Tokyo - Farewell Gig.

Well my faithful friends, fans and followers, our time together is nearing an end and I feel this will be my last post.   

We have a full day planned tomorrow and so we will be packing tonight, leaving our bags at the hotel and venture down to the famous Shibuya intersection rated the busiest on the entire planet and featured in many movies, the most famous being "Lost in Translation".  Should be interesting.  After that, it's off to the Imperial Palace and a walk around Tokyo central for a couple of hours with lunch and then back to the hotel and off to the airport for our trip home. 

But what of our previous two days in Tokyo I hear you ask, well here's an update.

As previously stated, we arrived in Tokyo without Laura's help and got to our hotel around 14:00, checked in, changed our clothes and headed out but not before booking the famous Robot Restaurant as recommended by Erin from work.  

So our booking was for 19:00 and we had time to kill not to mention lunch to partake of.  Came across a sushi place and jumped in.  The 3 of us ate 15 plates for a total of $25 dollars and it was insanely great sushi.  Paid up and walked around while the sun went down and lights came on and I do mean lights, wow.  Full sides of buildings came to life with advertising, rock videos and just amazing light shows.  The people just keep coming and going right up to midnight when we just couldn't stay up anymore and headed back to bed, but not before the Calico Cat Cafe (another Erin suggestion) and the Robot Restaurant...

The term "restaurant" should be taken very lightly here as it's really the show you go for.  It's high octane, loud music, pandas, warriors, girls, lasers, lights, more girls and of course robots.  Check out the photos and videos below.  They make amazing use of a small area and all in all a lot of fun.  We had a couple of young kids behind us and their eyes were amazing to watch as the pandas and robots came through the doors and entertained the crowd.

Funny side story here.  The Robot Restaurant is located in the Red LIght district of Shinjuku where again, my friend Erin said was the place to be, and within 10 metres of entering the street, I was asked if I was up for some sex.  For the record, I politely declined.

So after the Robot show it was off to the Calico Cat Cafe.  What is that, I hear you ask. Apparently there really isn't enough room in Japanese apartments for pets so some smart person came up with the idea to have a place where people can come to adopt a pet for an hour or so and play with them.

So for a cost of 1,000 yen for one hour ($11), you can pat, feed and play with anyone of about 20 cats on the 5th and 6th floor of an office block in Shinjuku.

The cats are well looked after and Connie was amused when part of the condition for entry is that the humans must wash their hands before touching the cats, lol.  They were in very good condition and extremely fluffy and clean to touch.

Today we awoke to a very sunny and clear Tokyo day with the temperature a nice 10 degrees.  After a nice pastry and coffee (Starbucks) breakfast the girls went their separate way which left me, and my two slightly dented credit cards to venture into the electronic underworld of Tokyo.

Now while there were floors and floors of watches, TV's, gizmos, audio equipment and cameras galore, the prices were about the same as what we pay in Australia so as much as I wanted to hammer the plastic, it just didn't make sense, not that being sensible is one of my strong points mind you but in this case, I was able to keep control and make my wife happy, for a change.

We met up fairly late in the afternoon and headed off to the Tokyo Sky Tree.  This is a communications tower that extends some 450+ metres into the sky and dwarfs all that is below it.  They have two observation decks, one at 350 and a second at 450 metres.  While the minister for "no way you're getting me up there" went shopping, Tessa and I bought our tickets and off we went.  The elevator ride was smooth and very quick.  Check out the video.  Of course the view is spectacular and the city is massive.  The trip from 350 to 450 metres is in a lift with glass ceiling and walls, a bit like the Eiffel Tower.  Not for the feint hearted.

After the tower and a bit more shopping we decided to head home.  We exited Shinjuku station at 23:00 and the people we saw around the streets was amazing.  This place just doesn't seem to stop.  Outside our hotel about 20 people are lined up to catch a bus to who knows where and it was the same last night.

It's just gone past 2 in the morning and as I look outside the window I can still see activity all around and they give Brisbane the tag, "Brisvegas", what a joke.  We have no idea.

Well I'm pretty stuffed and tomorrow will be a very long day.  I trust you have enjoyed our little trip and in some way experienced a part of it in some form through the BLOG.  Thanks all who contributed as it does take a lot of work and I appreciate the help.  To everyone who followed us on our journey, I'm sure we will have a lot of catching up when we next meet and I will be more than pleased to fill in the gory details :)

This is Frank Valenti signing off saying "So long and thanks for all the fish".....

