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Harajuku station was the main station for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic village; that concentration of international culture left a great impact on the area, attracting the young and innovative of Tokyo.
Today, Harajuku remains a fashion center from high-end international stores to bargain boutiques. The neighboring chic and expensive Omotesando and Minami-Aoyama areas cater to the more high end shopper.
Takeshita-dori, a narrow alley between Meiji-dori and Harajuku station is the place to find what is hot in teen fashion and culture. Prices range from cheap to outrageous, as do the fashions. 
Besides the fashion and shops there are artists all over the area. Here is a picture of a young calligraphy artist...
As I was walking a group of Harajuku boys still in their school uniforms were hanging around the McDonalds. 
We talked about music and how I want to move to Tokyo and how they want to move to New York someday.They were so adorable and even posed for me. Check out Tomioka with his glasses posing like a pro...
Another thing to do when you go to Harajuku that is super popular is to take photobooth pictures. These are not just any photobooths, they have ridiculously crazy graphics and backgrounds.
Here are some shots from the photoshoot that Matt, myself and our friend, Saito Kiyoshige took together. (Saito is a ski instructor who lives in Tokyo but has taught skiing all over the world, including Switzerland). Saito carrys a business card that he gave me that says: "My pleasures include: Mountain climbing & hiking, skiing, fishing, map reading, drinking & karaoke." 
In addition to receiving a sticker print out of the photos, Matt is able to download the pictures onto his phone as well. Japan is so technologically advanced like that. Matt also uses his cellphone to scan when he goes through the subway turnstyle. 
After a super fun day going to Ueno, Meiji and Harajuku I was off to meet up with Shaina and the rest of the gang at Shibuya 109, grab some dinner, and then another night out in Tokyo!
After walking around Ueno for quite a bit, Matt and I jumped on the subway (Harajuku station, Yamanote line) to go check out the Meiji Shrine. 
A wide graveled road under a huge torii (gate) and shaded by cedars leads into the shrine grounds. 
There is an abandoned entrance to the JR Harajuku station. Just beyond is a small entrance used by the emperor when he visits by train. On the right is the Meiji Treasure House Annex. The annex holds changing exhibitions of the royal couples' artifacts, including clothes, lacquerware, and furniture. A left turn takes you under the massive, Otorii (big gate) built in 1975 of huge logs that came from a 1,500 year old Japanese cypress on Mount Tandai in Taiwan. A short distance beyond the gate, on the left is the entrance to the Meiji-jingu Gyoen Garden, a favorite of the Meiji imperial couple. It is said that the Emperor Meiji designed it himself for his Empress. : ) How sweet is that? Very. Inside there is a teahouse overlooking a pond stocked with water lilies and carp. To the right of the pond, a path leads to the beautiful Minami-ike Shobuda (iris garden), containing over 150 species.
The Meiji period was an enlightened period during which a policy of Japanese Spirit and Western knowledge was adopted, to learn from the best of Western culture and civilization while keeping Japan's age old spirit and revered traditions. Emperor Meiji led the way in promoting modernization by embracing many features of western culture in his personal life, such as shearing shearing his topknot (hair) and donning western attire and in many other aspects of daily living. Among these departures, His Majesty set an example by taking western food and in particular by enjoying wine with it.
The barrels of wine to be consecrated at Meiji Jingu have been offered by the celebrated wineries of Bourgogne in France on the initiative of Mr. Yasuhiko Sata. Profound gratitude is due to the winemakers who have so generously contributed to this precious gift to be consecrated here to the spirit of world peace with the earnest prayer that France and Japan will enjoy many more fruitful years of friendship. (or at least thats what the sign says)....Here are some pictures and close up of the cool designs on the barrels...
The most important Shinto shrine in Tokyo, Meiji Jingu (Imperial shrine) dates from 1920. The Emperor Meiji(who reigned 1868-1912) and his wife the Empress Shoken are enshrined here. A focal point for right-wing militarists during Japan's colonial expansion prior to World War II, the shrine was destroyed by Allied aerial bombardment in 1945 but rebuilt with private donations in 1958. Past the entrance to the garden, the road turns to the right and enters the main shrine area, set in the middle of a grove of cedars. Another wooden torii leads to the Minami Shinmon (outer gate) through which is a spacious outer courtyard. Gracefully curving the roof is in the Shinto style of architecture. Through a gateway is the Kaguraden a hall built in 1993 for sacred music and dance. 
This picture does not do Meiji Shrine justice as the architecture and design is so painstakingly detailed. It was close to 5 o'clock when it was about to close so there were not too many people and it was nice to be there when it was not so crowded.
This is just an example of the intricate carving and detail on the beams and the lighting fixtures. It is quite beautiful.
