Welcome to Chaos !! - Japan

In The Middle Of Tokyo

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 22:00:00 +0000

Tokyo is green, trees, flowers and many parks all over. I walked a lot in Tokyo, easily more than double than I do at home.
And I visisted several parks. Here are a few.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Beautiful, serene and known for its scenic cherry blossom trees. A must place to go for all the people that visit Tokyo during cherry blossom season.

Close to Shibuya station I found Miyashita Park, I walked up a flight of stairs and found a small park there in between the rooftops. I visited a couple of more parks similar to it.

This next park I liked so much that I went there twice. Yoyogi Park. Full of flowers, large trees and nice walking paths.

Statue of Quetzalcoatl, did not excpect to see that in the middle of Tokyo.

Asakusa

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

If you find yourself in Tokyo and wonder what you should see I recommend going to Asakusa to get a feeling of old Tokyo and past traditions. Walk through the Kaminarimon Gate (Thunder Gate) and start exploring. The original gate was built around 1000 years ago. I thought Asakusa was very beautiful and if I ever go back to Japan and Tokyo which I hope, I will visit this area again. Afterwards you can walk to Tokyo Skytree and that right there is a full day of fun in Tokyo.

Shibuya Scramble Crossing

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 00:30:00 +0000

The first place my brother took me to see in Tokyo was Shibuya. Well.....we ate first in his neighborhood. Then we hopped on the bus from Sasazuka where he lives and got off in Shibuya, home of the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing.
Tokyo holds a very large population and this is the world's busiest pedestrian crossing. It is kind of unreal the first couple of times you and the large mass of people cross the street together like a large herd. Somehow everybody makes it across safely before the traffic starts up.

This is the view from the Starbucks that is there. Get a window seat, sit down and watch the city go by for a while.

Animal Cafés Tokyo

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

There are several animal cafés in Tokyo. Here are a few examples, besides these I saw mini pig, cat and there is also capybara cafės and probably others that I am not aware of.

I did not go to any animal cafės during my stay. And I love animals, therefore I didn't go. Would I like to hold a hedgehog, hug a capybara and pet an owl? Yes of course but I do not think it is right to hold these animals captive and allow a bunch of people to paw on them every day and take selfies with them over and over agaon. I am sure the animals are stressed.
If you really just have to go to an animal café.....look up ethical/guilt free animal cafés and go there. Do the right thing!

Public Restrooms In Japan

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Gandhi once said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated". Well I think animals are mistreated everywhere and can be treated much better, so let's all make a greater effort to treat all animals better.
After seeing the public restrooms in Japan Tati says, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by its public restrooms".
I do not like public restrooms. I would rather pee outside than use a public toilet and if I just can't hold it then I hover and flush with my shoe clad foot, like I touch as little as possible inside a public restroom. Use one of those blowdryer type hand dryers after I wash my hands? Never. I rather my hands air dry than get sprayed down with poop particles.
In Japan I actually enjoyed using the toilet. Sit down on the toilet seat in Japan? No problem and yes please.....I did not mind sitting on the toilet at all in Japan. Every public restroom I visisted was spotless. Because the Japanese people do not act like savages, they are so civilized it is almost unreal. Well, unreal for a brute Westerner like me, not unreal for one of them.
Check out these public restrooms......enjoy!
First you have the option of wiping down the seat with some sort of a rubbing alcohol solution, not that it is needed but I did it anyways and it is fun to do.

Everything is explained, in several languages. Sit your ass down on the toilet seat please, no squatting on the toilet seat.

I mean look at this.....it is just beautiful. I was seriously so impressed. Good job Japan! You can even sit there and peacefully look at a picture of Mount Fuji.

Another example of perfection. Nothing is destroyed, no grafitti. Imagine that.....!

You can choose how you wish your undercarriage to get washed. The temperature of the water, the strenght of the stream that washes you, the area you need washed. It is like picking out a fun adventure.

My friend Kazumi said that all foreigners are impressed with the public restrooms in Japan.

Tokyo Subway

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to a small tour of the Tokyo subway! I managed to navigate on the subway on my own although it took some time to understand it. And yes it can be confusing but it is manageable. First of all, it is CLEAN. No graffiti. No trash. No destroyed seats. Nobody is loud. Nobody has their feet up on the seats. So people CAN actually behave normal on the subway?
Japan is a civilized country, the subway is just one of the many signs of that. I very much appreciated the Tokyo subway. It is amazing.

Tokyo subway guide.

You get a card (Suica card) that you add money to, you use this card to get through the gates. Entering and exiting.

Exiting a gate.

