It’s getting serious in Tokyo

It’s all cold and expensive but it’s getting warmer day by day and I start liking the city in which it looks hard to find a good meal on the Japanese menu or someone who speaks english at the first sight. But somehow it works out mostly:-)
As my wallet already hides when I arrive at a reception or at a cashier desk I so not dare to buy a sim card for mobile internet here in Tokyo -its freaking expensive. This is why I put three days in one long entry. I already apologise for its length and please do enjoy the pictures at the end after absorbing the whole entry!

First of all I decided to sleep in on the first a day to give my self some time to recover from the flight and facing a new cold environment. That was the first wrong decision as every hour after 10 am checkout has to be paid with 500 yen. Anyways I paid a 1000 extra and had a nice bath before.
I were starving lacking in breakfast and decided to have a snack in the Chinese restaurant just below the hostel. Meanwhile I was checking the main sights in my tourist guide book.
The first attraction to me was the Tokyo public transport system. So many different train connections and station. I managed to come to the imperial palace. Although it was not possible to enter it was worth the stroll along the outside area.
Next,I have been to the parliament and then to ginza district with the brand street for dinner. There were a lot of famous brands along the street but also Japanese brands unknown to me. Also in ginza district,I have been visiting the Sony show rooms within the Sony building. There were quite many Sony inventions displayed. I tried the car race simulator. It was a drivers seat with a steering wheel mounted in front of the chair and two pedals in the feet area. once I sat the staff helped me to adjust the digital specs with integrated displays and put a headphone on my head. Fully equipped my race started and I finished last. The steering was just so different to normal driving. After removing all the technical equipment I thanked for the experience and told her that Sony will have to work hard to make this a real like experience.
I hung out the rest of the day In the hard rock café – no burger this time but a chocolate thick shake.

The second day I didn’t make the same mistake again and left hotel premises at 10 am. After some time in the spa I headed out to discover the shinjuku district. Within it I found the observation platform of the metropolitan government building with good views, also to mount Fuji. It’s very rare to see it from Tokyo due to fog and distance. Also I have been wandering along the shinjuku southern terrace. When I tried to find the entrance to the shinjuku gyoen national garden I recognised that  It is closed on mondays – such a pity, 30 minutes wasted. I took lunch in  dennys’s a restaurant chain which offers food on reasonable prices In the asakusa district.
I actually planned to wander along the markets and old buildings in this district but ended up passing the stylish beer mug shaped asahi brewery ltd. building on the way to the Tokyo sky tree to watch the sunset. I don’t know why this sperm alike looking gold object has been placed on the asahi building but it’s somehow distracting.
Somehow the time flew by on the sky tree which is why I only managed to go back to the asakusa area after shops were closed.
Back to the shinjuku area I have been asked by at least 5 male if I would like to join for a drink in their establishment – did I choose the wrong area to stay? I am sure their talk is rather linked to their business than to my breathtaking appearance.

Just today I headed out to see the odaiba district. The view from the fuji TV headquarters globe observation platform was a nice start. I went along the park areas to the national museum of emerging science and innovation which is closed on Tuesday. What a pity that today is just Tuesday – what is it with me and closed attractions? I backed up the park again to the Venus shopping center. The second floor is worth a visit as it is made to look like an ancient romantic village with bars and bistros. In the middle of the shopping center is a history garage where old cars and miniatures are put on display, quite nice exemplars there:-)
At the far end is a Toyota showroom where visitors can try Toyota cars on a charge of 300 yen if they carry their drivers license along. Well I didn’t have it with me and anyways test drives in Germany are free. But don’t worry,I had my test drive in 2 drive simulators. One of both was very realistic. And in the f1 simulator I have been first place at the second try.
I intentionally didn’t ride the large ferris wheel just next to the shopping center: haven’t I been on enough observation platforms recently and the queue was far too long. I experienced how it is to be stuck in an elevator during an earthquake in the “Tokyo rinkai disaster prevention park”. They sensible visitors on having food on stock for at least 72 hours after an disaster, who to call in an emergency and how to act facing different disaster scenarios.
Back to the rainbow bridge I enjoyed stunning views of it and,the skyline of Tokyo from its promenade. I was just too late to take the stylish water bus north the river to asakusa – next day. Instead I took a train, again too late to see the busy shopping life in asakusa. After a refreshing meal In asakusa area I went to the second  hrc In Tokyo at the ueno station for a nice chocolate thick shake as desert.

Lets Check what the next days have to offer!

Some pixies but not too many as it is cold to walk around with the mobile in the fingers:

image

Last snow - not much but still it's there:-)

image

One of the two hrc's In Tokyo

image

Mount Fuji - can you see it?

image

Tokyo, small public transport network

image

Fuji television headquarters with observation globe

image

Drive simulator in Toyota showroom

image

Sensoji temple

image

Tokyo sky tree

Stay tuned, the next day is already half done;-)