It is typical to find the wooden prayer blocks outside temples. Here are a few of my favorites of the thousands of wooden blocks that hang outside Meiji Shrine, where one can donate and express gratitude or a message of hope on their block. I like how at the end of this one it said, "I also pray for me finding the one." I hope so too! : )
It was close to 5 o'clock and the shrine was closing so we were not able to walk around the grounds any further. We decided to walk over to Harajuku which is just across the street from the Meiji Shrine.
So I met up with Matt in Ueno and we headed to an amazing little conveyor belt sushi restaurant just across the street from the park. The name of the restaurant literally translates to "Original Sushi". My favorite part was that the subway was right above us and the lanterns and glasses would shake and wobble as the subway blazed overhead. Ueno kind of reminds me a bit of Brooklyn or Queens. 
The most remarkable feature of conveyor belt sushi is the stream of plates winding through the restaurant. The bill is calculated by counting the number and type of plates of the consumed sushi. Plates with different colors, patterns, or shapes have different prices, usually ranging from 100 yen to 500 yen ($2-5 US). The cost of the different plates is shown on signboards or posters in the restaurant. In general, cheap items come on plain plates, and the level of plate decoration is related to the price. 
Basically, I consumed about $50 worth of sushi for lunch. Matt helped me out somewhat but since this was my first time eating sushi in JAPAN, I fell in love with the silky deliciousness that is fresh sushi made and raised in the Sea of Japan. I don't think Matt realized how much sushi I could consume and I pretty much ate everything but crab paste (fish poop) that day. I had a bunch of plates of the nigiri-zushi (thin slices of fish, salmon, eel, toro (belly flesh of tuna), aji (scad), maguro (tuna), shimesaba (salted, vinegared mackerel), squid, kazunooko (salted herring roe), hotategai (scallop). I also had the crab soup, which was accented with the actual crab in the soup. I also enjoyed that the matcha tea powder was placed on the table and you can refill your teacup with hot water from the hot tea spout built into the table right in front of you. 
After lunch, we needed to walk or I was going to turn into a sumo wrestler if I did not stop consuming more food. We walked all around Shinobazu-dori, Kototoi-dori, and Nakamachi-dori which is filled with open air markets selling fresh fish, fruits, vegetables, teas, and desserts. This district is an endless maze of cafes, bars and restaurants. It is a fantastic area and not super touristy. 
Dessert. I love dessert. I don't really know what this is exactly but Matt explained to me that it is basically a sweet ball where you can add differnt toppings and fillings such as egg, fruit, fish, and fish flakes. I thought it was a christmas ornament. It just looks like a hot mess to me. 
I opted for the pastry that is in the shape of a koi fish and is filled with sweet red bean paste. It was soooo delicious and was still nice and warm as I bit into it. Another wonderful thing about the open air markets is watching everything being made and prepared right in front of you. 
Here is one more picture from Ueno Park that I love of a couple relaxing. I pointed to my camera and she nodded that it was okay to take this picture. She smiled and waved me on after I snapped the pic. : )
Ueno-koen (Ueno Park), the preeminent attraction to the Shitamachi neighborhood, is a feast of culture with its numerous museums, temples, and shrines. While most people enter the park at the museum plaza, another way to see the park before the museum-fatigue sets in is to start at the south end. From the Shinobazu exit of the Ueno station entrance, up to the small pavilion where the Takamori Saigo statue stands. From there, you continue uphill to the temple complex before heading out, near the zoo, into the museum area. 
Also near the south end of the park is Shinobazu-ike, a large pond where you can see lotuses and where you can rent small boats for a serene stint on the water. This pond also has its own temple, Benten-do on an island.
As I made my way on the subway from Akasaka where my hotel is to Ueno, I met a new friend named, Matt. I was on the subway with my nose buried in my travel guide and figuring out the subway when I heard a voice ask me, "You are not from around here are you?". I laughed and looked up and said, "What gave that away?" Long story short, Matt asked if he could walk me out of the station and show me where to enter the park to get to the Ueno Zoo. We chatted for abit about one another and our backgrounds and made plans to meet back up for lunch in a few hours.
This is a statue in Ueno Park of Saigo Takamori, who was the leader of the victorious Meiji forces. Saigo subsequently instigated the Satsuma rebellion against the emperor in 1877, but killed himself when it failed. He was then pardoned, and this statue was erected in 1899.
This is the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art. On this day there was a huge draw for an exhibition called, the "The Last Manga Warrior." I loved the warrior poster outside the museum. This exhibition drew a HUGE crowd. The Tokyo Met has several galleries that run temporary displays of contemporary Japanese art. Galleries feature all manner of Western style art and Japanese style works such as sumi-e (ink brush painting) and ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement). Apart from the main gallery, the rental galleries are curated by the artists and collectives who rent them, so exhibitions are a mixed bag. 
