JAPAN: Tokyo – A Civil Alternate Universe

Tokyo is a most overwhelming metropolis with so many diverse districts that you could spend months here, and just begin to scratch the surface. Once again I am grateful for my perpetual world travel status because I have no need to cram everything into this visit. I’ll just stop by on my next swing through China, Korea, and Japan.

Because of this, I decided to book into a well located, comfortable hotel for the duration. The room is Parisian sized, but extremely luxurious and well appointed. It comes fully equipped with bedside-controlled lighting, a large desk, comfortable mattress, a fancy toilet, deep dish bathtub, and TV with Japanese porn on demand. Poor Japanese skills would probably not get in the way of enjoying the video or getting the gist of the story, but I’m focusing on the cuisine while I’m in town anyway.

This is a delightful bit of real estate that I have chosen for myself in the Shinjuku District which comes highly recommended for a first visit to Tokyo. So out I went to investigate the neighborhood.

 

      DAY ONE – SHINJUKU DISTRICT – GODZILLA’S REVENGE

ROBOT RESTAURANT – A popular Tokyo robot spectacle with anime overtones.

This is the red light district of the Shinjuku. It seems there are a good deal of lounges where you can have the attention of lot of young women. There are lounges dedicated to many themes catering to all sorts of fetishes. Prostitution is illegal in Japan, but the authorities seem to turn a blind eye to these activities. Unfortunately many young Japanese women are lured into sex work and pornography by the excessive amount of men offering to get them into legitimate acting and modeling jobs. The industry is driven by the expensive costs of a University education and the lack of subsidies and scholarships which essentially backs these ladies into a corner financially. Women report being propositioned by these men four or five times a day in Tokyo.

This young lady seems to had surgery and wears special contact lenses to make herself look like an anime character.

TAITO – Multi-Floor Gaming Complex

Evidently our old reptilian friend, Godzilla, was awakened from his slumber by Dictor Van Doomcock’s ranting and raving about Star Wars’ sad state of affairs, as well as the recent release of the abominable “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” I heard tell that Godzilla resides not far from our Doomcock’s digs, and when the giant lizard found out that the wretched film was being released in Tokyo the next day, he really lost his shit.

Just as the disintegration of BB8 is reserved solely for DVD, so too the destruction of Tokyo is purely Godzilla’s domain. The thought of Tokyo being besieged by that rancid celluloid enraged him to the point of destroying any megaplex in Tokyo that would screen the excrement. Here you see him preparing to turn the TOHO Cinemas IMAX in the Shinjuku District to rubble.

As he trampled the image of the spurious Solo underfoot, I beat a hasty retreat, but not before purchasing a set of Godzilla chopsticks at the end of the street. They have little Godzillas at the end and a chopstick rest that is a pile of urban rubble. I couldn’t resist.

Once again, Doomcock’s influence has been widely felt, and he has acquired a new ally in the great lizard. Now our Japanese friends will be spared the consumption of that insipid, counterfeit Solo.

Dickor Van Doomcock – Evil Overlord and Pop Culture Critic

Make sure and check out his review of “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (18+) For rage and salty language.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAOAXkXhIlk       You might learn something, save a bit of money, and have a few laughs in the process. Plus, you will gain entertainment, and can avoid suffering through the actual cinematic dreck that is “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”

A few locals arrive at a temple to offer prayers to limit Godzilla’s return to the movie theaters he’s been destroying. Some have brought Solo tickets to burn along with the incense to assuage his vengeance, and return peace to the streets of Tokyo.

I took refuge in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden to avoid Godzilla’s wrath, but was still grateful to have had my trip to Tokyo graced by such a classic luminary. Tokyo is a great Godzilla city, because there is so much to destroy. Even just the movie theaters featuring Solo must have kept him busy well into the night.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

 

 

 

 

 

Magnolia Flower

 

Back in the Shinjuku the high rises are unharmed.

