Arrival in Tokyo - June 2 2007

The bus ride was, OK no leg space and no comfortable position to sleep for more than 1h straight. When we arrived in Tokyo we realized why some people told us GOOD LUCK when we told them we would arrive in Shinuku in the morning. This train station is HUGE it has over 20 platforms from different train companies and the maps (contrary to Osaka) are only written in Japanese so we have to know the symbols in advance. Our first task is to find out how to get to our hostel to drop off our bags (and especially Cody's because he is carrying ALL his luggage since he is going back to the states from Tokyo). I ask for instructions at the information booth but I hear platform 5 instead of platform 15 so we wait at the wrong platform for almost an hour. Then I go back and ask and this time I here JUU go (15). So we hop on the Yamanote line, probably the most popular line in Tokyo because it does a loop around the big neighborhoods of Tokyo and has frequent departures. The size of the stations and number of wagons (15) are astounding here compared to Osaka.

This is a hot day and we barely manage to make it at the hostel with all the heavy luggage. We drop everything in the room and take a power nap. When we wake up we are ready to take the train back to city center and properly visit Tokyo. During this very long walk we visit Shinjuku west, where the administrative buildings and huge high rise skyscrapers are. We also go down to Shibuya, the most busy intersection on earth (estimated 3 million pedestrians per day cross here). I take a great picture while people cross, that looks like there is a demonstration, but it is just many many people crossing the street.

We continue down to Yoyogi park and around the Harajuku area and in the Yoyogi park we encounter many young Japanese going crazy on their guitars, drums and mics... It was interesting to be in a nice park but from behind the trees hearing 10 different bands competing on decibels.

We tried to contact two American friends that are also visiting in Tokyo.. but no response until now.