Team Lab and the Miraikan

More friends visiting from Australia (back in June!) gave us the excuse to visit some big tourist attractions in Tokyo. These guys live on our street back home, so seeing them was like a big hug from the best street in the world. 

We took the train and then monorail out to Odaiba, which is in Tokyo Bay, to meet them. There is so much to do out here, but honestly, the monorail ride out was even an experience in itself. The train is completely automatic, which means the seats at the front look straight out the window and it feels like you are driving the train yourself. We were lucky that the seats were empty and the girls got to sit there for our trip out. 

It was a gorgeous day and being able to see Tokyo behind us as we headed out over the water to Odaiba was pretty cool. 

Team Lab would be one of the current go to places in Tokyo. It's a hands on art installation, and there are actually a few around - two in Tokyo and more opened up in Kyoto this year too. Tickets can be tricky to get unless you book in advance, which is what we did. It was busy, but actually didn't feel overly crowded. In comparison to Kyoto last year when we were pressed on every side as we moved with the surge of people around the gardens at Kinkaku-ji, this was surprisingly spacious. 

My favourite room was probably the orchids, which were hanging on very fine fishing line/wire in the air. As you moved closer, they were raised into the air so you could explore further in. The plants would then lower behind you as you moved through, so you ended up being surrounded by the most stunning flowers. The fragrance in the room was amazing too. 

There was a water exhibit where we had to take our shoes off, and loads of light/projection parts too. 

Some of the exhibits we just moved through quickly, while others we hung around for a while. Was definitely worth the visit though, and great to do with our Aussie friends. 

After our Team Lab experience, we walked to a local family restaurant that would fit all nine of our group with a variety of food options for everyone to choose from. Saizeria is not Japanese food, but it is a bit of a Japanese experience, and certainly an easy option if you've got a lot of hungry kids and you don't want to spend lots of money. 

Our friends had tickets to the baseball that afternoon, so we got them to their train and said goodbye. 

Since we'd come out to Odaiba, we figured we'd try to do some more out there before we headed home for the evening. Our plan was the Miraikan, which is the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation  Japan. 

The weather was hot, so being in a cool museum was a good way to spend some hours. I had a huge migraine come on and found it harder to enjoy, but seeing the talking robots was delightful. They even had some dog shaped ones who barked and interacted when they were stroked like real dogs. Slightly freaky! 

There was a big emphasis on the environment, climate change and managing our resources, which was also good to see. I will say that there wasn't a lot of English support though, so without Steve's science know-how it would have been much less interesting. 

We also got to walk through a replica of the International Space Station which was possibly the highlight of the day. Then we took the train back across the bay and home again. I would have liked to spend more time out in Odaiba since there is so much to do out there, but we seem to have run out of Tokyo time to fit it in. Oh well. Guess I'll have to come back another time. 

Visitors in Japan

Highlights of Japan also include visits with friends and family from Australia. These have been fun and provided much delight for everyone. The girls particularly have enjoyed showing off their Japanese in these situations, which has been a bit of a confidence boost when they have been feeling overwhelmed in Japanese school. They often feeling like they aren't getting anywhere, then just in time, a friendly face comes along to be appropriately in awe as the girls use their Japanese to talk, order things at shops or read the kanji on the train maps. 

Our first international catch up was with my friend from uni, who I've talked about already. We also managed to catch up with another of my uni friends who has moved around so often since uni that this might have been the first time I'd seen him in 16 years! That was a lot of fun having dinner with him and his kids at a random Saizeriya restaurant in Saitama which was a halfway point for both of us on the train line. 

Then my uncle from Sydney flew in for a week. I'd actually just started my language course in Saitama, so the timing was a little less than perfect, but we managed to catch up three times while he was here and have a great time. There is lots to do in Tokyo, so he didn't languish without us. 

I first saw him in Ginza after we had come down for a cultural experience in Asakusa. It was a cold and rainy day, so we just did shopping and then found a delicious noodle place for dinner. Warm soba was just what the weather called for. 

Ginza isn't an area we have frequented too often, so catching the train home from there in the evening was even fun. Can't believe this was the view from the station platform. 

Then on the Friday night, I dashed home to grab the girls and head back out to meet UJ for dinner together in Asakusa. I knew I wanted him to try some monja, since it's so unique. Lots of fun! 

The girls got given small toys from the box at the restaurant.

We also wandered around Asakusa, which was much less crowded in the evening as the shops closed up, but none the less vibe-y and fun. Even the closed shops were fun. And there was no ridiculous crowd here and no waiting to get a picture with the iconic kaminari-mon (Thunder Gate). 

Of course we also took photos with our favourite Tokyo landmark; Skytree. 

Then, Saturday morning, we all took a trip to Skytree together, this time actually going all the way to the observation deck to see the city from the sky. It was especially cool when we could locate our little corner of Tokyo (defined by the surrounding rivers) and know we lived down there. 

I loved the use of the Japanese motif asanoha, which was on the uniforms, on the mascot and on the ceiling. It was interesting to see it in different places with new parts of the pattern highlighted. It almost made it a new design each time. 

Skytree - so tall!

We visited the pop-up Ghibli store to see Totoro and the girls made spontaneous badge purchases. 

Lastly, we had a delicious sushi lunch at one of the restaurants "downstairs" which was on level 6 of the shopping complex that is at the foundation of the tower.  

Then off on a train to the airport went my uncle, and home we went for the evening. If anyone else is wanting to come visit, we won't say no!