Adventures in Shinjuku and Shibuya!

I should be sleeping because I'm getting up early(ish) to hit up Comiket tomorrow! (World's largest comic book convention anyone? chyeah nerd side comin' out). But I thought I would pen down my adventures around Shinjuku and Shibuya today with Dorothy.

We originally went to Shinjuku to hit up the Shinjuku Gyoen (supposed to be super beautiful!) and the observation tower in the Government Building. However, turns out with it being so close to New Years, both things were closed till around January 3rd! I'll have to go back some other time- look forward to that blog post then  <3

So, wanting to use the day originally for photography practice, both things being closed didn't really halt my plans:

 (More pictures from this shoot to be on Dorothy's blog in the future)

(Dorothy took this one of me.)

To be honest I dunno what this sign says (a few too many kanjis)...but Dorothy and I took it as "don't place your purses here..."

Rebels

 Buildings in Shinjuku:

 The Shinjuku Government Building...with the observation tower we would've gone up...

After Shinjuku we decided "meh, it's close and we've got time...why not hit up Shibuya?" Shibuya is home to a few things I'm sure you all are bound to recognize:

1) Hachiko. Here's the story behind faithful Hachiko- who is a national symbol of loyalty (from wikipedia cause I'm a sleepy bear):

                  "In 1924, Hidesaburō Ueno... took in Hachikō as a pet. During his owner's life Hachikō greeted him at the end of the day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno did not return. The professor had suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage and died, never returning to the train station where Hachikō was waiting. Every day for the next nine years the golden brown Akita waited at Shibuya station.

Hachikō was given away after his master's death, but he routinely escaped, returning again and again to his old home. Eventually, Hachikō apparently realized that Professor Ueno no longer lived at the house. So he went to look for his master at the train station where he had accompanied him so many times before. Each day, Hachikō waited for the return of his owner.

The permanent fixture at the train station that was Hachikō attracted the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. They brought Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait.

This continued for nine years with Hachikō appearing precisely when the train was due at the station"

 Don't ask me why there's an onigiri (rice ball) man in the picture :) 

2) Shibuya 109: Iconic department store. A mecca for "gyaru" fashion. It's got floors and floors of stores but it all starts blending together pretty quickly in my opinion haha. I have a feeling if my little sister were to come here, she would spend a dangerous amount of money.

This leads into the last thing of course
3) Shibuya Crossing: Just watch this...

 That is all for now from me!

Outfit Post 1

I have a sudden ever growing obsession with tights. Maybe it's because Japan has an abundance of them and a ridiculous amount of adorable socks. Note to all you out there...You need socks? You coming to Japan? You better wait till you get here. Hit up a Soxer and go cray cray. I made the mistake of buying socks before I got here...now you should see my sock drawer- it's insane.

I'm all for comfy outfits.. and this outfit turned out to be super comfy actually! (The excuse I used to use all the time for wearing sweats to school "but it's snugggly" yeah, well turns out dresses can be too?) Plus scarves are the best thing ever when you want to lay your head down and take a lil' power nap on your desk- so conveniently located.

( My hair is finally getting long enough to be naturally curly again! )

Overall this is an example of my girly side coming out...?

...Because after all, I'm fantastic at being a girl.

Photos thanks to Dorothy !

More Birthdays

 

It was Rara's birthday (the dog) the other day so we had celebratory ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins (aka 31 flavors or whatever they call it here). She turned 10 years old, lil gramma. It surprised me cause the ice cream was "popping surprise!" aka, there were pop rocks in it- awesommeee!

It was also my friend Daichi's birthday on the 27th! So we ventured out to Tachikawa, which is a bit over a half an hour or so away from Tokyo, to celebrate with dinner and drinks and an all night movie party. ( my third all nighter everrr- I suck at them)

Daichi being a chef!

All ready!

MMMMM

 That would be rice topped with things like avocado, cucumber, shrimp, octopus, salmon, tuna, squid and fish eggs. SO good- just trust me

Kanpai!

And then Tomo was all 'knock it off with the flash pictures'

Me and Kanako and Dorothy

And us with the birthday boy (don't ask me what my friend Nick is doing in the background...)

It is also Dorothy's birthday soon too. So my friend Kanako and I got her a Chopper Man hat from a manga called One Piece (which she loves, and which is like one of the most popular things ever right now)

Of course we did Purikura as well which involved us shoving in as many people as we could into the tiny photo booth. Bonus points if you can actually see me? haha

I have a sheep on my head in the left photo....basically

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In other news. Probs can't see the giant gundum. Turns out it is in Shizuoka which is an 80 dollar train ride....and  I could go to Disneyland with that money ;)

Happy Birthday Emperor! And Odaiba Trip

Wednesday marked the last day of school and the start of our winter break. Thursday was a holiday for all though, because it was the Emperor's Birthday. He was 77 this year. On this day there's a public ceremony which takes place at the Temple- a place usually off limits to the public. On the 23rd of December (which changes with the emperor of course) and the 2nd of January (for New Years), you can walk across the famous Nijubashi bridge and actually enter the inner grounds of the Imperial Palace where the emperor will come and greet the crowds of people on his balcony. So that's what we did  !

A parade was behind us as we walked

Passing a guard on the Nijubashi bridge

My friend Rachel's host family accompanied us too. She has the cutest little host sister and brother

Rachel's Host mom, sister, and brother

After walking across the bridge you reach the inner grounds. And the emperor comes out and you wave your flag and shout "banzai!"  Which has almost the same meaning as 'long live the king'. It directly translates to '10000 years!"

Sorry my camera doesn't zoom.... but you can kinda see him? haha. He's in the middle with the empress on the right.

After that you walk out of the palace.

CROWDS of people. Of course.

Interesting fountain area outside of the palace: 

OH HIIII

After that, me and my friends got some lunch before we met up with the International club to go to Odaiba!

This is just so Japan

And so is this, what I had for lunch the other day...I am REALLY going to miss the food here

RAMEN

Mister Donuts Christmasy Dessert!:

Odaiba is in Tokyo Bay, so it's kind of expensive to get out there and once you are out there, everything else on the island is expensive too! haha. The big mall they have looks exactly like Ceaser's Palace in Las Vegas if you've ever been there. It's made to look like Rome or something on the inside, and has the sky painted and it's decorated with sculptures and everything. Only this time it was decorated for Christmas too. Oh and there are couples EVERYWHEREEE

From right to left: Kanako, Ghislaine, me, and my new friend from Finland.

Pile of Capybara! I waaaant theeeeem @_@

Outside of the mall, they have a really expensive ferris wheel I didn't ride haha.

And then we walked around the other side, so we could see Tokyo's Rainbow bridge all lit up. It was so pretty

PS It's not lit up for christmas or anything, this is how it always looks. Cause it's the Rainbow Bridge!

Rainbow boats?

We're being 'romantic' uh duh

You can see the Tokyo Tower too in this one (kind of)! It looks like the big rainbow stick in the background

The Giant Gundam used to be in Odaiba, but I guess they moved it...So imma have to track it down, and get back to you people <3