From Cityscape to Parkscape - Shinjuko, WTRD 17, September 20, 2017

Stations, Shrines, and Gardens

This morning when we first awoke, we had no agenda for the day, other than to take it easy.  We got up around 8:00 am.  While I worked on the blog that I was too tired to write last night, Russ worked on fleshing out today and tomorrow's agenda of places to go and things to do.

We sat at the kitchen table until almost 11:00 am working on our separate projects, and then went out to explore Shinjuko.  First stop would be the Japan Rail Office at the Shinjuko Station; second stop would be the Meiji Jingu Shrine and Garden; third stop would the Shinjuko Gyoen Gardens.  Both of us look forward to walking in the woods and gardens.  But this is a shoulder season between summer and fall so we were probably not going to see any flower blossoms or falls leaves.  Actually, we weren't sure what we would see.

Russ and I set off on foot what should be about a 6km walk from our apartment to Meiji Jingu Garden via the the Shinjuku station.  With twists, turns, and back tracking here and there, it was probably closer to a 10 km  (6 miles) walk including our wandering in the Gardens.

Along the way:

Befor we got under way we wanted to check out the garbage disposal areal outside of our apartment. For such a tiny kitchen we have four large waste bins where we are to separate trash into bottles and and cans, an burnable garbage.  We hope to find out what burnable garbage is, and if plastic yogurt containers are categorized with bottles and cans or are considered burnable garbage.  In the apartment these are only alternatives.  We think looking at the recycle bins downstairs will help us figure this out.  It doesn't.  It only makes it more confusing.

The writing is in Japanese, and there are many more categories that the two we  have in our apartment.

There are approximately 13 million people in Tokyo.  Streets are busy, parking is a premium.  Most of the folks by the time we are walking down the sidewalk have already gotten to their workplace in the bustling city.  We see a few entrances to car parking lots with turntables (didn't see this action so not sure how it works),

 and saw hundreds and hundreds of bicycles parked and locked up and down the sidewalk.  

Didn't see anyone using this relic.

Like the Brits, the Japanese drive on the left.  Love the Fir Trees on the city Streets.

Always a train going by.

Everyone walks across this intersection at the same time.

Shinjuku Station:

We arrived at the Shinkjuko station and found the Japan Rail Office where we registered our 14 day rail pass that will begin on Friday, September 22 as we head out of Tokyo to Hakone near Mt. Fuji. We also collect some tourist information from the visitor center.  By then it was almost 1:00 so we stop for lunch at a nearby Starbucks, and then continue on to Meiji Jingu shrine. 

Meiji Jingu Shrine and Garden

Beautiful shaded walk through the towering trees

The shrine is a Shinto commemoration to the divine souls of Emperor Meiji and his Empress, Shoken, who both died in the early 20th century.  Shinto has no founder, holy book, and not even the concept of religious conversion.  It is based on Shinto values, for example harmony with nature, and magokoro (sincere of heart).  Meiji was loved by his people.  Before entering the Shrine, the devoted faithful, wash their hands and clean their mouths.

The Shrine is currently under restoration, and we could not see much beyond the construction screens in front of the buildings, only the large central courtyard.  

The inner garden predates the Meiji Jingu shrine in  the 15th century inhabited by the  Li Clan. We see the famous well from the Edo period.  It is believed to have been made by the famous Samruai, Kiyomasa Kato 1562-1611.  The water still bubbles up crystal clear from the spring and was said to have been used for the Emperor's tea.

Hard to believe there is  over a foot of water on top of the rocks in the well.  Only reflection on top surface gives it away.

The only blooms in the garden during this time of year are water lilies.  

Nevertheless, the gardens are a peaceful and verdant oasis in the middle  of a very busy city.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

This beautiful garden was that of Feudal Lord Nato in the Edo Era (15th-16th century).    The garden was restored as an imperial garden in 1906 and became the Natioanal Garden after World War II. 

The Japanese garden is considered the most important garden from the Meiji era.  It is a peaceful place and we can almost forget that we are still in the middle of a large metropolitan city except for occasional city siren and the reflections of sky scrapers in the serene ponds and lakes.

I am so tired of seeing selfie sticks and people mugging in front of every picture they take.

Beautiful reflections.

After a day of walking around in the city's oasis, we head back to our apartment.  I am sure we have covered at least 12 miles round trip and feel justified having a glass of wine for dinner.  Tomorrow, we will head further into Tokyo (dress rehearsal for when we leave for Hakone on Friday), for an afternoon bicycle tour of the city. 

All is Well With the Worrall Travel Rs in Shinjuku, Japan.

Goodbye Seoul; Hello Tokyo, WTRD 16, September 19, 2017

Good Bye South Korea

The sky is misty grey as we leave the city of Seoul towards the airport at 8:30 am in our private transfer.

We check in at 9:30,  go through security (had to take out electronic devices, but not baggie of liquids and gels), process out through immigration, catch the train to our terminal, arrive at the gate at 11:00, relax for one hour, board the plane at 12:05.

Hello Japan

We land at Narita airport outside Tokyo,

collect our one checked bag, process through immigration receiving a 90 day visa, and are out the door by 3:15.

