tokyo: day 2

jeremy chose to stay with a host family, which i think was definitely the best choice. they live in the outskirts of tokyo's western suburbs. one of the first things i noticed at their house was how awesome the toilets are. instead of just filling up the tank internally, they push a pipe to the top and make a little faucet that automatically turns on when flushed, where you can wash your hands. that water is later used for the next flush. i really like this method of conservation.

this is the most simplified version of the subway system. let's just say the others look like rat nests.

jeremy was in school all day, so mike and julia and i went to asakusa.



there are these figures posted on the tops of a lot of buildings.

we stumbled upon a shrine to deceased and unborn babies. you are supposed to use the cup, wash your left hand, then right, then fill your left up and wash your mouth, spit it on the ground, to cleanse yourself before entering.

all of the little red hats and scarfs are hand knit, but i didn't find out the exact significance.






i don't remember what these raccoon dog things are called, but they fly around with their giant, oversize testicles.




this tree survived earthquakes in the early 20th century and also bombs being dropped on the area during wwii. i believe the lady that we talked to there said it was 400-500 years old and that now there's a big hole in the middle from the bombing, but it remains strong.

this is sensoji temple. it's pagoda is 5 stories. this is from the back side, but i wanted to include it because it had a japanese mr. t.




more little clothed figures behind the large pagoda.


my guess is that these are scaled replicas of some sort.


this sculpture reminded me of dale's work.


giant straw sandals.


these people were burning rolled up prayers and bathing in the smoke.


inside the main shrine.


these people were making an infinity pattern in and around this large ring...

then walking over and washing their hands and mouth here.

keep in mind that i don't know what things and places are shinto or buddhist. here are some prayers.


this is the large gate. the sandals are on the other side.

view of the gate and pagoda from the front.

instead of taking the subway, we decided to take a ferry across the city.

i believe we passed under 12 bridges. here are a few.



walk towards tokyo tower.


another large gate to a temple close to tokyo tower.


tokyo tower. it's the tallest self-supporting steel structure in the world. i didn't go up in it, as mike and julia had already the previous day.

the lights came on as we were there.

another childrens shrine. hundreds of these little figures stretched on forever

they all had pinwheels which spun furiously in bursts.

that night we came in to a lot of sashimi and beer. the beer on the left and right is one of these strange asian contraptions. japan is the first place i've seen it, but it could definitely be other places. i'm quite certain that it is carbonated water, mixed with straight alcohol and beer flavoring, whatever that is. i could taste the difference, but could see how it would be possible to mistake, especially given that it's unreadable.