Tokyo

It’s certainly a big change of pace to arrive in Tokyo after all of the small and mid size places we’ve been.  Tokyo is an absolute mob, just swarmed with international and domestic tourists, and of course 14 million people live here.  We have the best intentions of arriving at Tokyo Station and stashing our bags in a locker so we could go to the Oedo Antique Market near the station.  We checked every bank of lockers which took about an hour of huffing heavy packs in the intense heat and crowds…. and they were all full.   Did I find out later that there are luggage storage places we could have booked online a short walk from the station. Yes, of course there are, but this is the land of FOMO and IYKYK so we missed out. We gave up going to the antique market and took the subway to our hostel, dropped the bags there, had another bowl of spicy ramen, and went to the other festival I had planned for the day, the Earth Garden Summer Festival in Yoyoji Park.

Have you heard of the Tokyo Rockabillies?  We thought they were just a social media phenomenon because their videos kept showing up on our Instagram and what not, but they are for real and have been dancing on Sundays in Yoyoji Park for more than 20 years.  Their dance style is like ska meets country line dance meets sock hop. We didn’t know they would be there and were so happy to have had the chance to see them up close!

Across the street was the festival we aimed for which was this funny trifecta of Latin America, Middle Eastern, and hippy combo.  You had one stage blasting reggaeton, one with belly dancers, and the other with R & B.  We headed for some shopping to the Harijuku area, and what a circus! There were three flamboyantly dressed people holding signs advertising a fashion design pop up shop.  We followed them down a little alley to a tiny store that had all their projects.  Maya found a cute top which she wore right out of the store.  They asked to take a picture with her for their socials, it was super cute.

That’s day one of four in Tokyo.  We are getting a late start today to rest our feet and hydrate before commencing the day of shopping and eating activities.