Ern in Tokyo: Tokyo Tour Guide / 東京案内人

I usually like writing my pieces in chronological order and as I said on my previous post, I have a lot of things to write about but haven't gotten around to writing them yet. A friend of mine had given me a load of B-movie DVDs and I've been spending more time watching them then writing on my blog. Apparently my brother-in-law has been waiting to read my new posts as well and said I shouldn't be wasting my time writing about instant noodles. So, I'm going to skip into the future and write about being a guide for an American's first trip to Japan. I received mail from a childhood friend of mine asking me if I wouldn't being his guide if I have the time as it would be his first trip outside the U.S. And I couldn't refuse a request from my childhood friend.

普段は体験した事を順序良く書いているが、ネタも貯まっていますが、最近は家で自分勝手のB級映画祭に夢中になってます。友達から大量のB級映画のDVDを貰いまして、個人ブログより、映画鑑賞を優先してたところです。今回はちょっと時間を飛ばして、私が東京案内人になった話です。２、３週間前に久しぶりに幼馴染からメールが届いた。働いてる会社の部下が一人旅で日本に行く予定。それに、この旅行は彼の初海外旅行。時間があれば、案内してくれますかと聞かれて、幼馴染のリクエストは断れませんよ。

American Tourist, Bryan in Japan / アメリカ人観光客のブライアン

As most of the places we went, I have featured in previous posts so there may not be as many pictures as there would be in one of my "neighborhood walks".

案内した場所は以前のネタでいろいろ紹介したので、「近所散歩」のネタほど写真は撮ってません。

Bryan had sent me his proposed intinerary for his trip so I thought I would try to hit as many of the places that were on his list. Today I figured we would check out Takeshita Dori in Harajuku, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya, then to the Carrot Tower in Sangejaya where we will meet up with my wife. We were going to take to our favorite ramen shop, Miso Ichi and after lunch we would head to Asakusa to check out the Sensoji Temple, the Sky Tree and Kappa Bashi. I met up with in front of the Hachiko statue in Shibuya station. We first took the Yamanote Line to the next station over to check out Takeshita Dori in Harajuku. It was still fairly early in the morning so the area was not crowded and it being a weekday, there were no Goth Girls to look at.

ブライアンが自分の予定表を私に送ってくれた。それで、出来るだけ、そのリストに載ってる場所に連れてあげおうと思った。今日は原宿にある竹下通り、明治神宮、と代々木公園に行って、渋谷を通って三軒茶屋のキャロットタワー（嫁と合流して）、そのあと三人で昼食を食べて、浅草の浅草寺、スカイツリー、と河童橋に行く。渋谷駅のハチ公前で待ち合わせして、山手線に乗って原宿へ。最初は竹下通りを探索。まだ朝早いか、まで込んではなかった。表参道のほうに回って、明治神宮へ。

Wall of Sake on the Meiji Jingu Temple Grounds / 明治神宮の酒の壁

After checking out Meiji Jingu, we walked around Yoyogi Park - I told Bryan we would be here again tomorrow for the Laos Festival. We then walked to Shibuya and caught a bus to Sangejaya and headed up to the 26th floor of the Carrot Tower as we waited for my wife to get off work. We then headed to Miso Ichi Ramen for lunch. Afterwards, the three of us headed to Asakusa to check out Sensoji Temple, the Sky Tree, and Kappa Bashi.

明治神宮を見たあと、代々木公園もちょっと探索。上記の花たちと壁画の写真は代々木公園で撮ったもの。渋谷に戻って、バスを乗って三軒茶屋へ。キャロットタワーの最上階で町を眺め、僕の嫁が仕事を終るの待ってった。合流したら昼食は味噌一のラーメン屋へ。食べ終わったら浅草へ。

Giant sandal at Sensoji Temple / 浅草寺にあるデッカイ草履

Tokyo Sky Tree / 東京スカイツリー

A Kappa at Kappa Bashi / 河童橋に居た河童

Also, as I mentioned before, Mikako and I love walking around Asakusa. We always seem to find something new. Our treat on this excursion was discovering the Higashi Honganji Temple.

僕と美香子は浅草を散歩するのが大好き。いつも新しいものを発見する。今回初めてみたのは東本願寺。