So after an entire week of being enslaved by The Hunger Games series, I finally mustered enough willpower to put down Mockingjay and head into town. I'm so glad I did.
I guess this is also as good a time as any to discuss my feelings about not having any sort of cellphone signal in Japan...
In any case, since I didn't make any plans before last night, I decided it was too late and too much of a hassle to make plans, so I decided to head into town by myself. Before leaving, I was determined to make use of all the useless coins I have lying around in my ashtray, so I went to the train ticket vending machine to see what would happen if I inserted twenty 10円 coins into the machine and canceled the transaction. To my dismay, the machine did return two 100円 coins, but twenty 10円 coins. At least I tried.
A few more steps and I find a soda vending machine. I try again, but the machine spits my 10円 coins right back at me. I give up at this point, trying to think of a better way to get rid of these obnoxious coins.
Why am I so annoyed by the coins? Money is money, right? Yea, except the lowest denomination of bills here is a 1,000円 bill. That's somewhere between $12-$13 dollars, folks. Anything smaller is coins. 500円, 100円, 50円, 10円, 5円, 1円. So. Many. Coins. I guess I could just hold on to the 500円 and 100円 coins (since they're worth slightly more than $5 and $1 bills) and not worry about the other ones until I dump a big pile of coins at the currency exchange on my way back home, but for strange reason I can't even put my finger on, I feel an urge to arrive at the airport with no coins. OCD?
As I shove the 10円 coins back in my bag, I get to the train station. Ahhh, the train station. About a minute away from my apartment in Kawasaki, the train station is smack dab in the middle of the line that runs between Shibuya and Yokohama, so I can get to either place in about 20 minutes. Then, from Shibuya I can get to the most popular places in Tokyo in about 20-30 minutes -- Shinjuku, Asakusa, Akihabara, Ikebukuro, Roppongi, Hongo, you name it. Not to mention that it gets me to work in 20 minutes in the morning. Plus, it's not on Yamanote line, which runs in a circle between the busiest parts of Tokyo. That's not to say I haven't been on my share of crowded trains, but at least every now and then I get to sit down on the train.
Now I'm on the train. Allow me to expand on my previous statement -- I was able put down Mockingjay for all of 10-15 minutes, the time it took to get between apartment to the ticket vending machine, to the soda vending machine, to next train to Shibuya. As soon as I sat down on the train, I dutifully proceeded to glue my eyes to the addicting book all the way into Shibuya.
I love Shibuya. Tall buildings, bright lights, delicious food, people from all over the world, big crowds. It's truly epic. As I'm exiting the Shibuya train station, I have no idea where I'm going. I'm totally lost, and I love it. I wander down the streets, following the largest crowd of people, when I hear a dude singing and playing the guitar. I stop and listen for a while. Good stuff!
Next step: find something delicious to eat or something fun to do. Or both simultaneously. I continue wandering through the streets when I see a Taito Station. My (not-so) inner nerd does a victory dance. I've been to a handful of other game centers, one in Akihabara, one by Toritsu Daigaku, a few secluded but incredibly cheap ones in Shibuya, but this one by far takes the cake. The place is packed and there's a line to play virtually every game. Not that I want to humiliate myself in front of these bona fide Otaku.
I simply watch in amazement and fascination, finding more enjoyment in spectating a few rounds of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 than I would any sport ever.
Getting owned at DDR. Gaining tremendous amounts of respect for the people who seem to so effortlessly pound out absurd patterns while playing every kind of rhythm game you could possibly imagine -- from Guitar Hero, to Drum Mania, to Pop 'n Music, some DJ game, some game with a three dimensional cube, the list goes on and on. I was trying to figure out a way to take videos of them or something, but I didn't wanna be any more creepy than I was already being by staring at them with my jaw on the ground. I tore my eyes away and explored the less popular sides of the arcade, the ones with the pachinko and this crazy typing game. Yes. I played it. Yes, it was awesome.
Next step: find something delicious to eat. Once again, I wandered through the streets having no clue where I was or where I was going. I find a bogus Asian food & bar place. I run across a Calpis vending machine and buy the famed soda.
