Best starting writing things down before I forget them! We began our first full day in Japan heading out as a group to Shinjuku, where we got breakfast/lunch (depending on when we each woke up) at the food court in the basement of the Odakyu department store. I am reassured that, like in Paris and Zurich, I can reliably find delicious overpriced food here in Tokyo by going to a fancy department store.
We walked to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, passed an amazing 3D-animated cat billboard on the way. On arrival, we decided to go to Yoyogi Park in Harajuku instead and nearly lost Isaac along the way.
At Yoyogi Park, we ate lunch (and surprisingly good ice cream from the park food stall) and split up to wander around enjoying various approximations of nature - gardens and pets. The crows were plentiful and brave; the myrtle trees still blooming; and the spiders very large (not pictured).
After wandering the park a couple hours, we returned to the entrance where the greaser geezers were rocking out and hung a left to visit Meiji Jingu shrine. I enjoyed reading the ema and I purchased a fortune.
Dana had plans to go square dancing in Meguro, so she, Isaac, and I headed out for dinner at ...a chain izakaya? It was a little confusing. Isaac ordered a giant whisky soda and it came as advertised. We had gyoza and meat on a stick before heading off to dance or return to Shinjuku.
We stopped briefly at a pharmacy, a local Inari shrine, and a cake shop on the way back, then reunited with the whole group back at Home Base.
So much for a quiet first day! Colin logged 22,000 steps! Today (Monday the 25th) I think we're heading to Ginza for goldfish and stationery.
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