Day 3, an early rise again. I’m determined to either be out before 7 or after 9:30, outside the hours of sardine schools.
Then I got on the train and saw the empty carriages. It’s the Emperor’s Birthday, a public holiday. Doh!
Half a circuit on the Yamanote and I’m off at Harajuku. Though famous for the colorful fashion, it’s far too early and all is quiet.
I drop in to Doutor for breakfast, the coffee chain found outside JR stations without fail is fast becoming the default nice warm refuge where I can get a hot cup of coffee.
Behind the station is the renowned Meiji Shrine.
The place is large, but to be honest I kind of expected something more grandiose or more transcendental. It’s not sprawling with temple complexes nor are there much statues or lanterns. All in all, pretty plain.
It’s a popular site for hosting traditional marriage ceremonies, however I don’t see much activities today.
I made no offering nor bought any prayers as I intend to do that the next day at Washinomiya.
The exit on the north side is not too far from Shinjuku, or at least it seems on the map. I should have just taken the metro, even if it is a stop away. Once again the wind is cold and seems to be funneled in between the apartment blocks.
The situation did not improve as I nears the vicinity of Shinjuku. Shinjuku and its underground passages is probably the most complex station on earth, while on paper everything is linked, it’s not so simple finding the connecting passages. It’s either be lost down below or freeze above.
It took some walking around to finally get my bearings, after more walking and a coffee break, I find one of my goals at Shinjuku.
I rush in hoping to find shelves full of plushes of the curly tailed puppy…
…they only have 1 Cinnamoroll, and an ugly one at that 🙁 that Melody bunny, it’s taken over all the cuteness. It’s so hard to find Cinnamoroll these days.
Time to have lunch… ramen I am meant to have is closed for renovation *cries* so I’ll learn over the next few days, end of years is kinda when small Japanese restaurants have their annual holiday.
I enter the Shinjuku underground once more to avoid the cold while I look for a solution to my lunch.
Once again I’m lost… yaaaay. While I stumble through the endless maze of dimension-defying tunnels and shops, I run across a takoyaki stall.
I join the line for a takoyaki. Taking the opportunity, I intently studies the guy deftly turn the takoyakis with a pair of sharp skewers.
Turns out they aren’t pre-rolled up into a ball then fried, but made similar to taiyaki. Actually that makes sense thinking now.
Awesome, I haz takoyaki, nyom nyom nyom. Still lost though. But hey, at least I got food.
Yum. To be honest I’ve never had proper takoyaki before so I’m not sure if this is proper takoyaki. It’s a little hollow on the inside, verdict undecided whether that adds or detracts from the texture.
Xmas in Japan is a special occasion for couples, almost like valentines in winter. Most of the illuminations have these of love and romance, drawing in huge crowd (and lines) of young couples. Terrace City has an Xmas tree pyramid that plays a sound and turns to various colors which divines and blesses the couple.
Terrace city is a strip of department store and shopping complexes on the west side of Shinjuku, together they form a passageway that is filled with lights.
After traversing the length of Terrace City, it’s time to hop back onto Yamanote and down to Harajuku, then walk to Omotesando.
Omotesando is a pretty stylish shopping area, not lavish high class, but more classy I felt.
The destination is Omotesando Hills, one of the craziest department interior designs I’ve seen. Their theme is partnered with Disney. In addition to various Disney special collection items which you can collect when you shop here, the highlight is a fantastic horse drawn carriage. Once again, aimed exclusively at couples.
Inside, I’m greeted by carols, beautifully sung by a choir beneath a giant crystal tree.
Notices yet? There are no strict levels. The entire department store is a loop of ramp.
On the way back, I take a detour through one of the side streets.
For more see the Day 3 gallery