Out after 10 Years (6): The Tokyo Sarin Gas Attack into 30 Years

The rise, development and decline of Aum Shinrikyo, the group which did the deadliest attack on Japanese soil after the WWII, is probably one of the strangest things in the history of the country. However, Japan, has other interesting events in his history such as well: From bringing the western culture by Emperor Meiji and admiring that while sticking to ancient culture of Japan to the surprise attack on the USA and occupation of different countries in WWII.

I don't know when exactly I got familiar with this group but I think it was before my immigration. It must be a surprise to many that when I was growing up there was only one TV channel and there was not much on! There was one hour, if I remember correctly, show for kids which consisted of some domestic and some foreign cartoons. There was, I think, once a week a movie and they were mostly censored old American movies or censored Japanese ones, mostly Akira Kurosaw's! So I can say that his movies mostly occupied my mind. I remember that we were fighting with a couple of my classmates in grade 7 or 8, using imaginary Samurai swords! My closest friend in those years with whom I had the most Samurai fun(!) was killed as a volunteer during the Iran-Iraq War but that is beyond the point. All I'm saying is that is all we knew about the Japanese beside they are very technologically advanced and I never though visiting the country one day. We all knew Japan by big names such as Sony and tradenames such as Walkman®. We never knew about the history of what the Japanese did in the Pacific during the WWII or Aum Shinrikyo, later when we grew up. 
Then I read and saw a couple of documentaries about what happen in Mar. of 1995 in Tokyo subway system. I have been to a few other big cities but nothing like Tokyo, before. I've got lost a couple of times so far and had it not been because of Google Maps which at times misleads you instead of guiding(!) and the kind and helpful Japan Transit people, I would have lost many more times! I was quite surprised to see how a blind man who lived in a small Shibuya apartment, not too far away from the hotel I'm staying, and started as a Yoga and meditation teacher could be responsible for such a deadly attack in one of the busiest transit systems of the word. So I decided to see the stations. 
The attacks happened in a few stations near the Japan legislature. The legislature, also called Japanese Diet is not too far from Imperial Palace, so I walked there after my tour. The building is surrounded by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police members but not such a tight security. Of course you cannot go in but I walk by the walls and was let to take a picture from the outside. Then from there I went to Nagatacho station, one of the stations that where attacked. I don't know if that was the time or something else because the station was not busy and no one but a few ordinary people and some from the assembly were walking through. I didn't see any plaque or anything like that. Perhaps it's somewhere else or maybe the Japanese have a different tradition but releasing a deadly gas in a busy time in such a confided area would be catastrophic and it was.

(Photo: nagatacho subway station is located at the west side of Japanese Diet building)

Out after 10 Years (5): The Imperial Palace

I always have avoided tours and, as far as I could, the places that tours take people. It's just not for me. I understand many people pay for that to make it easier for them and be comfortable. With that said, I thought I should visit the Imperial Palace. So I planned and was there way before the starting time, probably 45 minutes. The only reason one would want to see this palace is that it's free! Otherwise all the hassle would not worth it. No disrespect to the Japanese people, to the organizers and certainly not to the royal family!
When I reached there, only a handful of people were lined up and as I said after nearly 50 minutes eventually the organizers came and distributed a form to be filled out with the basic information of the applicants. The form basically represented the ticket after it was reviewed and approved. Then it was introduction and preparation in a few languages and we were all sitting like prisoners who listen to the warden in the first day of incarceration! The only good thing , both for the visitors and the organizer, or perhaps for the royal family was the availability of gifts. I bought a couple of small thing for Mom. Then people were divided to different groups based on their language and followed the lead. This, certainly was unnecessary because the tour is available in different languages in an App and people could simply download that and listen to it. The leads and groups are for keeping people from going to certain areas and disperse. You do not see much but a few buildings and trees and perhaps a couple of bridges but you know how people, especially Western tourists are! They were taking pictures even from the administrative building! 
I was very happy when the tour ended. I could eventually keep away from crowd. It would be up to you but don't expect much from this tour but saying to others that you have visited the Imperial Palace, when you go home. They don't know you saw nothing! I was exhausted after the tour. Standing makes me tired really fast. Do not plan much for after this tour. The best thing to is having a delicious meal in a nice, lovely and quiet place. I didn't! 

