Two P.Y.T.s hit the Tokyo Tower

Our last day full day in Japan. Also the much feared drive back to Tokyo. We had Nana program our destination address into the GPS for us and prayed for the best as we took off amidst giant smiles and waves (I think they were glad to be rid of us so they could finally be alone) from Nana and David. We made it out of town and onto the highway (not a freeway, because their roads are anything but free. You take a ticket when you get on and you pay the toll according to how far you have travelled when you get off. We spent over $90.00 each way. Ouch.) What that money buys you is an amazingly well taken care of road, and the most fabulous rest-stops every 10-15 miles or so, with clean bathrooms, mini-grocery stores, restaurants, grassy areas for kids and dogs as well as gas stations. It was a traveler's heaven. (At least for me, the girl with the tiny bladder.) We drove through some of the most amazing landscapes I have ever witnessed. It was dark the first time around, so we were all excited to see some of the Japanese country side during the day. At one point we had the ocean to our left and mountains on our right. Not any mountains, mind you, but rather amazing mountains, covered in green, angular and sharply pointed, stacked on top of each other in layers like phillo dough. It was lightly misting and the fog swirled around the base of the mountains. Nothing I have ever seen before compares to what that looked like. Amazing. Then every so often you would see a home in the traditional Japanese architectural style tucked in between the folds of the mountains to really make it look like a living postcard.

The signage on the road is hysterical. My camera was packed away in the very back of the car in my backpack, and I could kick myself now for not leaving it out, just to get the signs. All of the be aware of animals that may be on the road signs had cartoon like drawings of whatever animal whose habitat the highway invaded. My favorite: A bunny with a panda/raccoon looking creature combo. There were pictures of cars with parachutes coming out of the back of them pointed down hill. My assumption was it was to signal for slow down hill ahead. There were some of cars blowing out exhaust from the back going uphill, But the most puzzling had to be the sign that had a car whose back half looked like paint was flying off of it disintegrating the rear half of the car. Yeah, no idea!

We followed the GPS like champions all the way into the parking garage it directed us into in Shinjuku. Problem: The GPS had the wrong parking garage by about a mile. We parked the car and went to ask for directions. We found a cop who spoke a little bit of English, who called the rental car place and said, in Japanese, "I have two white girls who need to know how to find you." (We know the word for "white girls" and "two" and figured out the rest from there.) He drew us a map, we followed and found the rental car return place. The whole thing was a relief to be done with, and a miracle we made it without any deaths or dents.

We dropped off the car, and then put my mom on the train that would reunite her with Jar-Jar. We stowed our luggage in a locker and headed out to see Tokyo for the last time. We still had not made it to the Tokyo Tower, so that was on our agenda. We didn't have my handy-dandy guide book to direct us there, and didn't want to spend the time or the money to go back to the apartment to get it, so we asked around for directions, and made it there in no time.


The Tokyo Tower is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations (thank you, Wikipedia.) Just as the Eiffel Tower is often used in popular culture to immediately locate a scene in Paris, Tokyo Tower is often used in the same way for Tokyo. It is used in anime and manga and kaiju (read: Godzilla) movies. Really a tourist must see.




At the base was an aquarium and my most favorite part: A Michael Jackson memorabilia museum. The line was lengthy and the cost was pricey. Oh, those funny Japanese. They loved that talented, yet wack-a-doodle, dude. They were playing Michael Jackson music in the front of the tower for a Michael Jackson dance party. (No one, except me, was dancing.)






Also in front of the tower was a lady and her performing monkey. I had hoped to see a monkey (in the wild) on this trip, but since this was our last moment in the city, the one tied to a string would have to do for my monkey sighting. The thing was adorable, but pitiful leashed and forced to perform. Sad really.








On our way to the Tower, we found a gorgeous shrine. We had a fun taking a leisurely look around the grounds. Enjoying the tiny little statues covered in kitsch. It is a perfect analogy to Japan. Totally serious + Totally kitsch all rolled up into one odd culture. The statues had crocheted hats and bibs and then had plastic windmills stuck in front of them. It was quite a scene.




We explored our way around the neighborhood, before deciding we should probably eat before heading back to the apartment. We also knew from our late almost-to-Yokohama night, that the last bus would leave the station at 10 p.m. and we should be back well before then, just in case. Nothing sounded good to us (two picky chics) until we stumbled on an Indian restaurant. At first glance it looked closed and we were devastated, until a closer look revealed that it was indeed open. We ate our best meal to date (maybe ever in my life) and headed back to the apartment.


When we arrived home, we had a note from my mom saying she and Lynn were staying at the Uchida's family home. (As if we had not put out this sweet family enough this trip!) Without any distractions, Lisa and I slept well and then got up early to clean the apartment. We were packed and oh so ready to head to the airport. We made it to our gate and I found out that I could upgrade for free to business class if I flew threw Seattle, instead of the direct flight to Salt Lake. It only came in two hours later and would have made that long flight much more enjoyable, but adding on two hours until I could see my Bill and the boys again sounded like way too long, and Lisa and I flew home together (several rows apart since no one would trade us seats on the overbooked flight.) The sweetest sight was seeing Bill and the boys waiting on the other side of the customs door. I was so thrilled to see them. We have decided that no matter how cool a trip is, it just isn't worth being apart again for. Even thrilling Tokyo couldn't hold a candle to my wonderful (self-chosen) family!