The shogun basically set his capital up and let everybody know that they would be enjoying a pretty large commute from then on, and that they would be bringing their families with them. People would alternate between staying in their home provinces, and dragging themselves with all their fancy belongings to live in Edo. With all that in mind, it still just made me think of Tokyo as sort of a forced urbanization. To a certain extent that is accurate, but once a city takes hold like in the way that Tokyo has it tends to develop a personality of its own.
The first night that personality involved a small winding stairway, and curry overlooking the city streets. The second night included Akihabara and the Meiji Shrine. It also included hordes of gaijin. Seriously, what are those people doing here? This is Japan.
Akihabara was a busy crowded street with tall buildings. Sanae suggested we go there since it was famous, and I agreed because I'm pretty sure somebody back in Reno told me I needed to go there for some reason. Whether or not that reason was fulfilled I'm not sure, but I did take some pictures of signs that said Akihabara, and we also found an electronic store with a computer cord Ryan needed.
On our way to the Meiji Shrine, Sanae suggested another historical area that we could visit. A massive temple with the kaminari mon at the entrance. There were dozens of smaller shrines surrounding one very large one. This was a Buddhist shrine, and included a pagoda that jutted into the sky dwarfing the other buildings around it. Guardians around the shrine sank into their dark alcoves and spent their time guarding themselves from having their own pictures taken. You could try taking a picture, but the end result always seemed to be two eyes glaring out of the darkness looking more than a bit irritated.
Stretching away from the temple on all sides were traditional shops, selling traditional souvenirs, which traditionally people are required to buy. 
I managed to escape by purchasing a small package of postcards, but I don’t think other people I know would have been so lucky. Directly next to the large booth packed full of hand crafted dolls, there was another booth that had sword experts and all their katana locked securely away in the back of the shop. If nothing else, perhaps I can get some favors taken care of while I’m in Tokyo.The bridge leading up to the Meiji shrine and surrounding forest was populated entirely by people who really wanted their pictures taken it seemed. Old men dressed in pink school girl uniforms, and groups of younger people dressed up as anime characters. All told they seemed friendly enough, but I decided it was best to not humor them and refrained from flash photography.
When we walked into the forest that exists in the middle of Tokyo, I couldn’t help but think that Central Park would be jealous. I’m really not sure how accurate that statement is though considering I haven’t actually been to Central Park. That being said, as we walked through the large torii it was almost like a switch had been thrown as the city sounds were muted out by the mass of foliage and the crunch of the gravel path as we walked down it.
True to the Meiji spirit, unlike other shrines that are dedicated with casks of rice wine the Meiji shrine was also dedicated using barrels of wine donated by France. As we entered the main shrine, I noticed Sanae, and her friend Riku who had joined us, pausing and taking pictures next to a smaller door by the entrance. Sanae explained that it was very special, because the seal on the door was for the emperor of Japan.
There was a large circular fence with pegs on it where people would hang wishes they write on small wooden planks. Thousands of these 4”x7” planks were hung up with wishes written on them in more languages than I care to imagine. I saw some asking for peace and clarity, some with prayers that their neighbors would overcome an illness, and others simply wanted joy.
That evening we crossed back in front of the statue of Hachiko where we had met earlier, and made our way back to the small store we had previously placed an order at. I now am the proud owner of a hanko, with my last name converted to kanji ready to be stamped on all sorts of documents. Good times will be had.
On this day we parted ways with Hiromi, met and parted ways with Sanae and her friend, and now it is just Ryan and I. Though the offer has been made to stay in Tokyo with him, and also with Sanae’s family, I think the time nearing when I will be heading out to get lost on my own. Wish me luck, I think I may need it.
