Japan 2024 with Mom | FindPenguins

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Trip start
November 20, 2024
Japan 2024 with Mom
And We’re Off…Again, Some More, etc
November 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
Everyone up and ready by 3:30 a.m. Mom arrived just before 4. Dad took a great pic of us leaving. By 4:30 a.m. we were waiting at gate B1 for our flight to Atlanta. Quick 1 hour flight to Atlanta the boarded our flight to Tokyo/Haneda.

The winds were with us and shaved 3 hours off the flight time. So instead of 16 hours it was a quick 13 hour flight!Read more
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Japan 2024 with Mom
Tokyo Arrival
November 21, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
Got into Haneda airport early at 1:15. We were off the plane and got our luggage picked up and went through customs without too much trouble, except my fingerprints wouldn’t scan.

Took a taxi into town and embarrassed the poor driver when he charged us duo price instead of the flat rate.

The Under the Railway hotel wasn’t joking when they chose their name. We are literally under the elevated train tracks. We can hear the trains going by but it’s not unbearable.

Mom and I unpacked and Key and Greg went did foraging. After eating, all of us save Key went back out and wandered a bit.

Back to the hotel and in bed by 7:30…Read more
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Japan 2024 with Mom
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So it’s 3:30a.m….
November 22, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Jet Lag strikes again. We all tried to stay up. We wandered around the city, ate some lunch/dinner, but we were all dead to the world before 8pm last night…Poor Kyrie’s eyes were so bloodshot but look much better this morning. Plus the exchange rate is really in our favor so I’m sure that helps too.

Anyway, to anyone who reads this, you CAN hear the trains. Eventually it’ll be white noise I hope. The front desk even supplies ear plugs. I wish it wasn’t quite so loud but it’s not bothering anyone it seems.

We plan to leave around 9:15-9:30 am to go to Tower Records in Otomesando for the collaboration pop up cafe for the show “The Amazing Digital Circus.” Fingers crossed, their site says there are open spots. I couldn’t pre-register because I don’t have a Japanese phone number.

We got in!! We spent too much money! It was delightfully strange! The food wasn’t really that good but the ambiance was great.

After that we tried to find the Alice on Wednesday Store but we think it may have closed. We ended up in Harajuku at a store called Alice in Tinyroom but it wasn’t open until 2. We rode the train back. It’s that weird in between seasons time so all of the stores and trains are already being heated, even though it’s not that cold outside.

A little Japanese lady dressed in traditional kimono, geta shoes and tabi socks got up from her seat for her stop. But before she left she tapped me on the shoulder and motioned got me to take her seat. Normally it’s the reverse! But it was a sweet interaction.

Tried to rest when we got back. Greg and Mom went to the Don Quixote for souvenirs. After a bit, Kyrie came to my room and that was the end of my nap.

After everyone regrouped we decided to go back to the shopping area in Akihabara to find another pillow. Gram stayed behind to chill. Against my better judgement I tried one of the crane machines. I got what I wanted (a Mofusand plush) FIRST TRY. It was bizarre. After a bit Kyrie and I headed back. Gram was “resting her eyes” something fierce so back to my room we go. I got to take a bath which helped with the aches.

Greg brought back dinner and we had a nice time with everyone chatting and eating. After a bit Kyrie went to chill, Greg and Gram went out wandering so they wouldn’t fall asleep at 5:30pm and I worked on this entry!Read more
Traveler Curious and curiouser
11/23/24Reply
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Japan 2024 with Mom
Saturday November 23
November 23, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 57 °F
Didn’t sleep well again and it finally caught up with me. Sick all night. I wanted to go to the Oi Racetrack for the big Flea market but nope…at least they have it tomorrow too. So fingers crossed…

The others went out and ran around the area were at. Greg got them to the grocery and found Kyrie’s Christmas gift (knitted plush of a character from Final Fantasy 7) and I’m so glad he did. The plush was sold out everywhere!

Still feeling yucky so turned in early.Read more
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Japan 2024 with Mom
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Flea Market!
November 24, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F
Up and out around 7. Had breakfast at Denny’s. So many pretty Christmas decorations are up. Went to the station then transferred to the monorail and arrived at Oi Racetrack (for horses) around 9. It wasn’t crowded but there were soooo many stalls it was overwhelming. And so much stuff was super nice and inexpensive. Kyrie bought a huge Gumi Pokémon plushie first thing. The lady got it in a bag but part of its tail was sticking out and we all got tickled about how it looked. Mom found lots of omiyage like fans, face masks, and other small cute things. I got a full set Nendoroid for $10. Kyrie got more plushies and bought me an awesome figure of Kenshin. Greg found lots of models he’d been looking for at really great prices. We made it through maybe one tenth of what was there. We left cause our hands were full and we thought it was late in the afternoon. But when we checked it was only 10:30. Jet lag stinks.

We got back to the hotel, no problems and we’re hanging out in Gram and Kyrie’s room. Unfortunately, there seemed to be some sort of altercation outside. This hotel is set up that there are three rooms with a small corridor behind each main door. Evidently Graham and Kyrie‘s neighbors were asked to leave and we’re not sure if it was because they were being obnoxious or if they just missed the checkout time but the pair of them we’re having a full on shouting, yelling, screaming, crying debate in the hall. Then the guy tried to get into our room he rattled the handle knocked and even said, can you open the door? Thank goodness Greg was there and had the good sense to say no. It was quite jarring.

I tried to eat some lunch, but it didn’t sit with me very well, so I headed back to our room. Greg and Key went out again and found some deals.Read more
Traveler Three beautiful women
11/24/24Reply
Traveler So much stuff…so little time!
11/24/24Reply
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Japan 2024 with Mom
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Shibuya Scramble
November 25, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
Went to Shibuya today. There was a indie game store/cafe in the new Gigo arcade. On the way we saw some posters for the new Japanese Vshojo girls. We found cafe without too much trouble. She was very excited to find things from Delta Rune, Undertale and others…they even had a Pyramid Head plush.

After that we tried to go to the Mandarake store. We found a few things, but the staff were so rude and almost knocked Gram over. They didn’t even acknowledge what happened. So we left pretty quick.

We had really good tempura for lunch.

Later that day we went to Yodobashi Camera. I’m still not doing that great, so today we took it a bit easier.Read more
Traveler So clean. Not a single piece of litter in sight
11/26/24Reply
Traveler Someone’s having fun!!!
11/26/24Reply
Traveler Beautiful wife
11/26/24Reply
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Japan 2024 with Mom
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Temple Ginko and Ikebukuro
November 26, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
We decided to visit the Asakura Kannon Temple to see the big ginko tree we’ve taken pictures with over the years. We thought it wouldn’t be too crowded in the morning…not quite. It was packed but we got through the back streets to the temple.

We then headed to Ikebukuro to visit some areas is not had a chance to get back to over the years. We were bad foreigners and ate at McDonald’s. Kyrie was excited to get the special Pokémon donuts from Mister Donut. After that we killed time at the arcade waiting for Book Off to open…so drum game!

We continued to Sunshine 60 to look for Gram’s Ghibli planner with no luck at the Acorn Democracy store. I ended up ordering it online. We walked back on another quieter route to Otsuka Station.

Greg and I went out later in the evening to look for Vtuber stuff. I took a shower and we watched a program on JR Shikoku train routes that ran through Ehime from Matsuyama to Uwajima.Read more
Traveler Three sisters and a dude
11/26/24Reply
Traveler Is that a…….PIGEON?
11/26/24Reply
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Japan 2024 with Mom
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Lucky Cat Temple
November 27, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
Today we went to Gotoku-ji Temple. It’s famous for being the birth place of the manekineko Lucky Cat. A lord was caught in a sudden storm and the temple cat waved him inside. Just as Lord Ii got inside a huge bolt of lightning struck where he’d been standing. After that he patronized the temple and the cat was designed as an incantation of the Goddess of Mercy.

It took about an hour to get to the temple. It was stunning. It was also filled with tourists…but still very much worth the visit. While we were in (the wrong) line another couple gave us one of their tickets as they weren’t allowed to get two of any item available. We got a small cat statue for us and one for Gram as well as an enma plaque for Kyrie. We rested in the garden and Kyrie drew our kitties, even our two that have passed on. A huge raven flew up and showed off for us from the rafters of the temple. Luckily it waited to poop until it moved past.

We had Jonathan’s for lunch. There we saw our favorite robo-cat waiter. Kyrie was sweet enough to get me a key chain of the robo-cat too! Afterwards we rested. Then Key and Greg went out again around 4.Read more
Traveler Lookin good. Lookin happy. Cats understand
11/28/24Reply
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Japan 2024 with Mom
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Good Boy God Oinusama
November 28, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
Today we travelled to Kameido-Tenjin Shrine. It’s famous for its wisteria frames, arched red bridges over multiple ponds and one other thing…The Good Boy God.

Like many big shrines in Japan, Kameido-Tenjin is also home to several lesser shrines called setsumatsusha, including one dedicated to the water goddess Benzaiten and another of a sacred bull statue that is said to possess healing properties. However, there is another little god at the back of the great shrine, hidden in the corner but not quite forgotten.

Known as Oinusama, the enshrined statue appears to be that of a dog, not unlike those standing guard at the entrances of most Japanese shrines. Covered with salt from head to paw, he may look like he’s freezing in the cold snow of winter, but locals believe that rubbing salt onto him will make one’s wishes come true, especially if they wish to be cured of some disease.

While the origin of this good-boy god is barely known even to the priests of Kameido, it’s been theorized that a small shrine once stood on the premises and was lost to an air raid during World War II, Oinusama being one of the pair of guardian dog statues at its entrance. When the war ended, the statue was found among the rubble, damaged beyond repair and was placed in the corner of the shrine. Over time, people considered it a minor deity and even built a miniature shrine to honor him.

