Tokyo: The Eccentric

We're home from Japan and finally recovered from jetlag. 17 hours is brutal!

Now we're just tired from packing up our house to move. (Another post entirely)

First off, let me just say that I think everyone should visit Tokyo. It is pristine clean, so safe,

has every modern convenience one could dream of, and my straightener worked in the outlets.

It's just a really easy place to feel comfortable, yet experience a wonderful people and culture.

Every place I've been has it's own eccentricities, and Tokyo is no exception. In fact, I'd say they've got a corner on the eccentric.

The most amusing of course, were the English translations gone awry.

There were just so many good ones.

Now this one's just unfortunate.

Those poor guys? probably don't even know how awkward their band name is.

 Some random art? in an old Edo town we visited. It's just great!

This is an advertisment for a photography studio. The Kanji says "Action."
Our tourguides (i.e., Mike's friends from his mission) said they sensed no awkwardness from this picture. They also have very strict gun control laws in Japan so there aren't many shootings there.

Most people are aware of the absurd amount of vending machines throughout Tokyo.

I say absurd, because some absurd things can be had by visiting them.

Porn, women's underwear and nicotine drinks to name a few.

However, more PG-rated is the canned hot chocolate you can get.

It tastes like the Swiss Miss from a packet, but it comes HOT right in the can. Awesome!

We visited a store called Tokyo Hands. The Pants and I could have spent an entire day there.
8 mind-boggling floors of stuff. Stuff is the only way to describe it. A floor of super cool satchels and bags, another of crafting supplies, another of bento boxes, another of office supplies and signs. One floor was all personal care products.

A mouth slimmer contraption to control "wide mouth." Just one of many great products featured.

And the "baby kiss patting" to maintain a rosy glow by applying a suction cup to your cheeks.

We also visited the perikura booths. They are like our mall photo booths on crack. Teenagers apparently love these. It was intense to get all the shots and editing done. But we ended up with some fantastic pictures of The Pants and I looking like cupie dolls.

We stayed at Keio Plaza, a fairly nice hotel. I'd reccomend it for sure.

It had a fitness center (which is pretty swanky in the limited space of Tokyo).

It was equipped with a treadmill, stairclimber and these mechanical bulls. Naturally.

It had to be done.

This is just the first installment of our Japanese adventure. More to come...