We started our two weeks in Japan in Tokyo. Staying at the Hotel Edmont that’s walking distance from the train station. This location was a great base location for our destinations around Tokyo. Sean & Melissa had planned most of the activities for us, buying tickets etc. It was great traveling to Japan with our kids and grand-kids since their viewpoints are so refreshing.
Day 1: “G-Day”
Shinjuku Godzilla Head, Toho Theatre
Just a short scavenger hunt to find Godzilla in Shinjuku. Rising over the Toho Theatre there, is Godzilla, well just the head & neck but a fun place if you are a Godzilla fan.
Gotokuji Temple: Toyko’s Maneki Neko ‘Lucky Cat’ Temple.
I expected to see live cats at this ‘cat temple’ but in hindsight I guess that’d be silly.
According to atlasobscura.com: “Legend has it that during the Edo period, the final era of traditional Japanese government, a cat under the care of a priest at Gotokuji Temple led a feudal lord to safety during a thunderstorm. The cat beckoned the lord and his servants inside with a waving gesture—hence all maneki-neko statues have one paw raised.”
The thousands of white ceramic waving-paw good luck cats will be very familiar to those seeking good luck & good fortune.
A hard-to-get ticket in Tokyo is the Ghibli Museum but Sean managed to secured tickets for all of us for 4pm, the last entry time of the day. Like Disney in the US, the Ghibli characters, such as Totoro, are Japanese animation’s most beloved characters.
The museum describes & archives the humble beginnings and rigorous process of creating these amazing characters & animating them. The analog processes are described in detail through the many displays and authentic work-spaces. (Tip: ask the information desk for an English language guide since all the descriptions are in Japanese.) Unfortunately, photos inside the museum are forbidden so I could only photograph the rooftop garden & exterior spaces of this magical place.