The subway cars can get very crowded. You are not supposed to talk on the phone while riding. Put your phone on silence, use the texting function to communicate. Do not listen to music and do not talk loudly with somebody else. Be mindful of others. People on the subwat want to unwind and relax before and after work, listening to somebody else's drama is not relaxing. I totally agree with all of that. Exiting the platform can feel slightly claustrophobic due to the crowds, just relax and go with the flow. Pay attention to what side to stand on the escalators, walk the stairs.
Some cars are designated for women only during morning rush hour. It should be like that everywhere.

This is cute. Don't rush, the trains run frequently.

While riding you get useful information about the weather and other things.

Me having fun riding the subway in Tokyo.

Tokyo Station subway entry.

Tokyo Skytree

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Sat, 13 May 2023 00:11:00 +0000

I had to go to see the tallest tower in Tokyo and the third tallest structure in the world, the Tokyo Skytree. You can take an elevator up to the top and get an amazing view of the city, I stayed on the ground though. There is an aquarium on the 4th floor, Sumida Aquarium that looks like it is worth a visit as well. The aquarium closes at 20.00 (that is 8 pm) so make sure you get there in time. The admission to the Skytree observation decks also closes at a certain time, keep that in mind if you are planning a visit here.

Soba

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Fri, 12 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Tonight I had traditional soba (Japanese buckwheat noodle) at the restaurant where my friend Kazumi works. First I got green tea, then miso soup. The soba was served with a dipping sauce (soba tsuyu), thinly sliced onions and wasabi.
The soba I had was cold and got served on a bamboo tray (zaru). When I finished the soba I got some water that soba had been cooked in to add to the dipping sauce so I could drink it. A traditional meal that I very much enjoyed.
The restaurant is called Kayabacho Sarachina (Kayabacho subway station) and is a family owned place that has been around for 55 years.
The soba is made right there so it is fresh, I watched them make it. Soba is very nutritous and so is miso (I read up on it, very interesting).

The other day I had Korean pizza (?), I think it was.

The first day I got here I had some soup with noodles. I gave the pork to my brother.

I've had Indian food a few times (I love Indian food) and the naan they serve here are huge. Good!
I've had all kinds of things to eat while in Tokyo, I have no complaints. There is so much stuff to choose from here.

Massage

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Wed, 10 May 2023 16:00:00 +0000

I got a massage today. A 90 minute body massage. In a small place located underneath a subway station so I heard the subway rattle by the every other minute or so which did not bother me at all, I find that soothing almost like a white noise. The massage was average, like below average actually. Meh. I've had better but it felt good to get my flesh squeezed and my muscles stretched. I have been walking a lot here (good!), what I really need is a foot spa for like two hours but I am saving that for another time. Probably for when I am back in Portland.

I LOVE massage. Ideally I would like a weekly full body massage for at least 90 minutes. And a two hour foot spa twice a month. Then add a quality 90 minutes minimum facial with a face massage included once a month and that is the ultimate body care package in my book.
Anyhow.....I recall some massages that I had in the past. One in Poland by some guy massage therapist that thought he was hot. I was 23 I think and he thought that I could be in better shape.....I was like? OK dude I like ice cream and food, plus I don't care what you think of my shape.
Then I had a massage in Anchorage (that is in Alaska in case you do not know), towards the end the massage therapist decided to turn off the llight and crawled up on the table and straddled me (I was face down). Never had that type of massage before.....she also went over the time cause I had a facial booked after the massage and the esthetician had to knock on the door to announce that it was time for my facial. That massage was a bit different.
Then in Kenai (also Alaska) I had my one and only thai massage (so far). That lady said she thought I had a nice body so therefore my boyfriend was lucky. In Salem OR I had a massage that started out with the massage therapist massaging my ears, she stuck her finger into my ear and stretched my ear somehow and that felt really goodl I highly recommend that move. In Vegas at the Korean spa I had a body scrub/massage and the lady scrubbed me so hard that I though she would peel my skin off. When the session was done she announced it by giving me a hearty slap on my bare butt (I was down to my underwear). You have to be OK with some new experinces when it comes to massage. As long as the person rubbing me doesn't do something creepy I am good (like do not touch my boobs and in between my legs, I do not need massage there OK). Everywhere else yes please! And hard.
And now to my absolute fave massage ever..... At a foot spa in Vegas. I visited a lady there several times, she called herself Kathy. She was from China so it was not her real name. Kathy is the only woman that I daydream about......she was that AMAZING. I would get a two hour massage and schedule it around 9 pm so I could just go home and crawl into bed afterwards. Two hours of pure bliss.

