rkold | More on Japan (Reply)

My computer is back from the shop and I need to do a back up at some point soon. The keyboard, case, and mouse are fixed, the wireless being dropped is not. ~.~ Since it is intermittent it's sort of hard to replicate the problem, but it does drive me bonkers. *sighs*

Originally, I had large plans for Monday the 20th, including the 2 hour one way trip to Nikko. But after thinking about my upcoming trip to Mito, Ise and Kanazawa and the fact my sleep schedule had been having issues to say the least, I just could not bring myself to do it. Seeing momiji is just not worth it, particularly since I would be able to enjoy the change in seasons here in NY. >>; I hope to make it to Nikko again at some point in the future, not the least of which is to get some more temple stamps. >>;

So instead I spent Monday umm shopping and I met

ee970 for lunch. We went to this all you can eat vegan buffet place that was even better than it sounds! ♥ They had tons of chinese style seitan dishes which just filled my little heart with joy. Plus I really enjoy hanging out with Erin! Now that I know where this place is, I hope to go again, it's so close to the station. I was also secretly amused as I want to say on my trip to Japan with

ironfish246 we'd seen a special on how awesome Okubo was, and now I would have to agree! Sadly, I don't actually remember where I went shopping. I want to say I.. went to the Apple Store to buy a mouse to try to solve my computer issues, then went to Hakuhinkan Toy Park and was completely flabbergasted by the 2 long block line to go to H&M. o_O I mean seriously, when I ducked out of the Toy Park after 20 minutes people were still waiting in line for H&M. Now, I happily wait in line for doujinshi and dolls, and would for Blackout cake from Dean and Deluca, but for H&M!?!?! I then caught a subway for Harajuku and gave in and bought a dorky hat from Closet Child before meeting Erin. Post lunch I went to Nakano and possibly Akihabara. I actually saw a used Shinku for sale in Nakano, but they wanted some scary insane amount for her.

Tuesday was another day spent shopping. I gave in to the siren's call of Ikebukuro since I just love that part of Tokyo I probably shopped elsewhere, but between my current jet lag and my jet lag then I don't really remember. I guess all shopping does sort of blur together at some point. ^^;; For dinner though I met Erin again and we went to this lovely Chinese vegetarian place. The portions were a little smaller than I would have liked, but the food was very yummy. ♥ We also made some plans for our meeting the next day to go up to Mito.

Kairakuen is one of the 3 "Big" Gardens of Japan. (The other two being Korakuen and Kenrakuen) I'd been to Korakuen several times and had always intended to go to Kenrakuen, but none of my guidebooks ever mentioned poor Kairakuen, possibly because it is in Mito. Fortunately, for me, Erin had lived in Mito and so not only had told me about the garden but had kindly offered to take a day off from work and join me there sightseeing. ♥ ♥ ~~she also said she wouldn't mind if I took doll pictures there with my scary dolls! score!~~

Mito is a large city and Kairakuen was built by the Lord of Mito to feed both the spirit and bodies of the townspeople during a famine. It's the largest of the 3 gardens and the only free one. We walked the long way around the lake taking pictures all the while before going to the actual gardens. We then paid the small additional fee to see the Lord's former residence/pavillon for when he was visiting the garden. When it started to get a little dark we headed back to Tokyo and got dinner at one of the vegan places in Harajuku I'd previously gone to with

dilettantka , so yummy!

Me and Erin :D

A butterfly on the street near my hotel in Tokyo

The river in Mito going towards the gardens, the cosmos were lovely.

One of the giant black swans that made its home near the lake

Some pretty flowers, I have no idea what type they are

More of said flowers

At first Erin and I thought these were swan boats, but they were in fact anchored in the lake, possibly as some sort of nesting place for birds.

I love these sorts of rickety docks

Out of season azaleas

And out of season ume

Just for the record this is the garden near the lake, not part of Kairakuen.

This is actually Kairakuen and the Lord of Mito's pavilion

Part of the lake from the garden

The park around the lake continuing in the other direction, in season it must be lovely

Just to get some idea of distance of the green areas in central Mito

Another few of the pavilion

Really cool but also really freaky giant spider

One of the rooms inside the pavilion ♥

I think this was the party room XD;

Me!

Erin proving she even looks cute in self-taken pictures

While the Lord of Mito might have been generous, he was not overly tall. XD;

Ready for her audience with the Lord of Mito

The Lord was a from a branch of the Tokugawa Shogunate as you can tell from this tatami mat.

This is a special sort of sakura that blooms in both Spring and Fall!

One of the huge giant white swans. It makes that version of Swan Lake where the swans are all male make so much more sense!

Suzaku decided that Gino and Lelouch deserved to see more of Japan than just Tokyo and Kururugi jinja and so took them to a few other tourist sights.