Japan Tour 2025: Day 19 Afternoon of Shibuya

State Guest House Akasaka Palace

 

 

By the numbers

20,830 steps

15.73kms

Level of Chaos: Walking through Shibuya Station in the afternoon

 

The day when I looked out the window seemed like it would be another nice one and it was in a way going to be my last day before I head to the airport tomorrow, although I still have some of tomorrow to do something other than explore the airport. I was actually going to take my bigger bag with me today as I didn’t think my small bag would do any good. I planned on visiting some stores and never know what would happen.

 

Hatchiko statue

I jumped onto the train and my first stop was near the Gardens in the Shinjuku area that I had visited several days before, but they were not open yet. At first I thought about walking around the outside of the gardens to a grave of Hattori Hanzo, but I would have to back track a little bit. I was also going to look for some more Manhole covers and they were actually close to Sendagaya station. There were not many of them, but I took the pictures and thought it was better to catch a train to see the grave as it might be easier. It was around 10 mins trip so it wasn’t that bad as it was a station called Yotsuya. I followed the track that Google told me to follow for the grave and as I walked past the street it said there was an entrance and all I seen was a stone wall. I had to turn around and have a closer look as I was about to give up. Turns out if I had walked the other way, I would have arrived at the temple, where Hattori Hanzo was a monk at late in life even though he was a famous warrior. The grave was sign posted with a little about the man and at the entry to the temple grounds it said the spear Hattori once owned had been destroyed during World War 2.

 

Walking down another narrow street to the main road, I came across a huge fence with a building behind it. I didn’t know what it was. Google maps told me it was the State Guest House Akasaka Palace. I couldn’t get over how nice the gate looked. There was some sort of waiting room nearby and I went down because it was nice and cool. After a little bit I went back up and walked towards the house thinking, why not have a visit on a whim. I followed a small group of people and the information said it was just about to open. I had security guys following me with a sign saying back of the line. I walk in a security asked if I had anything dangerous, and I had to empty my pockets. The lady was a little shocked when I asked if she wanted my belt. I think she was a little shocked, but she did ask if I had water. I said yes and she wanted me to drink it. I took two mouthfuls and she said that’s ok. I thought she wanted me to drain the bottle. I could buy tickets to both the house and the gardens, which I did as I guess it might be interesting. The Guest House I was one of the few at the time to walk through and it was awe inspiring as it was basically for foreign dignitaries like Prime Ministers and Presidents of countries to be entertained in and have speeches with Japan’s leaders. It was like the royal palace in Sweden or the State rooms in the UK like at Windsor fit for royalty. You couldn’t take photos inside at that was alright, there was security cameras everywhere. I was glad it hadn’t been very busy yet and it felt like it was going to pick up while I was there. The gardens there wasn’t much to do there and not many flowers to look at, although it was getting hotter. I did stop for a coffee with scones, other people were having high teas, which was funny watching them carry them to their table. I could walk out through the front gate and I found out that was considered to be a national treasure.

 

My next stop was a little shop in Tokyo called the Travellers Factory, which is the main store to the Kyoto one. I was going to get several proper stamp books for more stamping in the future. I literally walked past the building the first time and had to turn around and back track as I didn’t know what I was looking for. After I got some supplies, I was going into Shibuya to have a look at Tower Records a music shop. I ended up in Shibuya alright and one exit before the scramble crossing. I decided to walk down there to see what it was all about and it wasn’t even that bad, but that was around midday. Wasn’t crowded and there was a line for photos with the Hatchiko statue for the dog that waited for its owner to return until it died of old age or something like that. I was more happy to get the stamp from the info centre. I ended up having a look in a building near the crossing after I crossed the road. There were a few popup stores that Japan seems to be a fan of, and one I found for a character I was after and that was Dragon Maid. I found the building I was in had a view of the crossing and I went up. Turns out there was a charge and that included a drink. It wasn’t that impressive from up high, but then again probably the wrong time of day. I found my way to the music shop and there was 8 floors of music. That includes cassette tapes and records. I found what I was looking for and more though I had to pay on each floor. It was worth going there just to have a look around.

 

 By the time I left and had a look in another building, it was getting late and I really did not want to use the crossing. Turns out getting to the train was like a maze. I went into one of the underground passages and it actually took me under the Scramble crossing and out the other side of the road to send me into the ticket gates with a large crowd going the same way. It was like a well oiled machine and I went with it and soon got to the line I was supposed to, although I would have loved to explore the station, maybe that is another time. It was basically push to the platforms with no choice or else you would annoy those behind you if you stopped. It was really easy to get the train and I ended up with a seat. I was happy that my near last day in the city was nearly over. Though I still have tomorrow, but it just means I will be making my way to the airport and sticking around over there.