Day 5 Edo-Tokyo museumand Asakusa temple

Its day five and as planned we visited the museum of Edo-Tokyo. Being the type that loves adventure and new places, this excitement was overwhelming. We got an exposure about the civilization of the past of Japan.

We got into our train and were all set to travel towards Edo-Tokyo. The structure of it is based on a traditional Edo storehouse built in the Kurazukuri style.

Inside the museum is just as impressive with a vast display of items spread over two floors. There are more than 2,500 artifacts on display; from old maps and samurai swords to detailed large-scale interactive models of houses which you can walk through, showing what daily life was like during the Edo period.

The museum takes you from the beginnings of Tokyo through the centuries up till the last decade. There’s decent English labeling in each zone and a voice modulated device having four different languages.

Next was the visit to the temple Asakusa (浅草). We were all wondering as how a temple in Japan would actually look like and what would exactly be the rituals followed here in. Asakusa is one of the places in Tokyo where one can feel the vibe of old Japan and is popular because of the Sensoji temple, as well as the Nakamise Shopping Street which has numerous shops of different objects of Japanese art.

After having done our shopping we boarded a train to the hostel. We now to had to rehearse for our India day performance. This performance is going to be aired on Japan’s national network and we are really excited about it.

DAY 2: FIRST DAY IN BUSTLING CAPITAL OF JAPAN-TOKYO...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We used the Japanese rails to go Iidabashi from Narita ,where the Tokyo central youth hostel. The journey was stunning. We traveled the way travelers do ,pulling our bags, taking care of it, being alert every moment. When we entered the train ,I was amazed to see it. The people are so disciplined. They maintain the silent, busy in their own work. Most of the people read books and use gadgets.We reached the hostel and it is a really tall building , and I am sure any Indian will be amazed to see it.  It is in the eighteenth floor of the building! And the view from there is splendid.!

1.  Ishaan and malaika in the train,looking tired.

    

2. People reading books and using their gadgets.

3. The splendid view of the city from the Tokyo central youth hostel.

Everyone went in different direction. Although I was alone, I couldn’t resist myself in going out and exploring the place. I went for a long walk. The weather was cold and beautiful. As today was shinchigosan(a festival when kids of aged three,five,seven go to the shrine and wear kimono for the first time) I saw many kids in kimono and they were really looking cute.! I observed that in japan people love nature, they take a lot of care of it. People use more of public transport ,cycles or walk to get to the place they want. When the time was up I went to back to the hostel. Then we were given the rooms. My roommates are Maliaka ,Mercedes and Zoya. As we were free in evening we decided to go to Harajuku,the marvelous fashion street in Tokyo.

4. A lady and a girl dressed in a kimono walking on the streets.

We took the train from Iidabashi to yoyogi station and then to harajuku. When we reached there our eyes were glued to the street. The street’s name is takeshita dori. It is a pedestrian street. The street was lined up with fashion botiques,cafes,accessories shops. It was crowed yet it was fun to explore it. As we read alot of information about tokyo before we found a store named kinji clothing store where in clothes are sold in cheap rates. she found that Kinji clothing store where you get the stock for cheap rates. So we decide to find the store.We wandered around the whole street,asked help from many japanese but didnt find one. We were sad but the bittersweet change was that we were carried away with the bing-bling accesories. Although i dint buy anything for me,malaika and mercedes went crazy buying the rings. We just went crazy looking at the things around. Everything was so cute and adorable. We actually went from shop to shop and checked the things there. when all this was going on, Zoya got lost. We were worried about her but thank god she made it back to Iidabashi. And even reached on time to the hostel.

5. Malaika posing with the ticket of Harajuku.

6. The shop of accesories in Harajuku.

7. Malaika starring at graffiti art,in streets of Harajuku.

The whole experience was really astonishing. Travelling ,Shopping, all alone indeed teahes alot. The first day was so awesome and I hope the remaining days will also bring alot of suprises. I'm really waiting to explore the country more about their culture,lifestyle,cusine! I'm in love with Tokyo!

- Lizzel Greta Dias

Day 4 Shin-Edogawa Garden Visit

After the tremendous 2^nd day in Tokyo we were eagerly waiting for a new exciting day. Like always the morning was just pleasant. We got up and went to the university after having breakfast at a local shop.

 Since we reached a little early to the university we just roamed  around and  discovered a very beautiful park close by to the Waseda university it was just a delightful spot. It was like a dreamland. The aroma was really making us fill fresh and it seemed to be just like an evergreen environment.

  Under the direction of Yuri- san we went to the beautiful garden named Shin- Edogawa garden. It is the park which is selected as one of the best history park in japan. One can enjoy the various views of the garden in each seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter.

We really had a great time there and enjoyed a lot. We clicked many pictures as the scenery was just beautiful. After all this we walked backed to the university where we had lunch, it was a happy meal. Later we attended Professor Masakazu Iino’s English lecture on sociolinguistics along with the other university students, it was a great experience interacting with the Waseda students in discussing about culture.

After attending the lecture for one and half hour we went to a place just besides university where we had some of the Japanese students from the Waseda university itself who performed a Japanese dance Yosakoi Soran, it was just awesome type of dance and was very  eye catching,  most energised folk dance I  ever experienced before. Later many of us got a chance of learning some steps of that dance which required a lot of stamina and focus.

After that some of us visited Aikiabara (electric town). It was a beautiful place where we could find most of the electronic gadgets. We then proceeded to cats café (it is the place where cats are been taken care nicely).

We came back to hostel and were very tired due to traveling and other activities thus the day was too good we had our dinner and went off to sleep but on the way before having a nice sleep we were still deciding About The place to visit the next day thus the day came to an end with lots of amazing and wonderful things. It was a well spent day. And something which can never been forgotten.

