This post will be photo-heavy, not from any laziness on my part mind you. OK, maybe just a little. So pay attention to the captions.
Our biggest ‘adventure’ was going to see the summer fireworks show (hanabi-taikai) at the Meiji Jingu baseball stadium. This particular show is one of three large events held in Tokyo over the summer. People here love fireworks. It’s so popular, the streets are closed near the stadium so the overflow crowds can sit and picnic while they watch the fireworks exploding over the stadium.
It rained all day and poured on the way there. We got lucky though and it cleared just in time for the various performers to entertain us before the main event. We heard everything from an all-girl band (a bit screechy) to a guy I call the ‘Julio Iglesias of Japan.’ He was actually very good…mellow and dramatic with very white teeth, white headband, and aviator goggles perched on his forehead (no idea why).
The fireworks themselves were prolific (and loud), but with a Japanese twist. Every five minutes or so they would stop and the stadium Jumbotron would show a one- or two-minute commercial. In essence, ‘the next fireworks are brought to you by Sony (or xyz noodles).’ Very funny. For the big finish we were treated to fireworks along with a laser light show and music. It was like being at a Pink Floyd concert in 1972 except without the drugs.
Another outing took us the to Hotel Okura, an iconic hotel built for the ’64 Olympics. It’s due to be torn down and replaced early next year. The design is ’60s ‘Mad Men’ at its coolest. We expected to see Don Draper in the bar pitching a client over Old-Fashioned’s and Lucky Strikes.
We were there to participate in a shortened version of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. It was the two of us and an Australian couple in town to visit their daughter. None of us had any clue what to expect. The one we attended lasted about an hour including information about the ceremony itself. It can last up to four hours, at which point one would die of thirst. This is the reason Lipton invented the tea bag. We did most things correctly, but our hostess was clearly appalled by our occasional mistakes in etiquette. They’ve been doing this sort of thing for eight hundred years so they’ve had a bit more practice than barbarians like us.
The neighborhood of Azabu-Juban is next to Hiroo and is a popular part of Tokyo that holds a festival (matsuri) every summer. The streets close down at 3pm and all kinds of food and drink vendors move in and set up shop. Other than games for children, it is all eating and drinking. It’s a big party that takes up many square blocks. The Japanese may be normally reserved in most things, but they definitely love festivals and parties. These types of festivals are great places to taste some terrific food (and drinks, of course).
-
- Throngs emerge from the Gaiemmae subway exit on the way to the fireworks show. We took a cab.
-
- A woman wearing the traditional summer yukata waits to cross the street towards the stadium for the fireworks show.
-
- Lots of people, lots of umbrellas. Fortunately the rain stopped an hour before the fireworks began.
-
- The infield at Meiji Jingu stadium (home of the Swallows!) was filled with a stage set up in center field. The fireworks were located in the left field bleachers where the white tarps can be seen.
-
- We saw a nice rainbow just as the rain stopped.
-
- At the Azabu neighborhood festival, kids scoop prizes out of a water-filled container.
-
- It was more than a bit crowded on the streets of Azabu-Juban, but everyone was polite and cheerful. Remember…walk to the left!
-
- A family set up their own picnic in the garage and outside of their building as the festival-goers streamed by.
-
- All sorts of delicacies were being cooked on portable grills. This is some sort of yakitori (meat grilled on a stick).
-
- Have you ever seen a guy wearing a Mt. Fuji hat? Well, now you have.
-
- The main part of the Hotel Okura is the low-rise building on the left. It’s across the street from the U.S. Embassy, and as such is a place frequented by distinguished visitors.
-
- In the lobby of the Hotel Okura waiting for the tea ceremony to begin.
-
- We sat (very quietly) during the ceremony that introduced us to the ‘way of tea.’
-
- In the tatami tea room in front of the sacred scroll.
-
- A kid’s shoe waiting to be ‘found.’ It most likely fell from a kid riding on the back of mom’s bike. Things unknowingly dropped are usually left where they are so the owner may reclaim them.
-
- Amy is buying a flowering plant at a little shop in the neighborhood. There are a lot of flower shops here.
-
- Looking out the window by the elevators on Amy’s floor. The JR train can be seen making its way to the station underneath her building.
-
- A ramen noodle shop just a couple of blocks from Amy’s office. Typically narrow and nothing fancy, but the noodles are terrific.
-
- Ramen in chicken broth with a bit of seaweed, meat, and of course, a beautiful soft-boiled egg. The chopsticks are for eating, the ladle is for slurping.
-
- A woman walks three-quarters of her long-haired dachshunds in Roppongi. Dog strollers are quite common here. I want to be reincarnated as a rich person’s dog in Tokyo.
-
- A window washer hanging from an Ebisu building. They rappel from the top and work their way down.
-
- Our local pub, the ‘Helmsdale.’ Lots of whisky but we tend to stick to the fish and chips and the Bass Ale on tap (nama biru).
-
- Cantaloupes on sale at the Farmer’s Market. On sale for $18, marked down from $20.
-
- The view from the top of the Mori Tower in Roppongi.
-
- The central hall of Mitsukoshi department store. The intricate statue is almost three stories tall.
-
- There are monsters in Tokyo…just like in the movies. This big bug was attached to our sliding door screen. I prefer to believe it was eating its way through Ebisu on its way to Shibuya. Where’s Godzilla when you need him?
Don't Wind Me Up... 
You must be logged in to post a comment.