October 29th (Tokyo)

Today we decided to go see the "National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovations". The museum is situated next to Tokyo Bay. A bit like Montreal's Old Port.

To get there by train, there's only one train available and it's totally computer controlled! And since there are no driver booth at the front or end of the train, you can sit in the front as if you were the one driving and see the track and have a really nice view of the city as the train makes it's way between downtown Shinjuku and Odaiba (the name of the district where the museum was). Odaiba is also home amusement parks and many other entertainments.

Building in Shinjuku before taking the train

From Trip to Japan

The museum is kind of like the science museum we have in the Old Port but 1000 times better because you can see Asimo (a robot made by Honda) in action :D We were very close to him and we didn't have to wait in line to see him !!! This was one of the strongest moments of my trip. I was so excited. This is one of the most human like robot that exists. It can climb stairs, walk and even run ! I wish I could have one :)

Asimo!

From Trip to Japan

From Trip to Japan

Asimo running!

From Trip to Japan

From Trip to Japan

There were other robots on display that we didn't get a chance to see in action. Many displays about nanotechnology (I even controlled some nano machines!) and electromagnetic technologies were also on display on the first floor we visited. On the second floor there was a small set up that represented a part of the space station orbiting earth. It was very interesting to learn how astronauts do a lot of things. We quickly went through the rest of the floor because we didn't feel like learning more about biology and DNA.

Electromagnetic train concepts

From Trip to Japan

Nathalie driving a mug

From Trip to Japan

The museum cafeteria had different sized tables and chairs :)

From Trip to Japan

We left Odaiba and headed for Asakusa for some souvenir shopping and to see if I could find myself some cheap tabi socks. As we were riding the automated train, the sun was setting and we had a very nice view of Tokyo.

From Trip to Japan

From Trip to Japan

When we got off the metro in Asakusa, we were right next to one of it's main attractions, the Asahi Breweries LTD building and the golden flame building next to it. The Asahi building looks like a glass of beer and the flame looks more like a golden spermatozoon... A took a picture of it nonetheless :P

From Trip to Japan

Our destination, Nakamise street, was one street over. It was lined with souvenir shops on both sides for 250m and it ended in front of Sensoji Temple which is said to be the oldest in Tokyo (built in 628). Those shops are also pretty old and date all the way back to the Edo period (1603-1868) . I could imagine myself how it must have been like 300 years ago when people would shop as they headed for the temple. It must have been as busy a street then as it is now.

From Trip to Japan

We shopped a bit and I was lucky enough to find affordable tabi. We bought some gifts, went to see the temple and went back to the hotel to do some laundry before supper.

The temple

From Trip to Japan

From Trip to Japan

Souvenir shop

From Trip to Japan

For supper, Nath's book suggested an "Unagi" restaurant. Unagi is eel and BBQed eel is supposed to be particularly good in Tokyo. The restaurant was indeed really nice. The waitresses were dressed in kimonos and our meals were served in real bento boxes. The eel was delicious and cooked to perfection. Everything else was also delicious except the sake that was a bit sub-par to what we had had up until now.

I don't remember when but I realized today that there are no pigeons and gulls in Tokyo which is kinda nice (I think they're annoying because there are too many in Montreal and they're always in the way). At the same time, Tokyo doesn't have enough animals probably because there aren't that many parks and it's such a huge city. Well, there are a LOT of cats. I think Japan is the motherland of cats. They're like everywhere (in the flesh, objects, drawings...maids :P).