                                                                                                                             -Suchitra Chari

Day 3: Travelling Like a Tokyoite and Exploring Takadanobaba

by Malaika Mathew Chawla

A Cat Cafe Advertisement on the Streets of Takadanobaba 

It’s Day 3 in the city of neon and noise. Neon and noise, cats and Harajuku street style, second hand records and jazz cafes.

I woke up at sharp seven in the morning, the sun had risen a few hours back and the sun beams glared into my eyes. I ran to the hostel bath, washed my clothes, got ready and left the hostel to get breakfast.

Some of us ate a lovely breakfast right opposite to the Tokyo Central Youth Hostel, Kaguragashi, Shinjuku-ku at Mos Burger. I chose the Morning Special of ‘Veg Kimpira’(¥ 420) The other morning breakfast specials included the Morning Burger with ham cutlet or bacon and egg and toast. The Rye Bun meal included the corn soup (¥360) and the clam powder (¥360).

Lizzel (right)  and I with our Veg Kimpira!

Today’s schedule included our visit to Waseda University (School of Social Sciences). I was looking forward to finally meet the Waseda students and spend time in the campus. I must say… I was my happiest self at Waseda. I spoke to the very hospitable Yuri, the Waseda exchange organizer. She was very kind and helpful. I had a long conversation with Aya, a Waseda student as well as Natsumi. Aya studies Psychology as well as Japanese Literature. She grew up in the outskirts of Tokyo and lives at the Waseda hostel. We exchanged contact details too (I can’t wait to see her again!)

The Waseda Campus welcomes the lovely autumn weather!

We found a second hand book stall at Waseda!

The Welcome Lunch was served at a Japanese-Hawaiian Restaurant in Waseda itself! My lunch was a simple vegetable salad, bread served with olive oil, a warm cup of soup and a chilled glass of pineapple juice! SO TASTY! Yuri and I talked over lunch and she was pleasantly surprised to hear that me, Lizzel, Mercedes and Zoya managed to reach Harajuku via Yoyogi by train on our very first day. Yes, we figured the complex Japanese Railway System, we were completely lost a few times but we’re learning!

Next stop was at the Waseda Global Gate to attend Professor Paul Watt’s lecture.  Watt san is teaches Comparative Culture and Japanese Religious History. I absolutely loved the lecture. Watt san’s lecture answered the major question that foreigners have about the Japanese- “So what religion do they follow?” According to Watt san if you ask a Japanese person what religion they follow, the common answer will usually be- “I’m not sure” or “I don’t know”.

“The values of Japanese religion have permeated into the culture. And they aren’t even aware of this”, Watt san says. The Japanese have welcomed the principles of the traditional religions of Shinto, Confucianism and Buddhism into their everyday lives. Shinto talks about Purity. Buddhism talks about the concept of ‘no-self’-a heart without selfishness. Confucianism talks about ‘filial piety’- respect your parents and elders. Watt san is absolutely correct when he says that the Japanese have imbibed the traditional values of its ancient religions- honesty, benevolence, decorum and compassion.

Another interesting aspect of Japanese religion is the concept of ‘kami’.

“A kami or spirit is anything that is out of the ordinary and has a special power”. Even a ‘miwayama’ or mountain.  Mountains cover 80% of Japan. These have always been traditional places of spirituality and focal points of reverence. Kami could be just about anything. A tree, a stone, the ocean.

After the lecture ended, my travel gang and I left for Shibuya. My travel gang (Lizzel, Zoya and Mercedes) along with Shonil took the train from Waseda to Takadanobaba Stationto reach Shibuya. We took about an hour’s time to locate the platform, asked several locals for directions, walked around in circles and finally stopped. We decided to leave the station and explore Takadanobaba instead. Yes, we took the easy way out.

We found this really interesting place, with things probably picked up from flea markets at Anjuna. Some extremely smart Indian or Japanese person probably realized that selling bindis for ¥  90 in Toyo is a million yen idea.

The Million Yen idea

Candy shaped hair slides!

Expensive 'hippie India' pendants for sale

'Mystical and Spiritual India' badges of Sathya Sai Baba

A diner in Takadonobaba

After an extremely tiring walk, me, Lizzel and Mercedes grabbed dinner at a Japanese local restaurant at Takadonobaba itself. We took the train back to Iidabashi and (as usual) lost our way to the hostel. We finally figured it ourselves (also as usual) and reached the hostel!

Tokyoites relax after a hard day's work

That's all for day 3! Arigato! (Japanese for 'thank you')

चलो Tokyo !

The immensely anticipated day finally arrived when we set off on our journey to Tokyo, Japan. We began our day at the Dabolim Airport and boarded our flight to Delhi. 

Before taking off to Japan from Delhi 

After a short flight of only two and a half hours we landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi and went off to explore the vast airport though it seemed more like a shopping mall. The various duty free stores and restaurants kept us busy enough that we hardly even noticed the 4 hour wait before we could finally take off to Tokyo.

Sculpture at Delhi Airport

Though we feared the flight would be a never ending one being an eight and a half hour journey, we managed to keep ourselves occupied and entertained with the vast selection of movies, TV shows, games that Air India provided us with and ofcourse each others company.

En Route Tokyo 

Finally we landed at Narita International Airport, Tokyo and were immediately mesmerized by all that surrounded us, we didn't have a doubt in our minds about the grand adventures Tokyo had in store for us. 

Arrived at Tokyo - Narita International Airport

Surely we are to return back to Goa with a bittersweet feeling of leaving this awe-inspiring city and seeing our homes once again. 

Keep coming back to our blog to hear about the innumerable stories of our adventures that we will gladly share with you all. Challo Tokyo! 

- Mercedes Menon