Wandering the Back Roads of Tokyo

We knew our luck with the weather would run out and that Japan was experiencing an intense typhoon season. So we weren't surprised to wake up to an intense rain storm. Happily our plan today included a visit to the Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation and we would be spending time inside the metro/train system as well as in the museum itself.

I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders

The museum is in the district of Odaiba, a popular shopping and entertainment area on a man made island in Tokyo Bay. Once a series of small islands built during the 17th c for protection against sea attacks, the islands of Odaiba were joined into larger islands by massive landfills, and a spectacular development project was initiated with the aim to turn the islands into a futuristic residential and business district. With access by the Yurikamome elevated train line and a wide selection of shopping, dining and leisure options (including a huge onsen--hot bath--resort), Odaiba has developed into one of Tokyo's most popular tourist attractions.

Freaky looking humanoid robots

The Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation was, of course, Kevin's choice of activity but I've always loved science museums and this one did not disappoint. Highly interactive with full English translation, it included exhibits about environmental issues, robots ( with Asimo, the world's most advanced humanoid robot), information technology, biology and space exploration. A highlight was the huge model of the earth called the Geo-cosmos globe that hung suspended in the main hall. It displays near real-time global weather patterns, ocean temperatures and vegetation cover. The museum was a wonderful experience and we were glad we made the trip.

We decided to take a free shuttle that circles the island in order to see some of the other mega-structures before ending up at the train station. Big mistake! The shuttle got stuck in traffic, there was not much to see, and the end of the line was nowhere near the station. On top of that, it was raining and windy. After trudging five long miserable blocks to the train station, we made our way to the Asakusa district.

The highlight of Asakusa is the huge Senso-ji Temple, completed in 645 AD, making it Tokyo's oldest temple. When approaching the temple, visitors first enter through the outer gate (Thunder Gate). A centuries-old shopping street of over 200 meters, lined with vendors selling typical Japanese souvenirs and local area snacks, leads to the temple's second gate. The temple itself and a nearby 5-story pagoda, both destroyed in WW2, are relatively recent reconstructions. Kevin spotted a fortune-telling station inside the main temple. After paying 100 yen, you shake a cylinder of sticks, pull one out, match it to a numbered drawer and retrieve the paper with your fortune. Luckily his fortune was good, although we had to laugh when it claimed that it was a good time to build or enlarge a "horse" (we think they mean "house"?).

Beautiful shrine in Senso-ji Templr

The rain had intensified (a veritable deluge in fact) so we hung out at the temple for a bit, made a decision to seek a craft beer pub a few metro stations away, then made a beeline for the nearest station. After discovering the pub was actually more than a simple subway ride and involved some back street walking in the rain, we finally find it--only to discover it was closed! So, homeward bound...making a brief stop, at Kevin's suggestion, at a metro transfer point department store for dinner. You may think we were desperate eating at a department store food floor, but this food floor was so unlike North American style. The whole floor is a series of small restaurants of varying types and prices, all vying for your business. We chose a "ramen noodle" house and it was tasty...and cheap! Good work, Kevin!