Mitaka, Harajuku and Shinjuku on a parkless Monday

Monday seems to be the day all parks and gardens are closed in Tokyo, so I have still a visit outstanding to any of them. Today with had tickets for the Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka.

We left a bit late from the hotel and after a 23 minute train drive from Shinjuku station we reached Mitaka. Which looked pretty much the same as it had 2 years ago. It still has its nice bakery and confectionary shops at the station and the outside is still slightly confusing in regards to which stairs one needs to take to get down at the right place. We had decided to walk to the museum as it is only about a kilometer from the station.

As we were arriving shortly before noon at the Studio Ghibli Museum, it turned out to be quite filled, as much as they allow it to be filled (limited number of tickets per day rule). Although I was there more than 2 years ago it was pretty much still as enjoyable.

It was more crowded (slightly) and a lot more noisy than last time, so a bit more queuing (eg. to get to the roof), and the souvenir shop was filled to the brink. Got a few, mostly gifts though. We decided not have lunch here, but had a drink from one of the vending machines along the way back to the station, and for once the coffee was actually quite good.

In Shinjuku we switched to the Yamanote circle line and went to Harajuku. We were now getting quite hungry and after a quick excursion down the Takeshi street, we retraced our steps back to the opposite of the station and went for a Chinese lunch. Which was not the best one but within acceptable limits. The toilet was quite interesting with the water tap on top of the toilet, so when you flushed the water ran from the tap into the bassin of the toilet and you could wash your hands. That water would then be reused next time someone flushed the toilet. Nice water saving effort.

It was getting past 4 in the afternoon, so we made a run for the Meiji Shrine, which turned out to be good idea as they were preparing to close when we got there. We went for a quick round and when we were returning to the exit at the station it was beginning to turn dark.

We spent some time going down and up Takeshi street, browsing, before deciding that it was getting pretty late and that we were tired, so we went back to the hotel to get a quick rest and continue on to the electronics section of Shinjuku to stock up on a few things.

But after a short stay at the hotel, it was now getting around 7 in the evening, my travel companion wanted to see a night view of Tokyo. So we went to the business district and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, it was anyhow within walking distance of the hotel. After circling about a bit around the building, roads are sometimes at several levels, and sometimes it can a challenge to find the entrance to a building, we discovered that the access (at least at evening and tonight) was not available due to security reasons, So after a few pictures, we went towards the electronics area (still open as it was not 10 yet) and did a bit of browsing before turning back towards the hotel.

My food loving travel companion was in the mood for McDonalds, and I was not opposing that (needed something I knew for the stomach), got my favorite Teriyaki Burger as a takeaway and that was the dinner for today.