Day of Contrasts - 25 Oct

Gardens and Theme Parks

Today turned out to be as the kids put it "the best day ever!". Started out with Jun coming over and us finally finishing the last chapter of the textbook I've been reading for him. It's been a real eyeopen to read the theory of music chapter, so complex, I'd have thought it was a science textbook! He says it's been a great help to him, so I'm very happy to know that I've been contributing to his learning.

I should point out that the ‘best day ever’, as far as the kids were concerned, hadn’t quite begun.

I had arranged to meet Yoko one of my closest friends from when I was a student at Seikei for lunch today, close to where she lives and works near Suidobashi. She’s an author and editor and used to write articles for a dive magazine, now focusing on health books, booming here in Japan. She has a son in highschool and works from home so we were lucky that she could spend some time with us during the day.

When she rang that morning to confirm our lunch date, she said that there was a lovely garden near where she lived and we could meet there and have lunch, as long as the rain held off. We were praying it would because earlier in the week when I spoke to Zoe about this being our last week, and asked her what one thing she’d like to before we left Tokyo, she said she’d like to see a Japanese Garden. When I told Yoko this, she said she’d been worried that it wouldn’t interest the kids, so she was really happy.

When we arrived there we decided it would be better to eat lunch before we started the long walk round the gardens. So we waited for a table at the popular Japanese restaurant at the entrance of the gardens and the kids got to try a very traditional ‘bento’ (lunch box) which of course had certain foods that after they tried them, the kids couldn’t eat, but also contain quite a bit of what they could, so it was a good mix for them.

Yoko and I sat chatting and reminiscing for some time and couldn’t believe how time flies. We promised to see each other again soon, and keep in touch more than once a year. Then, as I’ve been feeling more confident using my Japanese during this trip, I’ve been making sure all our friends have my skype address to be able to keep in touch more regularly.

It turned out to be a beautiful garden hidden away in the centre of the city, built by the Tokugawa family and is now kept by the city, so we’re lucky enough to be able to see it. A couple of interesting points regarding the garden were, the number of Koi (carp) in the ponds which Grant and Zoe ended up not only feeding, but since they are so desperate for food, they come very close which makes it easy to pat them. Also there is a huge carved stone shrine there dedicated to what I thought must have been the shoguns wife or someone special, but when we got close we and some other Japanese had a bit of a giggle when we read it was dedicated to his falcon! One other interesting point was that it has a small working rice paddy located in the grounds and children from the local schools come and learn all about rice farming and have the chance to get their hands and feet dirty.

The garden was beautifully green and had some lovely ‘bonsai’ styled trees, but when we saw photos at the rest area at the end, we realised that we were here at one of it’s least beautiful times in terms of Japanese aesthetics. The leaves on the Japanese Maple trees haven’t changed colour, the Cherry and Plum trees weren’t in bloom nor was it covered in a blanket of white snow. However, to us the lush green of the trees and moss was gorgeous enough for Zoe to take a sd card full of photos.

The last interesting point regarding the garden was the fact that it was right next door to the Tokyo Dome sports and entertainment centre and then, this is where the ‘best day ever’ comes into it, when you get to the other end of this huge garden, you can not only see but hear, the huge rollercoaster at the Tokyo Korakuen (theme park).

Of course as soon as Zoe realised what it was, her eyes lit up and on seeing this, Yoko asked if she’d like to go on it. Well, those of you who know Zoe well, could imagine her reaction, screaming and jumping up and down. Grant of course was adament that he was going nowhere near it. However, once Yoko explained that there were other tamer rides, he was more than happy to go along.

So after the beautifully serene gardens we walked the 15 mins to Korakuen and the chaos and noise of the rides. Though today being a Monday and an overcast day, we realised how lucky we were to be here on such a ‘quiet’ day. Yoko, had a suspicion that the kids may like to come here and had brought along a couple of day passes that she had been given, so that the kids could go on what they like. When I told her that she had made the kids’ day, she was so happy that she had ‘chosen well’. I also told her that Zoe had missed out on Disneyland in Tokyo, so this had been a great compromise, especially given the day (no crowds and cool weather), the kids would get to ride on double the rides that we experienced at Disneyland.

Firstly we headed off in the direction of the Dolphin Jet Coaster, and before Yoko had to go, we went over to the huge ferris wheel so that we could have a look at Tokyo from a different angle. Man it was high, so it gave the kids a good look at the layout of the park and what other rides were there.

After this we said goodbye to Yoko, again feeling so lucky to be able to meet and spend time together, but both of us feeling a sad at having to say goodbye again so soon.

So the kids spent the afternoon running from ride to ride and by nightfall, Zoe had decided to brave the Dolphin Jet Coaster on her own as Grant had refused from the outset to go on it. After the 45 second ride she couldn’t wait to get back on it, and at seeing that, Grant also decided to give it a go. Needless to say, they both went on a couple more times and thoroughly enjoyed it. The most fun part for me was watching as each “train” left, and seeing the attendants farewell each group of passengers, with shouts and cheers and then on their return, they encouraged everyone waiting to clap and cheer and say “well done” as they pulled up. Very cute.

By the end of the day, the kids were on a high and as we made our way, late again, through the busy train stations and crowded trains, the kids could care less. We met Mari at Kichijoji station and it was once more off again to Richoen for Yakiniku for dinner, where Zoe braved ‘tongue’ , Grant tried liver and we all had oxtail soup (though I told the kids it was a weird Japanese vegetable he he he). Afterwards we made a brief stop at Mari’s to check on Mako-chan (the kitten) and then it was off home, satiated in more ways than one.