3 June

Today was my first full (and waking day) in Japan.
After getting up and preparing, I was down for breakfast at 7:05 and I was not the first. A number of businessmen were there already and a fair number of tourists had already arrived or arrived within a few minutes of me.
I had my western-style breakfast (but, horror of horrors, I forgot to bring my Vegemite down with me) and made sure that I wouldn’t be hungry for a few hours. During my repast, I heard quite a few different accents and then, boing, some from Australia – a RNDS nurse from Mt Martha and a couple from Lennox Heads. I chatted with them a few minutes and then the couple and I realised we were both doing a morning tour – but the details on theirs differed from mine. The bus was due at 8:30 and we were all on the same bus, but when we got our chits, they were for different tours. We left the hotel in rain – not heavy, but persistent.
We unloaded at the terminal where we swapped our chits for tickets to our respective tours – and this was the first place (bit not the last) where I experienced the new Japanese proximity radar system for backing buses. The tour guide goes out the back and yells out steadily until the bus is close, then yells out something else and the driver immediately halts the bus.
There were about sixteen on the tour I was on – only four from the hotel I am staying at (Shiba Park). They included a few Australians (Cathy, from Mildura, who was seated next to me, a couple from Skipton, who knew mutual acquaintances through Lions and another couple), a German, an Englishman, at least three Americans and other assorted people whose nationality wasn’t obvious – but no Japanese.
The rain had set in and our guide (nickname Kay, for asking “Okay?” so often) started off by explaining we would see certain things, but the weather would make it difficult (she thought it was raining hard, but I think of raining hard as front rain in Melbourne or monsoonal rain in Darwin, so to me it was gentle but persistent). We had to make sure we stayed together and that we returned to the bus when asked or at the time given. It made me realise the freedom I had travelling by myself and how much I managed to pack into a day and how it will be very different next time (for my following three month adventure). We were also reminded to put our seatbelts on (their new law came into force at the beginning of the month). Off we set!
Our first visit was to the Tokyo Tower. Seeing it was interesting as I had seen the Eiffel Tower (or should that be “Eye-full” Tower?) only a few days ago. Seeing from it was another thing, as my destiny at the moment is to travel up towers and see very little – and this tower was no exception. Had a wonderful view of clouds and rain, but little of anything else, as the photos will show. However, on a clear day, the view is magnificent – so I am hoping tomorrow will be better.
Our second visit was the Imperial Palace plaza, where all sorts of great information was passed on – that it was originally a Shogun’s palace, that it was taken over by the Emperor when he moved the capital from Kyoto (western capital) to Tokyo (eastern capital), which explains similar spellings. Also, the moat (nearly sixteen kilometres long) was tidal, but not now, as it was originally on the coast, but not now that land has been reclaimed (both the Dutch and the Japanese seem to be in the habit). We walked a small distance here, but the rain made sightseeing difficult.
Our third visit was to the Asakusa Kannon Temple and the adjacent Nakamis shopping arcade. With only a small walk to the temple, we didn’t get too wet. Apparently the temple started on the site in 614, so it has a very long history. Then we could shop at the arcade, and the rain didn’t stop dedicated shoppers. Neither did the bus leaving time, so we had one running up nearly ten minutes late.
We had already driven through Ginza, but with the weather and consequently few crowds, it didn’t look too impressive. We now made our way to a cultured pearl establishment where we got a lecture on how the artificial pearls are made and one lucky viewer won a pearl (a young American boy, but I think his mother had claimed it before they left the room. We departed through the showrooms onto our bus, where we returned to our respective hotels. At this point I wondered why we were ushered from the showroom under an umbrella, and onto the bus with an umbrella, but got wet in between.
Back at the hotel I had a quick scan of what I would like to see, then got a subway map and directions to the stations. I set out to see the Ginza under more populous conditions, but by the time I arrived (armed with my all-day ticket and maps and such) it was still raining. I walked up and down, but the flavour just wasn’t there. I went back to the subway station to see if there was anything suitable to see or do on a rainy day, and while I was looking at the map, a young Japanese girl came up and asked in clear English if I needed help to find where to go. I said, unfortunately not, I just need no rain or otherwise a view which won’t be affected. She couldn’t come up with one either, so I thanked her and she went off with her friends.
I took the subway line to the end and then swapped back to the line to get me back to the hotel. Walking back, I found a western place to have a bite to eat, then trudged through the rain back to my room.
Ah, my room. This is the first place I’ve been at with sterilised slippers (but not with a bathrobe, although at least this one doesn’t have the price tag on it). It’s also the first place where I made a mistake and thought handtowels were on the rack, but I was totally out. It is also the first place with a combination (and automatic) bidet, which comes on standby each time you use the toilet. Technical details only to those who ask, because I’m not sure how to explain it for general consumption. It also comes with toothbrush, comb, razor and emery board. But then again, considering the cost, perhaps I ought to expect it.
Now I’ve drivelled on for nearly as long as the rain. Apparently the rain is from a tornado offshore and is forecast to stop overnight and tomorrow is expected to be cloudy. I hope so, as I will then hit the sights with a vengeance, two empty camera cards and three full sets of batteries.