Imperial Gardens and Ginza

Well yet another gorgeous day in Japan. It is absolutely beautiful and so warm out. I hear Canada is due for more snow...haha suckers, sorry I have to rub it in folks.

Yesterday March 16 I meandered around Kochijijo the area where I am staying and where Dave and Andrea live and I found my way all by myself for the first time!! And I didnt manage to get lost. I found some amazing stores including an Ikea-ish store only bigger. And Gma I found an 8 storey craft store too!! You would love it There are two floors filled with fabric! There is so much stationary its unbelievable.

March 17
This morning I went to Starbucks, yes they have loads of them here too but its at least decent coffee considering most of the stuff that other restaurants give is instant stuff. And I know I try to avoid them as much as possible back home. However, the Japan Starbucks has the greatest invention ever and I am going to go there every morning just so I can bring one back for all of you!! Its amazing and will change your lives because it has totally thrown my upside down... damn those smart asians.

Then I met up with my cousin Andrea who took me on my first train ride into the city. She taught me how to use the train and which ones to use to go between downtown Tokyo and to their place so that I do not get lost...There are so many trains and they all run in different directions and only go to certain stops I am definitely lucky to have her teach me, not to mention everything is mostly in Japanese.

We went to Central Tokyo where we parted and I went to visit the Imperial Palace and its gardens. You cannot actually go to the Imperial Palace and can only really get a tiny glimpse of it from one vantage point...Its not like Buckingham or the White House. More like 24 Sussex Drive. Yes I have seen the gates to our PMs house. There is however a garden area which is the original location of the Palace during the Tokugawa era. It is very beautiful even though not many of the trees are blossoming yet. But it was a nice stroll afterall and I got to see some massive koi fish...about the size of a 10lbs salmon at least.

Then my walking took me into Ginza, which is the very posh part of town, sort of like Fifth Avenue on steriods (Amy you would be in heaven) and multiply the people by a 1000. However, I did manage to find myself a sushi place in which I ordered some a mixed Chirashi (Sashimi on rice -Tuna (maguro), scallops, fresh crab, lobster, and a healthy portion of ikura (salmon roe)) with miso soup, chawanmushi (egg custard soup) and a salad, served with tea of course for ¥819. Not bad right Gpa considering I was in Ginza? I was tempted to take a picture because it looked about as good as it tasted and knowing that my family would love have just seen it. But I felt kinda weird hauling out my massive camera to take photo.

Lunch left me pretty full so I took it nice and easy just wandering through the area, there are lots of galleries there all free and open and small, not commercial galleries though... I saw a Chagall. I also found the Saks Fifth Avenue/Holt Renfrew of Tokyo, Matsuya Ginza, which hosted 6 floors of designer clothing, and two more on top of that which had the bridal level which was all your Japanese Kimono materials and accessories and the expensive gifts you purchase and another level which held art galleries for the rich to purchase their art.

Then I made my way back to the Tokyo Station train and managed to find my way home all by myself!! I feel pretty proud given the density of the city and its definitely not on a grid system. Its so big it makes Manhattan look like Victoria. I guess there is no turning back now considering I will be on my own completely soon.