View from Tokyo Youth Hostel |
Nagaisensei, Meghan and Rachel at Imperial Palace Garden |
By Fred Lauer, Tony Fulkerson and Meghan Stelzig
Today was also a busy day. We all met at the train station after spending the night with our families. We were off to Tokyo! It took 10 min from Minamisakurai station to Kasukabe station, then 40 min to Kitasenju Station, then 20 min on the subway to Akihabara, then 20 min to Iidabashi Station.
Tokyo is absolutely incredible. Yesterday after taking numerous trains, all of us arrived in Tokyo amazed by the variety of buildings and the immensity of the city. The first place we went after walking in the crowded cobblestone street was the Tokyo international youth Hostel. The hostel is contained within the Ramla building which is 22 stories tall. We all stayed on the 18th floor. Our view was incredible. From our vantage point we could see miles over a city which was nothing but lively streets and giant buildings.
Shortly after enjoying the view we went down the street and over to a place called Twin Star. Essentially it was an arcade. We all played a variety of games which were all incredibly fun especially the Tony-Fred-Teamwork in "Typing of the Dead". We also played a game that simulated a traditional Japanese drum (taiko), which you used to play pop songs with. It was the best arcade game in the entire arcade, and by far what I had the most fun with. You had to mix various techniques, along with good hand-eye coordination, and eventually you got graded.
After about an hour of nonstop games we all went out to eat right as Ben finished buying some "trendy" shoes accompanied by Rachel his fashion consultant. Most of us ate at a restaurant called Mos Burger. It was a fairly good but expensive fast food place with very good and strange foods. After eating we headed back to the youth hostel for a good rest.
(By Tony Fulkerson and Meghan Stelzig)
Then we went to the Imperial Gardens. The Imperial Gardens are outside the wall and moat of the palace. Right now is when all the iris bloom and a lot of people were there taking pictures because it is so pretty. The palace was built in 1657 but burned down 19 years later, but it was never rebuilt.
After the aforementioned events, The Cabal was treated to a guided tour of the Imperial Gardens. The most amazing thing for us, apparently, was the algae-ridden moat-like river enclosing the gardens. "Whatever," we all said to the rest of it. The most populous area of the gardens was an iris display. Many people taking many pictures; Tony scared by flashing lights. Another source of endless wonder was the alarmingly large size and amount of eldritch spiders and their webs in the many bushes. Koi also supplied enjoyment.