Tokyo is the number one most populated city in the world. And the thing about it, is that most people do not have cars. So how do they all get around??? Well we saw and experienced this... SUBWAYS! If you are traveling in peak time literally expect to be smashed against the windows of your train. It was insane.
Look in the windows of the trains...
We started out the day in Tokyo walking around the area near our hotel. Grabbed a few snacks for the remaining days and then headed to our farewell dinner. We ate at a traditional Japanese house. The food was delicious and of course since we didn't have to pay, we all enjoyed it a lot more :) Our dinner was a tad interrupted by our neighbors whose parents let them play video games alone in a room. They were yelling and having a grand old time. So we couldn't hear ourselves. Patience wore thin... ha.
The following day we went to the University visits of Aoyama Gakuin University and Rikkyo University. First was a bit unexpected the Aoyama University was a Christian college in the middle of the city. It was unexpected only because we had been learning so much about the traditional Shinto and Buddhist ways that to experience such Western ideas was a surprise, but a pleasant one. It is always good to see that once again as humans we all find our way to worship. We all need our own personal way to respect and learn what values are important to each of us.
At Rikkyo University we were able to really sit with the students again and learn with them. We had lunch and then discussions. It was so fun to just have fun, real conversations. I very much enjoyed hearing their views on education and how they viewed both their traditions and ours.
My fellow Barista!
The final day and a half was spent having fun on our own. Aaron, Daisy, Jay and I went to Shibuya to the shopping district. It is here that is the famous cross walk with all the people going in every direction. It was pretty fun to see. For the rest of the day we walked around and just enjoyed the atmosphere and people watching. the following day we woke up and went first to the Sky Tree (the tallest building in the world). It was pretty tall... even from afar! Then onto another Shrine and a bit of last minute shopping. Finally we stopped at Harajuku, a crazy little shopping area... in which I LOVED! Definitely I could have stayed here for ever, if my bags weren't already ready to explode! Next we went to a shrine called Meiji. This might have been the most beautiful shrine I have seen, as far as natural beauty goes. The trees were so tall and arched over the walk ways to the shrine. It was incredibly beautiful!
The are of Shibuya shopping/crossing
Our rash decision on a not so delicious $9 drink
Seriously thats how tiny it was... LOL
The last few hours a typhoon had rolled over Tokyo and so when we went out it was raining like crazy, while blowing the water directly in your face (as well as our umbrellas). We made it to dinner without getting completely soaked, but on our way home we were drenched! We ate at a delicious Chinese restaurant and the lady was so excited when we spoke the little Chinese we knew! (My Dan... settle the bill, etc). It was so fun. Once again such a great learning experience that we are all people who appreciate a little understanding of each other... that's it. If we can just learn about each other and what we know or don't know it makes things so much better. Maybe it's just me, but definitely what I have gained from the experiences on this journey.
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