Konnichiwa Japan

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We had the opportunity to go around to different cities in Japan using our Japan Rail Pass. We went to different cities including Kuwana City, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and then finally Kobe. The shinkansen, or bullet train, of Japan is the fastest, but yet one of the smoothest trains I have ever been on. The leg room is amazing, and it makes getting across Japan so much easier!

From inside the Shinkansen!

We took the shinkansen from Kyoto to Osaka, and when we finally arrived in Osaka, we bought an unlimited subway pass for the day. We were in for a very adventurous day!

The first place we went was to catch the aqua liner boat, where we toured the city of Osaka via sea!

Riding the Aqua-Liner through the waters of Osaka!

Next, we got off of the boat and walked through a park to the famous Osaka Castle and garden. The view from the Castle was amazing and we took some great looking pictures. Inside the castle was a museum, with information about the history and relevance of the castle to Osaka and Japan. We saw things like real samurai swords and ancient Japanese tearooms.

Standing outside the majestic Osaka Castle!

Next, we went to the Osaka Maritime Museum, which is a museum focused on the history of naval ships in the area. The most interesting part of the museum is that the actual museum is in a circular dome with no doors, but with an underwater passageway for an entrance and exit. We entered the museum and had a great time exploring the different interactive exhibits they had inside.

Having a bit of fun inside the Maritime Museum!

Next, at sunset, we rode a Ferris Wheel that was coming out of a building. This experience was great as tourists because it allowed us to take some really great pictures with the beautiful Osaka skyline.

The Osaka Ferris Wheel lit up at nighttime!

Riding the Ferris Wheel in Osaka!

After the Ferris Wheel ride, we had dinner at a classic Japanese restaurant, and then went to the floating garden observatory in Osaka. By this time, it was nighttime, which translates to picture time! Taking pictures from this outdoor observatory was great! I was able to get a beautiful panorama shot of the Osaka skyline at night, seen below.

The Osaka skyline, as seen from the floating observatory at night.

Our trip to Osaka was great, and we were able to do many different things. We’re glad we went to Osaka, as it’s a very tourist friendly city in Japan with a lot to do. To all tourists of Japan, make sure to leave out a day extra to visit the fun-filled city of Osaka! Sayonara!

Joseph here! One of the most famous places in Tokyo is an area called Akihabara. We took the train there because of what we heard about it as being the city center for technology and innovation. For me, this is one of the first ideas that come to my head when I think of Japan, so I was super excited to go to the area dedicated to technology in Japan! What we found when we got to Akihabara was a very busy street filled with lights and action, similar to what we saw in Shibuya. One of the first places we went to was a huge store called Yodobashi – Akiba, with about 10 floors. This store seemed to have everything you could want in electronics from TV’s to home electronics to toys to video games etc. Walking around the packed store was an experience in itself because one can truly see how important electronics is to the consumer market of Japan.

Watching an $18,000 television in Japan. No biggie.

Then, we wandered around the streets of Akihabara a bit until we found the main road for shopping and entertainment. For me, the main attraction was an arcade, where we spent a few hours in a 5-floor arcade with cranes, video games, 3D racing simulators etc. What was most shocking to me was the top floors, where we saw men in suits playing video games while smoking, as if they were there for hours.

Intense video gaming.

I realized just how much video games and electronics is actually a part of their normal culture. My own culture, having grown up in America has given me different expectations and assumptions about video games and who they are for, which is usually the expectation that video games are for kids. In the arcade, I enjoyed playing on the crane machines, trying to win a prize while blowing 100 yen coins after 100 yen coins. What one pays for is actually the thrill of the possibility of winning a prize, not the prize itself. For me, the thrill was in trying to win a stuffed Pikachu with Josh, while reminiscing back to my older days of Pokemon madness. We finally won the stuffed toys, which was the highlight of my experience in the arcade. For me, this Pikachu is more than just a stuffed Pokemon. It’s a symbol of my endurance, persistence, and skill in the face of hardship. Ok, maybe not so much, but I do see the arcade and this side of Japan through this Pikachu.

The champs posing with their Pikachu’s. So worth it.

Japan is a wonderful place, and I am so happy to be here. With so many new experiences, I feel as though I am in a completely different world while I’m here. However, this is just the beginning. Can’t wait for what’s next!

We made it to Japan! The  flight was rough, but boy was it all worth it. On our first night in Tokyo, we dropped of our bags at Yoyogi Olympic Center, which is where we are staying, and then headed out to the nearest town called Shibuya. Walking into Shibuya, there was only one word that I had running through my mind and that was: Wow. The lights, advertisements, people, cars, and sounds were almost overwhelming. Stacked businesses utilizing every inch of space available was so new to me, even as a born and raised New Yorker. I have never seen a city like this, with so much information being spewed out to the pedestrian. The different businesses were restaurants (both classy and fast-food), arcades, massage parlors, DVD shops, and many other types. Standing there with my group of friends, it must have looked as though we were an aimless group of lost and stunned Americans in a sea of Japanese locals, unsure of where to even look. Every block we turned on seemed to be like another block filled with lights and advertisements, as if every block was Times Square.

Shibuya is also known for it’s huge crosswalk, which is the biggest in the world. Seeing the walking signal turn green and all of the crowds of people rushing to different directions was amazing to experience. I was so overwhelmed, I felt as though I wasn’t sure whether to look at the lights, cars, my friends, or the crowds. There’s also lots of great department stores in Shibuya such as Uniqlo and H&M. I’m really excited for the rest of my stay here in Japan. More to follow!

One of the many well-lit streets of Shibuya in Tokyo, Japan.