Halloween Hustle in Shibuya

Hey folks!

How are you all?

So, this post is coming a little late as I haven't been around to write blog posts for a while, but I have finally been able to take a restful weekend so... better late than never!

This year I met up with a friend in Shibuya for Halloween. Little did we know, it would be both the best, and worst idea!

 I had been to Shibuya exactly two years ego on Halloween night and while there were a few people dressed up in costumes it would not prepare me for the night I had ahead of me.

It seems that within two years Halloween has gained an awful lot of popularity!  After emerging from the station to find a mass of people I realised that finding my friend would be no easy task.
We managed to find each other without too much difficulty however our search for a coin locker turned out to be fruitless and so I ended up looking more like a pack-horse than a spooky-scary monster for Halloween.
If you ever plan on going to a large event like this in Japan I would advise coming very early or searching for coin lockers that are separate from the station if you intend on using them otherwise you run the risk of becoming a beast of burden like me.

These guys were wearing Kigurumi (animal/character onsies) whilst zipping around the streets

While it was crowded from the outset, we had no idea just how crowded it would become later.

Instead of people going to clubs or house parties for Halloween, people gathered in Shibuya to hang out and see the fantastic costumes people were wearing. It became almost like a huge costume parade down the streets of Shibuya.

We joined the throngs and wandered the streets enjoying the sights

A herd of wild Pikachu appeared!  *notice the sneaky Keep Out Guy in the corner*

The guys dressed up as 10,000 yen (£50) notes were popular

May not be clear but these guys have taps coming out of their crotches.... yup.

Yeah, this happened.... They were certainly popular with the ladies.

These girls were just too cool for school.

 It started to get more and more crowded as the night went on and it became gradually more difficult to make it down the streets.

People watched from Bershka as the throngs became thicker 

Zombie brides and Attack on Titan cosplays

A rather creepy un-dead version of Amazon's mascot Danbo

* fun fact: Danbo sounds like the Japanese word for cardboard 'Danbooru'*

We were getting peckish and given my poor choice of footwear, I was grateful for a chance to rest so we went to a Korean restaurant to re-fuel.

I can never resist cheese tteokbokki!

One of the best costumes of the night was this Halloween mikoshi. A mikoshi is a palanquin used to transport deities. They are usually seen at festivals where they are carried along the streets from the main shrine to a temporary or new shrine.

I really loved this costume because it was definitely something you wouldn't see outside Japan, and I thought it was great that a group of friends had come together to make a float big and sturdy enough to carry the friend on top. They were really enthusiastic, chanting "wasshoi!" (heave ho!) as they bounced her and the mikoshi through the crowd and really got the crowds going!

Cameras at the ready!

It was about this time that the crowds started to get really dense. It got to the point where we were packed in like sardines so I was unable to take pictures. It was such a squash that we could barely move and simply had to shuffle along with the crowds. There was no way to pick your path and I had to cling to my friend to avoid being separated. The rabble was so bad that an accessory was pulled off my bag by the sea of people pushing past us.

It the numbers were so huge that police had to cordon-off sections of the famous Shibuya crossing in order to control the flow of the crowds. 

Taking refuge

When we got back to the station, hanging around outside was not an option so we took refuge at the foot of the stairs leading into the metro.

In fact the crowds were so bad that it appeared on the news:

Not my photo: http://www.yukawanet.com/archives/4960448.html

This gives you an idea of the crowds. Picture from: http://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news_society/articles/000061653.html

A sea of people.  Photo from: https://twitter.com/ui_nyan/status/660371174539395072/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The sudden increase in popularity of Halloween is certainly surprising! I couldn't have imagined I would be able to see this number of revelers in Shibuya two years ago.
While I certainly wouldn't recommend going to Shibuya on Halloween if you aren't a fan of crowds, it was certainly an experience which I hope to try again. Only, next time I hope to dress up in true Halloween spirit!

It was great seeing all the creative and funny costumes and hope that I get a chance to do this again next year.

While it is a bit late, I hope you all had a great Halloween this year!

See you next time!

A trip to the dentist...

Hey everyone!

I finally have my internet up and running so I am aiming to write posts more regularly now.

It is getting pretty chilly here but I am persevering with not using the heater. It is likely that I will crack any moment now though or risk turning into a block of ice... after all about 60% of me is water.

This post will be a rather odd one but I thought I would talk about my recent trip to the dentist.

There are a lot of dentists and I was a bit lost over how to choose one, but I ended up opting for the the nicest looking one out of the two closest to my house.

Given the large number of dentists in the area I was surprised to have to wait a little over a week for an appointment.

When entering I found that the rumours were true! It appears that you must take of your shoes before entering a dentist or doctor's surgery. There were two sets of sliding doors, so I could struggle to take off my shoes without making a palaver in front of everybody. Once your shoes are off you take a pair of slippers out of a UV disinfecting machine.

I had to hand over my health insurance card and fill out some forms in the waiting room before I was admitted into the dentists room.

