Shane’s Japan Trip Report Day 9

First Day in Tokyo: Exploring Toritsu Daigaku & Jiyugaoka Areas and Re-visiting Minato Mirai

Japan Trip Report Day 9…Today we don’t have any plan other than to scout the neighborhood and see what’s nearby. I need to find somewhere with an Internet connection where I can check my email and get some work done. Despite the fact that Japan is a very high-tech society, creation of an open wi-fi environment is not a top priority here. In fact, there is very little free wi-fi available anywhere. I bought my Ipod Touch in hopes of being able to periodically check my email, but I haven’t had a single free wireless connection since I’ve been here.

Searching for Free Wi-Fi in Tokyo

I’ve heard that McDonald’s has free wi-fi, so I’m going to check that out. The Starbucks cafes here do not. If McD’s doesn’t pan out, my only option will be to use the local Internet cafe, which sounds like a great option, but is actually quite pricey. However, since we’re not paying for a hotel, I think I can manage the small expense. Still, free is always better, when available.

So it turned out the McD’s in Jiyuugaoka, one stop over from Toritsu Daigaku, did have free wi-fi–sort of. I was able to get a wi-fi signal through my Itouch, but not through my laptop. Oh well, I guess I’m going to have to rely on the Internet cafe. People, be advised: there’s little or no free wi-fi available in Japan!

While at the McD’s, we noticed a sign advertising its special Christmas chicken dinner (KFC is the meal of choice for Christmas in Japan!):

Re-visiting Minato Mirai in Yokohama

After checking my email and whatnot, we decided to take the Toyoko Line into Yokohama, where I used to live. We got off at Motomachi, got a couple breads at Uchikipan, a popular bread bakery there:

And then walked a short way to Yamashita Park.

It was just turning into dusk, the perfect time to visit Yamashita Park, because that’s when the buildings and Ferris wheel of Minato Mirai light up, creating a beautiful view. We strolled up to Osanbashi, the newly built harbor cruise terminal that is shaped just like a mammoth cruise ship, jutting out into the bay and offering spectacular views of Minato Mirai, the Hikawamaru retired ocean liner, Yokohama Bay Bridge, and the rest of the surrounding bay scenery. Here’s a little video I took that shows the scenery that we saw:

After watching dusk turn into night, we walked over past Akarenga brick warehouse building to World Porters, where we ate at a kaiten-zushi (revolving sushi) restaurant that we used to frequent. Although not bad, we were a little disappointed, as the quality seemed to have declined from when we lived there.

After dinner, we went over to Le Bon Pain, our favorite bread bakery, and bought several selections of bread for breakfast the next day. If it sounds like we are eating a lot of bread and you are wondering why the hell we’re eating bread in Japan, well, it’s true that we are, and there’s a good reason: Japanese bread is amazing, both in terms of sheer variety and taste. I have a gluten intolerance and bread is not something I should be eating a lot of, but in Japan, I can’t help it: it’s my favorite thing to eat here, and while I’m in Japan, I’m not going to hold back!

In World Porters, we found a dessert buffet, and also Harvest, a natural foods and veggie-heavy all-you-can-eat buffet that I ended up trying at a different location later on during my trip.

On the same floor there is also a game center full of tons of UFO catcher machines, where you operate a crane and attempt to snag a prize, full of interesting items:

In addition to stuffed animals, prizes included character figures:

Calorie Mate Diet supplement:

Instant ramen:

Assorted Japanese candy:

And even various flavors of Pringles potato chips!

After leaving World Porters, we passed through Queens Square and Landmark Tower to see what new shops had opened.

In Queen’s Square we discovered Minatomirai 109, a branch of the famed Shibuya 109 department store in Shibuya that I wasn’t aware existed.

And near the Landmark Tower water fountain, there is an amusing Japlish sign cautioning you to watch your step:

We were surprised to find that the Yurindo bookstore on the top floor of Landmark Tower had been replaced by Kumazawa, a bookstore I had never heard of. Yurindo was one of the few sources of a generous selection of English-language books. kumazawa appeared to at least carry the latest best sellers in English, but not as many titles as before.

We also found something else interesting in this book shop. Recipe books that come bundled with baking equipment. For instance, a donut recipe book equipped with a donut tray, or a pound cake recipe book complete with a baking pan. This actually isn’t that unusual in Japan. For several years, many women’s fashion magazines in Japan routinely come packaged with a designer handbag or some other fashion accessory. It’s a unique marketing approach that I haven’t seen utilized to the same extent in the U.S.

With the day drawing to a close, we took the train back to Toritsu Daigaku, along with a train full of sleepy passengers and this stylish young woman:

And then called it a night.

Proceed to Shane’s Japan Trip Report Day 10–>