Today started at 3 AM for all of us! Jetlag has kicked in and we were all up in the middle of the night. Any plans to go back to try and sleep some more were torpedoed as little Ms. Elsie was up too. So what to do in the middle of the night in Japan? Easy. Go to 7-11 -- it's open 24/7.
Not your standard North American breakfast, but this was what I felt like today. It's so handy to have the 7-11 right beside our hotel. Lawson's and Family Mart which are similar to 7-11 are also within walking distance.
We waited a couple of hours or so till it was 6 AM and decided to go for a walk since it was so early and the streets would be relatively empty and we could take some pictures with more freedom.
This city is enchanting.... it seamlessly blends traditional culture with modern innovation, offering a diverse cultural experience. One minute you are facing a wide boulevard with high rises and office buildings, then duck into an alley a half block down and see the coolest little authentic restaurants and shops.
Part of Japan's unique charm lies in its ability to embrace both the futuristic and the timeless, making it a captivating place for all who visit. I certainly am captivated and enchanted with it, and I've not even been here 48 hours.
First outing of the day was a trip to Ueno Zoo and Gardens. This was a short walk to the train station, 1 train ride and another short walk to the zoo. We took the Hibiya Line from Hatchobori Station to Ueno station and got off there.
The train stations can be a bit confusing and if you go the wrong way, you need to backtrack through long concourses and up and down stairs. All par for the course when in a country you're just learning about, and have to traverse its transportation system. Apps like Rome2 Rio help, but there are also many info booths along the way with helpful people who are all so nice and polite. The Japanese truly are wonderful people.
The zoo is right in Ueno Park which is a ginormous park. We got there early, and enjoyed walking through the park and taking in its beauty and all it had to offer.... beautiful pagodas, shrines, and lush landscapes.
We specifically wanted to see the twin pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei. (click on hyperlinks to read more about them).
Now, I will say that I have some ambivalence about zoos..... as I don't like the fact that we cage animals. However these pandas were born there and know nothing other than their life there. They are fed and well cared for, so I know they are not suffering. The zoo is big and well maintained. It is clear that they take care of the animals.
We spent about 4 hours at the zoo, had a bite to eat while there then had more to eat as we left. The path leading to the entrance of the zoo had food vendors along it and this is where we chose to stop to have something to eat.
This man expertly made these cute bear shaped pancakes. He made them so fast! They were then drizzled with butter and cinnamon sugar. It looked so good. We didn't buy any because we wanted something savoury. So we had this below.
These were octupus dumplings, drizzled with a teriyaki sauce and an umami mayo. Speaking of umami.... what does that mean exactly? I still don't get it, lol. That word is thrown around so much nowadays, and I have yet to understand what flavour that is!!??
We walked so much today, my Iwatch counted just under 19,000 steps. We went back to our hotel to rest after eating. Naps were had by all. We were planning to go to take the train to Ginza in the late afternoon to shop at the Uniqlo flagship store. The streets in Ginza are closed to street traffic on weekends till a certain time, so it's the best time to go.
I bought some pants and a couple of polos at Uniqlo and Alyssa bought a cross body bag. This flagship store is several floors, and we only had time to cover the first 2. So guess what's happening tomorrow..... a second visit!
There's just too much to see that we weren't able to today and therefore Ginza part 2 happens tomorrow, lol. Plus we want to visit GU, the sister company of Uniqlo. It is tax free for us here, being tourists. We just need to show our passports.
All things considered, we are all coping quite well with jet lag. Day 1 and 2 have been activity filled and we've been able to fill each day with lots of activity around the city. Tomorrow may be a bit of rest day, just the visit to Ginza and perhaps a nice lunch at a restaurant. They are easy to find, just walking down the street with no plan other than to walk and find one that is interesting. Sometimes that's the best way to discover a good place to eat!
It's 8:30 PM right now. Over the last 48 hours I've had about 10 hours sleep but amazingly I feel okay. Let's see what tomorrow will bring for me in the way of jet lag woes.
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