What surprised me was that the room contained three dentist chairs with curtain partitions. Yes, this means that 3 patients are seen to in the same room.

The dentist chairs were fairly fancy with a movable television screen positioned over the chair. Certainly not a bad move given the number of people who are squeamish about having work done to their teeth. The blanket for my lap was also a nice touch.
What I did miss was the clinical tasting neon pink liquid which was always given to me to clean my mouth out. Here, there was just what seemed to be distilled or treated water.

The check was pretty quick and the dentist seemed nice enough. However it was certainly not a place for those without any Japanese. There were a few words I had to get my phone out to check or risk coming out of there none the wiser.

They decided to take an X-ray so I was guided into another room and given a lead bib. The apparatus was much fancier than the machines I had seen before. Your head is supported by a chin and head rests and horizontal and vertical laser lines guide you to keep your face central. The X-ray then goes in a circle around your face as it takes pictures. I had to keep myself from laughing and thus spoiling the scan as a music box version of a classical piece started emanating from the device. It seems that almost everything makes a tune here from the kettles at work down to X-ray machines!!

When I was done I stood in the waiting room to settle up the bill and was pleasantly surprised that the whole thing only cost around 2000 yen which at about ￡10 was cheaper than a checkup in England.

I was able to snap a picture of my X-ray so for those of you who are interested..........
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My pearly whites in all their glory!

Well I have probably grossed you out enough for today!

I wish you all good dental health!

Aomori Nebuta Festival - One of Tohoku's "Big Three"

Hey everyone!

This time I will be covering one of the 3 biggest festivals in Tohoku, the Aomori Nebuta Festival. The Aomori Nebuta -as the name gives away- is held in the Aomori prefecture and takes place for almost a week in the sweltering heat of Summer. It attracts a large number of tourists to the region every year.

I was lucky enough to take part in the festival myself. Anyone can take part in the festival procession as long as you are dressed in a the traditional dress called a haneto. The haneto consists of a coloured cotton gown  that pokes out from under a short white yukata decorated with script and characters from traditional tales. Coloured sashes are tied around the waist, and over the shoulders holding the yukata sleeves up. Traditional shoes called zori paired with tabi socks, a flowery hat (optional), and bunches of bells are fastened at various points top-off the look. Decorated towels are also often worn to soak up the sweat! The haneto can be bought in many shops around Aomori and if you don't want to fork out the money to buy one, they can be rented too!

Just couldn't resist a Nebuta Festival selfie

The Aomori Nebuta Festival is centered around the Nebuta floats which are paraded around the city from the 2nd to the 7th of August with kid's floats only being shown during the first few days and the larger floats usually only shown during the second half. The floats are based on Japanese tales, mythology or kabuki and are made out of wire and Japanese washi paper which is then painted bright colours. The structure used to be made of bamboo and were lit up using candles instead of the electronic lights used today. The floats usually weigh up to 4 tonnes with a height of up to 5 metres, and a width of 9.

Nebuta Float

I was able to take part in the final night procession on the 6th of August where the festival was beginning to reach its climax, and the usually quiet city of Aomori is alive with excitement and clangor. It takes a team of men orchestrated by a fan-bearing-conductor to move the behemoths which are accompanied by the haneto dancers and a band called the hayashi. The hayashi include flautists, cymbol players and drummers.

You can see some of the men controlling the float. Another set of men stand at the back.

Joining the throngs that are the haneto dancers you can really feel the energy. The haneto dance a two-step jig in time with a chant of "rassera rassera" that sets the bells attached to their clothes ringing in unison.

Take a look at those fancy bonnets!

These poor boys had to lug carts of ice-water around for the whole procession

Even babies can join!

Bells are often shook loose during the vigorous bouncing and children watch eagerly at the sides of the street along with the spectators hoping to catch a fallen bell. Some cheeky souls even hold out their hands begging for bells to be given to them as it is considered lucky to find one.

For those who's idea of fun isn't getting hot and sweaty and waking up with muscle pain the next morning there are plenty of places to watch the parade from the sidelines, either sitting or standing. There are also plenty of stalls selling the typical Japanese festival fare such as shaved ice and yakisoba noodles to fill your gullet with too!

 The Nebuta are judged on the three components of the float, dancers, and the band with prizes awarded to the best units. Those which win prizes are then shown during the procession on the 7th where they are carried onto sea by boat, and paraded in front of those watching from land against a backdrop of spectacular fireworks. 

Float aboard a boat during the final procession

This guy kept having to be told by the policeman to move...
 he unfortunately features in quite a lot of the photos that I took that evening

Interestingly, this year a set of Star Wars floats were created however they were only allowed to take part in the opening ceremony, the eve before the festival. Instead of being allowed to join the procession they were shown at the Wa Rasse Museum in Aomori city until the final day of the festival.

Afternoon performance on the day of the final procession

The Aomori Nebuta Festival is one of Japan's most famous fire festivals and is certainly a unique spectacle. It is one of Japan's more lively festivals so if you ever have the chance I strongly recommend coming to see the festival, and if you are brave enough, even join in!  