(http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic35506.html)

OMG.  The new Mark IX with music option...!!

Blog entry for those left in Nozawa:

Louis has elected to remain in Nozawa under the careful watch of the Clair bears.

After a day of skiing we all decided to check out the Korean barbecue restaurant (as you do in Japan...) and yet another delicious meal under our belts.

Louis happened to mention that Frank had left him with 'enough cash' (10,000 yen) to get him through the next two days of food and entertainment... when James casually mentioned that the train fare from Nagoya to Tokyo alone would be over 10,000 yen. Never fear, David the ever-protective papa bear took over and offered to put up the cash... Of course, Louis would have to work it off in the local public Onsen. He hears that Aussie boys are somewhat of a delicacy among the locals.

David has sorted it all out... Louis is to stand in the doorway and wait for the code word - "Sumimasen" (excuse me in Japanese!)

We are in for a long night...

Tokyo Transition....

Well we made it from Nozawa to our hotel in Tokyo without the help of our translator and Japanese attache, Laura.
One bus, three train changes and a 400 metre walk brought us to the Shinjuku Washington Hotel.

Before starting with Tokyo, I need to reflect on the absolutely fantastic time I have personally had in Nozawa.  The town is small with a great traditional feel that we can only hope will not be destroyed by the great westerner ski rush.
I had an incredible 5 days of non stop skiing and want to put out a big thank you to team Integ (Paul, Kyla, Steve) and the Wolf Pack (Ian, Stuart, Dave, Connie) for helping me get to a good level of fitness that really held me in good stead and allowed me to power on while others, who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty, had rest days, massages and extended Onsens in a futile effort to keep up!

Though not a seasoned skier and this being only my 4th pilgrimage to the great white playground, it is by far the best I have ever encountered.  I am currently in negotiations with the minister for finance and tourism to negotiate a return trip next year so watch out for future announcements.

So here are a few final ski photos to keep the dream alive.

Snow devil.

Snow angel.

OMG this is strong.  $4 for a full glass of Vodka though so no complaints :)

The sophisticated Mark VII Japanese toilet accessory heated seat :-D

Close up of control console.  Hint for the boys, don't push the white button !!

Good morning and welcome to another great day at Nozawa ski fields.

Just magic.

Views from the summit.

The Famous Nozawa Snow Monkeys

Snow Monkey Tour

Upon arriving in Nozawa Onsen, we discovered there were really only four things to do in this little Japanese village; ski, snowboard, eat and visit snow monkeys.  Considering we had all indulged in the fine sushi and udon, skied, snowboarded and in some instances even kamakazied or snow ploughed all the way down some red runs, mum and I decided to spend some time with the Clair's and get to know their extended family.  And so, Mum, myself, Laura, James and Adam ventured down to the snow monkey office, bought our tickets, received our complimentary (although hardly a compliment to our day) "Japanese" coffee and jumped onto the shuttle for our 45 minute trip to the mountains. 

The journey was picturesque, a canvas of white with the occasional footprints of what we can only describe as a ‘geer’ a name we gave to this mythical looking creature that we understand as being half goat, half deer (to assist with the understanding of such a beast, think of cat dog, the loveable cartoon aired in the early 1990’s of which the main character was half dog, half cat).

We arrived at our destination and began our 1.6km journey along a manicured footpath surrounded by tall trees, small rocks and a flowing stream which looked colder than the look mum gave me the morning after James and I went out drinking in Osaka.  

We finally spotted our first furry little friends.  We were welcomed to the park by one monkey lying spread-eagle on the footpath while another monkey slowly ruffled through its fur picking out and eating what we were told to be lice.  They were everywhere, what a sight! Climbing up along the mountain side, running through the snow and even taking a bath in the man made Onsen.  

James quickly learnt to not get to close to the little guys.  As he tried to creep closer to one particular monkey, the little fur ball quickly looked up and made a face that I can only describe as one that a vampire would give just before latching onto your neck, minus the fangs and hissing sound.

We also spotted a large recording device which had the following website printed on a plaque below: www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp which is apparently a monkey live cam.  Haven’t checked it out yet but jump on and have a look…

All in all, a great day, loved getting up close with the monkeys and it was great to meet so much of the Clair family.

Tessa

Nice pathway.

Hmmm, nice, LONG, pathway!

Are, there they are.

The monkey is the one on the right !!

Hear no, see no, speak no evil....

Nice and warm day.

The humans...

And we thought Frank had gone skiing !!

See how tame they are.

...NOT!!