So really quickly before I write about my fantastic birthday, let me do a quick recap about January 8...
Yesterday was rather uneventful. I took the train back to Tokyo, which took up a good chunk of the day. On my way, I had a delicious pastry and bento box, and stopped in Kyoto because I realized I forgot to get a phone charm (I've purchased one for everywhere I've been but Nagano). Back in Tokyo, I checked into Nui Hostel, a super chick lounge/hostel. The lounge is small but has lots of misshapen wood and cool lights. The living quarters feel like a converted warehouse and the lack of upkeep adds character and charm, rather than a sense of uncleanliness.
Shinkansen (bullet train)
I went to the Pokemon Center (last one of my trip), then to Shinjuku to swap some clothes I got at Uniqlo (they were Japanese size). Starving, I went to the really good ramen place I had gone to the last time I was in Shinjuku and got ramen and gyoza. My eyes were a little bigger than my stomach, but I came close to finishing. After that I went back to the hostel for an early night. Oh, and I met an Aussie named Anthony who is in my room.
This morning I woke up early to go to Tsukiji fish market, but it was closed. Just for today! Of course! Three restaurants were open (instead of like a million), so I picked one and got toro (fatty tuna), yellow tail, clam, oyako (parent and child), some sort of toro wrap thing, and seafood miso soup. I plan on going back before I leave for the true experience.
Oyako - mother and child - salmon and salmon roe
In focus: Toro (fatty tuna)
In focus: Yellow tail
In focus: Clam
A bus took me to a Mt. Fuji viewing spot (it's closed for climbing), but it was too cloudy for a good shot. HOWEVER, it was still absolutely incredible and the views of the surrounding area were none-too-shabby.
I got off the bus on the way back to take a walk along some deserted path along Kawaguchiko river. Breathtaking.
Between the end of the path and the next bus stop were a few souvenir shops. I stopped in desperately looking for gifts for friends and family, but there was NOTHING. I met some Australians (of course, so many Australians), and chatted with them for a bit.
The bus ride back to Tokyo was fairly simple, and brought me to Shinjuku. I went to a Starbucks to use their free wifi so that I could get in touch with my high school friend, Anya.
I took my time leaving Starbucks and finding our meeting spot, but still managed to arrive an hour earlier than Anya. Luckily, a random side street on the east side of Shinjuku is one of the best places to sit and people watch. And that I did. Quite pleasantly.
She finally arrived and we went right to a cat cafe that I saw on my way to meet her. Yes. A cat cafe. A place full of adorable, fluffy, prissy, holier-than-thou critters prancing around and enjoying the limelight as tourists and Japanese girls vie for the feline's limited attention spans. Best ¥1000/hr EVER.
This guy must be made of cat nip
Next, I wanted to check out the infamous Don Quijote in Shinjuku - a ridiculously trashy store that combines the worst of Walmart, K-mart, Five Below, Toys R Us, CVS, a Halloween store, and a sex toy shop into a can of sardines. Our only purchase was a bottle of White Peach soda, which is probably the best soda in the world. Not exaggerating.
We were both hungry so we went to Yoshinoya, ate, chatted about how much we love Japan, and then took the subway to Akihabara.
Akihabara, or 'Electric Town,' is otaku headquarters. It is the Mecca for people that I like to call nerdverts. Imagine the nerdiest, perverted young Japanese boy stereotype, multiply him by several thousand, and surround him with flashing lights, arcades, gadget shops, cafes where girls dress in French maid outfits and call you 'Master,' ramen joints, and lots and lots of animated porn. That would be Akihabara in a nut shell. We took some photos and went into Excelsior Cafe for my new favorite warm drink: Royal milk tea (warm milk and tea, no water), with whipped cream, and maple syrup. UGH. I want to move here. To Japan. Not Akihabara. Ew.
From Akihabara, we made plans to meet tomorrow (5:30pm at the Hachiko statue in Shibuya - THE Tokyo meeting place), and hugged goodbye.
Back at Nui I had two well-made and very reasonably priced drinks (no idea what they were, just let the bartender decided), and then got into bed.
Turned out to be a great birthday!!! Certainly rivaled my 21st in Tel Aviv.
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