So, I am starting to write this on the way to Fuji-Q highlands which is a 2-hour journey. The Aircon and free Wi-Fi on the bus is awesome.
Update – Managed to sort out the photos on this Shinkansen Wi-Fi and had to reset the web server.
Day 0 – Friday 28th July.
Today was my first day in Japan and after landing at Tokyo Narita International airport, grabbing my rail pass and the limited express train into Tokyo I had to kinda pinch myself as I can’t believe I am finally here.
The hotel I am staying at (Hotel Tavinos Asakusa) is right next to a metro station (Tsukuba Express) and is right near a local temple and loads of stores. I even have a Lawson corner store right next to the hotel. I went out to eat, came back and just rested the day, but the meal I had only cost me about 1500 yen (£8.20-8.30). It was nice and a challenge for most people is to try getting a meal for that price in the UK or even other parts of the world!!
First stop today was getting the Tsubasa Express to Akihabara Station and then going on a 2 hour Go-karting tour round Tokyo that I found on Klook. Side note: most of my bookings are on Klook including my Green Class JR Rail Pass <1>
It was a load of fun, and we got a lot of locals and tourists taking photos of us, plus saying Konichiwa (hello) and waving a lot. Most of the time we were going on roads where the sun was shining and there was no shade, so the wind and limited times that we had shade was awesome as the sun was quite strong.
After go karting (which I needed a IDP <2> for) I am heading back into Akihabara and got a little lost trying to find the local metro line which was about 500m from the actual station. I started on my journey down to Teamlab Planets Tokyo. This museum cost me £21 and I spent over 1 hour in there and if I could, I would do it again as it was awesome.
This museum has a bunch of different exhibits which all are uniquely different, and it was defiantly a first going round a museum barefooted. Tokyo Planets is dedicated to making you immersed in the art. Also the most weird one was not wearing shoes or socks, but then again, wouldn’t want to get them wet.
1 – Waterfall of Light Particles at the Top of an Incline
This exhibit was pretty much what it sounds like. Running water down an incline and a waterfall at the top.
2 – Soft Black Hole – Your Body Becomes a Space that Influences Another Body
This one was an interesting one, as we are all used to flat and hard surfaces in our everyday life, but what happens when flat and hard surfaces become soft and influenceable? Well, I might have fallen over once or twice in this exhibit, take from what you will.
The Infinite Crystal Universe
4 – Drawing on the Water Surface Created by the Dance of Koi and People – Infinity
This Exhibit was very weird, you are up to knee height in water and there are projectors up above projecting Koi fish on the surface of the water, but the twist is these move all the times and if you walk over them, they transform into flowers. This exhibit changed constantly due to the program running it and people in the exhibit.
5 – Expanding Three-Dimensional Existence in Transforming Space – Flattening 3 Colours and 9 Blurred Colours
6 – Floating in the Falling Universe of Flowers
This was another weird exhibit as it said the best way to experience this exhibit was to lie down in the middle of the room and look up. The room was a big dome where images were being projected on the walls and roof making it like you was in one big room with all your visual space taken up. It was amazing to look at
7 – Moss Garden of Resonation Microcosms – Solidified Light Colour, Sunrise and Sunset
This one was a bit of a weird one for me, but I get the idea of the concept, the garden is influenced by everything: wind, rain, sun, moon, summer, winter, etc…
8 – Floating Flower Garden: Flowers and I are of the Same Root, The Garden and I are One
The last one was probably one of my favourite Exhibits apart from the falling universe of flowers one where I could have stayed in there for about 3 days (ok maybe not quite that long, but probably not far off).
This last Exhibit had living breathing flowers hanging from the ceiling which would almost touch the floor until someone went near them and then they would start rising up the ceiling creating a path for people.
Day 2 – Sunday 30th
Today was an early dart for me, had to be up to catch a bus at 7:20 from Akihabara station which was bound for Fuji Q highland. I feel knackered now as I am on the road again. Although I am now stuck in a traffic jam on the bus.
Fuji-Q Highland was an awesome day out. I am very sad that 2 of the rides there weren’t open, but I got to still have loads of fun on a brand-new coaster called Zukkon which opened only 9 days ago. There was also Fujiyama king of coasters which put Blackpool’s The big one to shame and it also had a great view of Mt Fuji until I was suddenly facing the floor and dropping 79 meters down very rapidly. There were a few others including Fujiyama Skydeck which has a skywalk and slide 55 meters in the air. I only did the slide which seemed to last a lifetime, but I saw some people doing the skywalk and quickly said no thanks!!
It has been a great first few days in Japan, land of the rising sun. The people are quite friendly and food is cheap, especially when you compare it to the UK. E.g. I got for my lunch today, pork ramen, orange juice and a chocolate Churro.
Tomorrow should be fun as well, but a bit less intense/not as much to do with no early start or extremely late finish. Until then!!!
<1> – Green class is the Japanese equivalent of first class.
<2> – Passport, Driving Licence and International Driving Passport
Leave a Reply