Crossing the Exciting Shibuya Pedestrian Scramble

So... this was all last April, just to give a time frame, and I visited Tokyo with my Mom and brothers.  Long story short, this is the second time I've been to Tokyo, and I had a list of things I'd previously done verses new things to try.  The Shibuya Pedestrian Scramble Crossing, found at Hachiko Square in Shibuya Tokyo, is the sort of thing that pops up on "to do" tourist lists.

It's a pedestrian crossing!  What's the big deal?!  Well, it's one of the most famous pedestrian crossings in the world, and on the weekend hundreds or so cross each light turn.  All the lights turn red, and you can walk any way you wish, cross or straight across when it's the pedestrians turn to go.  Everybody at once.  It's hard to describe what it's like.  I did it with Michael and Krista in 2015 and had a grand time.  So I wanted to take my Mom, Steven, and Ty.  I tried to explain what it's like, and they sort of got it, but since they let me do a lot of the planning I wanted to take them.

Heh, goodness, the reactions they all had as we crossed the first time!  There's a little adrenaline rush, all the energy of the people around you heading in crazy directions.  My Mom wanted to cross several times, so I'm not sure how many times we did cross.  Not too many times, but a few, and we laughed each time.

We wanted to see the crossing from a vintage point, because they exist, and we saw an above walkway, but couldn't figure out how to get to it.  We went into one building, went up several flights, one dead end after another, and then realized the time and decided to head back to the hotel unsuccessful.  Heh, this then led to the two plus hour escapade where we got on the wrong train twice, which I already blogged about.

Shibuya is a really fun place to visit.  On this trip we stuck to the crossing as we ran out of time and wanted to get back before train lines start shutting down.  The previous trip Michael, Krista, and I went into stores, ate at a steak restaurant where you stand the whole time with giant bibs, and found the coolest Disney store.  Disney stores in Japan are so cool and have completely different, unique inventory.

 They were amazed.

 Oh man, new bucket list item!!!!   Okay, this was the first time I'd seen these go-karts going about Tokyo.  We were like, "Are people really allowed to drive go-karts?! That's so cool!!"  Sure enough I get back to the States and suddenly little videos start popping up on Facebook about it... freaky.  But apparently you can ride go-karts, Mario Kart style, through both Tokyo and Osaka.  And now I really need to do this.  I want to return to Japan so bad.  Writing this blog post isn't helping.  But go-karting through Japan just seems amazing.

 Celebrating Hachi, the faithful dog.  It's a really cool story worth looking up.

 And if you read the story about our crazy train experience, this is us finally getting to the right spot after frustration and worry.  Oh man, I guess you haven't fully experienced Japan until you've realized you're on the wrong train at least once.  Just happy we got it worked out.

 Finally on the right train.  I do not look amused. :P

Disney!!!!!

I love the Tokyo Disney parks!!!!!!!!

Now I'm like... :\ I need to visit again.

Happily back at the hotel.

Eating Steak While Standing in Shibuya Tokyo, Ikinari Steak

 Within the first 48 hours in Japan I was starting to go into protein withdrawal.  A part of that is the fact that I'm carbohydrate sensitive, and I get sick if I eat too many carbs, and so much of Japanese food involves carbs: Rice and Noodles, with a dash of protein on top.

So on Monday, October 6th, I literally said a morning prayer for guidance.  Both my sister-in-law Krista and I have carbohydrate sensitivity, and we were both struggling. So I prayed for help, hoping we could find a meal protein heavy to help stabilize our blood sugar levels.

We didn't know where to go, and after spending an hour or so in Shinjuku buying our NEX tickets, we decided to get something to eat in Shibuya.  There was bound to be something we would come across.

And sure enough, it was Google Maps acting silly that led us to Ikinari Steak.

One of our afternoon goals was to buy Tokyo Disney Sea tickets from the Disney Store, and I was following the map from the station, waiting for its slow updates as we trekked along.  The distance was quite close, but for a moment the map randomly had us cross the street, unnecessarily, and then cross back to the same sidewalk.  Even though it didn't make sense to follow the guidance, especially since I could look up and see, within a few blocks, such a move was pointless, I decided to follow the path Google Maps displayed.

Right before crossing back to the other side of the street, Disney Store in sight, a man was handing out fliers, and even though I didn't take one, it caused me to turn around.  Michael turned around, too, as we waited for the light to turn, and he saw the sign for steak, the same sign I was starring at.