First time trying it. It has a unique taste that simultaneously reminds me of Orange Fanta and cream soda. Delicious.
Somehow I find myself walking down a narrow street full of wasted Japanese men in suits dragging themselves back to the next bar or to the train station. Some were passed out on a benches or on the ground. There were also more tall, blonde people than I'm used to seeing around Japan. Trying to figure out where they were from and what they were up to (maybe there's a fun club nearby?) I hear a guy say, "You know...in Poland we have a saying...'Just DRINK!'" I chuckle and continue walking down the street.
 |
| Finger in the way of the lens. Pro. |
I love Shibuya. Tall buildings, bright lights, delicious food, people from all over the world, big crowds. It's truly epic. As I'm exiting the Shibuya train station, I have no idea where I'm going. I'm totally lost, and I love it. I wander down the streets, following the largest crowd of people, when I hear a dude singing and playing the guitar. I stop and listen for a while. Good stuff!
 |
| Nerd heaven |
I simply watch in amazement and fascination, finding more enjoyment in spectating a few rounds of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 than I would any sport ever.Getting owned at DDR. Gaining tremendous amounts of respect for the people who seem to so effortlessly pound out absurd patterns while playing every kind of rhythm game you could possibly imagine -- from Guitar Hero, to Drum Mania, to Pop 'n Music, some DJ game, some game with a three dimensional cube, the list goes on and on. I was trying to figure out a way to take videos of them or something, but I didn't wanna be any more creepy than I was already being by staring at them with my jaw on the ground. I tore my eyes away and explored the less popular sides of the arcade, the ones with the pachinko and this crazy typing game. Yes. I played it. Yes, it was awesome.
Next step: find something delicious to eat. Once again, I wandered through the streets having no clue where I was or where I was going. I find a bogus Asian food & bar place. I run across a Calpis vending machine and buy the famed soda.First time trying it. It has a unique taste that simultaneously reminds me of Orange Fanta and cream soda. Delicious.
Somehow I find myself walking down a narrow street full of wasted Japanese men in suits dragging themselves back to the next bar or to the train station. Some were passed out on a benches or on the ground. There were also more tall, blonde people than I'm used to seeing around Japan. Trying to figure out where they were from and what they were up to (maybe there's a fun club nearby?) I hear a guy say, "You know...in Poland we have a saying...'Just DRINK!'" I chuckle and continue walking down the street.
A few steps down, I find the most packed restaurant I've ever seen. A ramen shop, relatively cheap for Shibuya. 500円 for a bowl. Last time I ate ramen in Shibuya I shelled out 1000円. I was excited, expecting to find this bargain ramen as delicious as the one I had last week. Nope. Half the price, half the quality. Oh well. I chugged down the rest of my calpis and a beer, and I'm on my way.
By the time I get back to the parts of Shibuya I recognize, it's already 11:30pm and there are hordes of people heading back to the train station to catch the last train home. Since my station is on the same line as Shibuya my last train is a little later, but many people will travel more than an hour to get home. I see groups of people half-supporting half-carrying their trashed friends, groups of girls with bagfuls and bagfuls of new clothes, and drunk Americans with their salmon or faded green shorts, sunglasses, and plaid shirts talking loudly and making a scene. Classic.
Before long, I'm on the train back to my apartment, and my eyes are glued to Mockingjay. I had an awesome night in Shibuya. A really awesome night.
By the time I get back to the parts of Shibuya I recognize, it's already 11:30pm and there are hordes of people heading back to the train station to catch the last train home. Since my station is on the same line as Shibuya my last train is a little later, but many people will travel more than an hour to get home. I see groups of people half-supporting half-carrying their trashed friends, groups of girls with bagfuls and bagfuls of new clothes, and drunk Americans with their salmon or faded green shorts, sunglasses, and plaid shirts talking loudly and making a scene. Classic.
Before long, I'm on the train back to my apartment, and my eyes are glued to Mockingjay. I had an awesome night in Shibuya. A really awesome night.
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