I woke up this morning (much too early) and looked out my window and noticed for the first time that beyond the clutter of Shibuya is a dense knot of trees, a few acres in size. On the other side I can see that really ridiculous latticed building in Shinjuku, but it was the trees that interested me. So, I decided to go for a walk and see what it is. The answer, it turns out, is Yoyogi Park, which was less relaxing than expected. It’s currently under reconstruction in a bid for the 2016 Olympics (and because Japan is always in a state of reconstruction; it’s a growth industry). Each bench I passed was staked out as a bed by a homeless person. The public bathrooms make Texas roadside restrooms look sanitary. And then a crow lighted in a tree above me and pooped with such force that it struck the ground and the spatter hit my shirt. This trip is not off to a good start!
Despite the awfulness of Yoyogi Park, it was nice to get away from the familiar setting of central Shibuya and into more residential areas where everything isn’t catering to tourists and teens. Which isn’t to say there isn’t all kinds of fascinatingly misused English to be found there, though! I passed a building, very austere and granite-façaded, called simply “Life Creation.” Maybe I’ve just been playing too much Persona, but seeing a sight like that tucked away in the recesses of Tokyo was really kind of eerie.
I’m actually having less time to write than I’d expected since everyone wants to be all social and crap. But I’d hate for this post not to have some sort of game content to it, so here is a link to my Halo 3: ODST review. Weirdly, readers have been a lot more receptive to my opinions than I had expected! Being earmarked for a high-profile review like this is usually a ticket to have the Internet poop on you, much like a Yoyogi crow, but not this time. I don’t know what to think. Just when I assume I have the Internet all figured out, it gets all civil on me. Freaks.
Change that score to a B+ and you’ll see what the internet is really capable of.
You walked (essentially) from hachiko to the Meiji Jingu? I am jealous. I’ve always wanted to do that.
I’m saddened and surprised by this news of Yoyogi Park being under construction. I went there for the first time last year and found it a wonderfully quiet place in contrast to the rest of Tokyo.
Isn’t a bird pooping on you supposed to be good luck though?
Since you were at the park on a Sunday, did you catch the greasers doing their ’50s-dancing near the entrance?
pst! Andrew, it’s Monday there.
Maybe I’ve just been playing too much Persona, but seeing a sight like that tucked away in the recesses of Tokyo was really kind of eerie.
If you’d played Nocturne, seeing construction going on in Yoyogi Park would have creeped you out even more.
Ah Japanese public bathrooms. Always a gamble.
Is there a Heybooboo park there too? Are they both located in the Jellystone prefecture? Inquiring minds want to know!
Where’s my cynical Parish gone?
Clearly the positive reaction to your ODST review is a result of your review being one of the more positive of the bunch…
Come on! Let’s turn those rainbows into rain.
So, Parish, how large was the check?
[/sarcasm]
(I didn’t know stuff in angle brackets disappeared. >_> )
You can actually use angle brackets by typing < and >.
</The More You Know!>
Hang on, does that imply that you’ve never been to Meiji Jingu?
Shame on you Jeremy. Infinitely better than Yoyogi Koen, but unfortunately no greaser dancers or bad student bands on Sundays.
Best time to go is first thing in the morning, as the sun is rising, i.e. after a big night out. Walk all the way north, almost to Shinjuku to the clearing in front of the museum. You’ll be glad you did.
I spent several hours at Meiji Jingu last year.
fair enough! Shouldn’t have doubted :)