Akihabara and Shinjuku

June 15, 2005

Today we woke up early at around 600 and decided to see what was open. Most places open at 1000 so the only places that we could go were bakeries and convenience stores. On the way to one of the bakeries we had seen, we spotted a park down an alleyway. This reminded me of Shenmue where you have to find parks and parking lots to train yourself and learn new things. Once we got closer, we noticed that there was a full obsticle course there and someone was stretching at the start of it. From start to finish there was a zip cord that you run up and ride uphill, then there was a totem pole to climb, a descent down a hill with logs on it, a rope bridge, a wall to climb up one side and dpwn the other, three trees to run around and a series of balance beams. We each ran it once before getting something to eat.

Our first destination was Akihabara, "the electric city." Comming out of the station we saw lots of electronics stores and Gamerz. Around the corner we visited Sega City where we saw the Japanese claw machines. They are much different than the ones in America. They only have 2 prongs and you have 2 buttons to control movement instead of a joystick. The first button moves the claw to the right until you let go and the second one moves the claw away from you. Once you let go, you cannot readjust the claw and there is a pressure sensor so that as soon as it touches something it will stop and close. The prizes in there are much better, but they are impossible to get. The only people who play those machines have never played them before. We toured the city and discovered that the whole district is composed of Claw Machines, anime stores, game stores and hentai stores.

Next was Shinjuku. All I will say is that there is lots of pachinco and gentlemens clubs.

At the end of the day, we were exhausted.