Saturday, August 1

It’s Saturday already? Seriously, didn’t I just leave Chicago? It’s hard to imagine that I only have two days left here in Tokyo (actually, it’s really one because tomorrow I’ll be spending the whole day with my cousin outside of Tokyo). Time is sprinting and I’m just crawling.

Since I’ve arrived, I’ve been searching for the older side of Tokyo…away from the modern and crazy side of it. I think I’ve given up on spotting a geisha (I’ve learned that you see more of them in Kyoto, and not in Tokyo). Sure there are random women wearing kimonos with the thong sandals and all, but its not quite the same effect as wearing a full blown geisha attire with the make up and all that hair accessories. Sadly, that’s still the image of Japan the US advertises (check the cover of lonely planet of Japan).

I was advised to go to Yanaka cemetery to see an “older Tokyo.” Besides the cemetery, there were plenty of houses with traditional Japanese architecture and temples. Funny story… I went into one of the temples and it had a sign that said “No Shoes” just on the outside by the entrance. But next to the sign was this stand where I thought you leave your shoes. But since there was nobody around me, I didn’t really have anybody to ask questions. So I went in and took pictures inside (Big giant Buddha in the middle and vintage Japanese interior)… only for a guy to come out of nowhere and ask me to step out as the place was private. Hmm, no wonder I was the only person there…but then again that sign “no shoes” would only make you naturally think that it is OK to go in once the shoes are off…right? And then to make things even more awkward, there were a group of old Japanese people waiting outside taking pictures (with the peace signs and all) by my shoes…and they were laughing. They told me that I was not supposed to leave my shoes by that stand as that is the place where you “make offerings” or put money in. I’m pretty sure they were laughing for a good couple minutes…which really seemed like an eternity. All I wanted to do then was put my shoes on, bow at them, and run away.

Then later that night I went to the infamous Harajuku area of Tokyo where the kids look like they dressed or put make up on in the dark. But it’s cool. I love how off-beat and modern they look…it’s not something I’m used to seeing. And finally it hit me in the metro that Japanese men wear man purses. A man purse on the shoulder while they play their Nintendo DS.