ROBOT RESTAURANT – MY TOURIST TRAP EXPERIENCE FOR THE NIGHT

ONE OF THE CORRIDORS TO THE SHOW

DOWN A FEW FLIGHT OF STAIRS

PAST ZANY WALLS

IT’S SHOWTIME WITH THUNDERING JAPANESE DRUMS

IT ALL REMINDED ME OF A MINI “CARNAVAL IN RIO” JAPANESE STYLE

SELF CONTAINED DRUMMER ON A MOVING CREATURE

MINI FLOAT WITH GUITARISTS

DRUMS, DRUMS, AND MORE DRUMS

 

 

 

GIRL RIDING A THIRTY-FIVE FOOT LONG GIANT SNAKE

 

CROUCHING TIGER, NOT SO HIDDEN DRAGON

SINGING FINALE

 

 

 

                      DAY TWO – UENO & ASAKUSA DISTRICTS – HEAT WAVE DEATH MARCH

MORE SPOTLESS SUBWAYS – CLEANER THAN YOUR KITCHEN FLOOR

IMPERIAL PALACE STOP – BLOODY PLACE WAS CLOSED

UENO DISTRICT

 

ELEGANT STREET PERFORMER IN THE PARK

 

SPECIAL EXHIBIT FROM THE PUSHKIN MUSEUM IN MOSCOW – NO PHOTOS PERMITTED

Pierre-Auguste RENOIR – Under the Trees of the Moulin de la Galette – 1876

I manage to get one shot before getting shut down, but at least I picked a noteworthy specimen. I visited the Pushkin Museum previously in Moscow and saw their amazing collection. There were some pieces by Monet, Rousseau, and other notable French painters .

 

                                CITIZEN’S GALLERY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    ASAKUSA DISTRICT

GINZA LINE METRO – LUXURY SUBWAY

 

 

                  ASAKUSA DISTRICT

 

 

KIMONO KOSPLAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOKYO’S ALWAYS LURKING IN THE BACKGROUND

A young lady promotes a local Owl Cafe where you can have a cappuccino and hang out with adorable owls.

DON QUIJOTE – NINE FLOORS OF GONZO RETAIL INSANITY

    DAY 3 – TOKYO STATION, IMPERIAL PALACE, AND SHIBUYA DISTRICT

The shopping and food in Tokyo station are exceptional. On my first visit to Tokyo, I had a French pastry that was as good as any as I have had in France. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate the shop.

 

 

 

 

                      EAST GARDENS OF THE IMPERIAL PALACE

 

OTE-MON GATE – THE MAIN GATE

WALL DETAIL

 

DOSHIN – BANSHO GUARDHOUSE

 

 

 

 

 

SUWA-NO-CHAYA TEA HOUSE

 

NINETY DEGREES IN THE SHADE

 

ENTRY GATE DETAIL

 

 

 

 

 

GOURMET FOOD COURT

SHIBUYA HACHIKO CROSSING

 

 

 

 

 

SHIBUYA RED LIGHT DISTRICT

JAPANESE SCHOOLGIRL FETISH CLUB – Pretty shocking stuff in the sense that it encourages pedophilia.

SLOTS GALORE – I don’t go in for gambling. I prefer retail therapy since at least I get a return on my money.

 

 

 

                                         ROPPONGI DISTRICT

TOKYO MIDTOWN MALL

Very nice high end shopping which no longer has much appeal. I enjoy looking at the goods, but I rarely buy.

 

WATER SHEET FOUNTAIN

 

 

 

ROPPONGI HILLS MALL – More Posh Stores

ROOF TOP VIEW

 

 

 

 

 

NOW YOU KNOW WHY THE LOCALS WEAR THOSE FACE MASKS

MORI ART MUSEUM – ARCHITECTURE EXHIBIT

EXOTIC WOOD JOINERY

APARTMENT COMPLEX

CRÈME DE LA CRÈME – TRULY DELICIOUS CREAM PUFFS I SAW ON YOUTUBE

 

 

             LAST NIGHT IN SHINJUKU DISTRICT

SHORT TERM STAY HOTEL – These hotels are there to handle the overwhelming amount of prostitutes in Tokyo. The excessive amount of prostitutes is due to the high cost of university and the lack of subsidies for students so it forces the young ladies of Japan into the sex business to augment their incomes.

VR ZONE – This is a huge virtual reality center that features multi-player gameplay. There was a cool one where you can escape from a horror hospital, but I am by myself so regrettably I couldn’t give it a go.

 

Godzilla beckons me back across the square to pay him a personal visit and say goodbye.

GOODWILL EVOLVES THROUGH THE YEARS

I decided to go with classic black and white which ended up looking more forbidding than color.

I got a nice view of the Shinjuku out of the deal. Right at the crosswalk on the end of the block on the right is the spot where I picked up those awesome Godzilla chopsticks.

MORE RED LIGHT SPECIALS

MANZOKU STATION – “Satisfaction Station” in English.

SAFETY IN NUMBERS