We've done our homework and have excellent directions to our Airbnb in Shinjuku from our host. We purchase our train tickets for the Keisei Skyliner Train (about $24.00 each) and first transfer on the JR train system.  We would buy either another transfer or get a taxi from the second stop depending on the rush hour crush.  We've seen photos of the packed subways in Tokyo and are not sure with our luggage how we might manage this.

All Aboard!

Boarding our train at 3:38, we enjoy a smooth high speed ride to Tokyo.

All along the railroad right away, wherever possible there are solar panels. (good idea).

We arrive at our transfer station, find our second train on the JR line, an oh my the crush begins.  It isn't too bad getting on here.  There are no seats and room by the door, but standing by the door with our luggage seems like a good thing to do. We count stops as we head to stop six. It is 5:00 pm, rush hour.   By stop 4, we are solidly packed into the vestibule, by 5 we are crushed in, and we wonder how we are going to get out! When we arrive at our stop, the left door opens, and phew the people in front of this door are actually getting out, and we exit a little awkwardly, but make it out just fine.

Not so sure now whether we want to buy a transfer ticket to the next station only two stops away or take a taxi.  We stop at an information desk and inquire about a taxi.  The woman at the desk spoke passable English and recommended that we take the subway and that the next train should not be so packed.  We follow her advice and directions to ticket booth and train platform.  We stood in front of the self-serve kiosk trying to figure out what we needed to pay and where we wanted to go.  A kind woman saw us, wanted to see our map.  Russ pointed to the station we want to go to.  Within 30 seconds, she punched in the right buttons, we paid our $7.00 for two tickets, said thank you in in Japanese, and we were on our way to the track.  As suggested, this train was not full at all.  Stop one, stop two, and we were exiting the train in Shinjuku.

Quick Walk and We Are In!

Our walking directions from the train that we exited to our Airbnb were spot on.  We had a few blocks to walk.  The first things that caught our eyes were a Big Boy Diner (like the one that used to be in Danville, but with a Japanese Big Boy), and a service station with pumps extending down from the roof.

No self-serve here unless you are a giant.

We find our little apartment easily,

door key is in the combination lock mailbox.  The apartment is tiny, tidy, functional, and will serve us well.

The toilet and shower room are separate.

Like a boat shower, the whole room gets wet.  

We've seen the Japanese electronic washlette toilets before, but this one was unusual.  When flushed, the fresh water that goes into the tank automatically drops from a tank top faucet and handmwashing basin into the tank. The water in the tank is grey water and then is used to flush.

Such a clever idea!

Russ and I get settled, visit a convenience store for breakfast supplies, and upon recommendation from a Canadian woman in the convenience store try a restaurant just down the street.  We return to our apartment, take showers, and fall into bed.

All is Well With the Worrall Travel Rs in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.

Last Full Day In Seoul, South Korea, WTRD 15, September 18, 2017

South Gate into Seoul

Our first two weeks of our trip and our time in South Korea have flown by.  Tomorrow we leave for Japan.  Today is our last day.  We spend the morning doing laundry and repacking our bags for an international flight, rearranging liquids, gels, shoes, valuables, lithium batteries for either carryon on checked luggage.

After the chores we set out on foot to complete two objectives.  We inquired yesterday from our Tour Guide Judy, if there was a traditional card game that Koreans like to play.  She told us the game was called Go Stop and that we would need to purchase a special deck of flower cards Hwatu which could be found in a convenience store.  So that was first objective.  Find the flower cards.  Our second objective was to find Russ a South Korean soccer jersey.  He started collecting and wearing these lightweight international jerseys when cycling.  They also are great conversation starters.

As we walked to the market, we came across a large assembly of people with green balloons waiting for an international peace conference to begin.

Chloe Kim shows me the hand sign for peace and restoration of light.

We inquired about the signs WARP and HWPL. A few Koreans who spoke English came to us to answer our questions about what was going on.  You can read more with the links above, but basically both of these groups are advocates of peace through an alliance of interfaith religions.

Yes, we want peace too.  We have so much in common as human beings, it is profoundly sad that we allow our worst tendencies of self, tribalism, and demonizing of those different from ourselves to steer aggression into conflict.  The hand gesture for this peace group is the L with thumb and index finger as the restoration of Light.

Objective Number 1:

We inquire in convenience type stores for the Hwatu cards.  Third time is a success.  We buy the cards.  Each card is half the size of a regular deck of cards.  Apparently this game was originated in Japan.   The next step is to learn how to play the game.  There seems to be sufficient information on the internet to learn how to play.  I wish we had secured these cards earlier and learned from some Koreans before now.

Objective Number 2:

We wander through the crowded streets of the alley way market.

Russ looks in several market stalls, and finally finds a soccer shirt.  The home team wears red, the traveling team wears white.  He chooses the away.  Russ says he likes the collar, but I think that an "Old Blue" would just have a hard time wearing a red shirt.

The salesman digs out a Korean extra, extra large shirt for Russ.  Russ usually wears a medium or large in American sizing.  But there is quite a difference in sizing between Koreans and Americans.

After achieving our objectives, we stopped for an early dinner, and headed back to our hotel.

All is Well with the Worrall Travel R's in our last day in Seoul, South Korea