I was thrilled to come to the second last day of the travel! After last day's experience, I used my guidebook more in depth to find info for the places travelled. And here I'd like to take you through for an informative/ educational experience in this journal =)
1. Imperial Palace and East Garden
Intro taken from Kokyo Higashi Gyoen Self-Guidebook...
"Kokyo Higashi Gyoen is located in the east part of the Imperial Palace where the Honmaru, Ninomaru, and Sannomaru buildings of Edo Castle used to stand. The place was refined as the Imperial Gardens at the time of construction of the Imperial Palace, and was opened to the public in 1968.
The gardens occupy approx. 21 hectares and include the remains of Edo Castle. Their peaceful environment is filled with nature.
Otemon Gate, Karakawamon Gate, or Kitahanebashimon Gate are opened for visitors to enjoy the the history and nature in this special site."
This book tells the story from Edo Castle to Imperial Palace, and the History of Edo Castle.
Interesting Facts:
- Verdurous Otemon Gate used to be the main gate of Edo Castle.
- Doshin Bansho is the Ote Third Gate, guarded by yoriki and doshin on duty.
- Oh Bansho is the most elevated guard post. Then comes, Hyakunin Bansho, and Doshin Bansho.
- Tokagakudo Music Hall - the musicians of Gakubu (gagaku Music department of the Imperial Household Agency), called gakushi, endeavor to preserve traditional musical forms gagaku, which have a history of 1,000 years in Japan.
- Gakushi's instruments include: Kaendaiko (a pair of big drums), Kakko, Sho, and Biwa.
- Ninomaru Grove - Symbolic Prefectual Tree List (ie. Kyoto - Kitayama cedar, Osaka - Ginkgo)
- Kokyo Higashi Gyoen Weekly Flower, available at: http://www.kunaicho.go.jp
This palace and garden visit took around 3km for 2 hours. I love this place because it's authentic in Japanese culture and symbolic with trees planted for different provinces in Japan, and the beautiful music hall (vistors restricted, however). It was a nice walk in nature, compared to last day's walk in Ginza and Tokyo Tower.
2. Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
It's a child's dream come true! Playing with Totoro, Cat Bus and Robot is a must~~ =) The entrance ticket is a little film card with 3 handpainted pictures... it's good as a souvenir already!
The director of G.M., Hayao Miyazaki, comments: This is the kind of museum I want to make!
"Something interesting but that would put visitors at their ease.
A museum where various things can be discovered.
A museum based on a clear and consistent philosophy.
The museum must be run in such a way as to...
Treat small children as if they were grown-ups;
Accomodate the handicapped as much as possible;
Give the staff a working environment to be confident and proud of;
Not force visitors to follow a pre-determinded, fixed course;
Provide exhibits that will stimulate a wealth of ideas, while avoiding worn out displays covered with dust.
The displays will be...
Not only for the benefit of people who are already fans of Studio Ghibli;
Not memorials to Studio Ghibli with only exhibits from its past films;
Things and spaces that will allow visitors to appreicate, just by looking, what it's like to be an animator and to gain a new appreciation for animation;
Original works and pictures made for the museum, and exhibited in a projection room or an exhibition room; works that can be made to come alive; original short films that have been created for and released in the museum only;
Exhibitions of Ghibli's past films that will encourage a deeper understanding of these films.
The Museum Shop will be... A shop run for the sake of the visitors to the museum; Not a bargain shop that attaches importance only to sales volume; A shop that keeps improving with time; A shop that sells original items made only for the museum.
The Museum's relation to the park is... Not just about caring for the plants and surrounding greenery but also planning for how things will be 10 years into the future; Something that would cause people to say that since the museum was founded, the park surrounding the museum has become even lusher and better in every way.
This is what I expect the museum to be, and therefore I will find a way to do it.
This is the kind of museum I don't want to make... A pretentious museum; An arrogant museum; A museum that treats its contents as if they were more important than people; A musem that displays uninteresting works as if they were significant."
(~ taken and edited from Ghibli Museum reference book, copyright)
Places for discovery:
i. Totoro Entrance *seeing totoro in 'real life'... aowwww~~~
ii. Permanent Display Room *ghibli's real artist studio and portfolio
iii. Cat Bus Room *only little kids can ride on cat bus... and i'm not one of them -__-
iv. Saturn Theater *viewing a whale film
v. Central Hall *European deco spiral staircases
vi. Arigatou Store *The souvenir shop where I got Horace a 'blank' gift ;p
vii. Patio *where a well is located!
viii. Straw Hat Cafe *it's got soft icecream!!!
