Tradition meets modernity

The somewhat short first night (I believe I only fell asleep around 5 AM, while Schahaatz - hardly had his first foot in bed at 1:30 AM - was already sleeping) is followed by breakfast. That’s how it is at home for us - and it's the same in Tokyo. We were really curious about what awaited us here, and we weren't disappointed. Seaweed, vegetables, egg custard (this is how it looks for us), rice, broth, and other ingredients unknown to us, mayonnaise noodle salad, green salad, onions, carrots, tomatoes, and cucumbers with 4 different dressings - I could identify the Caesar salad dressing (because it was labeled), so there it went - right on my mountain of breakfast salad. Of course, there were also cheese-stuffed meatballs in gravy, along with fries, sausages, semi-fried bacon, and let’s call it a very juicy and creamy scrambled egg, but also yogurt, bananas, and grapefruit. And for those who still haven't found anything they might like, there was also toast, croissants, and jam.

Well-fueled and after a round of room Tetris for the clothes, we begin our program for today. Anyone who has been to Tokyo must have seen the most famous crossing in the world - who remembers the name? Right, the Shibuya crossing.

After observing the crossing from the rooftop of the department store Magnet 

and including a cold drink (it’s already past noon), 

which is very important in these temperatures, “drink plenty,” we set off towards Meiji-jingū.

Facts: This 100-year-old Shinto shrine, surrounded by lush green forest, is dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) and Empress Shoken, who led Japan as it rose to become a modern nation. On the way through the forest towards the shrine, one passes stacked sake barrels, 

the offerings of local breweries to the deities of the shrine. Opposite, the wine barrels 

represent Emperor Meiji's connection to the West and his passion for wine. The Torii gate in front of the shrine is the largest of its kind in Japan at 12 meters.  

Traditional Shinto rituals include – offerings and prayers - throwing a coin, bowing twice, saying a prayer, clapping hands twice, bowing again, and writing wishes on Ema wooden tablets.

Both done.

What stands out to us during our walk to the next point is that even in the forest/park, it’s not cooler.

After a 15-minute walk through heated buildings and roads, we reach Shinjuku Gyoen.

Facts: a green oasis of tranquility in a concrete jungle. 3 garden styles shape the park - French, English, and traditional Japanese.

Due to the late hour and the heat, we stick to the last style. There are still 2 points left on the agenda: the Golden Gai - a neighborhood in Shinjuku described in the travel guide with cold beer, hot skewers, and karaoke. 

All three seem unavailable at the time we were there 😩. But we still need to eat something, and so we end up in a corner pub with seafood. 

As a little appetizer, we had edamame (I had to Google how to eat those first). Then Schahaatz ordered vegetables- 

it was very undefinable (except for the carrots) but actually quite tasty. The main dish was a rice bowl with sashimi salmon for Schahaatz and I had sashimi tuna.

I’ve once again realized, fish and I will never be best friends.

Now let's go, time is pressing, as we have tickets for TeamLab Planets at 6:30 PM and still need to go back to the hotel first.

After not even 24 hours and thanks to Google Maps, we are already true metro/bus pros. Google Maps is really a great help. It tells you exactly which entrance/exit to take, how many stops there are, what the line is called, and which platform to take. As long as you have battery.

TeamLab Planets

Facts: teamLab Planets is an art museum in Toyosu/Tokyo that presents “digital art.” It invites its visitors to explore with all senses. 

Walk barefoot over different materials, immersing knee-deep into the element of water. 

 

 

with painted pictures that immerse into a gigantic mural and come to life. Here, Schahaatz proved his artistic flair and made me a wonderful love declaration ❤️❤️.

A mega cool spectacle (equivalent to the youth word “honorable”).

A great conclusion to a truly exhausting day.