Thursday, January 31, 2008

Winding Down
























We spent the last couple of days picking up gifts here and there to bring back. We started out Monday with Hide (see picture 3) guiding us to some shops in Harajuku that Sarah might find some inspiration then broke off from the group. I started with the best intentions of taking shots here and there and letting Sarah go about her business but the goods being peddled were too tempting to pass up and I was soon sucked in only to spend way too much on a few fine Japanese wares. We walked down as many tiny alleys as possible and found many little obscure shops that made the day pretty great. On our final morning we paid a final visit to Yoyogi Park to find some peace and quiet and say goodbye to this magnificent city.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

sarah's turn !!!











Jeff has delegated a post to me today, (he forgot his camera - for shame !!) Here's a sampling of 'circles' - a sort of cataloge of the 'biodiversity' of Tokyo's sidewalks. I'm really enjoying the weatheredness and texture of each of them ... in a 'rising sun' sort of way.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Shopping in Harajuku















Yesterday was spent on our feet. Harajuku is a shopping district north of Shibuya that is separated by Omotesando. The stores are smaller and the clientele is a little older, closer to our age. It was a bit tiresome but we found some hidden gems like the Winged Wheel, a tiny little paper store in a very secluded back alley. We had lunch nearby. Sarah had the sashimi and I opted for the fried pork. By 6 o'clock neither of us could take anymore shopping so we headed back to the hotel to meet up with our new friends, Baku and Ai. After a rest we met up a couple of New Balance folks for a drink at the hotel bar on the 40th floor. Burt Bacharach playing next to us was a bit loud but my Manhattan hit the spot and the view was spectacular. So spectacular, in fact, that it was included on our bill. ¥1200 per person.

Friday, January 25, 2008

A Full Day at the Markets
















Today was a busy day. Woke up early (my timetable is still messed up) and was given the first clear view of Mt. Fuji in the distance. I then hitched a ride with the NewBalance express as our guide, Hide, took us all over Tokyo. We first went up to Asakusa to visit the Kannon Temple and sample the shops lining Nakamise Dori. After hopping a train for a short ride we experienced a massive outdoor market at Ueno. Anything and everything a chap can unload is packed into this cramped area. An eye-popping experience to say the least. We then changed pace and checked out the opposite end of the shopping spectrum on Omotesando where all the most chic stores and boutiques are found.