japanese Pizza) at Asakusa Sometaro ( 浅草染太郎 - Homepage) - a long planned visit in fact.


Thereafter, we have a long stroll through the streets of Asakusa, visiting a famous Temple and Bazaar and I even catch a glimpse of "my" Capsule Hotel, when heading for the River.


[19.07.2007 - Thursday] Six-Trees

This day we spend in Roppongi (六本木 - another district), which, at night, looks like an Amusement Quarter for Foreigners. But also at day-time you can see quite a few Gaijin here, even if you don't count the black bouncers, that somehow seem to be a necessity for all the bars and private clubs.


After having some nice TonKatsu TeiShoku in Midtown and strolling through Roppongi Hillside, we visit the public area of TV Asahi and check the streets and shops of the area.

[20.07.2007 - Friday] Sweet Uneo & Akiba Love

In Ueno (上野 - a district of Tokyo) we have (I guess rather unusual for lunch) a sweet buffet at Sweets Paradise ( スイーツパラダイス - Homepage), and then (to burn the calories again *lol*) have a walk through Ueno Park.




Then, since it's not too far, we decided to go to Akihabara ( 秋葉原 - known as Tokyo's electronics district) by foot.

Hungry from all the walking our first stopover is at Mos Burger (モスバーガー - Homepage) so I can try the famous Teriyaki Burger and others.


Of course I couldn't spend some time in "Akiba" without playing at the GeiSen (ゲイセン) which is short for GeimuSentaa ( ゲイムセンター - Game Center） and browsing through all the quite unique shops.

[21.07.2007 - Saturday] Leaving Tokyo

After checking out of the Hotel, we want to store our bags and suitcases until we have to catch the bus to Koriyama around Tokyo Station, so the last day in Tokyo (for this stay) brings us to Ginza (銀座 - one of the main shopping and entertainment districts)

For today's lunch we chose the Italian restaurant Kapurichyôza (カプリチョーザ - Capricciosa) with a nice few on one of the main shopping areas. Funny to watch the ant-like people from way above. *hehe* After Pizza and Pasta we do some window shopping ourselves.

At first, we planned to see the Emperor's Park and A short part of a Kabuki play, but since it's later than expected, we have to skip this, so maybe next time...

Food court
Park



We hurry back to the station to pick up our luggage, and actually make it to the bus on time *phew*, which means:

Good-Bye Tokyo! :( - Welcome Koriyama! :)