Day 5: The Tokyo Tower..then homeward bound!

On our last morning we split up and pursued our own interests. There is something really liberating about being in the world's largest city (by population), absolutely on your own...sigh...anyway, enough of that waffle...WAFFLES! (segue-way alert!) Speaking of waffles...Japan has a waffle bowl franchise called 'Pink Dot' and what they do to waffles is so good - it should be illegal (but i'm glad it's not).

Ohhhhh my goodness...a gazillion bajillion calories but sooo worth it.

I took the opportunity to venture up the Tokyo Tower this morning. It's only a 10 minute walk from the hotel. I got the observatory combo ticket for 1450 Yen. This gives you access to the main one at 150m, and the 'special' at 250m. It affords you THE most amazing view.

 This is the main level at 150m.

This is at the special 250m level. A marked difference!...Think about how far down those other highrises are!

On a couple of nights a week they have live acts and turn the main observatory into a nightclub of sorts...that would be lots of fun i think, and something to see. There is so much more here than just the view though. There are amusements, restaurants, shops and cafes called  'Foot Town'. This features

• The Space Wax Museum
• a traditional Japanese 'horror' wax museum
• Noppon Land (great for littlies)
• a rare fish aquarium
• plus heaps to eat (Mcdonalds, Pink Dot, Noodles etc) and souvenirs/stuff to buy.

Nothing is expensive. Its all really good value.

To conclude, i just want to do a quick wrap up now. I'll call it...the Good, The Bad & The...ummm... Weird & Wonderful!

THE GOOD

• JAL. I would fly with them anytime.
• The Public Transport system (trains/subway) - unbelievable!!
• Pasmo - soo good. So easy to top up (booths everywhere), it gives you a running total everytime you swipe, and you can buy snacks and drinks from the vending machines and little stalls! It is insanely convenient. I am missing it already.
• The people of Japan. They are very polite, helpful, lovely and warm.
• The cleanliness and efficiency of Tokyo.
• The Tokyo Tower
• Mt Fuji - very beautiful.
• Lake Ashi - even more beautiful.
• The Shinkansen ( Japanese Bullet train) - Just cool!
• The anime culture is so cute!
• I feel quite safe walking around Tokyo (night and day).
• Villa Fontaine - Roppongi. Right next to Izumi Gardens, and a subway station (Roppongi-Itchome), and not far from Roppongi Hills.
• Our guide Kyoko - She is a sensational lady, and went above and beyond what she had to do.
• The food
• The food....oh
• and the FOOD!

THE BAD

• I really have to nitpick to find something not to like...but i don't really like the niteclub - touts? or spruikers? or whatever they are in Roppongi. This is the only time i felt a little uneasy in Tokyo. They are NOT Japanese people. They follow you down the road trying to induce you into their clubs, and are generally slimy. Having said that, they never touched me, and gave the boys a harder time than us girls. They aren't at the more sophisticated clubs in the better areas. I did walk around Roppongi, and did not feel unsafe generally though.

THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL

• The toilets...hahahahaha...everytime I sat down on mine in the hotel it sounded like it was going into launch mode...hehe...totally ridiculous! It had many buttons that sprayed water in many different directions, and a thermostat for the seat warming. Sitting on a really hot toilet seat is not (in my opinion) a pleasant experience, so i turned mine right down.. I'm not even going to start on carbon footprints lol

• Vending machines! Yes, they have a vending machine for just about everything!
• Little cosplay/anime hostess girl cafes in Akihabara. The girls stand out the front of their cafe in costume to attract the boys. Once inside the boys are treated to a distinctly Japanese 'G' rated girly experience of squeals and giggles, while the men smoke and drink. The girls also have little jingles and dance routines they get the men to copy...bahahahaha...so funny....i don't know how 'G' rated it stays because i didnt investigate further, but i don't think anything too much occurs. I wanted to get a photo of the cute girls in costumes, but none were allowed.
• The dress-up photo booths they have. Hire a 'Sailor Moon' outfit and get a photo taken. Pretty fun.
• Pachinko machines!!...whats not to love?...Just a bit on the noisy side though, when you're in a busy arcade full. 
• So efficient that they have little auto- umbrella wrappers in wet weather out the front of nearly every store! I was wrapping and unwrapping constantly..good idea though :-)

Well...thats it...I Love Japan, and will take my family there one day soon! Thankyou Travelscene American Express, Japan Airlines (JAL), Villa Fontaine - Roppongi, Kyoko (the BEST guide ever!!) and the people of Japan...I will be back!!