Hachiko

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Wed, 10 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Hachiko (Hachi) was the name of a Japanese Akita dog that was born 100 years ago.....in 1923. There is a bronze statue in his likeness standing in Shibuya. Hachiko was like all dogs loving and loyal. He would see his owner off every morming at the Shibuya train station and wait for him when he got back, until one day Hachiko's owner did not show up. But Hachiko still waited.....and waited. Yea, heartbreaking truly. It gets me teary eyed and achy inside because I know that dogs are just so amazing. There is a reason why God spelled backwards is dog. Yoy can also visit Hachiko's grave at the Aoyama cemetery.
I got to see the Hachiko statue today and that made me happy.

There are even little community buses driving around in Shihuya called Hachiko. Kawaii!

IKEA Tokyo

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Mon, 08 May 2023 22:00:00 +0000

I had to make a stop at IKEA Tokyo to check it out. I went to the Shinjuku store, there are a couple of more IKEA locations in Tokyo.

Some veggie balls and a lingonberry drink. I had to rest for a bit and gather some energy.....plus I was hungry.

Hello Kitty Tokyo

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Mon, 08 May 2023 19:00:00 +0000

I went to a couple of Hello Kity stores here in Tokyo because I ❤️ Hello Kitty. There is also the Sanrio Puroland in Tokyo, the Hello Kitty theme park. But I decided to pass on that, at least this time around.

I got Kuromi, a Pochacco magnet for my fridge and Hello Kitty.

Tokyo Tower

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Mon, 08 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I met up with my friend Kazumi last week. The days have flown by and I am starting to feel that panicky feeling in my stomach because this trip will be coming to an end soon.....and I don't want to leave. 😥
I have know Kazumi for like 20 years. We met at the Stratosphere in Las Vegas where we worked as hostesses. The years too have flown by....I don't want to think about that either. More panicky feelings.
We took this picture and in the background to the right of me you can see Tokyo Tower.

Kazumi took me sightseeing and we went to Tokyo Tower. It is the second tallest structure in Tokyo. Very pretty as you can see. Like a jewel.

Afterwards we slowly strolled around and talked. Ended up at a restaurant called Orangé and I had the best crème brulée I've ever had (hazelnut chocolate brulee). And our waiter was super cute.....and super nice. I want to go back so I can stare at him some more and have more crème brulée. Maybe he wants a girlfriend?

❤️

Tokyo Starbucks

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Sat, 06 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

There are many places to get coffee in Tokyo. Starbucks is everywhere here and dominates the market but of course there are other coffee chains as well. And plenty of other non chains. The other day I got a café au lait from a man with a small coffee shop, just one table inside and he plays jazz records on vinyl in there. I didn't not take any pictures of the place (I regret that now) but his cafe is located in Higashikouenji. Worth a visist if you are into jazz.....and coffee.
I got a delicious latte at Prolog in Sasazuka - look how pretty!

I tried a latte from a coffe machine at a 7-Eleven, not bad.

A couple of days ago I met up with my friend Kazumi and we got some Starbucks at the Tsutaya/Ginza 6 location.
SUPER FANCY location, can't be compared to any Starbucks I have been to before. An experiece in itself. It said no photos.....so I obliged. There was a small art exhibit off to the corner, I snuck a pic there.

I like the Starbucks meny better here in Tokyo, more choices that I like of everything. Like the tea lattes for example.....I even saw one location that offered Earl Grey tea latte AND English Breakfast tea latte.

The Melon of Melon is back for the summer.

And in a few days you can get a Strawberry Frappucino.

You can get oatmilk if that is what you prefer, which I do. The staff is super polite. The Starbucks here are clean.
Nobody (as in the guests) act rude. Yes, you get WiFi at Starbucks in Tokyo as well. My venti iced oatmilk latte was 580 yen. You pay a little more if you opt to sit at the location (as a table fee). They also have tableside baskets for your purse/briefcase, I like that a lot as well. It is an overall much better experience at a Tokyo Starbucks than in a US Starbucks. (Is anybody suprised over that fact?)

To end this coffee entry, look at this vintage coffee bean grinder. Beautiful!

Full Moon Over Tokyo

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Fri, 05 May 2023 21:00:00 +0000

I really wanted to see the moon rise, since it is a full moon right now. Where does one go to see the full moon over Tokyo? Keio Plaza Hotel is one place you can do some moon viewing, up on the 45th floor at the Aurora Sky Lounge. We made a reservation the day before just to be sure to have a table.
You get wet napkins here in Japan before you eat so you can wipe your hands, at some places they give you small warm towels. I like this practice a lot.

A small glimpse of the view of this city that 37 million plus people call home, mindblowing.
Depending on where you read the numbers, some sites say that 39 million people live in Tokyo. Regardless.....the most populated city in the world.

The moon.....the moon!

We ordered a drink each, very yummy (of course) and I had a waffle with vanilla ice cream.

More of the moon.

And a blurry picture of the moon.

With my new friend Miku. ❤️