Matsuri, Asakusa, and A Boat Ride

So the matsuri on Sunday was scheduled to start at 11am so I didn't have to get up terribly early but still pretty early. I wore normal clothes but with my geta, the outfit matched really well actually even Terumi-san said so. Because Casey had worn new shoes the night before to the gagaku performance her feet hurt her so she had slipped a note under my door to know she wasn't coming, her loss.

Anyway, I got to the subway station right by the shrine at almost exactly 10:30am (what I had planned) and went to the bathroom to change. I got all dressed up in my full outfit and began the walk over to the shrine. I know I got a few stares, but whatever, I looked cute. When I got to the top of the shrine I was going to go in to the main part to meet Terumi-san but I ended up getting distracted by a bunch of priests and shrine maidens as well as a bunch of guys in suits. I hung around them a little to take pictures and then I headed in to meet Terumi.

It turns out that the people I saw were important people including the mayor and a bunch of politicians and businessmen. Once I met up with Terumi-san we watched the ceremonies that they performed outside and inside. There was also gagaku music I might add and it was fun to listen to. (Most shrine ceremonies are apparently accompanied by gagaku music.) After all the ceremonies inside were done these big taiko drums scared the crap out of me because somehow they got setup right behind me without me noticing and believe me when they start playing, it's loud. Then I even got to pray in the shrine! It was so cool!

After that was all done we went back outside. I took some pictures of a small group of musicians off to the side, we ate some manjyu, and then we took part in the little tea ceremony like booth they had setup there. They would make the tea in front of everyone (obviously one portion) and then everyone would get some tea and a sweet little cookie. (Obviously there was more tea being made behind the little curtain they had setup.

After we finished up with the tea ceremony I figured it was time to change clothes. It would be a little hard to move first of all and also since Terumi-san and I were going to hang out a little I didn't want to look like a total freak throughout Tokyo. I went off to the bathrooms and changed back to my outfit, still keeping on my geta though. I've gotten pretty good at walking in them and they're not too uncomfortable. The only thing that sometimes bothered me was the rubbing of the little thing that was right in between my big toes and the ones next to them.

After I got changed Terumi-san and I chatted a little while we sat and looked around. She was astounded that I could fit my yukata and my obi and everything in my bag. It was funny. Then she asked if the obi was a real one or one that had the bow in the back already made, like a clip-on bow tie or something. I told her no that it was the real thing and proceeded to pull it out of my bag. I then showed her how I tie it and she took a couple of pictures. I was really amused.

I was getting hungry so I suggested we get something to eat. Since we were so close to where I stayed last time I suggested ramen and told her I knew a good place nearby. So we walked over to the ramen shop right by the ANA Hotel. The only problem is I forgot that it's closed on Sundays. Damn. So after a little indecision we decided to walk over to Roppongi and see what we could find there.

It was gorgeous weather so I didn't mind the walk. The humidity was very low for this time in Japan and it was sunny. We got to Roppongi and ended up having ramen anyway at a little place that was surprisingly close to the TGIFriday's that Isaac and I went to last time. After lunch we walked over to the subway deciding what to do on the way. Terumi-san gave me two choices that she thought were good. The first was a boat cruise and the second was to hang out in Harujuku. And while I do want to see crazy people all dressed up in Harujuku I thought the boat cruise would be more fun.

So we hopped on the subway and headed up to Asakusa, someplace that I've actually been meaning to go to. We got off and just a little bit from the subway stop was the big temple in Asakusa. It was amazing. First you get to one big gate and from there until the other big gate on the other side is a very long row of stalls of vendors. They have everything from food to clothes and geta to bamboo parasols. It was so fun to see it all.

When we got to the other gate we entered the main part of the temple and went over to get fortunes. Terumi-san got number 89 which was very good. I incidentally got 98 which was very bad. I tied it on the little thing by the fortunes though which is supposed to help send the bad fortune away. I ended up finding a 100 Yen coin, the price of the fortune, shortly afterward so I'll take that as a good sign seeing as how my fortune thus cost nothing. Hehe.

After going into the temple and taking some pictures we went back outside. Terumi-san used the restroom and I took some more pictures. Then we headed back the way we came but on the other side of the stalls. As we walked back we passed a few cute stores that we went into but one that I really want to go back to. This particular store sells recycled kimono, obis, etc. for obscenely cheap. Isaac and I had visited a similar shop when we were in Kyoto but this place in Asakusa has obi for like 3000 Yen, so like $30. I nearly fell over when I saw that. I will definitely be going back there. Hehehe!

After that we head back past the subway to the other side where the boat cruise was. We bought our tickets and waited for the boat to arrive. I was exciting. The boat cruise went from Asakusa to down in Tokyo bay and it was also a tour of the bridges along the way, each one different. Needless to say I took lots of pictures of bridges, hehe. The cruise ended on Odaiba which is a big island-like piece of land.

After we got off the boat we wandered around the little park area right by the water. It was so pretty. I also got to take a picture of the Statue of Liberty. That's right they have a small scale one there though it's still pretty big. I had seen it from the boat and laughed so hard to myself. After that we wandered around the shopping area inside and then went to look for a place where we could get something to drink and a maybe a snack.

All over the place we had seen cute little dogs and I so wanted to pet them all. On our search for snacks and drinks we came across this guy doing juggling of spools on rope, I don't know how else to describe it, and he also made balloon animals. He was really good and really funny. We watched him for a little bit and then found a cafe where Terumi-san got a drink and I got a piece of a kinda raspberry cake and some coffee. We watched the sunset while we ate. It was absolutely relaxing and breathtaking. As we said in Japanese "kimochii!"

After we finished up we hopped on the little monorail to come back. Terumi-san and I chatted. I really like her, she's fun. She also said that she thinks I'm very Japanese. I thought that was very nice. We got to Shimbashi station and she said that she was going to get on the train with me. But I was like, "Doesn't the Ginza line go to Shibuya? Would that be faster for you?" She was floored. She was like, "Oh my! You're right! How did you know that. I'm so impressed. Thank you, that is much easier."

Hehe, way to go me. Using the Ginza line so much last time pays off. Hehe. So we said our goodbyes and I hopped on the train to go home. It was a long but fun day. I was tired when I got back to the center and eager to get out of my geta. They weren't really hurting my feet but because my big toes and the ones next to them got rubbed so much all day long my toes were swollen. I got ready for bed, watched some anime and was happy that I didn't have a lesson until the next day at 6pm. And that was Sunday.

Ok, so I'm almost there people on catching up. I have the first half of tomorrow free so I hope to get this Monday, yesterday, and today all done. Plus I'm working on putting my pictures up so you can see what I'm talking about. Ok, well it's late. Oyasumi!