Travel diary
Shiny Japan 2005
Day three - August 09
Ikebukuro Day by Arakawa tram line
Arakawa Tram line bound for Waseda
When I was in Tokyo last year I already wanted to try out the last tram line there, known as the Arakawa tram line which is built along a interesting residential area that has its own touch. Most of the tram lines have been dismantled since the practical metro lines in a vast network were established.
The hotel area in Minamisenju happens to be next to the end stop of the Arakawa tram line in Minowa. After a 10 minutes foot walk and buying a ticket on train (which even returns money and also takes TOEI cards... at first I was worried that I didn't have the exact fare in coins but after a while I thought. It's Japan, can't be a problem) I found myself sitting on a train curving through the norther part of Tokyo till Ikebukuro. Since you pay around 180 yen for the trip no matter where you get off it was worth the money for a 30-minutes-ride.
Tram stop in Ikebukuro
Somehow it was pissing down, weather was really weird those days, and it wasn't helping for having a good mood. I still put some pictures while heading to Sunshine City which is really a huuuge Shopping centre. Speaking of shopping -- this might be more fun for women. A so-called paradise for textile-oriented females.
Namja Town with its theme parks (food -- Gyoza, hell, ice-cream theme) inside the building somehow appealed to me, so I got in for 500 yen (ticket without included attractions) and just had a look since everything was in Japanese and visiting attractions seemed to be not only complicated but without decent knowledge of Japanese not possible to understand. You somehow can buy a strange electronic pet that you can use in the whole area. Namja Town turned to be a children's and couple spot and I felt so out of place... it was hard to find the exit from the upper floor and I went 3 times in circles in the ice-cream theme section that I almost went crazy. And everything so expensive. Would you pay 500 yen for a cone, even if it looks very very tasty? Well, your personal choice.
Namja Town entrance
By the way, I don't recommend the Gyoza restaurant obviously owned by Chinese in the basement floor that I visited before Namja Town. The Gyozas didn't have any taste and I somehow couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a communist propaganda picture hanging on the other side of the wall from where I was eating. Political freedom? Nah... Misled patriotism maybe. If you ever want to eat a Gyoza, go to Taiwan.
All in all the food section didn't really appeal to me in the Sunshine City complex. I didn't go up onto the Obsevatory Tower because the Tokyo Metropolitan Tower in Shinjuku is for free.
The Toyota Amlux Building was futuristic and cool. You could play a simple driving simulation, take a seat in every car and buy it if you have enough money. The latest available Toyota cars were really neat and comfy. Driving/Sitting on the right side (steering wheel) in a new car is something worth trying too. Funny was the Toyota employee who presented a car with enthusiasm even though nobody was listening to her (except of me in the distance even though I only understood part of it, well I didn't really listen).
Presenting the car without audience
After a nice walk through Sunshine-Dori with loads of colourful signs and commercial (I love this stuff when I don't get too color-blind) and I took many pics of Ikebukuro station which is very impressing. Just two walk through the TOBU department store inside would take up hours.
I decided to take some "cheap" Ramen near the Metropolitan Art museum where I surely took many splendid pics again I headed into the residential area of Ikebukuro in order to find a touristic spot as explained in a guide. It seems to be a precious building but I didn't notice any interested tourists there... countryside feeling inside Tokyo.
Sunshine Doori
Tokyo Metropolitan Art museum
Art museum inside
Precious building in the Tokyo pampa
Ikebukuro station
I headed to my friend after a short stop in Shibuya. I shouldn't have since she was quite occupied with work.
Setagaya-Ku to Minamisenju: around 1 hour train ride (380 Yen one-way) + 10 minutes (almost for free) on foot.
Late at night I managed to get back to my hotel after Curfew at 0:45. The hotel pamphlet said 25:00 o'clock which was confusing, but it wasn't a problem. The guy at the front told me it is 24:00. Phew... So early ;) Lucky that I still got into my room and the door wasn't closed.
I surely slept well after the long day.
