Day 12 - Ginza & Ikebukuru

Friday came, and the syllabus called for Ginza and Ikebukuru. Off to the train station we went with sore muscles and odd pains in odd places.

Weird.

Day 11 - I turn 37 seventeen hours early...

So it was technically my birthday on Thursday, Japan wise, and some more motorcycle shops were on the agenda. This time Naps and Easy Rider.  My goal of finding a certain helmet did not happen, but it was a fun day anyhow.

The bike in the middle with the coffin shaped gas tank was awesome.

Day 10 - Harajuku Hangover

So Wednesday we got up and saw Tom & Kris off, and then we headed out to Harajuku for some more strolling and shopping.  Not so many pictures from this day, since I spent most of the time photographing sticker graffiti.

The always crowded Takeshita-dori.

Day 9 - Shibuya and Drunkeness

On Tuesday, we went to Shibuya to shop around. Shibuya is actually cooler than Harajuku.

Cream Soda, really cool punkish store.

Day 8 - Camping Stores and Rough & Road

So on Monday, Tom and I had the day to ourselves while the girls hit some big shopping area. So we set out to find some Japanese sporting goods shops that carry camping stuff.  Camping stuff in Japan is pretty cool, lots of different things than what we get and a lot of nice high-end stuff that you normally do not see.

Cool map of the multi-dimentional train station.

Day 7 - Shimokitazawa & Kichijoji

On Sunday the four of us split the day between Shimokitazawa and Kichijoji. For lunch, we ate at a really awesome, apparently famous, okonomiyaki joint.  Needless to say, I was very happy to indulge in yet another meal of one of my favorite Japanese dishes.

Fried chicken knuckles that Tom ordered. I ate one and that was enough for me. The affinity for cartilage that the Asians have is one of those things I cannot get used to. I can handle fishy stuff, raw stuff, weird stuff, but cartilage gets a big, "no thanks" from me.

Day 6 - Toyota Auto Museum, Travel to Tokyo

So on Saturday morning, we got up early, checked out of Hotel Monterey and jumped on a Shinkensen bound for Nagoya. The Toyota Auto Museum was interesting, and for the first time I got to see an Isuzu Bellett and an Isuzu 117 Coupe with my own eyes.

Isuzu Bellett 1600GT on display in the special section of the Toyota Auto Museum.