I passed a baseball field on my walk through Ueno Park. This is a random pick up game that I spotted with only 3 friends practicing pitching and hitting. No sport in Japan is more popular than baseball, and the Tokyo area is home to no fewer than 6 of the country's 12 professional team. 
After a nice walk through the park, I finally made it over to the Ueno Zoo. I was able to stop along the way and people watch and take in the beauty of the park. The Ueno Zoo was established in 1882, and this was the first zoo of its kind in Japan. The zoo is very popular with Japanese visitors, for it's charming pandas who are not on view on Fridays. I wonder what happens on Fridays? Are the pandas out all night clubbing in Ginza and they need their sleep? Is that it? ; p Well, here is a nice picture of some school kids leaving the zoo just as I am arriving....
And then I spotted this little adorable boy. He had his hat tilted on his head and was rocking a backpack. He was so excited to go to the zoo!
Here is Shaina and I. Hahaha...just kidding. I love you Shai. I wish you came with me to the zoo this day but alas, you were in class. Anyway, I did not get to see any real pandas this day, so here I am sharing my strawberry shaved ice with a giant fake one! I was pretty bummed that I did not get to see any pandas but this picture made me feel a little bit better. 
And because this is just so cute....
The Ueno Zoo has about 2,800 animals, representing about 500 species, as of August 2006. The following animals are NOT on display at the Japanese zoos other than at Ueno Zoo: Aye-ayes, grey gentle lemurs, Phillippine tarsiers, Sulawesi tarsiers, volcano rabbits, lesser mouse deer, Komodo dragon (which I didn't have a chance to see), and Madagascar crested ibises.
This Asiatic elephant was so cute. He/she would have this pattern of walking over to the water and then turn around and walk in a circle and then keep repeating this. I guess I showed up when it was workout time...
This was a display of a shrine that school children and others hung drawings and letters to thank the park after their visit and also notes after an animal had passed away with cards of condolences. The drawings that the children made were the sweetest thing! 
I had no idea there was such a thing as a red panda. I was so excited...until I realized it wasn't a panda, panda....the red panda looks a bit like a racoon and has a tail. It took awhile to get a good view of this little guy/girl who was way atop one of the trees. He was so high up that I think he/she could have climbed right over and into the park! 
Here is a picture of the adorable Japanese black bear. They were so much fun to watch as they are pretty playful. I also love the cute Japanese couple in the window who are as transfixed watching the bears as I am. We later saw one another and waved from across the exhibit. 
When I first walked over to see the Japanese black bears, one was sitting on the ground eating some bamboo, while the other was high atop a tree and peeing on the little one from above. It was quite funny / awkward. 
Here is a really beautiful shrine that the Thai government gave to Ueno Zoo as a gift a few years after it opened. 
It was getting pretty hot, so I decided to get another strawberry shaved ice. Anyone know what this sign says? 
You know what makes me really happy? Shaved ice. See....oh and pandas too, but let's not talk about that. 
So this little character accepts donations for the zoo. It is kind of cute and well, what do you think it looks like? Ummm yeah. 
After all that shaved ice, naturally I had to go to the bathroom. Well, this was my first encounter with the toilet built into the ground, otherwise know as the squat and pee. It was quite awkward at first but when in Rome...I suppose. It worked out fine, if you were concerned. 
By the way, the picture is blurry, not because I was multitasking (silly) but because the odor in the bathroom was not much soothing to the nostrils, so I snapped the shot real fast and then headed out so I could catch my breath.
This landmark 5 story pagoda dates from the 17th century and is a survivor from the original Kanei-ji temple complex. Today it stands in the grounds of the Ueno Zoo. It took me about 5 shots until I was able to take a picture of myself with the pagoda in the background. 
After spending almost 2 hours at the park, I headed out. Just outside Ueno Zoo there is a small childrens amusement park called, "Ueno Kodomo Yuen". As you can see it is jam packed with Pikachoo, Thomas the Tank Engine and other random rides.
There were also some really cool street performers around Ueno Park. This street performer outside the Ueno Zoo drew quite an impressive crowd. He was crazy but so funny! He kept throwing the ball super high up in the air and kept missing it and the audience members would go and retrieve the ball for him. Hahaha
She was pretty amazing to listen to. She played french music on her accordion just outside the Tokyo National Museum, also outside the zoo. I don't know why but her outfit and wacky sense of style made me think of one of the lollipop kids from "The Wizard of Oz". 
This is a police post in Ueno Park. Pretty cool architecture huh? It was the only modern design next to all the other classically designed buildings within the park. 
I had to hurry up as I was about to meet back up with Matt for a sushi lunch.
Stay tuned for the next blog, featuring Matt and I's amazing sushi lunch, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shinjuku and so much more!!!!!
