After a few hours sleep (yes a very small few) it was time to tackle my last day in Tokyo, always a sad event in any holiday, so to combat my sadness I decided to head to one of my favourite places in Tokyo and possibly the planet (well from the limited part of the planet that I have seen that is). Sunday is one of the best days to visit Harijuku, the area is a buzz of people and colour and costumes, you can find street venders and bewildered tourists and freaks of every variety. Out of the whole of Tokyo I probably feel most at home here, its the perfect mix of beautiful scenery and artist eccentricity to appeal to my inner being (woahhhhh how hippy was that shit)
If you exit the station and turn right it takes you to an open area called Jingu-bashi where on a Sunday Afternoon all the Cos Play kids come out in force, but for me thats not really the draw card (but I shall get to that...) I possibly was there to early so there werent many of the Cos Play kids around but there was something that made me smile, off to the side of the Jingu-bashi were three cool kids doing their bit to make the world a better place...
As soon as I saw this, a giant smile spread across my face and I ran over to them, they all hugged me and were smiling, when I asked them why they were doing it, there explanation was simple "To make people smile" made me feel happy on my insides to know that there are still good people out there that do things for the purest of reasons. So to these guys I say Domo, you have restored my faith in humanity, thank you thank you
After my hugs I headed off with the hugest smile on my face and a spring in my step (how poetic). If you keep walking past the Jingu-bashi you will come across a Rock-a-billy Heaven, you round an unsuspecting corner into a large paved area with murals on the ground and groups of rock-a-billy dancers standing in circles. I would never have known about this place if it hadnt have been for a passer by that stopped me last year to talk to me about my tattoos, he told me to go around the corner for a special surprise that would be just up my alley (yeah sounds dodgy hey, how could he know my love for ummm.... street venders). The only way I can describe it so you get the idea is, kinda like Stomp the Yard (or one of those equally bad American dance movies), there were 4 different "crews" set up inside the open air arena and they would take turns in laying down their best moves. The best thing about this for me is the detail that they put into their costumes and their hair, I honestly could watch them all day
As my time was running short, I could only stay and watch for a short time, for beyond the arena lays Garden Park (or Yoyogi Park). Hands down my most favourite single place in Tokyo. Something I have noticed about the places that I have travelled is the lack of trees, and being in the Tokyo concrete jungle I guess I miss a bit of greenery. Garden Park brings the wilderness back hard styles. Everywhere you look there is amazing Autumn Foliage (Japan has real seasons yo!!! not like in Australia where we have "pretend" seasons), wide open grassed spaces and water features. To say its beautiful is slightly an understatement.
One of my favourite botanical mistresses (que Millencolin) of Garden Park is the rose gardens that are in the middle of the park area, there are rows and rows of beautiful rose bushes that were fully in bloom. As I was walking through the gardens a little boy was chasing his sister and there were laughing, whilst my first thought was "damn kids, get off my lawn and keep your noise down" I couldnt help but smile at their carefree nature. I did want to chase them and push them over to show them how real brothers and sisters should behave, but I thought that a very large white lady pushing small asian children over might raise a few eye brows so I refrained. I always say that life is about the little things, and stopping to smell the roses is one of these things (and by the way, they smelt amazing)
Garden Park is a wash of people on a Sunday afternoon, and everywhere you look there is something exciting going on. There are musicians to sit and watch, couples kissing on blankets (I dont think you can sit and watch this because that might be a bit creepy, but hey if you want to give it a crack go right ahead), people walking their little costumed adorned dogs and people playing frisbie. Any activity that you can think of, I am sure you can find here. Its a great place if you like to people watch (or go to have quiet moments on a blanket with your significant other, I personally hate these people as I do not have a significant other and my supply of cats is sadly running low)
One of my favourite botanical mistresses (que Millencolin) of Garden Park is the rose gardens that are in the middle of the park area, there are rows and rows of beautiful rose bushes that were fully in bloom. As I was walking through the gardens a little boy was chasing his sister and there were laughing, whilst my first thought was "damn kids, get off my lawn and keep your noise down" I couldnt help but smile at their carefree nature. I did want to chase them and push them over to show them how real brothers and sisters should behave, but I thought that a very large white lady pushing small asian children over might raise a few eye brows so I refrained. I always say that life is about the little things, and stopping to smell the roses is one of these things (and by the way, they smelt amazing)
Garden Park is a wash of people on a Sunday afternoon, and everywhere you look there is something exciting going on. There are musicians to sit and watch, couples kissing on blankets (I dont think you can sit and watch this because that might be a bit creepy, but hey if you want to give it a crack go right ahead), people walking their little costumed adorned dogs and people playing frisbie. Any activity that you can think of, I am sure you can find here. Its a great place if you like to people watch (or go to have quiet moments on a blanket with your significant other, I personally hate these people as I do not have a significant other and my supply of cats is sadly running low)
I wanted to join them, but I didnt know if I would get a banging welcome
In the middle of garden park there is a giant fountain with a rather quaint little bridge going over the top of it (no trolls but a few small Japanese children so maybe same/same), last year when I was here, I took a coin and tossed it into the fountain whilst making a wish (hey I have seen them do this in the movies and it works), sadly my wish hasnt come true yet, so I decided to give it another crack, possibly my 50 Yen donation did not appease the gods, so this time I decided to throw a whole handfull in and make a wish with all my heart... I will let you know when it comes true, because I believe that it will... I deserve it
Is that a jet in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
Crap, I just realised this is only 35 Yen, maybe the gods will be tricked because there are more coins... keep your fingers crossed kids
And with that I was done, it was time to head back to the hotel to collect my bags and high tail to the airport. On walking down the main shopping street one last time I ran into another group of free hug hippies, they were joined by an American guy from Boston who at a whim had decided to join them and wave a sign.... Japan is the place where people come together and as much as I wanted to stay I really had no choice to go, I wonder what the reception would be if I was to hold up a Free Hugs sign in the middle of Forrest Chase? I might try this one day
A metro, a bullet train, a lost ticket, a plane, a dinner spilt on a brand new white shirt, a 7 hour stop over, a delayed flight, another plane, a customs line as long as Mt Fuji and a mother at the wrong airport and I am home. It is with sadness that I bid adure to Japan for now, thank it for its amazing experiences, curse it for being a breeding ground for negativity and come back more tired than when I left. If that was Japan, I well and truely did it and am counting down the days until I can do it again
Love and Lucky Coins
Miss K
Street Vender Noodles. Sooooo amazing and cheap
Amazing Autumn Foliage
No Fireworks? Maybe its lucky I didnt have a lover to go with
Maybe one of these lovely ladies will be interested in being my companion? I do like them Chesty
Big Piece Yo!!!!
0 comments:
Post a Comment