Squat Toilet! I've Truly Experienced this Place!

Last full day of our trip.  We are ready to go home.  We have been video chatting with the kids, which has been awesome. But they still fight about who is getting the most screen time or pushing each other or making faces at themselves in the screen.  Ah....yes, still kids I guess.

Anyway, we had breakfast and headed out to Sensi-ju, an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. It is Tokyo's oldest temple, and one of its most significant. (I borrowed that description from Wikipedia).   


On the subway, there was this ad.  And I had to take a picture for my sister.  Because I just could picture all these jokes we would have made.  It looks like Will Ferrell in Anchorman?

Made it to the temple.  It was so crowded.  Like so busy!!!

A marketplace outside that had much more 'family friendly' souvenirs. Phew!  

We got one of these woodblock prints. It shows the process of each colour here. 

This was off to the side. It's the Sky Tree. Tallest in Tokyo.  We didn't go up, but sounds like a great view. 

Was looking at the pretty fish and then this huge fish swims by!  I swear I heard the theme to Jaws play!

These lanterns had drawings from children on all 4 sides.  Would have looked pretty at night. 

Saw alot of scarecrows when we travelled out to Hakone.  But couldn't get a good picture. Here is one. 

Left the temple and saw the rickshaw

Pretty sure that guy is a sumo wrestler. 

And find this really angry chicken!!

We we're heading to the Shitamachi museum and this huge area with this huge plant was across from it. Weird....

Got an English tour.  It was a good tour. He told us how families used to keep all their stuff in this type of container so they could grab it quickly in the event of a fire. 

With such small quarters, all the space is used.  This stairway has sliding cupboards in each step. 

Old material that had been washed so much was soft enough to use for baby diapers.  One wraps from the back and up under and the other wraps around the waist.  He said he wore this type of diaper when he was a baby.

Again, using all the space you had, floorboards come up for storage underneath. 

He showed us the old squat toilet. And ended the tour telling us they had a squat toilet for anyone interested. 

So, I tried it!!!  Not the wood one.  The more toilet bowl looking one.  

Not sure how to use it?  No worries.  There are pictures!!

We head across to the huge rhubarb looking plants when we are done. I love that this sign warns against feeding the birds AND cats. I didn't see any cats....

Started to rain and we didn't bring our umbrella.  So we find shelter. We want to find a certain souvenir, but are having trouble.  We take this time to look online for help. 

Remember I said the translation can be off sometimes?  This bus advertises 'non step service'

We found the shop we wanted. Can't post souvenirs till we get home and give to the kids.  But the shop owner said around the corner was where they were building the stadium for the 2020 Olympics.  So we walked over.  But on the way we found these cool trees 

Baseball is pretty big here.  We walked past the stadium. 

There's the construction sight. We can say we were there!

Lots of these around 

Ok. I saw this everywhere.  Still don't know what it's for.  But I started convincing myself that I was going to be involved in some mystery or crime and this would show up as a clue.  Perhaps I've watched too many mysteries?

I asked Dave to stand in the shower (fully dressed) to show how tough it can be being taller.  To be fair. I had some difficulty as well. But Dave had to kneel to shave in front of the mirror...so I won't complain. 

He looks super impressed eh?  He actually has something wrong with his eye here. It was weird.  There was like a bubble in it. But he is fine now. 

Dave Made Me!

People who know me, know I'm right down the middle of being an Extrovert and an Introvert. I need people to help keep me energized and happy...but then I also need to cocoon and be on my own for a bit. It's a fine balance.

So, after 2 days on my own, with no one to talk to.  Not even random strangers.  I wasn't super energized to get out there again.  Plus I was tired and sore from my day at DisneySea.  So, I vegged.  I read, I dozed, I played Candy Crush and I ate granola bars and licorice for breakfast and lunch. My kidlets....you can do this when you are older....not while you live under my roof!!  Heh heh.

So after I got up and ready and out the door, it was a little later then I planned.

Went to a Starbucks. I figured I should get a wrap.  Get something of substance.  There were two choices.  Some pumpkin and cream cheese thing that looked revolting.  Or this. Raw Ham and Mozzarella.  I figured the translation was off, as we have seen alot here, so got it. Thinking raw Ham was like deli meat.

They put it all in this cute bag to carry. Including the drink.  So convenient!!

However, when I opened my sandwich....well, I'm pretty sure it was raw Ham.  It didn't look cooked.  And so I weighed the risks. It was obviously edible if Starbucks sells it.  So I won't die.   However....it's raw Ham....and what if I get sick because my body isn't used to this...?  Do I want to be sick for the next few days?    So I tossed it.  Ugh. 

Got to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace.

 The guard was waving at me and some other people to 'hurry hurry'. So I hurried in.  Oh. It closes the gates to people at 4pm.   It's 4pm.  Oops.  But what park closes at 4pm?  It's a park....!  So I had 30 mins to look around before they close down everything. So here is a quick view of what I saw.

And done.  So, will have to look up what all of that stuff was I guess.  

Dave messaged he was back at the hotel. So I headed back.  On my way I noticed this long road of parked taxis.  And every one that I passed had a sleeping or resting taxi driver.  I guess this is where they go between the rush.  But I also noticed some hopping out and over this fence.  Oh, public washroom.  But crazy part is there is no door.  I look over and there's a man, standing at a urinal.  Omg!!!

Cute little 'mini van'

This 'grand entrance'...well, I'm pretty sure I could lay down and touch both sides.  It's just all tiny!!!

Made it back and Dave and I headed out for dinner.  

Now, I should have realized Dave was being vague about dinner.   I just thought he was tired after 3 days of being social (he's a full on introvert).  And I was off because I was missing my kids and had been alone for three days. 

We get to the restaurant.

This is the table.  I ask Dave what this is as he orders for us.  Now I'm suspicious....  He acts all cool and says, you know, it's Japanese BBQ.  Uh, obviously I DON'T know. What is it?  Basically you bbq your food at your table. Cool!!!

Let's see what Dave ordered for us.... 

Uh huh....uh huh....uh huh....

Um Dave?  BEEF TONGUE AND INTESTINES???!!!!

I did it.  Well...most of it.  I ate the beef tongue.  And I tried two intestines. No idea what they were.   The liver looking one....I didn't try. 

It was an experience.  Glad I can say I tried it.  And they bring a cloth to wash hands at the end. 

Next week head to Electric Town.  Starts with an Akahabara.   All sorts of electronics and gadgets to check out.   And the famous Maid Cafes.  So lots of girls dressed like maids on the street handing out their flyers.  We didn't go.  We were full and really like, I didn't understand the idea of it.

Went into a few stores.   Nothing too amazing.  Then went into one store to see about souvenirs for the kids.   We were halfway in before it dawned on us......this was not just a regular store.  And the toys here...well, they were for 'older kids'.   We were NOT going to find a souvenir for our kids there!  We chuckled about it as we moved on.  Walked the street and headed home.  

That was enough excitement for one day.