Today was the beginning of a 48 hour tourist and new year
bender. After heading out of the hotel
and towards Ginza to check out the main drag, after realizing is was too
early to experience the buzzing Ginza atmosphere I quickly made a change of
plans to head to Yoyogi park and Meiji-Jingu Shrine instead. The weather was
again beautiful and after stepping off the Yamanote train at Yoyogi station we
headed for soba and then the park. We strolled through the park for about an
hour or so, visiting Meiji-Jingu which was preparing for the New year masses.
We ended up at the Harajuku end of the park by noon and proceeded to get
amongst all the shopping pilgrims in Harajuku. After the peaceful nature of the
park, Harajuku provided quite the contrast as Dad was quiet perplexed by the
high pitched tone and persistence of the outlet girls screaming out various
things. We made our way to the end of the main Harajuku spot and turned right
to join on the parallel running Omotesando. We popped into a hat store and the
Moma store before settling down for lunch at J.S burgers adjacent to the great
gyouza place which was unfortunately closed. After a satisfying lunch, we
continued East down Omtesando to see the remaining architectural icons of SANAA’s
Dior building, Ando’s Omotesando Hills and Herzog&Demuron’s Prada building.
We then jumped onto the Ginza Metro bound for Ginza. We emerged to the street
level via the overwhelming Takashimya food section and began our stroll
westerly on Chou-Dori. The street scape was lighting up by the time we hit my
professors Tiffany&Co building however the vibe was of clam before the New
Year storm. After a coffee and scone
break at a Café we wandered all the way back to our hotel in Shimbashi. After a
nap we grabbed a taxi bound for Zojo-ji temple. Set in front of Tokyo tower,
the Buddhist Zojo-ji temple was quite the spectacle and was alive with New Year
pilgrims of all shapes, sizes and colors. We arrived close to eleven and people
where pouring through the main gate prayer balloons in hand. Moved about and
found a comfortable spot under the string of lanterns and large countdown
clock. For the next hour or so we had to endure eavesdropping on boisterous
Americans and Australians talking absolute garbage. I have to admit I have come
across too many Australians overseas that portray us as boisterous bogans
(annoying gaijins) who don’t give two bob about what is appropriate. Tonight
was a key example.
The time ticked closer towards 2012 and the speeches and
vocal performances by the monks began. The atmosphere was unique given the vast
range of cultures and New Year optimisms clashing in one arena. I can only
imagine that the Japanese locals where wishing for a bright 2012. As we all
know it has been a tragically significant year for the Japanese. The last ten
minutes disappeared and the time came for the countdown and when 2012 arrived,
3000 balloons and blissful cheer erupted from the crowd. It was quite a moment.
We all gazed at the prayer balloons disappearing into the night sky and then
chuckled at the hundreds stuck in the surrounding trees. I finally got onto C
who was somewhere in the crowd and my Parents and I managed to move out slowly
and meet up with him and his female companion Y at the main gate. It was a
quick hello and “happy new year” before the two parties went our separate ways.
My Parents and I strolled back to the hotel, as I tried to establish over the
phone where the rest of my New Years night was headed.
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