Chapter 5 · Japan

Temples, Markets & Magic Toilets

Day three in Tokyo: Senso-ji, the Meiji Shrine, wagyu steak, and Japan's greatest gift to the world

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3rd day in Tokyo, we toured all over the place. It’s not hard to walk 8 miles a day. We’ve also been in the habit of getting up at 5:00 or 5:30 a.m., which is highly unusual — especially for vacation.

We toured around Senso-ji Temple, Ameyoko Street fish market, Akihabara Electric Town, and the Meiji Jingu Shrine, which is like a park in the middle of the city — probably my favorite place in the city. The weather was great, mid 70’s.

We had an amazing breakfast at our first stop that needs recreating once we get back home: an egg salad and steak sandwich. It was so good, I didn’t even notice we missed lunch! Other favorite meals included the wagyu steak and chicken skewers, and the dal curry — because life just isn’t right without a bit of Pakistani or Indian food.

Many of the tourist videos recommend getting to the top attractions early because it gets crowded quickly, which is so true. Probably the least crowded was the Meiji Jingu Shrine. That park was perfect to visit later in the day when the temperature peaks because you’re mostly walking under a canopy of trees with a nice breeze. You truly walk into another world in the middle of the city.

At Electric City, girls dressed in anime costumes stand about every 20 feet or so, enticing you to try their store, restaurant, or fun experience. The subway system in Tokyo gets you to every location so efficiently.

Oh, and one thing I’ve noticed… the Japanese have perfected the toilet. I haven’t sat on a cold seat yet! And they all have extravagant bidets. Yeah, I know I’m weird, but hey — I’ve used every kind, including a hole in the ground during my many travels. A good toilet is always appreciated.