(Picture: This probably could be presented as one of the good pictures of the Royal Palace)

Out after 10 Years (4): Toyota Fails to Impress in its Museum

I planned to go to Toyota Automobile Museum since I though of traveling to Japan. Not many tourists go there because it's more than 03:30 travel while on one of the fastest trains in the world, for most of the trip: Shinkansen, reaching 320 Km/h (199 mph). Let me write a little about this train now: I have also been on ICE of Germany which travels as fast as 350 km/h (217 mph) but on much shorter trips. Shinkansen is as nice and even looks better and nicer inside and the people, without a doubt, are politer but that didn't ease the pain! I guess I was bored! I could've brought my laptop to watch a movie but I never thought of that. I guess I wanted to travel lightly.
I ride a local line from my hotel to a major station called Shinjuku and from there got on Shinkansen which I had already book a seat in there. I must say that the pass for the train cost a lot and if you don't travel that much, it'd be a waste. I paid ¥110,000 which is even more expensive because I looked for comfort. With that said, Shinkansen goes to Nagoya and passes alongside the Japan's south cost, partially, as the museum is there. The train travels the 345 Km (214 miles), distance in almost 02:00 hours and that includes a few short stops in between. It's pretty impressive. 

Shinkansen train leaving the station. The front aerodynamic shape is fantastic

The trip continues at Nagoya by taking a train line from start to end and then switching to another to reach the museum after only a few stops. The train system of Japan is amazing and I'm saying that as someone who has been to some major cities with train system such as Munich but Japan's is more complex and easier to get lost in it! I've seen Japanese who are walking with their phones, looking at the signs, changing their directions, you name it! 
It's only a 5 minutes walk from the station to the entrance and there're you're welcomed buy pretty, smiling, Japanese, tiny girls and you pay ¥1200 for admission which is really good but despite the cleanliness, organization and politeness of the staff, the museum failed to impress me. I also was a bit tired and I still am. So after visiting the gift shop where I found nothing to buy(!) but they have good things, decided to head back. The only problem was because I had a bad timing for my return ticket, I had to change the time by going to a JR office. There was no charge. I don't want to say not to go to the museum. It's all up to you. My main problem is the majority of vehicle on display were not Japanese or Toyota brand That is what you think you would see but maybe I have high expectations. It's not that bad. 

(Photo, top: The major early Toyota model was manufactured based on American car's design and appearance)

Out after 10 Years (3): Lack of Good Planning

I always plan all the details of my trips well in advance and execute them precisely. It started to fail nearly two years ago when I went to Las Vegas with Alphonse to do the hike of Boundary Peak! I've written about my failure so there's no need to humiliate myself! Then just a month ago I even missed my flight and didn't even go to the destination. I think one of the reasons is the amount of time I spend driving. It really tires me out. 
For this trip though I started planning two month ago but today it was proved that it was not working well! I needed to get JR Pass for my travel between different cities, so went to a train station. I was told there that I needed to go to Shinjuku Station which is only 10-15 minutes walk. So I said why would I pay ¥150? I can walk. So I went there and I was told I had to purchase online! I went back to the hotel, purchased the pass, transferred the information to my phone in a PDF file format and walked back. I was told that they needed the reservation number which I had not saved! I tried to retrieve that from my phone, but I couldn't and I walked back to the hotel! I wrote the reservation number on a piece of paper and walked back to the office. I got lucky that the number was closed but I had booked my return ticket for today while my departure ticket was for tomorrow! The girl was very nice and corrected it!
I walked back to the hotel and decided to go to Imperial Palace after a little eat. It was there that I was proven to be a horrible planner for this trip! The Imperial Palace is not an amusement park that everyone can go inside easily. There're morning and afternoon tours at certain hours and you need to provide an Identification card. So, again, I went back all the way to the hotel but by train and I paid!

You can have an advanced Sony camera by paying ¥445770. It is only CAN $4195!

I then decided to use my last trip of the day by going shopping in a major chain electronic store in Shinjuku named Yodobashi Camera. I find myself in the store almost at the desired time despite the fact that the GPS in the phone, again, was not very helpful! For people of Canada who first saw Future Shop and then Best Buy, they shall see this store to understand what a real electronic store is: This is a store in 8 floor and you can find everything in there! Just don't forget that you need good amount of money. I wanted to buy a Casio wristwatch and I did. It was again lack of a good communication but I got it! Too bad that I had purchased a laptop and a handset before the trip. Otherwise it was a good place to buy those! I'm going to get ready for sleep as tomorrow I will have a trip outside the city of Tokyo and I'm very tired.

(Photo, top: Shinjuku is considered one of the main entertainment cities within the city of Tokyo. Drinking, eating, karaoke, girls, you name it but I think I'm too old for all. I just passed through to do my shopping. I haven't even tried a restaurant, café or bar!)