After the initial shock to the body of NO SLEEP for almost 29 hours, we are adjusting fine and I say fine with a slight exaggeration. I have traveled a bit in my 36 years and I have never experience jet lag quite like this. We are moving forward though, and trying to continue our days without thinking about the day of sleep we’ve lost. When we arrived we decided we would not go to bed at 6pm in order to get on Japanese time. We went out to explore the area surrounding our hotel and to grab a bite to eat. Tokyo is a bustling city with bright lights and tons of people. The only Japanese I know is a Styx song from the 80’s “domo arigato Mr. Roboto” and it isn’t doing much for me other than making me sing it every time I say thank you. I think it might be annoying John as well.
As we were walking the streets of Tokyo, we turn a corner and decide to go down one of the small back streets. I smell this delicious Barbecue smell and my stomach starts growling. I knew this is where we were going to eat. There are these amazingly small restaurants filled with all the locals eating this yummy smelling food. John and I walk up and down the street to figure out which one we will choose. Finally after 5 times up and down the street, we pick one with the most “local” people and we sit down. We order a beer and some chicken. (mind you, the language is a little difficult) The waiter/chef/dishwasher brings over a plate with two pieces of raw chicken to make sure this is what we want. We say, yes. He comes back with a plate of chicken pieces with skin cooked, but cold. We then ask, “Barbecue?” He says, “No, we Chinese restaurant.” We chose the wrong restaurant. Come to find out, the name of the street we were on is not so pleasantly called “Piss Alley”.
We ended up going to bed around 9:30pm and I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow, but at 10:30pm we get a phone call from the front desk. Apparently, one of our friends was trying to do something nice for us for our 10 year anniversary by having a bottle of champagne for us when we arrived at the hotel. For some reason, it could not be done. So he had to wake us up to tell us.
Hi! Glad to hear you arrived safely and are having a good time already. It looks like you’ve done a lot so far. It was fun looking at your pictures, they were very reminiscent of our trip there. Happy Anniversary to you and John!!!
Shinjuku.
If you have a chance to go back there, Takashimya Times Square. The food basement hall is a spectacle – also the roof has more traditional restaurants as well.
Happy anniversary. Keep the pictures coming.
Hi Jen and John! Yeap, it is a long way!
Glad you are enjoying Japan! Love ya, Jojo
We tried to check out Takashimya Times Square this morning, since we were awake at 5 am. OF course they were closed. We at least got a glimpse. We are meeting my friend at 10am and they open at 11am. Thanks for the tip though. We stayed in Shinjuku the past 2 nights. We are staying at my friend’s parents tonight.
Was that Akihabara in a few of those pictures?