Ikebukuro, Harajuku, Shinjuku

origamiunicorn ♦ July 24, 2016 ♦ 1 Comment

About 3am in Tokyo and I just woke up.  The time change plus my usual insomnia is making my sleep patterns even more unconventional.  Yesterday was so busy,  rushed,  loud,  bright and overwhelming.  Contrast that with the quiet of lying on a futon on a tatami mat looking out at the lights of Tokyo.  I have seen only a tiny fraction of this massive city but so far it is more amazing than I ever could have imagined.

From the government building in Shinjuku we were able to see an expansive panorama of the city.  Like looking out at the Grand Canyon it seems to go on forever. The furthest horizon is still dotted with buildings.

View from Government Building public observatory

Ikebukuro and Sunshine mall

We visited a Manga and Anime themed mall in Ikebukuro.  To me the mall was similar to malls in the states with one big difference. Rather than a food court there were about 30 tiny restaurants each with tiny seating areas. No takeout to a central eating area.  Each place has a has a different menu,  photos of the lunch menu outside and row of chairs for waiting.

Shopping mall lunch: Udon and Tempura

Much like malls in US it was full of families with small children –  a safe place to walk around and eat away from the heat and crowds and noise of the busy Ikebukuro streets.

At times walking around the Ikebukuro area  it seemed a lot like NYC.  We passed a lot of big name department stores, Times Square like crowds.  I only saw a few blocks of a few streets there so I couldn’t really get a feel for the character of the area.

Harajuku

Even in an hour visit I got a very different feel from Takeshita Dori in Harajuku.  This street is full of tiny trendy boutiques and creperies, popular with teens. The street was so packed you were shoulder to shoulder with the people next to you. But turn down a side street and the crowds dissipate – you find more tiny shops along windy intricate walkways.  Even stepping into the boutiques on the main street was a refreshing break from the crowds.  My teen daughter loved it there and bought one small souvenir –  a clear pink plastic backpack.

Takeshita Dori

Shinjuku

Our last stop of the day was back in Shinjuku.  It was getting dark (Japan does not do daylight savings time) and the crazy lights of the city were breathtaking.  Packed, loud streets and chaotic crosswalks,  but look down a narrow side street and it will be lined with tiny shops and restaurants with bright signs and lanterns.

Shinjuku

We saw a show at the touristy Robot Restaurant.  The show was full of traditional sounding drums,  robots,  music,  light shows,  live video-game-style battles, dancing,  videos,  lasers,  firecrackers,  motorized floats of mechanized sea creatures next to plates of moving sushi,  sparks and bizarre costumes.  The audience was almost entirely Westerners.  I felt a little twinge of embarrassment, like this show was contrived to satisfy what Westerners like to imagine the Tokyo experience would be.  It was entertaining and certainly nothing I have ever seen before. Our tour guide commented “It’s worth seeing once.  Once.”

The sun is starting to rise – I can see the rosy reflection on the sides of the nearby office buildings out my window.  We have another busy day ahead exploring Tokyo.