A Mind Overwhelmed by the Strangeness of Things: Tokyo!

My orientation for the JET program is taking place at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo. The schedule has been crazy busy, but on our last night I was able to hop out and take a few photos. Check it out!

I thought it was funny that within a block of the hotel I found this pub:

Even in Tokyo apparently...

This was on the side of a building. It looks like it was professionally done, but I couldn't figure out exactly what it was advertising. I'm excited to learn to read Japanese so that eventually I'll know what these signs are actually all about!

This guy looked like he's having a good time

The next Japanese phenomenon I discovered was pachinko. Pachinko is crazy! Apparently there are pachinko parlors all over Japan. You walk up, push on the doors, and enter a wall of flashing lights and noise. There are rows and rows of machines, and nearly all of them are filled with Japanese men focused intently on the screens. There is no gambling in Japan, but pachinko provides a strange loophole that I don't exactly understand.

I was a bit intimidated, so I didn't sit down at one tonight. Maybe in a few weeks/months I'll figure out exactly how things go down and reach financial fame via the magic of pachinko...

Pachinko!!!

One really funny thing about Japan is that people there often attempt to translate signs into English, but since direct translation is difficult, and grammar does not translate well, there are hilarious results. There are examples all over the internet, but I really enjoyed this sign as I walked by, so I thought I'd share it. My friend that has a pretty good working knowledge of Japanese said the bar had virtual golf and darts, but I'm not sure that merits deification :).

We stopped and ate at this little place that has Udon. For those unfamiliar, Udon is a bowl of thick wheat flour noodles served with broth. You order a small or large bowl, and can add tempura (fried meats and vegetables) on the side. For a small bowl (which was actually rather large), and a giant piece of tempura chicken, shrimp, and sweet potato it costs 650 yen, or about $6.50. I think I'm going to like eating in this country!