Being at Ghibli Museum is an unbelievably experience. You just have to go and see it!!!! Remember to buy ticket in advance (in your local JMB offices; or any Lawsons convenience store in Japan), as they don't sell any at the door. I recommend taking a stroll in this little charming neighborhood, as opposed to taking the shuttle bus from Mitaka JR station. You'd get to see a lot of interesting daily lifestyle of a Japanese and walk to the museum with little kids too!! =)
3. Odaiba
Take the Yurikamome line from Shimbashi Station - Daiba Station
The ride itself is interesting, as it crosses Rainbow Bridge and affords good views of bay area developments.
Walked in Decks Tokyo Beach and Aqua City complex. Saw Fuji TV Broadcast Center and Observatory Platform, as well as Palette Town - at night =)
i. La Cantinetta Dell Enoteca Pinchiorri - a beautiful, charming little reception + chapel facing the romantic rainbow bridge + Italian restaurant (perhaps getting married there isn't a bad choice ;) same in Tokyo Disneyland, heheheee)
ii. Wako Tonkatzu *in the Decks Tokyo Beach complex, a place to try the tonkatsu; standard teishoku starts at 1000 yen
I really wish to come back to Odaiba again. Lots of Honger stuff there too. It's a romantic experience!
Last night in the motel, I was happy to pack and go! Missed the tatami, Maicha and Hojicha, Japanese + English style toilets and bathrooms, Massage chairs, and a companion for travel~
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Fourth Day - Sept 1 (Wed)
Just before departure at 9:30am, I left a message to home(s)... Correspondence:
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 17:16:40 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Patricia Ma"
Subject: Leaving motel
Hey guys,
I`m leaving my motel now. It`s been an unforgettable
trip :)
Horace is going to pick me up in Vancouver.
No worries. See you soon!
luv,
pat ma
sept 2/2004
9am
Leaving with the Bombay man (yes, he finally made up the mind to go out for sightseeing), we took the JR train and parted each other when I got to Shinjuku. (Good luck!!) I only had as little as two hours to shop thru this big shopping land~~ Flags, Southern Terrace... and I also got to walk up to where the Red-Light Entertainment area is. It's interesting to see so much and I couldn't stop making the final purchase in Tokyo~~ Green tea ceremony equipment, a plaided hat... but you see, the stuff there is kind of pricey~~ I'm sure that there're other places in Tokyo who sells stuff in gd price if you know where to go for!
Heading back to the airport, on Kensei line, I was very light-hearted and happy for this journey. One of the life-time experience that couldn't miss - it's to go backpacking on own. No one beside you. You take care yourself and you go into troubles and get out from there on own. Uneasy and yet it's so much adventure. Big trade-offs as well. Anyway, it's at the finishing line of this trip, here I am back at Narita by 2pm!
Sitting at the yahoo internet cafe, I had a little time to drop my friends a few words before leaving. It's amazing to see so much! And I promise to come back to Tokyo again... and go on comfortable ends and hot, steamy onsens! It's gonna be so much fun too!!! Sayonara!!!!!!
Most commonly used phrases...
- ohayo gozaimasu (good morning)
- dozo (go ahead)
- onegai shimasu (please)
- arigatou gozaimasu (thanks very much)
- gomen nasai (sorry)
- ma san desu (i'm Miss Ma ^^)
- hajimemashita (nice meeting you the first time)
- shashin o totte mo ii desu ka? (is it ok to take a photo?)
- kore o kudasai (please give me this *pointing at the menu ^^)
- hai (yes)/ iie (no)
- .... wa doko desu ka? (where is the....?)
- .... made ikura desu ka? (how much is the fare?)
- kore wa ... e ikimasu ka? (does this train/ bus/ etc go to...?)
- .... o karitai no desu ga. (I'd like to go to...)
- .... e wa dono yo ni ikeba ii desu ka? (how do i get to...?)
- yushoku gohan (dinner!)
- all numbers!!!!
Arigatou ^___^ God bless on this adventure... and more importantly, thanks for your support, everybuddy!!!
Resources:
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka http://www.ghibli-museum.jp
Fuji TV Station and Observatory Deck, Odaiba http://www.fujitv.co.jp
Palette Town, Odaiba http://www.palette-town.com
Southern Terrace Shopping, Shinjuku http://www.southernterrace.jp
Flags Shopping, Shinjuku http://www.flagsweb.jp
Photos:
Please visit my homepage album - Look under Grad Trip =)
Thanks for dropping by, folks!! Hope you enjoy the story and the photos!!!!
With love,
Patricia
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