20240222 Japan, Pokemon Square, Akihabara

20240222 Our trip in Japan has come to an end as we complete our final packing before heading down town to check out the famous Pokémon Square, and yes, another bloody train trip as we cram in like sardines, I'm really surprised we haven't caught covid. The boys had a great time learning to Snowboard and it was bad luck Ash was sick through most of it but thankfully Grandma was their to wipe his brow, in between my day trips when I would receive a call from Ash, are you coming home Grandma, thats my big kill joy of a grandson for ya, but we love him. 

Crammed into the train on our way to Pokémon Square, this was good compared to the other times.

Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building was designed (1854—1919), it opened in 1914 and remains as a historical building, representing the style of western buildings.

Open in 1914, a major a railway station near the Imperial Palace grounds and Ginza commercial district, the domed ceilings of Tokyo Station are iconic pieces of history that was heavily damaged in the air raids of WW2. After the war, it underwent rebuilds, upgrades, and extensions several times and if you look closely the octagon-shaped ceiling spaces have eagles looking to the left, like the original, and they are eight of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Singing Man (1994) reflects an autobiographical expression of the artist’s interest in music, while, at the same time, manifests of his long struggle with the anxieties of daily patterns. 

The area around the Yodobashi Camera near Shinjuku Station's West Exit is nicknamed "Pokémon Square," and is famous as a top level Pokémon GO area within Japan.

We dropped off our luggage to storage for the day when I spotted this chair made of real Apples, now that's different, I wonder how often they have to replace the apples?

This would be that cheeky grandson of mine, Ashford in Pokémon Square, Japan.

Our boy Ashford just loves these machines and we prayed he didn't get a toy that we would have to cart home we us.

Ya gotta love that look kids get on their little face when they get excited, just like our Hamish's face, and I think Dads right up there with his son as we walk through one of the many Pokemon Slot Stores.

Ya gotta love the outfits the Japanese girls wear, there's nothing tarty about these girls, just cute.

The area around the Yodobashi Camera near Shinjuku Station's West Exit is nicknamed "Pokemon Square," and is famous as a top level Pokemon GO area within Japan.

Sharyn and I were going down hill, my feet were killing me and Sharyn was exhausted after following Phil around while trying to find a bloody train ticket booth, but thanks to Phil we left him with the kids a went in search of a massage. We were checking out this place when a mother and daughter asked us if you're looking for a good massage then look no more. We booked an hour massage and "OMG" it was just what we needed. All refreshed we then go in search of a cafe to fill our bellies.

We came acrosse the "Le Café Debreve" that offers authentic pasta made fresh as you wait, probly a dying art in most countries.

Le Cafe Dubreve is also a coffee shop located near Yodobashi Camera at the west exit of Shinjuku. Where ever there's food involved the boys will seak us out as they arrived to join us.

                                      

 The food was great and even the kids cleaned up their plates.

And this is how you make pasta from scratch.

Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower, is 204 metres, 50-story educational facility located in the Nishi-Shinjuku district in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, and the building is home to three educational institutions. Completed in October 2008, the tower is the second-tallest educational building in the world and was the 17th tallest building in Tokyo, it was awarded the 2008 Skyscraper of the Year by Emporis.

The building’s innovative shape and cutting edge façade embodies our unique “Cocoon” concept. Embraced within this incubating form, students are inspired to create, grow and transform.

With the Japanese birth rate declining there are now fewer people available for employment to solve the labor shortage, Haneda Airport turned to robots which were first tested at the airport in August last year and then introduced for full operations at the domestic passenger terminal the following month. The airport is using three kinds of robots to lift luggage, transport cargo, and clean floors.

A Video of the boys Snow Boarding trip in Hakuba