Tokyo Tuesday Nov 25

 Tuesday Nov 25 2025 - Tokyo Japan

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STEPS 15,000 2 cabs

WEATHER 13 raining and damp

We thought we had the correct name for a temple we wanted to see in    .But the cab driver spoke to a bellboy who said that was the wrong address, duh, yeah, it was seven hours away! So we opted to head to Akihabara.

— often abbreviated as Akiba — is among the most internationally famous neighborhoods in Tokyo. As you probably already know, it is THE place to go for all kinds of geekery. Akiba has the highest concentration of manga, anime merch, and maid cafés you can find in any one place on earth (not even an exaggeration). Also: electronics shops, arcades, and go-karts.

Akihabara feels like a Tokyo fever dream. It’s dense, built-up, and crowded (like much of central Tokyo), but has added touches like whole blocky buildings in bold primary colors; advertisements for virtual idols that stretch several stories high; and a clanging soundtrack courtesy of the numerous arcades, pachinko parlors, and discount electronics retailers in the area.

Akiba is one of those Tokyo neighborhoods that is a whole culture unto itself. Beyond the ubiquitous merch shops, the neighborhood is known for: gatchapon (capsule toy machines), regular-looking vending machines that sell things like bread in a can, and maid cafés.

Maid cafés are cafés where the wait staff dress in maid outfits. Specifically, those kind of ~sexy~ “French maid” costumes normally seen on Halloween. Maids (cute, sexy, demure, or otherwise) have long been popular characters in manga and anime. Then somebody had the clever idea to open the first maid café and it became a whole THING. Initially the cafés were otaku haunts but now they are popular tourist attractions.

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It started raining as we were having coffee and never really let up.

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We wandered, John tried his luck at a clamp machine, a few times, with no luck.

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We found an egg sandwich place, but didn't want to eat standing in the rain.

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Crepes

Vending machines everywhere.

A food hall we wandered through.

Instead we found a British pub, perfect for a rainy day. They had a selection of lunchtime specials at a great price. John had the hamburg spaghetti and I had the beef curry.

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Then we set out to find the Don Quixote store. That was an experience. John bought a t-shirt. We had planned on going to the bar in the hotel for nightcaps but we discovered we  could buy alcohol that was only 1,600 yen for two small bottles. A shot of scotch at the hotel was 35,000 yen, $35 CAD!

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Capsule hotels consist of tiny pod-like rooms – or sleeping pods — stacked together, providing the bare minimum in terms of space and amenities. The first capsule hotel, designed by Kisho Kurokawa, went up in Osaka in 1979. They are also sometimes known as sleep pods, cube hotels, or cubicle hotels. Inside, there’s just enough room for a person to crawl inside, lie down, and (maybe) sit up.

It was not a great day for sightseeing so we were glad that our river cruise was so early at 4:50.

Around 4 we found a cab to take us to the pier for our 4:35 river cruise. The driver took us to the wrong place and said it would be faster for us to walk to the spot.

WE ARE DOING NON - TOKYO TOWER TOUR

This tour was run like a military expedition! At first it looked like we were the only passengers but then another couple arrived. We set off at precisely 4:50. 

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We boarded a Yakatabune houseboat with a history dating back to the Heian period (794,1185) which was used for entertainment by nobles and merchants during the Edo period (1603,1868).It had tatami mats so we had to remove our shoes before entering. Then the chairs were soooo low to the floor.

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The two tables were set for us to cook our food asukiati or hot pot.We ordered two sakes (1,000 yen), the biggest glasses ever. I suspect they were watered down as neither of us felt anything.

At 5:23 we were told we could go upstairs while they cleaned the tables. If you wanted to keep your food, you could place your chopsticks across the top of the hot pot. No one did.

We were told to be back at 5:45 for the entertainment.

It wasn't raining and the views were wonderful. The Rainbow Bridge. The Rainbow Bridge (Japanese: レインボーブリッジ) is a suspension bridge crossing northern Tokyo Bay between Shibaura Pier and the Odaiba waterfront development in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Its official name is the Tokyo Port Bridge (東京港連絡橋, Tōkyō Kō Renrakukyō). The English name "Rainbow Bridge" was chosen by public vote. The bridge carries road, rail and pedestrian traffic on two decks and is a prominent element of the Odaiba waterfront skyline.

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Karen, the guide, took photos.

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Dessert - almond tofu.

Then the entertainment. It was a little awkward with only four of us, as she tried to get us to sing along, which John did with full gusto, earning her approval!

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At the end, we could get photos with the entertainers. Then off at 6:25! 

We found a cab. Most drivers would take the highway back to our hotel, no he didn't. It ended up being an hour long trip and 60,000 yen.