It rained hard just about all day and despite that, I went out and tried to get some stuff done. I started at B Store (in a previous blog I said it was called B Sugar, which would be a better name) for a delicious pastry and extended time in the upstairs lounge with juice and coffee.
Then ostensibly just to return a T-shirt to Uniqlo, I did some shopping. I found myself in Tokyu Hands, which sold used records, but also games, cosmetics, housewares, umbrellas, and hats. Somehow in Japan that makes sense. It was all pretty cool stuff and I bought a hat, an umbrella, and some face lotion.
I walked through the covered shopping area I’d found on my first night here and returned the shirt to Uniqlo and bought two more.
I went back to my hotel and snacked before setting off again for the Apple store and a new SIM. The incredibly helpful worker at Apple tried everything to get my SIM to attach to 4G, which it had dropped after I left Tokyo. I had been able to use Google Maps but not my e-mail or social media when I left WiFi. I still wonder how so many people seem to understand how phones work so much better than me.
I trudged around in the appalling rain, found Bic Camera, and after a pointless, extended question-and-answer session with a phone translator, I bought a new SIM card. There was no time for them to install it before I needed to leave for my massage. I was wandering aimlessly looking for a taxi. I finally found one, and soaking wet, I arrived late for my massage. It was really wonderful and very helpful. I suspect today I would have started to feel better with or without the massage and I do. I’m averaging 8 miles a day of walking, so after the days of 14 and 16 in Tokyo, it seems much easier.
Then I found a meal in the basement food hall of a department store and went back to my hotel to eat, pack, do laundry, and dry out. I tried to install my SIM, but of course, I couldn’t. I feel like it will be the one thing I can never do. The instructions said to enter a passcode and showed where it was. It was in Japanese. I used my Deepl app where you point your camera at the text and it translates it. Now given that the translator previously said my wine was made of chicken, I’ll tell you that it said the passcodes said: don’t use your hands or mouth to open the package and don’t hurt your hands or mouth when you open the package.
Next is Hiroshima and happily, the sun is out as this is supposed to be the most beautiful Shinshanken high-speed train ride in Japan,
Pictures;
- When you try a shirt on in Japan, they ask you to put the mesh bag over your face to prevent makeup from getting on the clothing. Good idea but it looks silly.
2. A little city water feature with actual places to sit down is obviously nicer when it’s not pouring.
3. Some odd banner with a reference to paper dolls. This is for Charlotte.
4. A close-up of the contents in the giant, plastic gumball containers which seem to be filled with plastic “collectibles” of miniatures of Red Wing Shoes, treats from Denny’s, which seems popular here, dolls, Gozilla memorabilia, and who knows what else. Japan has a serious plastic problem. They don’t even see cognizant of the issue.
5, 6, 7. Tulips braving the rain, and two pictures of pro cycling and umbrella-holding skills from the upstairs window at B Store.
8. My pastries at B Store, served with homemade ice cream
9. Leaving my hotel in the rain
10. Very scary cat, wearing PJs in a store. This is also for Charlotte.
Rain
