The Condrys in Tokyo: The Cics are Here! Part 2: Modern Japan

When we weren't exploring ancient wonders with the Cicolellos, we were doing some serious retail therapy. Originally Quinn had not been too keen on coming to Japan until I explained that it was one of the coolest places in the world for a teen to shop. By the time she left, she was a Japanese fashion covert.

Quinn and a Japanese doll at Kiddyland. Which is which?

Night view of the Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo Bay after boat ride down the Sumida River

Obaida and the omnipresent Japanese cartoon characters. It seems that every company ever conceived has it's own mascot character.

Lil Nick and Iron Man #28

Alec and Astro Boy, one of the original cartoon characters

One morning we headed to Tsukiji Fish Market. We were much too late for the tuna auctions and a little too late for the fish market, but did eat some great kaiten/conveyor belt sushi and explored the outdoor market.

they are ga-ga for mushrooms here-these are $15/box

shopper in the market

yum, egg on a stick
(it really is yummy and you can order it hot or cold)

Kyle munching on nori/seaweed

our favorite all-time seaweed shop--they elevate the simple weed to a new level

somehow this display of a fish eating a fish eating a fish is supposed to make you want to purchase your fish here

Kyle not really liking his free sample

monster shroom

earthenware and chopsticks store

they're still selling whale...

squidward

Wasabi-I'd never seen it in root form before

outside sushi shop

Since they don't have Thanksgiving here, November 1st marked the start of the christmas season

It's offical, Nick is taller than Ian

Quinn and Nick on the Thunder Dophin at the Tokyo Dome

Jackson Condry

11/07/10

Tokyo Adventure With The Cousins

This week in Tokyo, Japan my cousins Quinn and Kyle came to visit. We did lots of fun things this week with the plan prepared weeks before by my mother. My favorite part of their stay was when we went to the amusement park La Qua near the Tokyo Dome. My second favorite part of the trip was when we came across a giant park known as Koganei Park with a huge play structure and amazing tunnels through the bushes. But, what made these places the most fun was the special time I could spend with my cousins.

Kyle, Alec, and I all agreed that the Flume was the most fun out of all the rides at La Qua. We liked the flume because it was faster than any other flume we had ever been on and the anticipation made it all the more fun and we usually never got wet. My second favorite ride was called The Dive. I liked this ride because it was a different type of fun, instead of anticipation it was competitive fun. In the dive, you got into a submarine-looking pod with three windows and at each window was a laser gun. The pod went around and stopped at certain points where it would spin 360º so you could shoot the targets. Another fun ride was one based on an anime in Japan called Lupin III. It was fun because it had an amazing hall of mirrors. The first time through it I found the exit immediately and tried to help Kyle and Alec through, but my idea of helping them didn’t work out so well. The second time, even I ended up getting lost and walking around in circles with Kyle.

At Koganei Park there was a giant play structure that, once we saw it, we couldn’t wait to play on it. The first thing that caught my eye was a giant ropes course with a shaky bridge and ropes to play on. But, then I looked up. It was a giant climbing wall. We all thought one thing, get up there. Without a word said we all ran top speed to get up in any way we could. When we got to the top we saw that there was a huge network of bushes with tunnels leading through them that allowed for a great game of manhunt, basically hide-and-go-seek mixed with tag. In the end we all ended up getting caught, but the thing that mattered more was that we all had a lot of fun.

Those were two memories in Japan that I will always remember.

Since the first time I was in Japan during high school and now, western style toilets have become the norm in and around Tokyo. In public areas like department stores or train stations, you usually find a choice between Western or Japanese squat style. But most older establishments are very small with limited space and just have a squatty available. At dinner in our favorite Thai restaurant I noticed this sticker on the bathroom door, just in case there was some confusion on how to use the new fangled Western toilet.

We haven't been seduced to try this restaurant yet as it's description leaves us scratching our heads.

The kids love Indian restaurants here as the naan are super-sized.

One night Ian found an advertisement for the Penguin Cafe. The picture showed live penguins walking among the tables. The kids had to check it out although, we feared for Alec's life. Unfortunately, it was some serious false advertising.

At least they were alive

Coming home after taking Suzanne and Phil to our favorite six stool bar, we saw this guy selling honeydews 2 for $5. It was too good to be true. Somehow we got snookered into buying one for $12 and it was overripe! But hey we could have bought one at a department store for $70, so maybe it was a bargain after all.

I think he's saying "Sucker"

Ah, the $12 honeydew

We definitely, and by we I mean Suzanne, Quinn and I, did NOT get enough shopping time in. But we tried.

Ridiculous man showing off at Harajuku intersection

Quinn decked out Harajuku style

Some Harajuku girls from the back

posing for us

Even in Shibuya, there is a vibrant mix of old and new. Ian brought us to an alley off an alley with izakaya bar after izakaya bar. Each one seating about 4-5 people. This man had been working behind this small counter making food and drinks for 20 years. His sister worked across the way. The space was exactly what you see with 5 chairs around the small bar in front of him. Our backs were to the sliding glass doors and our shoes were outside.