Day 24 - Part 1 - Robots!
So we had said goodbye to our theme park touring on this trip, but we still had plenty of fun left to experience in Tokyo. Tokyo city is incredible, and the city has plenty of experiences that make it seem fantastical, in therefore in a way theme park like. The best way I can describe this wacky and over the top crazy Japanese culture is by the phrase Jared and I have coined over our few visits to Tokyo "only in Japan". This modern Japanese counter-culture, which showcases over the top art, fashion and entertainment, can be best described as imaginative and child like. While there is plenty of traditional culture and sites to see in Tokyo, this counter-culture, with it's fun and bright optimistic craziness, is one of our favourite things about Japan. I really love Japan's history and culture in general, but I love how I am constantly surprised by it's kookiness too!
The reason I'm going on about this counter-culture is because on our first night in Tokyo City we experienced just one of these many "only in Japan" experiences, the Robot Restaurant.
But before I get ahead of myself, well start where we left off, at the Tokyo Disney Resort. We had checked into the Tokyo Hilton Bay on our last night (to save some money!). The hotel was nice, simple but well appointed, plenty of space and a large bed. It was within easy walking distance from the Bayside Station, the Tokyo Disney Resort Line station closest to the partner hotels in the property (there are about 6 hotels here, two Western chains - the Hilton and the Sheraton). The next morning we checked out as late as possible, enjoying sleeping in! We had booked a taxi to our hotel in Tokyo city, Citadines Central Shinjuku. Jared had managed, in the past, to find a flat rate taxi company that charges a flat rate fare between the city and Tokyo Disney, but I'm fairly certain we weren't able to find that company this time around and we ended up paying about 10000 yen for the taxi (that's about 130 AUD). Still we didn't feel like lugging our luggage on trains again, and we felt we could justify the splurge for this last transfer. The taxi driver was wonderful though. He spoke excellent English, and excitedly told us all his favourite things about his city, plus he gave us an English guide map that he had to help us find our way around Tokyo.
We arrived in Shinjuku, where we were staying, around lunchtime. Shinjuku is the entertainment destination within Tokyo city. The last time we visited we stayed on the business side of Shinjuku at the Tokyo Hilton Shinjuku, which was a great hotel. This time around their rates were ridiculous, and we decided to try find something more on the entertainment side (though we were a little worried it would be a bit of a dodgier area). Citadines Central Shinjuku was great, though the rooms were very small we still had enough room for the two of us, and it was extremely well located, right in the centre of Shinjuku. I will say this about Japan, we were located right in the heart of an area teeming with Nightclubs, brothels and other dodgy venues (they were there, we saw them), but we never once felt unsafe or accosted! I think Japan in general is a much safer place than most Western Countries, with a much lower crime rate. The area we stayed, along with the dodgy stuff, housed plenty of restaurants and eateries and shops, as well as entertainment that wasn't dodgy!
When we arrived we decided to explore and find lunch. I'm ashamed to say I was not in the mood for Japanese food that day, and was craving Burger King, so we found one and I enjoyed another gluten day while I ate the burger (do you ever just have those days where you want takeway
). After lunch we decided to make a trip to the local 7-11 type store (forget it's name now) to get some supplies for our room and we could not pass up getting a whole pile of Japanese candy (lollies to us Aussies) and chocolate. We made sure to get our favourite Japanese snack (well Jared's anyway), Pocky - which biscuits sticks dipped in chocolate, or other fruit flavours. Whatever the candy we got (see the bag with the picture of the Apple) it was delicious, and fruity and just plain yum, and I have decided Japanese candy is officially the best on earth!
We of course had plans to head out that evening to the Robot Restaurant, and we needed to eat dinner first. So we walked all around Shinjuku looking for a Shabu Shabu restaurant. Shabu Shabu is a kind of Japanese dining which involves a hot pot of stock with tofu and veges, very thinly sliced beef that you swish through the boiling stock to eat! You eat as much as you can, with rice of course, and then your stock pot becomes soup that you drink. The only place we could find was tiny and small, and we were at a loss for what to do, and running out of time, when a friendly Turkish man handed us a flyer for his Turkish restaurant, and we thought "why not, they'll serve GF options and it's right here".
Turkish food may have been a strange choice in Japan, but let me tell you now, the food was amazing, the ambience beautiful, and the view over Shinjuku perfect. If I could remember the name of the place I would let you know it, but I'm afraid I didn't write it down (we were so busy) and so all I can show you are the few photos we took
We had a great chat with the owner before our food was bought. He spoke English well, and it was a great conversation, though I remember none of it now. The food was very authentic, and I discovered how much I love real Turkish food. The flavours on the meat kebabs were incredible, and we ordered some cheese spring roll type things that were amazing (I believe they are called Borek). In addition Jared ordered a cheese flatbread that he said was to dye for (I only tried the spring rolls, not wanting to have too much more gluten that evening).
After dinner we made our way to the Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku. This was our second visit to the Robot Restaurant, our first was in 2013. On our first visit the place we not very well known to Gaijin Tourists (we were one of perhaps only a few Westerners at the show) but since our last visit it's apparently become extremely well known amongst tourists as one of those things you have to do in Tokyo, as there were so many Westerners this time around. The show itself is insane, the lighting, the costumes, the floats, the tiny basketball sized display area!
Now the show had also changed quite a bit since we saw it in 2013. Personally, I liked the 2013 version better. For one thing, it was completely in Japanese. While this may not seem like something that would make it better for a Western Audience, there was something about not knowing what was going on that made it even kookier. This time around the host spoke in English and explained the storyline, which was weird and a bit pathetic, so it's probably better when we didn't know what was going on. I'm guessing it's now presented in English as it draws mostly foreign tourists. For those who are interested the story basically revolves around these girls who live in a natural forest world with their animal co-inhabitants. Alien robots attack from outer space and the girls and animals fight these robots, and then at some point make peace and party with the robots (different looking robots though). The story still doesn't make 100% sense even in English, and the show itself has changed quite a bit as well since the 2103 version, getting rid of some of the more risque scenes (like the Burlesque scene) but also some of my favourites (Robots dancing Gangamn Style was replaced with a less impressive Michael Jackson mash up). In addition, there was a pause in the older show where we got to go and have our pictures taken with the robots, which didn't happen this time around.
Though the show had changed the entrance area was basically the same. You'll see it below and it will give you an idea of how crazy the design of this show is. Everything is gold, or lit up, or mirrored. If it it's not a mirror it's a giant LCD screen showcasing the girls from the show. This time around there was a robot band who played while we waited for the show to start.
See what I mean, crazy! Below is a video of the lights and fun in all it's glory.
We waiting in the very crowded waiting area for about 30 minutes and then were led down to the main theatre. As I said earlier it's really small. There are three rows of seats on both sides of a staging area that's about as big as a basketball court (or perhaps a tennis court, which is bigger
). You'll see in one of the pictures below, but the area is not at all large, and considering what they manage to fit on stage it's really incredible how small it actually is.
See - tiny!
The show starts off with two floats of crazy costumed performers (the costumes seem slightly traditionally inspired but are also mixed with Harajuku crazy fashion elements) playing Japanese Taiko drums.
Continued in Next Post...