As promised in my last blog post, I will transport you through time and space to Tokyo. No need for a time machine or a magic carpet. In this pandemic, the #NewNormal way to travel is via your imagination.
But before I take you to Tokyo, I’d like to share the Didache reflection I wrote for June 2, 2018 first. It will give you the background why our Japan trip is a true-blue Travel Blessing.
UNFRACTURED FAITH
“To the one who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished and exultant, in the presence of his glory…” – Jude 17: 24
Crack! My ankle turning the wrong way brought not just pain but dread. I instantly remembered my friend whose fractured foot is now in a cast. I CANNOT be in a cast! My children and I were leaving for Japan in a few days. Everything had been arranged and paid for. And I needed to be on my feet to do a million things before we leave like giving a talk for our Solo Parents Outreach.
I could barely walk so my son told me to get an x-ray, but I refused. He asked, “What are you going to do if it’s fractured?” I replied with conviction, “I will claim, in Jesus’ name, that it’s not. Just request prayers for me.”
I’m a classic Doubting Thomas when it comes to my faith. Fears my prayers will not be answered the way I want usually prevail. But that was one rare moment I refused to take “no” for an answer. I was adamant God would hear me. And it seemed all God wanted to see was an unfractured faith before manifesting His glory. I enjoyed the tours like I didn’t have a sprained ankle.
In one of the recent QuaRetreat reflections, Bro Arun said that wherever God sends us, He goes before us to prepare the way. Our Japan trip was surely pre-arranged by God. The free and easy travel package with our own driver/guide and van was a blessing to my sprained ankle.
So now, come away with me to Tokyo.
Our first stop was the Meiji Shrine, Tokyo’s most prominent Shinto shrine. For me, it was the perfect place to start the city tour because it exuded the Japanese characteristics of tranquility and reverence.
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| The Torii gate at the entrance towers at 40 feet and is made of 1,500 year old cypress |
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| Kazaridaru, decoration barrels, give honor to the gods |
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| Sake barrels offered every year by sake manufacturers for the shrine to use in ceremonies and festivals |
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| The chrysanthemum and bonsai exhibit which I thoroughly enjoyed because I love flowers and miniatures |
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| Before entering the shrine, we first had to pass by the Cleansing Station, a communal water tank used to purify hands and supposedly the mouth before offering up a prayer. (I didn't notice people washing their mouths though.) |
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| These votive tablets are for making wishes or for special prayers and expressions of gratitude towards deities. The prayer is written on the reverse side and the tablet hung around the divine tree. |
Next, our guide brought us to Harajuku. It’s main street Omotesando is lined with high fashion shops. It’s a major luxury shopping destination.
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| Omotesando Avenue |
Of course, we didn’t miss the famous Shibuya Crossing. The mad scramble at the intersection and the tall buildings flashing their neon signs is iconic of metropolitan Tokyo.
And at the Shibuya Station, we took time to visit Hachiko, the faithful dog immortalized with a statue. That day we were there, he sported a crown and a sash (I forgot to ask our guide what it said). He also had a visitor nestled between his legs – a cat with a scarf. People were jostling to snap a photo of that, and I was lucky to get in a quick shot.
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| Hachiko at the Shibuya Station |
The Imperial Palace was next in our itinerary. I already told you in my previous post about that unplanned stop there for a photo op.
These were the other sights we saw:
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| Tokyo Central Station |
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| Tokyo Skytree |
The Senso-ji Buddhist Temple in Asakusa was a far cry from the serene Meiji Shrine. It was touristy with many shops lining the path which I would have enjoyed immensely if we had more time to shop. They had very tempting wares just begging me to buy them.
Another must-see was Akihabara with its electronics retail shops. I remember when I was young, my Papa brought home a small portable tv for me which I found so cool. Nobody, among the people I knew, had that. He bought it in Akihabara.
Then we crossed the Rainbow Bridge, a suspension bridge, going to Odaiba, an artificial island in Tokyo Bay.
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| Rainbow Bridge |
There were 3 remarkably interesting things we saw in Odaiba:
The mini Statue of Liberty overlooking the bay.
The Aqua City robot receptionist. Until we took a closer look, we thought she was a real person.
The giant Gundam (RX-78-2) statue.
My friends from our Editorial Board Light Group (our small prayer circle) told me to make sure we visit the Diver City Tokyo Plaza because of this huge statue. I wondered why a hit song, Korean at that, would have a giant statue in Japan. Imagine my surprise when I saw the robot. We had a laughing fit when I told them about this when I got home. Gundam, Gangnam…starts with a G ends with an M…how would I know, I’m not into robots. 😊 (I read the RX-78-2 which we saw was removed in 2017 and replaced by the Unicorn which is taller)
The next day, our guide drove us through the ritzy Ginza district for more window shopping – we literally just saw the display windows. (Oh how well she knew me by then – cheap is life!)
When we were deciding on the day’s itinerary, it was a toss-up between Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea since we only had time for one place. Star Tours sealed the deal for Disneyland since we’re all Star Wars fans. I was in college the first time it was shown, and I made sure to watch every episode. When the first movie was released again, I brought my boys to watch and they got hooked too. (Notice Jaffy’s Stormtrooper bag tag in all pictures with his back view). The last time we went to Disney World in Florida there was no Star Wars feature yet. Thus, the Force of Disneyland was stronger. It was a Star-y end to the Tokyo leg of our trip.