I'm back!!!

Hey everybody!

I'm back!!!

It's been a looong time since I last wrote a post here but I am finally back in Japan!

Now that I am back I hope to be posting here regularly.

This time around I am in Aomori which is in the the northernmost tip of the main island, Honshuu- so I hope to be able to show a you a slightly different side of Japan this time around.

However, have no fear, I plan to make lots of trips back to Tokyo and other areas of Japan so I should be writing a mix of posts!

I am still settling in and don't have a reliable internet connection yet so it may take a little longer before I can start blogging regularly but I once I am connected nothing will stop me!!!!

Well, that's all for now!

Pikachu Cafe!

Hey everyone!
So I am back with a brand new post!

A limited-time Pikachu Cafe has recently opened up in Roppongi hills!
The cafe opened on the 19th of July and will be around until August 31st. It is part of the Pokémon the Movie XY Exhibit that is being held at the Tokyo City View observation deck on the 52nd floor of the Mori Tower Building. It is pretty close to the station and right by the Spider statue in Roppongi hills so it isn't hard to get to.

Being a Pokémon fan since childhood, a visit to this restaurant was a must so a few mutually enthusiastic friends and I ventured up to Roppongi yesterday to check it out.

If you go now you can also catch a limited-time exhibit of Doraemon (a famous anime) statues which are near the permanent spider statue. There were lots of people crowded around all the different Doraemon figures so don't expect to get a snap with your favorite one straight away!

Doraemon army!

No waiting for pictures at night!

They also had a dokodemo door anywhere door from the anime which had a short queue of people waiting to take photos.

dokodemo door

 Onto the main attraction... Pokémon!

Ash Ketchum... ah, my first crush!

 The Pokémon exhibit is being held to coincide with the new film Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction which is currently being shown in cinemas in Japan.

Being on an observation deck you can bet there are some pretty good views of the city as you walk through the observation deck (It does mean, however, that you need to buy a ticket up to the observation deck as well as the exhibition, but as students this came to 1500 yen - 2000 yen for adults). You can get your photo taken with the view in the background - a mini copy of the photo is given to you for free but you have to pay for the full-sized version.

Choose your Pokémon!

 Near the beginning of the exhibit you can find out your starter Pokémon by choosing one of 4 Pokéballs and following the path to your destined buddy! It was mainly for the kids but there were plenty of adults enjoying themselves. In fact there may have been more adults then children at the exhibit!

Who's that Pokémon?!

 The exhibit had original artwork of the characters and scenes and videos showing their search for locations for the films. I had no idea that location scouting was done for cartoon films but you could certainly see how they had incorporated it into some of the sceneries of the movies.

One of my favorite parts was a dark room with lots of glowing Pokéballs and atmospheric lighting. Without wanting to give too much away you could touch the Pokéballs to find out what Pokémon would be summoned!



After looking around the exhibit we were excited to finally see the Pikachu cafe!

What a cute menu!

While in the line we were given a rather cute Pikachu shaped menu to look at.

Once you have decided on a meal you use one of these machines often seen outside ramen restaurants to pay for your meal. You insert your money and push the buttons that correspond to the dishes you want. The machine prints you a ticket which you give to the waiter after you are guided to your table.

 

The café in all its glory!

 The food at the Pikachu cafe was - as may be expected - all Pokémon themed. They had ice cream floats that corresponded to different Pokémon and came with a matching coaster.

Food on offer was: a Pikachu curry, beef stew with omelette and Pokéball rice, Pikachu burger and a Pikachu curry bun. There was also a mango flavoured Pikachu pudding and a Pikachu parfait for dessert. All the food, was naturally adorable!

Blue oranges always were my favorite fruit

As usual I couldn't resist the unnatural allure of the blue Froakie drink which was 'blue orange' flavour. I, forever the naughty child, took the Fennekin coaster instead of the matching one!

I got the Pikachu parfait for desert which had a mango Pikachu pudding on top with layers of cream, fruit, cornflakes all decorated with blue sugar shards. It was really tasty, especially the strawberry sauce layer, but the kiwi sauce at the bottom was a little too strong without the cream.

My friend had the Pikachu curry

The Pikachu pudding

The teriyaki burger was delicious!

Don't worry it wasn't all mine!

The little Pikachu factory!

After the meal we headed up to the top of the building for an amazing view of the city unmarred by the reflections of glass windows. There is a little area where a photographer will take a photo of you with the amazing scenery in the background. You can also give them your camera to take one photo so there is no need to purchase the printed version which is kind!

Don't worry, if you feel that you didn't manage to get your fill of Pokémon, you can head on down to the temporary Pokémon shop where you can shop to your hearts content!

If you are a Pokémon fan, or just like meals so cute you don't want to bite into them and you are in Tokyo before the end of August I suggest giving the Pokémon exhibit and cafe a try!