Day 28 - Tokyo (Ikebukuro, Sunshine Aquarium, Tokyo Forest, Harajuku and Shinobazu Pond)

Today we planned a quiet day which started with a nice sleep-in. However, after a while, we decided that we should head out somewhere different; Ikebukuro. Ikebukuro is a popular shopping district, particularly the Sunshine shopping mall in the Sunshine 60 building. The weather today? Terrible with drizzle for the most part.

After catching the train on the Yamanote line we arrived at Ikebukuro and proceeded to split up, with Kyle and Josh heading to the Sunshine Aquarium, with Maureen, Sky and I doing some shopping. Sunshine Aquarium is located on the top floor of the Alta Trade building in the Sunshine City area. It features Penguins, Otters, Sea Lions, Fish and all sorts of other marine animals. The boys were quite impressed with the large variety of animals and especially loved the various shows, especially the Sea Lion Christmas show which they thought was hilarious.

Maureen, Sky and I wandered aimlessly around the streets of Ikebukuro browsing the many shops and markets. We even met Pikachu! 

Sky meets Pikachu.

The streetscape around Ikebukuro. Note the tall tower in the background; it's a trash incinerator. 

This is Sunshine 60 Dori (street).

We also stopped briefly at the Higashi-Ikebukuro Central Park where there appeared to be a funeral ceremony, though it was more like a eulogy, or memorial. What was interesting was that there was a guy speaking and there were a bunch of business professionals lined in even ranks, with other family members looking on from the sides. Of course it could've been something completely different. 

Higashi-Ikebukuro Central Park. This is also known as the outdoor Cat Cafe; however, today...not a cat to be seen.

Eventually, we got hungry and settled on having lunch at Family Mart (a 7-Eleven type general store, where you can buy microwaveable food).
We had planned to eat inside the store; however, by the time we collected our microwaved food, there were no seats in the shop for us to eat at, so we settled in for lunch across the road in a park...in the rain.

Our cold, wet park bench restaurant.

Afterwards, Sky headed off on his own spending some time in Ikebukuro, then Akihabara, while Maureen and I headed back to the station and caught the train to Harajuku Station. 

Some more Ikebukuro streetscape, or fly-overscape.

We then visited Yoyogi Park, an impressive 54 Hectare forest in the middle of the greater Tokyo area. Interestingly, it is actually the site of the first powered aircraft flight in Japan. It was also the site of the Olympic Village for the 1964 Tokyo Games. Today it was very busy, and apparently, Sunday is its busiest day. 

Yoyogi Park with lots of people out for a walk.

The entrance of Yoyogi Park nearest Harajuku Station.

Within the park we saw the Meiji Shrine Temple, a shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji, who died in 1912. The temple was completed in 1920. Interestingly, adjacent the temple, are over 200 barrels of Sake wrapped in straw on one side of the path and 60 barrels of wine on the other side. Unfortunately the Sake barrels are all empty, but they do have a great deal of significance when stored near a Shinto Shrine. The Barrels of Wine are a gift from the winemakers of the Bourgogne region in France as a symbol of friendship between the two countries.

The torii marks the entrance to the Meiji Shrine.

The Meiji Shrine.

Barrels of Sake wrapped in straw.

Barrels of wine from Bourgogne, France.

Details of the various winemakers.

 The walk through the forest was quite pleasant despite the weather. 

Nearing the exit of Yoyogi Park. 

Beautiful autumn leaves. 

Walking back into Harajuku Station. You can see the crowds walking in on the left.

Maureen and I then caught the train to Ueno, for a walk around Ueno Park and Shinobazu Pond, stopping for some grilled Squid along the way.

One of the interesting design features in Ueno Station. Not great for tall people.

Kiyomizu Kannon-dō with its circle tree.

Grilled squid, one of Maureen's favourites.

Walking along Shinobazu Pond.

Shinobazunoike Bentendo.

We all met back at Okachimachi for dinner at Sukiya, a favourite Japanese restaurant chain that is great value for money. After that we headed back home for some rest on our rest day.

Meeting up with Sky at Okachimachi Station.

The walk back to the apartment.