A couple of things of note so far. I picked up two Radiohead ‘mini-albums’ each with 8 tracks issued in Japan only. This has made me happy. I’ve also managed to get some nice Manga I had not been able to get in London or Dublin, Adolf book 1 and DevilMan book 1.

Picked up some good luck charms and stuff like that at one of the shrines we went to today. Got a few duplicates of stuff to bring back for people and one as a making the peace present for someone.

Really tired. Its been a hell of a few days. Patrick has just fallen asleep on his bed and doesn’t look like he plans on moving anytime soon.

I spent a couple of hours this evening wandering around Shibuya on my own. It was awesome. I just walked looking for cool stuff to catch my eye. It was a hell of a lot of fun. Of course I got lost several times but always managed to find a train station. Given that most stations have at least 6 entrances and exits and indeed one of them (Shinjuka has 60!) it is pretty hard to not be near a station.

Space really is at a premium here. Floor numbers are the big thing. I don’t think I have seen a single building yet which just contains one store. Within the city itself, there is almost another minicity below. The stations can be massive, 3 or 4 times the length and width of a football field and indeed can be 3 or 4 levels.

Mobile phone penetration here must be running near to 100%. They are everywhere.

Yes, in what would appear to be the only true spirit of Tokyo, I am rushing through lots of things. My ‘Rough Guide’ does warn me that first impressions of the city can be off putting and indeed they are. After a few days I guess I am more use to it, but the city does not seem to come together. I know that Tokyo is actually 23 cities all merged into one, but even one of those cities doesn’t pull together. There seems to be a heart and soul missing and it is strange to not have it. Maybe it is just me, it all just seems so rushed, so artificial and sterile. It’s a city, it has no life.

Note, the building on the right is not reflecting anything, it is a giant video screen.