Shiny Japan 2005
Day three - August 09
Ikebukuro Day by Arakawa tram line
Arakawa Tram line bound for Waseda
When I was in Tokyo last year I already wanted to try out the last tram line there, known as the Arakawa tram line which is built along a interesting residential area that has its own touch. Most of the tram lines have been dismantled since the practical metro lines in a vast network were established.
The hotel area in Minamisenju happens to be next to the end stop of the Arakawa tram line in Minowa. After a 10 minutes foot walk and buying a ticket on train (which even returns money and also takes TOEI cards... at first I was worried that I didn't have the exact fare in coins but after a while I thought. It's Japan, can't be a problem) I found myself sitting on a train curving through the norther part of Tokyo till Ikebukuro. Since you pay around 180 yen for the trip no matter where you get off it was worth the money for a 30-minutes-ride.
Tram stop in Ikebukuro
Somehow it was pissing down, weather was really weird those days, and it wasn't helping for having a good mood. I still put some pictures while heading to Sunshine City which is really a huuuge Shopping centre. Speaking of shopping -- this might be more fun for women. A so-called paradise for textile-oriented females.
Namja Town with its theme parks (food -- Gyoza, hell, ice-cream theme) inside the building somehow appealed to me, so I got in for 500 yen (ticket without included attractions) and just had a look since everything was in Japanese and visiting attractions seemed to be not only complicated but without decent knowledge of Japanese not possible to understand. You somehow can buy a strange electronic pet that you can use in the whole area. Namja Town turned to be a children's and couple spot and I felt so out of place... it was hard to find the exit from the upper floor and I went 3 times in circles in the ice-cream theme section that I almost went crazy. And everything so expensive. Would you pay 500 yen for a cone, even if it looks very very tasty? Well, your personal choice.
Namja Town entrance
By the way, I don't recommend the Gyoza restaurant obviously owned by Chinese in the basement floor that I visited before Namja Town. The Gyozas didn't have any taste and I somehow couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a communist propaganda picture hanging on the other side of the wall from where I was eating. Political freedom? Nah... Misled patriotism maybe. If you ever want to eat a Gyoza, go to Taiwan.
All in all the food section didn't really appeal to me in the Sunshine City complex. I didn't go up onto the Obsevatory Tower because the Tokyo Metropolitan Tower in Shinjuku is for free.
The Toyota Amlux Building was futuristic and cool. You could play a simple driving simulation, take a seat in every car and buy it if you have enough money. The latest available Toyota cars were really neat and comfy. Driving/Sitting on the right side (steering wheel) in a new car is something worth trying too. Funny was the Toyota employee who presented a car with enthusiasm even though nobody was listening to her (except of me in the distance even though I only understood part of it, well I didn't really listen).Presenting the car without audience
After a nice walk through Sunshine-Dori with loads of colourful signs and commercial (I love this stuff when I don't get too color-blind) and I took many pics of Ikebukuro station which is very impressing. Just two walk through the TOBU department store inside would take up hours.
I decided to take some "cheap" Ramen near the Metropolitan Art museum where I surely took many splendid pics again I headed into the residential area of Ikebukuro in order to find a touristic spot as explained in a guide. It seems to be a precious building but I didn't notice any interested tourists there... countryside feeling inside Tokyo.
Sunshine Doori
Tokyo Metropolitan Art museum
Art museum inside
Precious building in the Tokyo pampa
Ikebukuro station
I headed to my friend after a short stop in Shibuya. I shouldn't have since she was quite occupied with work.
Setagaya-Ku to Minamisenju: around 1 hour train ride (380 Yen one-way) + 10 minutes (almost for free) on foot.
Late at night I managed to get back to my hotel after Curfew at 0:45. The hotel pamphlet said 25:00 o'clock which was confusing, but it wasn't a problem. The guy at the front told me it is 24:00. Phew... So early ;) Lucky that I still got into my room and the door wasn't closed.
I surely slept well after the long day.
posted by airone at
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