We wake up around 5AM Tokyo time. It's too early for breakfast (we have an assigned time so that the hotel can handle our ravenous horde in a orderly fashion), so we decide to explore around our hotel a little. From our window, the most imposing sight near the Keio Plaza is the construction of the controversial new city hall building. It will be the tallest building in Tokyo. Beyond it, though I can see Shinjuku Chuo Koen. I gravitate towards the greenery. I also hope that JQS can run off some energy before he has to stay up in the hotel room alone while I attend a day of orientation sessions.
My normally excellent sense of direction is thrown off. Without a horizon and with rainy skies, I can't get my bearings. Near the hotel, there's a street map. I orient myself north on it, but later I discover that the top of the map is not north. So I'm more twisted around than ever.
This map would have been really useful.
Odd Bits
We will have to buy umbrellas. In front of the hotel, is what I think is an umbrella parking lot. Before you enter the hotel, you lock the umbrella in a slot, rather like a coin locker. No one seems to wear raincoats here.
Posted by M Sinclair Stevens
August 01, 2003
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