And now that is out of the way, I started off the day in spectacular style. I walked into a convenience store, grabbed a couple of things that looked completely different and tucked into my breakfast while enjoying a walk. Everything turned out to be rice. I really need to start studying kanji...My walk brought me to Ueno *Koen (intentionally I might add) where I spent an hour or so looking around. It is a very good place for people watching.
Next I caught a train to Tokyo Station where with the use of my compass I found the exit I needed to get to the Imperial Palace. Using the wrong exit in a station of that size would have involved a long walk to get where I wanted to go.
At this point I'd like to point out two things about the Japanese. First they can sleep anywhere. Standing on the trains, park benches, walls, on parked scooters. It is actually kind of impressive. Second is that they must be very tidy. For the most part the streets are immaculate yet I can't for the life of me find any bins... Perhaps they are disguised.
What you can see and are allowed near of the Imperial Palace is very impressive. I wouldn't mind living there. The palace guards aren't as stoic as the British ones, however, as the extreme range shot I took of one looks miserable. I could not stand still for that length of time.
I had curry for lunch (more rice - didn't think this decision through too well). Once more as I was sitting happily reading through the katakana menu (katakana is used to write foreign words mostly) when the waitress came over and turned it over informing me that there was an English version. They seem incapable of believing that I can read.
Having heard that one of the best places to view Tokyo from is the World Trade Center I set off there. One quick change of train later (I swear the arrow had been pointing in the opposite track direction) and I arrived. The lady at the reception gave me a piece of origami. It was an **icosikaitetragon with a bell inside. Looks complicated.
The view from the 40th floor is spectacular as expected. The building is very well situated with something worth seeing from every direction.
One picture will have to suffice for now though. It was too cloudy to see but on a clear day Mount Fuji would be in the background of this.
Finally I headed off to a nearby temple I saw from the top of the WTC. It was another of the famous ones as it turns out. Zojoji. I am a temple finding ninja.
Here is a picture of me (with Zojoji and the Tokyo tower but I'd suggest that they are somewhat eclipsed).
*Koen = park
** This isn't Japanese. Look it up.
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