Tokyo Part 2.1

I was having problems with the last post, so this is continuation (hopefully it won't crash on me).

I really wanted to go to a sumo wrestling match and as it turns out there are only a few tournaments held each year in Tokyo - with the last week of May being one of those tournaments. In hindsight, I kind of wish I hadn't gone. Waste of money, but here are some pictures anyway.







I say it was a waste of money because what I didn't realize is that each match only lasts 20-30 seconds with the longest match I watched only going for a minute or two. Two big fat guys wearing thongs (revealing way too much by the way) and pushing each other out of the ring. 20 seconds later, one guy falls out and the match is over. Then two completely different guys get in the ring...or whatever it's called.


I also found it odd that in the main lobby of the Arena, in the trophy case honoring past champions, is a picture of a Corona bottle. First of all, why? Second, if you're going to pick a sponsor for sumo wrestling in Japan, would you pick a Mexican beer company?

Another random picture but I found it interesting that they have these vending machines everywhere. Sometimes 5 or 6 of them lined up next to each other with another 5-6 just down the block. This one was funny because it has Tommy Lee Jones as their pitch man...really??



I also went over to the "electronics district" (Akihabara Electric Town). It's a large district with hundreds if not thousands of stores all selling every type of electronic device you can imagine. The coolest of the stores was Yodobashi-Akiba.


It's a 10 story building with each floor about the size of a typical Best Buy in the US. They sold everything you can imagine, from an entire floor dedicated to cell phones and cell phone accessories, to computers, to golf equipment. Crazy large! Just outside of the building, there were a few hundred teens playing on their gameboys or whatever they play now...


...this was just one area where they all huddled under the shelter. I stood and watched for a few minutes and not once did one of them talk to another one. Social skills?

I tried going to a Yomiuri Giants game at the Tokyo Dome but that turned out to be a nightmare. The guidebook told me to get there early (3 hours before game time) because people will start lining up for tickets which can only be bought at the dome on the day of (for the reasonably priced tickets that is). I misjudged the time it would take me to get there so I arrived 3 and 1/2 hours before game time. The line for the tickets was at least a mile long (I'm not exaggerating). It wrapped around buildings, over bridges, along the sidewalks...it was crazy. And this is 3.5 hours before the game starts! What the heck are these people doing? Anyway, needless to say I didn't get to experience a Japanese baseball game but did get to witness how crazy the Japanese are for baseball!

Another random picture of the view from my hotel balcony at night.



In the end, I really liked Tokyo but I was probably there a little too long. 7 days is too much. I would recommend 4-5 days and you can probably see it all and get a good feel for the culture. Yesterday I arrived in Seoul and have 5 days here until heading to Taipei.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad