Japan Trip 2011 - The last days - Ameyoko, Akiba again and then home.

My last day in Japan i decided to stick around the area the very nice hotel i was using Akihabara Washington was which of course was spent mostly going to lots of awesome shop in Akiba and also a visit to the interesting Ameyoko, with it unique markets under the railway. Tried on the last day to eat everything that i had not yet tried and see bit and pieces i missed. Saw a dental laboratory on last late evening stroll, which is exactly the same as the one i work in, i mean everything the same, made me wonder about the possibility of working as a Dental Technician in Japan for a year, if i can improve my Nihongo.

The it was the trip home the next morning where i mopped all the way home knowing that it will be a couple of year until i get to return.

































And that all for Japan, which was a amazing!
Ian

Japan trip 2011 - Day 9, part Ni - Odaiba

Last part of day 9 in Japan was spent on the artificial island of Odaiba, did alot of thing that i had on my to do list in a very short time here which was a result. Travelled there on a boat going under the incredible massive Rainbow bridge, eat Octopus balls and visited what has to be the biggest arcade ive ever seen where i had ago at baseball batting which i totally sucked at, didn't expect i'd be so bad at that. Would have come here earlier if i knew i could do so much in such a short time.

One my my favourite photos i took on my phone is the replica of Lady Liberty with rainbow bridge behind, wish i got saw it at night now all lit up.















Ian

Japan trip 2011 - Day 9, part Ichi - Ikebukuro

Nearing the end of the holiday now, morning second to last full day i jump onto the Yamanote line and visited Ikebukuro with the express interest of visiting Sunshine City and Frank Lloyd Wright's Jiyu Gakuen Girls' School, like how next door to FLW building there is the very piratical Japanese flat, not really sure what to call it?

Sunshine City is Tokyo's second tallest building and amazing location to see the urban landscape stretch to the horizon from the 60th floor with. Ride a elevator going at 22.4 mph which is meant to be one of the fastest in the world and one of the smoothest ever taken. Shame about the smog but it expected. Glad i don't have vertigo but did feel wrong leaning against the window and seeing people as small as full spots.


















Ian

Japan trip 2011 - Day 8, part Ni - Ginza

Evening of day 8 was spent in Ginza, which is very plush. Even though im not the biggest fan of shopping in these department stores was a experience doing it here. Spent most of my time in Sony and Tokyo Hands.

Knew what to visit because in the morning when i turned on the TV to check out the weather, some presenter always seemed to be in a Ginza "depato", that or something about food is always on Japanese telly which i instantly wanted to try.







Ian

Japan trip 2011 - Day 8, part Ichi - Kamakura

Day 8 i visited the this ancient capital of Japan, Kamakura, this being the last day my JR Pass was valid for so went for a trip an hour outside Tokyo.
Main reason to go is the seriously impressive Giant Buddha or The Great Buddha, really impressive being around 800 years old and has survived tsunamis and earthquakes. Really old beautiful city with so many temple, i reckon every street i walked down had one. I walked a crescent route round the city, starting at all the old temple where the Buddha is then strolling on down to the beach.

Love the "Beware of Hawks" which where circling over head, in the UK we have just evil Seagulls and annoying Pigeons, looks like Japan wins the badass bird contest.

I think then i walked the entire length of the beach to the other side of the city, then up through thedeserted  suburbs into the main town, had some tasty Sushi and visited some more temples before heading back to Tokyo for the evening in Ginza. One of the guides told me that quite a few of the temple are replicas, being in a country where natural disasters are nasty and the odd samurai brawl.


























Ian