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2013-06-03 01:01
in Japan, Japan2013, Ntrips, Trips
On our 3rd day in Tokyo, we started by going to the Tokyo Skytree (highest tower when it was built and much higher than the Tokyo Tower), but you see there was a line to get a ticket to let you come back to another line 3H later, so that you could then stand in line for 30mn to buy a ticket that would let you stand in line to get to the elevator that took you to the middle floor where you could stand in line to buy a ticket to go to the top.
You could buy tickets online but only with a Japanese credit card we didn't have (clearly tourists lose out there). I was kind of pissed, but I took some tickets, and we took a subway back to Akihabara where I was planning on going later. Jennifer went to enjoy some noodles while I went to scour a few geek stores :)
Today Akihabara doesn't really have anything I can't buy at home, but it has lots of stores that have what you need right here, including all kinds of electronic parts, so it's generally cool :)
I'd have spent more time there, but I had to rush out to make it back to the skytree just in time for our timeslot to go stand in line to buy tickets (only 2H in Akihabara, barely enough...), and we got there by just 3mn which allowed us to go to the top and enjoy about 1H there before having to come back down and go to Ginza.
The unfortunate time pressure came from the fact that our second sushi dinner at Sushi Mizutani in Ginza was at 17:00. We got there for more hand made overpriced Sushi deliciousness (unfortunately they don't like pictures while they're working, but the chef will take one with you before you leave if you ask). That sushi bill was a bit cheaper than the previous day (we also had a little less) and it was also excellent. Mizutani was also a disciple from the original Jiro.
After dinner, we finished the evening in Ginza at the Sony showroom, and Don Quijote, a 24H store that has everything you need and don't need day or night in a super compact space. Amazing how compact it is :)
Oh, on the way back we went back to the top of the MET for a few night pictures there.
After going all the way to Tokyo Skytree just to pick up tickets to come stand in line later...
we went there first, but by the time we got there, it was already too late, there was a 3H wait. Grr...
I elected to go to Akihabara to see a mix of anime, fanboys, maid cafes, and of course computers and electronics:
Maid cafes, we'll get back to this the next day...
dual screen android phone, where have you been when I needed you? :)
Gamers was both weird but kind of worth seeing
pictures in the elevator. No comment...
Some singer of the day, till she turns too old and gets replaced with another one
even the urinal is a video game, you play with your stream (no kidding)
old consoles from the 80's
oh my, this brings back memories :)
there were buckets of electronic stores with all kinds of components
But before long, it was time to hurry back to the Tokyo Skytree for our ticket buying time. To be honest, I could have done without the extra running around, it was unnecessary extra stress, but we got up too late, and got there too late, so now we had to deal with the ticket buying bullshit.
We got back there in time to go stand in line 30mn to buy a ticket (with 3mn to spare), and after 30mn queueing, we got a ticket that would allow us to go stand in line with our ticket another 30mn to get up. A line to go stand in line to buy a ticket to go stand in line, yeah!
Ok, it was a pain to get up there, but the view from that high up was interesting. In theory, you're supposed to stay there and shop and do local things while waiting for your turn, but we didn't really do that:
By then, it was more than time to go to Ginza for our sushi reservation at Sushi Mizutani
I wasn't supposed to take pictures inside as I found out later, but got a few before I was asked to stop. The chef did however agree to take pcitures with us at the end:
can't argue with that outburst of happiness :)
Next,we wwent to the Sony showroom and walked around ginza some more, finishing at Don Quijote:
Before going back up to our room, we went to the nearby MET for some night pictures before going to bed:
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