Day 3: Ginza, Ueno and Roppangi

 

     Welcome to Ginza! Home of Shopping!

 

     Architectural Innovation!

     Deer legs!

 

     But mostly shopping and innovative architecture. Around Ginza and Shiodome, business blocks are built vertically, so that a whole strip of bars or salons or shops are stacked on top of one another, rather then laid out along the street. Basically, it's like one strip mall after another stacked next to each other, only without the teenagers smashing bottles behind the Carvel. The hanging deer legs are sold in the food court of Matsuya, the big department store chain in Tokyo. Think about that the next time you're in line for coffee at Macy's.

     The most unique thing about Ginza was that at noon, and I mean exactly at noon, the main street was closed off to traffic and opened to pedestrians. You could walk in the middle of the street. Set up chairs. Stand around and take pictures. All on a street that had just been teeming with cars. We loved it. I know they tried it Times Square awhile ago, but probably for only ten minutes before a cab tried to run everyone over. They can't help themselves.

     Next: Ueno! More shops! More people! More humidity! God, have I mentioned the humidity yet? I'm basically a 67 year-old man, and nothing brings out my AARP card faster then f'ing humidity. I sweat when I eat here, because the air is made of warm water and the Japanese are waging a blood war against air conditioning. God damn it's humid. What was I talking about? Oh right. Ueno. Yeah, lots of stores, all of which employed people whose only job was to scream at you while you walked by. I assume they were trying to sell me things, because I speak Japanese about as well as I can dunk a basketball. 

 

     Tired of people screaming at you? I sure was. So we went to Ueno park, home of this spitting frog. Ueno park is home to the Tokyo Zoo, a museum, a temple and all of the homeless people in Tokyo. Skipped over that part in the guide book. Still... 

       A beautiful park. Here are the lotus ponds, which are three times the size of what this picture shows. It's unbelievable that something like this exists inside of a city, but there you are. 

 

     Here's the temple. I'm in my formal wear. 

     Then I ate these. They were octopus wrapped in dough and goo, purchased from a street vendor. They promptly made me ill. I will never try anything new again. Thanks, Anthony Bourdain.

     Quick trip to the hotel to change.

     And after getting pretty...

     It's off to Roppongi! Swinging home of Tokyo's youth! Nightlife! Excitement!

   

      Bloomin' Onions! This. Place. Has. Everything!

      After getting lost and missing our reservation at the restaurant we were supposed to go to,we went to Ostrea, an oyster bar in Roppongi. It was great! True story: The only thing you can eat in Japan is fish. National law. Except at TGI Fridays. Even the Japanese realize they have no jurisdiction over Jack Daniel's Chicken Strips.

     After dinner, caught the last train out before the Metro closed.

     Again. The locals love us.


      And finally, a hello to our friends from Milwaukee/Marquette. Your influence is far-reaching. Time to watch the Brewers game.