After our quest to find Oinusama we visited the Hobby Off Store. Finally we rested up for our adventure to TeamLabs Borderless art exhibit in Asabudai Hills this evening.Read more
Perfection [Lynn]
12/1/24Reply
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Japan 2024 with Mom
Borderless さまよい
November 28, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
Wander, Explore, and Discover in One Continuous Borderless World

teamLab Borderless is a world of artworks without boundaries, a museum without a map created by art collective teamLab.

Artworks move out of rooms, relate to other works, influence each other, and at times intermingle, without boundaries. Through this group of works, one continuous world without boundaries is created. (Yeah, didn’t really dig the lack of maps…)

Immerse your body in borderless art. Wander, explore with intention, discover, and create a world with others.

In Sketch Ocean various fish drawn by everyone swim around in this ocean.

Color in a fish on the paper provided and see the picture you have colored swim out into the ocean in front of you together with fish drawn by other people. If you touch the fish, they will swim away. You can also feed the fish by touching the food bags.

Sometimes, the fish leave the room, transcend the boundaries between artworks, and begin to swim.Read more
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Japan 2024 with Mom
Fuji, Fuji, Fuji! It has snow!! Part 1
November 29, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
Today was our day trip around Mt. Fuji. There was a bit of chaos trying to find our guide amongst 40 others. Our group was mainly Chinese but all was well. Everyone behaved and made it to the bus on time save one group on the last stop. Our itinerary was as follows…

• Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba (Traditional Japanese Village)

The West Lake Healing Reagan Field is known as the "Shirakawa-go under Mount Fuji". The exquisite Gassho-style thatched house village perfectly restores the ancient Japanese village. There are 20 houses including the Watanabe family, where farmers used to live here. Some of the houses have been converted into exhibition halls and museums, displaying local artworks and specialties.Read more
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Japan 2024 with Mom
Fuji Part 2
November 29, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
• Next was Oishi Park one of the five main lakes around the mountain.

• Oshino Hakkai was our third stop. The name Oshino Hakkai comes from the eight clear springs formed by the pure snow water of Mount Fuji being carefully filtered through the strata. This place is highly praised for its tranquil and beautiful natural environment. The pool water sparkles under the sunlight, like pieces of gems inlaid on the ground. We had a quick lunch of double wide udon noodles and shrimp rice bowls. We also purchased the most lovely of kitschy ceramic kitty from the locals.

By the time we got back it was almost 7 pm. Then Key going found something she wanted to do with just me…. To be continued.Read more
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Japan 2024 with Mom
It’s a Mario Christmas
November 29, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
After Fuji, Kyrie and I did part of the special Super Mario Christmas Illumination at Marunouchi. It was a stamp rally between the area buildings. We weren’t able to finish it but it was still a ton of fun!Read more
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Japan 2024 with Mom
The Rest of the Flea Market
November 30, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
We returned to the Oi Racetrack for round two of the gigantic flea market. Mom had a really good idea for some homemade Christmas presents so we were hunting kimono. We ended up with 4 for under $20.

There’s a belief in Japan that you shouldn’t start a new year with items you don’t want or need - “Mottainai.” So there were some incredible deals.

After purchasing a new used suitcase we headed back to the little ramen store by Akihabara Station. Cramped eating area but delicious udon and katsudon. Kyrie found a mascot for “soy milk’ which Gram had used the whole trip.

Greg and I went out later in the evening and a good time looking for stuff.Read more
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Japan 2024 with Mom
Sunday, December 1
December 2, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 48 °F
Mom and I decided to figure out what happened to the Alice on Wednesday Store that vanished from Shibuya. We ended up in Shinjuku, the heart of Tokyo. It no longer has its own building but their space in the Marui Annex still had some of its previous magic. We also found the Cinnamonroll Cafe (under restoration), a super cute cat accessory store and Godzilla! On the way home we had an entire station to ourselves for some reason.

In the afternoon, Greg, Kyrie and I did our last tour of Akihabara. We went to the Ehime Store first. I forgot they only took electronic payment but the shop owner was kind enough to take cash. As a present they also sent us off with a bag of mikans.

After that it was the usual mix of figurines, dolls, games and anime stuff.Read more
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Japan 2024 with Mom
En Route Home
December 2, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
Everyone was up and ready to head out by 10 am from the Under Railways Hotel. They were kind enough to store our luggage (4 large suitcases and 3 carry-ons). Greg and Key went to the Don Quixote for last minute souvenirs. We all set up camp in the hotel’s Key Cafe to wait for our scheduled taxi at 2. I’m praying I did the booking correctly.

I did it CORRECTLY!!! The gentleman was very kind and helpful. Got through checking bags in record time. Ate a good linner of tempura and stuff. Yadda yadda…taking a loooong plane ride.

Next stop, Atlanta then HOME!Read more
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Japan 2024 with Mom
Misc pics
December 3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 45 °F
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Trip end
December 2, 2024