Day 2: Tokyo

Ok, here's the much-awaited (according to mom) account of Day 2:
Started early with a rumbling and shaking at 6 am. My sleep-addled
mind interpreted this thusly: "If that's what happens every time a
truck passes, this is going to be really annoying." When I actually
woke up, the first thing that Daniel said was, "Did you feel the
earthquake?" So yeah, that happened.

Other than the earthquake, our first activity was the Meji gate. Using
our handy-dandy rail passes, we hopped on the subway and rode for 30
mins to get to the Harajuku district. A bigger dichotomy between
modern and ancient I have yet to see. Harajuku is also home to one of
them major shopping districts, and was made famous by all the
cos-players who would come shop and show off their outrageous
costumes. Sadly, didn't see a whole lot of those, but I took some pics
(they're on fb now) of every-day Japanese fashion. From what I can
tell (and I've been taking notes for 3 days now. I might've started in
the airport and Daniel might be sick of hearing me talk about cultural
norms as they relate to fashion), not a whole lot of people wear
sandals and most people wear socks (because you take your shoes off in
houses), girls wear mostly heels (and I have no idea how they do it),
and guys can wear whatever. Seriously, the emphasis put on looking
'pretty' is fascinating. Most of the women I see are in skirts and
have something lacy or gauze-y about their outfit, and EVERYONE WEARS
JACKETS. ALL THE TIME. This wouldn't be so unusual, but it was 75
degrees! I was sweating, looking at all the other people thinking,
"How can you wear a sweater right now? We just walked 4 miles!"

So, the Meji shrine was gorgeous and we were lucky enough to witness
another awesome event: a Shinto wedding! There are a few pictures on
facebook and Daniel took some really good ones. Public weddings might
not be my thing, but I suppose one makes sacrifices when one can get
married at the freakin' Meji Shrine. It was gorgeous. The priest and 2
possibly altar-ladies (priestesses?) led a processional of 2 lines:
one headed by the bride (escorted by her father) and one headed by the
groom. They walked from one side area of the courtyard up to the
shrine, were blessed, and then across the courtyard to the other
side-yard. The priest, bride, and groom went into a little building,
came out again, and then the whole processional went to a fantastical
wooded area with seats and trees that hung down into an almost perfect
bower.

We walked around the Meji Gardens for a bit, too. It's what the
Arboretum's little Japanese Garden wishes it could be. Think more
forest than garden, but not oppressively dark. It was green and cool
and very calming, except for the screams of agony. We saw medics go by
with a stretcher, and 5 mins later passed a French woman lying on the
ground in pain with an ankle that was very obviously broken. They
would try to move her, she would scream, they would back off. She had
a few friends/family hovering nervously, so I think she was going to
be ok as long as the medics could get her onto the stretcher and to a
doctor. I never want to hear screaming like that again. Also, it kind
of put a damper on the Garden experience.

After that pleasant interlude, we went shopping in Harajuku. Hooray!!!
A clerk tried to get me to buy a $50 shirt by letting it go for the
"special price" of $45. When I said it was still too expensive, he
consulted with his boss on the "best price he could give me", which
was $40. I said no, and he said, "Japan is expensive." It's not
actually expensive, but $40 for a t-shirt is silly. Needless to say,
we didn't end up buying anything in Harajuku, but went to an 8 story
bookstore where I bought $100 worth of children's books for the school
(which they will reimburse). So much fun!!! Then, Daniel wanted to go
to a department store called Tokyu Hands and we found a survival gear
floor with a pink personal bomb-shelter bubble (pic on fb). Then, more
shopping and home. Advice: Do not buy 20 lbs of children's books and
then carry them around for 4 hours. Your back will hurt no matter how
many different ways you can think to carry them. Day 2 walking total was 11.38 miles.

Love,

Leah Murphy, book-toting explorer