8 May 2010
Yokohama
Before I talk about Yokohama, time for another observation of Japan.
Japanese people do not J walk, ever. You can stand at a corner of a small back street, it will have a flashing green man to tell you when to cross, and even if its 2 steps across and there is 0 traffic in any direction, no one will dare cross.
Well, I do, and today a police officer blew his whistle with great fury at me for doing so. I stopped and waved my arms about but nothing else came of it.
The weather is perfect again, following the rain from last night its back to clear blue skies, with a cool breeze and the pollution is gone.
Getting to Yokohama only takes about 30 minutes, but the internet didnt seem to know if the Suica card was accepted once you got there (the charge is calculated when you get off). The gate for the train going there let me on fine, but it also stops at various local Tokyo stations. It was somewhat concerning that there were handwritten signs all over the machines for this line, I was guessing they were saying 'you must buy ticket for Yokohama! Suica not accept at there!'. There were big lines of people buying actual tickets before going through these gates which further added to my suspicions.
I figured if when I got there I couldnt get out the gate, I would just get back on a train and come back again without leaving the platform.
My concerns proved to be unfounded, Suica card is fine in Yokohama, someone tell the internet.
Theres 2 things to see there, well apparently 3. First of all the tallest building in Japan is there, but it looked very small to me so that was confusing.
Secondly, there is a theme park, which I went to, with a huge ferris wheel, which I went on - see extensive pictures.
Finally, There is 'world 2nd big chinatown!!!'. Not sure of the validity of that claim, but it was ok. Interestingly, Japanese people seemed genuinely curious about all things Chinese that they had there, which were mostly panda dolls, dumplings, steam buns, hot roasted chestnuts and palm readers. To me it seemed like more of Japan with slightly different food but I have a sneaking racist suspicion that for a Japanese person this is a strange new world.
Also around Yokahama was a huge baseball stadium, various nice gardens, and overall a very quiet pleasent place.
As soon as I got off the train, I spotted this off in the distance, it has a diameter of 106.5 metres, which is something like 340 feet. The London eye is 122 metres, so slightly bigger. However the Yokohama one cost $7 and had no line, hows the London eye compare in that respect?
Before I headed over to the fun park, I realised I was starving. So despite my better judgement, I opted for Subway. Now people struggle to order at subway in Australia speaking Australian to Australians. So I decided to order in English in Japan. The guy seemed well rehearsed at this and held up each of the bread choices, then I pointed at the menu, then he pointed at the toaster etc. I never had to say a word. They put much less salad on, and the bread is useless and falls apart, no crunchiness to it at all.
I think this shot is pretty cool, as far as generic tourist shots of ferris wheels go.
I did not go on that roller coaster, parts of me clenched just watching it go into that hole in the pool. A lot of doorways in Japan are made for people 4 feet tall, I have hit my head a few times and I am not that tall. Did they design the tunnel height of the rollercoaster entrance for westerners?
There was no line for the ferris wheel and I got a car all to myself, which meant I was free to moon all of Yokohama. Unfortunately the camera had trouble focusing on that so you get this instead.
You are a along way up.
Ok you get the idea by now. There was a narrator in mainly Japanese who spoke loudly for the full 20 minutes it takes to go around. The only English they say is 'and if you look now you can see mount fuji'. Well I couldnt. Today is very clear as well following the rain from last night.
Here is the entrance to china town. There is one of these huge gates on the end of about 20 streets.
The alley ways are pretty cool, lots of tiny little shops selling panda slippers.
A nearby peaceful garden, for experiencing peace.
China also has fake temples.
Here is my lunch, Goyza, $5 and delicious. As usual the lady serving me was very concerned that I might eat the chilli sauce.
Oh my god, hello kitty has been swallowed by a panda! CHINA HAS DEFEATED JAPAN! Someone call bike cat.