After not going to bed til 9:45 pm last night I managed to sleep all the way to 4 am today. *eye roll*
Mom, Leo & I had breakfast together while Kenji did some work. The restaurant served sandwiches. Mom had a chicken sandwich that tasted distinctly like teriyaki chicken with shredded cabbage on toasted white bread. Leo had a pork cutlet (read: friend pork chop, no bone) sandwich and I had, wait for it, pizza toast with plenty of egg. Yep, that's how Google Translate translated the menu. You know I had to try that! It turns out "plenty of egg" is egg salad. It was an egg salad sandwich on thick cut bread that was toasted with marinara, cheese, tomatoes and a small slice of green bell pepper on it. When we were here the day before for an iced coffee we had commented on that item. You know I had to get it! It was, well, different, that's for sure. It wasn't awful, but I doubt I'd order it again. Kenji wanted to try it so I used Google Translate and asked the waitress if I could take half back to the hotel for my husband. She happily brought me t to-go box, despite Google saying take-out generally isn't done in Japan. I know I embarrassed Leo by even asking for a box. My job was done. Achievement unlocked!
We went back to the hotel and gave Kenji the half sandwich and then we went our separate ways. The boys went to an exhibit called Small Worlds, which was a display of miniature models of cities and other places. I don't know. I didn't go.
Mom and I figured out how to get to the Imperial Palace so we could wander around the Gardens, as we didn't buy a ticket in time for a tour of the Palace. As we approached the Palace I wondered why the gates were closed and the front had barricades. As we got up to it we saw signs saying the Palace and Gardens are closed on Fridays. *groan* We hadn't done our homework about it enough to know it's closed on Fridays.
Plan B was hatched and we were off to the Meiji Jingu Inner Garden at the Meiji Shrine. It was beautiful and peaceful and we sat for a while looking at the lily pads.
We went back to the hotel for A/C and a rest. We were told later that the guys went to Tokyo Disneyland Ikspiari, which is kind of like a mall with restaurants and shopping. They rode the monorail (which actually requires purchasing a ticket, since it's part of the rail system.
After they came back and had a rest, we all had dinner together. We went to a restaurant on the corner near the hotel that serves ramen, gyozas and fried rice. the guys had had the ramen last night, so they had friend rice. Mom and I each ordered the gyozas which came in an order of 5. They were steamed then lightly fried. Oishi (pronounced oy-shee)! It means delicious. We sat at the counter and had a view into the kitchen, which is usual for small restaurants in Japan. We spoke with the cooks and had some fun with exchanging English and Japanese words and smiles.
After our quick meal, we were off for our excitement of the evening and found ourselves at the Shibuya Scramble, which is the busiest intersection in the world. Every time pedestrians cross during rush hour there are 3,000 (yes, three thousand, NOT a typo!) people crossing in all directions all at once! We watched then jumped in and participated! So much fun! While we weren't there at the height of rush hour, there were A LOT of people there nonetheless as it is Friday night and Shibuya is a busy area for nightlife. After the Scramble we wandered around Shibuya and took in the neon lights and folks in line for popular restaurants and bars. It started to sprinkle so we headed back to the subway.
The train stations are no joke in regards to size and extensive walking required to get up and down escalators and stairs. Google Maps is a necessity to know which exit to use to get closest to your destination. You don't want to go above ground in the wrong spot or you could be very far from where you want to be.
On our way back to the hotel we stopped at a 7/11 in the Akasaka train station for snacks. 7/11 in Japan is VERY different than in the US. There are freshly packaged prepared meals, truly fresh fruit, bakery items that don't stay on the shelves more than a day, so you know they won't be stale. We got a pancake sandwich with butter and syrup in the middle, which is one of the items they are famous for. The guys got drinks and Mom & I got lattes for the AM to save time.
We came back and had a dessert-tasting party in the girls' room. The pancake was soft and yummy!
Fingers crossed for longer sleep for me tonight. And fingers crossed the Manga (Google it) prediction for a large earthquake in Japan tomorrow, July 5, doesn't actually come true. Yes, it's real. Google it and pray for us.
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