Announcing the Bomb Clock Contest Winner

Last week, I held a contest asking what you would do if you only had half a day in Tokyo. Reading your answers gave me a random sampling of what people thought of when they thought of Tokyo. A lot of cosplay, porn, Pokemon, sushi, and karaoke!

And some random thoughts spawned from your answers:

- Peter, you said you'd look for a vegan restaurant. I'm curious if anyone knows of one in Tokyo? I once brought a vegetarian friend from the US here, and had the hardest time feeding her. I believe vegetarianism is a Western concept, and when you ask a waitress if they have eggs or beef broth in their cooking they just look puzzled.

- Harry, you said you'd take the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra out for karaoke and DDR. That's awesome, man. If you ever do it, do let me know if they can sing and dance.

- I love the romantic "I'd kidnap my girlfriend and take her home to America with me" and "I'd look for a job so my wife and kids could be closer to the Japanese side of the family" ones. How sweet!

- My heartfelt regrets to Niko, who was hit by a taxi last time he was here. I once got my foot run over by a taxi near my parents' house, too.

It's really hard to judge whose ideal half day is the "best." But there was one that I felt grasped the full, real Tokyo experience in all its present-day quirks and beautiful traditions...

It was Vagrant's detailed account of his half-day starting at midnight the day after New Years:

My half day starts at Midnight, January 2, any year.

12:00AM
After having slept all day from the previous night activities, I'm back in Roppongi for mayhem and good times.

5:30AM
Take Toei Oedo line from Roppongi to Meiji-jingu shrine. Walk around and enjoy your buzz. On the way back to the station, look to your left before leaving the park, there's vendors with tons of food and a shop for souveniers. Eat something and drink some coffee from one of the machines.

7:30AM
Take Chiyoda line and get off at Nijubashimae. Head over to the Imperial Palace. The Emperor, Akihito, makes an appearance today and the public is allowed on the palace grounds. You'll get searched and get a flag to wave. Enjoy.

10:00AM
Take Hibiya line and get off at Akihabara. Check out the goods along the main street.

12:00PM
Done.

I like that your half day starts at midnight. I like that you don't waste a minute. I like that you see the emperor at the palace and the otaku in Akiba and the thugs and partyers in Roppongi and that you ate street food at Meiji Jingu.

Vagrant, don't forget to email me your address so I can send you your prize.

Comments

[Rog]

They do exist. Who knew..?

http://www.naturalhealingcenter.com/vegetarian.htm

"Is there any way I can enhance your dining experience by hurting an animal?"

[vagrant]

Whoa, cool! Err..umm..Sugoi!
I was just hoping to convey some fun things to do. I have done all of those, just not in the same day. Perhaps I'll give it a try in 2008. Unfortunately, I couldn't list Tsukiji, closed because of the Holiday, and Sumo starts at the end of the week.