Back in Tokyo - Harajuku and Shibuya

First day of spring (two days before trip): sunny, warm. No snow fall for a few days, nearly all of it has melted off the pavement (it's still around on the grass). Shaping up to be a good start to the season. At this rate, I can wheel my suitcase to the station on clear sidewalks.

Second day of spring (day before trip): wake up to a fresh 30 cm of snow.

Day of trip: drag my suitcase through the snow to the station.

Yes, I was upset. The same thing happened three times this month - snow stopping and the weather warming up for a few days, then suddenly the snow and cold are back with a vengeance. 

Please go away, winter.

Lauren and I started off Tokyo right with our first meal - Mcdonalds.

 The teritama burger: teriyaki sauce and egg.

 After that, we went to Mister Donut.

 Lauren was exhausted from her flight and the time difference, we we turned in early.

On Sunday morning, we went to Harajuku to check out all the clothing stores. The most crowded area, on the busiest day. Here's Lauren with Suica's penguin mascot, creatively named Suica Penguin.

 Takeshita St was packed, and full of foreigners. I heard a lot of people speaking English.

 We went into a lot of shops selling a lot of cute and extravagant clothes, and all of them forbade photography.

We went to a little shop called Choo Choo, and it was just full of cat merchandise.

 We also went to the handmade candy store.

This candy is Shizuka-chan from Doraemon.

 Adidas is doing a collaboration with this artist who does bizarre things like this. It's a little much even for me.

 I liked this street mural.

We got cute gelatos at Eiswelt. They also make chickens, bunnies, bears, and unicorns.

 We walked from Harajuku to Shibuya.

 Shibuya's Arrow Tree.

 The Hachiko statue. Such a good boy. He's famous for coming to Shibuya station every day for nine years after his owner died, waiting there to meet him.

Shibuya's famous Scramble crossing, as busy as always.

 And here's the 109 building, a major landmark. Copyright-friendly versions of this building often appear in Japanese media, bearing names sch as 106 or 104.

 The 109 building is almost entirely full of women's clothing stores. Lauren bought a dress.

 Ramen for dinner. Miso for Lauren, spicy garlic for me.

 Look how tiny the smallest maneki neko is. Note: there are eight cats in the picture, not seven.

 Rump Cap and King of Beef!!

Such a big city. It's a real change from my life out in the boonies. I got sardine-packed in the train, and swept up in the crowds on the streets. And it's not winter! I even went out without a jacket and felt warm sunlight on my face.