Tim’s Ramblings

So it’s been a few days since I’ve been back from Nara. 2 full days to be exact (Friday and Saturday). For both days, I headed out to do some shopping. And each time, I was reminded just how far away from Tokyo I am and just how ridiculously crowded Tokyo can get on a weekend before X-mas. It’s to the point of absurdity. Japan may be in a recession but you can’t tell from the number of people out in the city,that’s for sure.

It’s also pretty rough for me since my parents live in a different prefecture of Chiba east of Tokyo. This means for me to get to Tokyo, it will take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half one way typically taking up to 3 different trains depending on where I’m going. It’s a long trip. And when the trains are crowded and you end up walking forever from one station to the next or from the station to the store and so forth, just going to two stores seems like a challenge.

So…for everyone who have asked for stuff or who I have said will get stuff for them…for some of you, you may need to wait for another time when I come out here again. I did get some stuff but not everything I wanted to and being so far away from my home base at my parents, I just couldn’t do my usual shopping spree. It’s one thing to buy a buttload of stuff and have a short train ride back to the hotel…but another when I’m looking at a very long commute trying to juggle all the packages…

So, with that aside, here are some photos. It’s basically showing just how crowded it is. Or at least trying to. Just a sea of people…

But before we get to that, here is a funny poster in one of the subway platforms.

It’s a poster asking you to not get drunk and be an idiot on the train. But I love the fact that they don’t just tell you not to do it but that if you’re going to do it do it at home! It doesn’t want to caution you against being a drunk. Just being a public drunk. I just found it very…Japanese.

Anyway, the rest are being the cut!

Basicaly just shots of the crowd. A literal sea of people… The first is from Harajuku, the rest are from Shibuya.

:)

More substantial post with more pics from my trip coming soon. Just need to get to editing and working on them!