What I Did On My Summer Vacation

My Trip To Tokyo

Tuesday august 20th

My last full day here.
The plan: head for the Japanese sword Museum in Yoyogi then if time allowed, hit the Imperial Palace and record those cicadas. I headed out a little later than I expected, partially due to some idiot hogging the one working computer in the hotel lounge. I wanted to check my e-mail, and perhaps send some out, but after what seemed like 30-45 minutes, I said forget it and went on my way.

I listened to my CDs the night before, and was more determined to return to Tsutsuya Culture and if possible find more music by Bird, and Monday Michiru whose music is in a similar jazzy R&B/disco mode as Bird. I ended up with 32 CDs for under 5000 yen. A few were western artists like K.D. Lang (Ingenue 500 Yen), Alexander O'Neal (Hearsay-All Mixed up 500 Yen), Maxi Priest (Man With The Fun 100 Yen), Paris (The Devil Made Me Do It 100 Yen). Some Japanese hip hop; 2 EPs by Dragon Ash, a single by Funk The Peanuts (You Go Girl), A few novelties; A band called Hide with Spread Beaver (I had to explain why I thought this was funny), The Scanty and their single Home Girl, CDs that feature Crayon Shin Chan, Parapa The rapper, and Hamtaro on their covers, an EP by an excellent Ska-Punk band called Snail Ramp. I regret not getting more of their stuff. A coupl'a techno CDs by Hotei and Sugizo and a bunch of others I've still yet to listen to.
I forget where my connection was, but I got a bento lunch to take on my way. It was a few variations of sushi, including a couple wrapped in something leafy like spinach, instead of seaweed. The whole thing was packaged in a balsa wood box topped with cardboard with a woodgrain print on it, and wrapped in paper. Nice.

I used the Fodor's book for once to get somewhere and it turned out not to be a good idea, however nothing else I had gave a clear enough indication on how to get to the Sword Museum if they even acknowledged it existed. So I used the book, taking the train line suggested only the exact station doesn't exist on that line (or so it seemed to me). But I was in Yoyogi, and near Yoyogi park which was close. I figured I had some time, so I would walk through Yoyogi park, sit down, have lunch, walk some more and exit the park near where I could expect to find the museum. Not that easy, apparently. The pathways are all over the place and sticking to the edge of the park to stay close to the street wasn't a whole lot of help as some paths were blocked off, but I figured I'd make my way back. Ah, but you've heard that phrase before, haven't you? Yep, lost again, but in a park.

Before all this I did stop to eat. I couldn't find where my chopsticks were hidden (underneath, between the box and paper wrapping), so I tore the cardboard cover in half and rolled the two pieces into a makeshift pair of chopsticks. It was a little rough but it worked. Naturally, I found the chopsticks when I finished. I got a beverage from a vending machine and continued my quest.

As I attempted to locate an exit, I saw one dude in a secluded part of the park playing bongos. Not the little ones, but the big stand up ones. Maybe they're called something else, I dunno. he had a Rasta hat on, I think. Initially it seemed he was just banging aimlessly, soon as he saw he had an audience (me), he started groovin'. I had no time to appreciate his skills, I wanted to see some swords so I kept going. As I approached an exit I could hear live music in the distance. I couldn't see anything except for people doing what they normally do in a park, but somewhere in the distance was a band. I wanted to follow the sound, and I should've, but I continued on my way, telling myself that when I'd finished, I'd return. I got to the exit, looked at the map near the sign and found I was still nowhere close to where I wanted to be. I left the park thinking I could circle the area from the outside and go from there. As I walked I passed some kids dressed in some freaky Marilyn Manson Goth like outfits. I wondered if they were going to a show in the park, and considered following them, but stubbornly kept the course thinking I could hug the side of the park. Next thing I know, there's a train station, then I'm in a residential neighborhood, where some blocks lead to entrances inside the park, but you can't walk around with the park in view. You've got to zig zag around different blocks. Needless to say, it's not long till I'm nowhere near the damn park. Not only that but it's nearly 4pm, closing time. Forget it. At this point I don't feel like looking for the park. It occurs to me to get some last minute souvenirs (in addition to stuff I already got) in Asakusa, my favorite shopping spot. So I head to a train station I noticed not far from where I was (not the one I arrived at, of course).

I buy a little teapot for myself, and a few little things for other people. I don't stay long. I take the train towards Azabu-Juban to hook up with Hiro, but I'm a little early. I get off at Akasaka (not to be confused with Asakusa), call Hiro and let him know I'm in the neighborhood, and I'm getting a bite to eat. So I circle the area being careful not to wander too far, otherwise I'll be here all night. Not sure what I'm looking for where dinner is concerned, so I just walk. I take note of a place across the street, in case I need to circle back, but it turns out to be unnecessary. I find what seems like a ramen shop, so I walk in. I'm offered a seat, which I take. The waiter speaks a bit of English, which makes things very easy for me. The menu has no pictures for me to point at, so to make things less complicated I let him recommend some dishes. They include a bowl of pork noodles. I order small this time, and eat the whole thing including the pork. A salad, and something wrapped in a pastry. I don't know what it was but it was good. Like others mentioned before, he seemed anxious to practice his English skills, which were very good, though far from perfect. We made some small talk. He expressed his ambition to come to America. When asked if he could visit me upon arrival, I said "sure why not". Addresses were exchanged, I finished my food, which was very good, and went to meet Hiro. We took a crowded subway (or two) to Kawasaki and headed home.