Category: Seen around Tokyo (Page 11 of 11)

About noon Rick said, “Are you ready?” He wanted to go to Ganpachi for lunch and to the Nezu Museum. Ganpachi is a Japanese restaurant near our house. It is large and a bit rustic and has great food. Today they had a buffet set up with drinks, salad, miso soup,  dessert and it was  included with whatever you ordered. It was delicious. Then we walked to the Nezu Museum. (Did I mention that it was a gorgeous day?) When we first arrived in Tokyo I read about the Nezu Museum and was interested in visiting, but soon discovered that it was closed for three years for renovation. It re-opened last fall.

The building is beautiful and the collection is small, but interesting.  The special exhibit was on calligraphy and painting.  Although we enjoyed the exhibits, the most enjoyable thing about the Nezu Museum today was the beautiful traditional Japanese garden behind the museum.

This was the display we saw in front of a floral shop on our walk home. It’s definitely spring in Tokyo.  We stopped for ice cream and both tried the seasonal sakura (cherry blossom) flavor.

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower is a prominent landmark on the Tokyo Skyline.  It was completed in 1958 and is 333 meters tall.  It is not going to be able to support the new equipment needed for the change from analog TV to digital and so a new tower is being built.  The new tower is called Tokyo Sky Tree and it will be 610 meters making it the tallest broadcasting tower in the world. I caught a glimpse of the new tower today.

Tokyo Sky Tree

When it is completed it will not only support communication equipment, but will have viewing platforms and restaurants. It looks impressive.  Tokyo Tower also has viewing platforms.  However, it is quite expensive to go up in. So, when I want to have a look around this huge city, I go to Shinjuku to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. It is the best sightseeing value in the city with the opportunity to go to two different viewing areas.  The cost- it’s free. Quite amazing.  The best time to go is when a clear day follows a rainy one.  On days like that you can see all the way to Mt. Fuji.

Tokyo is interesting for shopping sometimes…certain parts of town are dedicated to shops selling a specific type of merchandise. For example, the area around Kanda has sporting goods and books, the famous Akihabara sells electronics, Nippori is famous for it’s textiles, Asakusabashi for Japanese dolls and Kappabashi has an entire street of kitchenware. You can find almost anything you would ever need in your kitchen here.

Today I found out that my friends Dixie and Michelle were “driving” to Kappabashi.  Having someone drive is a great because you don’t have to drag your purchases home on the train.  I invited myself along. I have been needing a trip there and I was able to pick up most everything I was looking for. Here are some photos of “KitchenTown”:

Dish shops everywhere

Pots and pans and utensils

Cherry Blossom Time Kitchenaid Display

I have no idea why they chose to use T-Rex on this sign. There are many interesting signs in Kappabashi. I forgot I had my camera with me until I had passed the giant cockroach, the giant chef’s head and the giant tea cups.

T-Rex

This cute guy hangs between each shop.  I assume that the writing is the name of each shop.

Shop Signs

One of my favorite books ever is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I have read it many times. In fact, it is time to read it again. My trip across the Pacific in two weeks will be the perfect. Over my life I have come to believe that there are “Boo Radley” houses in just about every neighborhood. I remember two from the neighborhood in Salt Lake where I grew up. We used to dare each other to go up and knock on the door or to touch the house. And that was before I ever read the book. It must be something about kids and spooky houses.

There is a house in my neighborhood that makes me feel a bit creepy every time I pass it. It’s on a narrow lane and faces the back of an apartment building. So it is a bit isolated.

Boo Radley's Tokyo House

The house and yard are quite large for a free standing house in this neighborhood. The yard is filled with leaves and people have thrown cans and bottles over the fence.

The condition of this house just doesn’t fit with Japanese culture. They sweep and wash in front of their houses daily. If there is a yard or garden it is spotless. This house just looks tired and dusty. The garage door is peeling and rusty.

There is an orange tree, but no one picks the oranges.  Houses that are not being lived in are generally boarded up or shuttered.  If I could climb the tall fence I could look right in one of the windows and see what is inside and that makes me think someone might be living there.

This morning on my bike ride I decided to stop and take some photos.  It almost felt like someone was watching me.  I think I need to go back over there at night to see if any lights are on.  Creepy idea? Do you have a “Boo Radley” house in your neighborhood?

It is always good to come home.  It doesn’t matter where in the world home is, I am always glad to be home.  There is a new school near our house and I like the way they organize their sweeping equipment.  The fact that they still use these brooms all over the world intrigues me.  I have seen them in Italy and all over Asia. They must know something we don’t.

This is a photo of a traditional Japanese house that is on my street.  When I moved here there were people living in it and I always planned to rush over and check on them if there were a big earthquake.  Wooden houses tend to fall down in earthquakes.  As you can see it is boarded up now.  Traditional houses are being torn down and something like this goes up in it’s place:

Awhile back mothers were banned from riding a bicycle with two children.  This was about the same time they said you cannot hold and umbrella while riding a bicycle.  More recently the law about mothers riding with two children has changed.  They are now allowed to ride with two children if they purchase a specific type of bike.  The new bike is quite expensive, costing $600 and up.  It is supposed to be sturdier. I cannot imagine riding with two children, especially with one virtually on the handle bars.  It was a challenge riding with one child on the back and I even ended up dumping Kristina on her head when she was quite small.  That was in the pre-helmet days.  I was so grateful to get one of the first bike trailers.  And just so you know, the Japanese rarely wear helmets.    Here is a photo of a “Mama-san” bike, be sure to take note of the long black box between the seat post and the rear tire, it’s the motor:

Today I had to run errands on the shopping street in my neighborhood. As I passed the sushi-ya (“ya” added to another word means shop, pan-ya is bakery) I decided that it had been too long since I’ve had sushi and stopped for a little take away lunch. I decided on some California rolls.  I don’t usually choose California rolls, but they looked especially good.  My favorites are the salmon and tuna.  Sushi! Yum!

Sushi-ya

Lunch