And a quick discussion, we were starving after all, we decided to give it a try.

 It was a standing restaurant!

I'd read and seen programs about places like this in Tokyo.  Restaurants where you stand, encouraging you to eat fast and leave, no meandering and talking afterwards.

And they gave us giant bibs!  Everyone was wearing one.

After struggling with Google Translate to read the menu, the waitress brought us English menus, which was quite handy.

 I asked for a medium steak, and it was perfect!

So, so yummy.

Corn, steak, salad, and rice.

There was almost a miso taste to the steak, though I couldn't be sure.

 And as we waited we could watch the chef prepare our food.

This was honestly my favorite meal of the trip.

Walking About Shibuya, Tokyo Japan, Day 2

 Two of our five full days in Tokyo were half days, due to jet lag.  Sleeping in was a necessity.  Day 2, Monday, was a short day, relaxed and spontaneous, in which we did get some important things accomplished as well.  We navigated around Shinjuku Station to get our bearings, since we would be traveling through this "World's Busiest Train Station" everyday for the rest of the trip (P.S. if you avoid the mall inside Shinjuku train station, you won't become a buried alive tourist.  The station is actually not that intimidating if you know exactly where you're coming from, where you're going, and if you need to change lines (Odakyo to JR, for example).  We bought the tickets to ride N.E.X (Narita Express) on our last day to the airport, just to get that taken care of.  And we went to Shibuya to buy Tokyo Disney Sea tickets for Day 3, Tuesday.

I was excited to FINALLY get the witness the famous Shibuya Crossing, aka the Pedestrian Scramble.

 I mainly took video of it, because still pictures don't do it justice.  Seeing everyone crossing every which way across the street was really fun.

(P.S. when you exit Shibuya station, follow the signs to the Hachiko exit, which is next to the crossing.  Very easy.  There's a statue of the famous Hachiko dog--there was even an American movie made to honor this beloved, faithful pet--alas, I couldn't find it, but honestly I didn't look hard enough.  I was too busy being distracted by lights, sounds, commotion, and an empty stomach.)

 On the way to the Disney Store we ate at a yummy steak restaurant, but that deserves its own blog post :0)

 The Disney Store is a short walk from the station.

 If there's a cute character in a Disney film, they are idolized in shows and merchandise, even the obscure characters.

 The Shibuya Disney Store has three levels, and on the top level you can buy tickets to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea.

 Venturing out again.

 Shibuya 109.  I've seen this fashion mall highlighted on NHK World so many times, a few of which on Tokyo Eye.  (PS, you can download and stream live NHK World free to your phone.  It's fantastic, all in English spoken/subtitled.)

It's been my dream for years to visit 109 and buy cute fashion, goodness, this trip was hard in one way: Dealing with the shame of gaining so much weight.  In America I'm pretty much normal.  In Japan I'm full on overweight.  It was really, really getting to my self-esteem/self-worth.  But I was finally in Shibuya, and even though I couldn't fit in any of the clothes, I wanted to see them anyway.

109 is unique in that the girls who work in each boutique wears the clothes they're selling.  The latest in Tokyo fashion is represented in about 10 stories.  Go up one escalator, circle around, up another, circle around, up another, etc.  There's a couple eateries.  And at the top there's a Sanrio store, in which I bought my two nieces cute My Melody items.

It was, overall, interesting, facing my fears that way, facing myself, and realizing that, even though I'm at this point in my life, struggling, I'm still beautiful.  We all have our crosses to bear, and a couple of my crosses led to weight gain.  But that's okay.  I've lost ten pounds since mid-Summer.  And this time I've been really focusing on my mind, heart, and spirit in the process.  I want to be healthy inside and out, spiritually and physically.  It's a slow process.  But the slowness is necessary for permanent success.

It was a good experience.

 On the way back to the apartment we stopped in Harajuku to visit Meiji Shrine, but it was five minutes from closing.  The security guard still let us in, and we walked really fast, but we didn't make it to the shrine.  The trees were oh so pretty.

We vowed to try and visit again before our trips end.

Back in Tsurukawa we ate at a noddle place close to the station, ordering from a ticket machine.

I took this picture to prove I DID eat some Japanese food on the trip!!!  Heh, and I learned a valuable lesson that soup soaked shrimp tempura is impossible to lift with chopsticks.