Day 5 - Visiting the past (いいな)

Half the trip is over. It's Monday, July 16th. I can't believe it's the fifth day already (嘘!).

Today we head for the street car and really see Tokyo. The whole trip so far, we only got to see bits of Tokyo on the train. On the way we see a section with cardboard boxes. It's a designated area for the homeless. This reminds that Japanese of why they don't believe in "downsizing" like Americans. During the recession of the 1990's, Japanese companies followed the Americans during tough times and started to downsize. Because of this, many ended up homeless. Although the economy got better, the homeless lost their pride because of their layoff. Why can't America learn from the Japanese?


The "shitamachi" areas of Tokyo are much better than the busy city areas. It is really peaceful and more laid back. It's almost like walking around Wailuku Town on Maui. You walk around and talk with shop owners that know you very well. It's a good reminder of how things used to be before technology and the salaryman.



A nice elderly couple talked to us during our tour around the shitamachi. It was a very Soko ga Shiritai (そこが知りたい) moment. It's amazing that we were only the second foreign group to come and visit and talk with them. They were so hospitable. The wife quickly cut up an orange for everyone (優しいな人).

It's time for us to get back the train. We have to get to Ryogoku and take a tour of the Edo Museum. I didn't know there was such a big collection of artifacts. Is it a recent thing? The models of Edo are really amazing. Everything was connected to each other. I can see why it's disastrous when there's a fire.

There's not enough time to tour the entire place. I have to skip a lot of artifacts. I can only read the information on a few. Looking at all the models of Edo, I try to imagine what it was like back then. How was it when Japan isolated itself from the rest of the world? I just wish there were more hours during the day. I really wanted to have one of the guides that were dressed in Edo style kimono. They were all busy. Who would have thought it would attract such a big crowd, especially on a Monday?

I have to shop quickly. There isn't much time before we leave for Asakusa. I found Hello Kitty again. Edo exclusive lanyards. Of course, I had to get them all. I'm a little crazy when it comes to Hello Kitty. Still, I don't know why there is Hello Kitty in every prefecture of Japan. Is she the mascot of Japan? I know not all people associate Japan to Hello Kitty.




Our next stop is Asakusa. So many people gather at this temple. Many are dressed in kimono. That's something I would like to do one day. I would like to go to the temple during the New Year's in kimono.

We are free to roam around the temple grounds. There are so many shops in a row. You could spend hours just looking at each one. I wanted to go to the temple and make and offering. Because Travis and Charlie were going, I decided to go with them. I didn't expect it to be that far a walk. There are more structures toward the back. So many people are waiting in line to make their offering and prayer.


Before going to make our offering, we went to get a fortune. I learned something new. I didn't know you're supposed to burn the half fortune. I thought that it was only the bad fortunes you burn. I guess it's better to burn the half fortune than to keep it. It's a 50/50 chance. You're better off safe than sorry.





Just my luck. The batteries to my camera died. My spare batteries are in my suitcase. No more pictures for the rest of the night. After our time was up, everyone went their separate ways. A few of us ended up going to a 銭湯 (public bath). I was afraid about it, but I really wanted to experience it. In some Japanese dramas, they mention public baths. In the past, public baths were a common thing because most homes did not have bathing area. If you think about it, a public bath is cheaper than having your own shower. You can stay as long as you like for 450 yen (700 yen for sauna).

It's such a different experience. Something like this would not go well in America. Americans are too body conscious. At first I was afraid to be naked around others. Later on, you get used to it because they aren't looking at you. Well, they sort of watch you. They are making sure you are doing everything correctly. The regulars will tell you if you did something incorrectly. You must be entirely clean before you enter the furo or sauna.

The electric current bath was very interesting. At first, you have to get past the heat. Once your body is adapted, you can just sit there and feel the electric current pass over your skin. I never had a sauna before. I can see why they tell you not to stay in there for more than 10 minutes. It's like being in an oven, but it feels good. I wish we had more time there. It was so relaxing. After we were done, I felt so relaxed. All the pain in my legs was gone. I'm glad that I didn't change my mind on going.

Bev started a conversation with this nice elderly regular. Bev asked if she understood English, in which she answered in a playful voice "Zen zen wakaranai 全然 わからない(I don't understand any)." Even though she didn't understand English, we could have conversation with her. I tried my best to hear everything she was saying and translating it to Bev. Yoko told me later that once you talk in Japanese to someone, they automatically assume you can speak fluently. Japanese people can sure talk fast.

After the sento, we head back to Ikebukuro for dinner at Wara Wara. It was a great way to end the night. Before we headed back to the hotel, Charlie started talking to a group that was by us. With his little Japanese language skills he was able to converse with them. When I found him, they were teaching him this word "Dondake." I never heard of this word before. So I asked in Japanese, "Nan no imi 何の意味 (What is the meaning)." The girl was shocked by my Japanese and complimented me. I was grateful and thanked her. The one English speaking person of the table tried to figure out the English equivalent but couldn't. That's the one thing about the Japanese language, some words have no English equivalent. Later on, I found out the meaning of it.