Child Flyer

Whoever decides what weather to bring upon me seems to like me wet. Another typhoon has been flung near Tokyo, although this one looks to remain off the coast and send only its weaker edges to spray their moisture at us. I was the subject of many chuckles as the foreigner marching without an umbrella, but I found the misting to be quite nice. I've thoroughly mapped out Shibuya, Harajuku and to a lesser extent Shinjuku, although I think tomorrow I will venture out somewhere new, perhaps the northern area around Ueno. I think I might be ready to see another museum, temple or castle now.

I helped myself to an unofficial tour of the Tokyo metropolitan government building's 17-25th floors for a nighttime view of the metropolis, which was quite nice --the elevators were beautiful, quiet and quick, and made me almost wish to be a child again flying up and down the floors. I'd read that the building had a nice free observation deck, but I couldn't find it, and it seemed to be closing down, so I just decided to get as high as I could until somebody told me to scram (nobody ever did). It was almost for the best, as the clouds hovered somewhere around the 25th floor, and I'm sure that the (official) observation deck would be blind, and closer to the 36th floor. I intend to re-visit later on a sunny day, and catch the glimpse of Mt. Fuji that was denied me on my earlier fruitless journey to its base.

I've tasted much ramen and other cheap foods recently, as well as read voraciously (I ought to finish the 2nd book of the Game of Thrones series tonight), and walked a good deal since arriving. I am starting to warm to the city, now as I count the days before my departure to be few. The weather looks to open up to clear skies by late tomorrow, and no doubt my early impression of the city has been tainted by the foul weather which I've largely avoided this trip.