So why is there a picture of a toilet seat you ask? I went to Akihabara (aka Electronic Town) a few times in search of a Japanese toilet seat to send back home to my dad. He has been to Japan several times for work, and is completely enchanted by their toilet seats. I admit, they are pretty awesome. They have sensors so when you walk into the bathroom, the seat automatically goes up. The seat has a heating device so it is never cold. It is self cleaning and sprays air freshener automatically ever time you use it. It has a bidet and other cool functions. Some even play the sound of a trickling stream as you are using it (I thought this was a bit odd and slightly embarrassing because the sound is kind of loud.) Nevertheless, my dad wanted me to buy one and send it back to America. Although, plans didn't work out and I didn't end up buying the toilet seat, it was truly an adventure. And needless to say, I learned A LOT about toilets! Who knows, maybe that knowledge will come in handy one day!
Aside from searching for technologically advanced gadgets, Kunmi and I also went to other cool places in Akihabara. The entire day was truly an adventure. I was still slightly "sick" from festivities the night before, so I desperately needed a Starbucks ASAP! The second we stepped off the train, we went on what ended up being a never ending journey for Starbucks. We knew the Starbucks was inside this building called UDX, a huge Anime center. However, the design of this building is so complex and makes no sense, that we walked around in circles for about an hour....in the same building! UDX definitely wins my award for most poorly designed and unneccessarily complicated floor plan of any building in the world! But what was worse is that once we finally found Starbucks after riding escalators, climbing stairs, and walking in circles for an hour, IT WAS CLOSED! Simatta!
One thing that is actually perfectly designed in Japan are intersections! They have these really complex, but convenient elevated walkways that go in all different directions and help with pedestrian traffic flow in busy and extremely popular places such as Akihabara. This design would be great for the Las Vegas Strip!
In our adventures in Akihabara, Kunmi and I stumbled upon what appeared to be a block party. There was a huge street, completely shut off to vehicles, where hordes of people were gathered. People were dressed up in really odd clothing and doing pretty much anything to draw a crowd. It was a little out of control but hilarious! There was a guy dressed in a maids outfit, jumping up and down, singing. There was one guy who was dressed in underwear that looked like it hadn't been changed in months, doing push-ups in the street with a rose in his mouth. Kunmi and I were surprised by the simple fact that these people had no shame at all and were willing to do anything, and I do mean ANYTHING, for the benefit of other people's enjoyment!
Finding dinner was even an adventure! We decided to go to a convenient store and create our own makeshift dinner. However, we couldn't decide which convenient store had better food. So we went to about 5 different stores to check out our options, and then went back to 2 we had been to before to make our final purchases. Just like in America, there are literally 7/11 stores within 50 meters of each other.
In Japan, people do not eat or drink on the street. Unfortunately, we didn't have anywhere to sit down to eat, so being the foreigners that we are, we just sat on the steps of a building. Aside from eating McDonald's after late nights of partying, I usually did pretty well with the whole no eating on the street "rule". But this time, it just couldn't be helped (syoo ga nai).
Not long before ending our journey in Akihabara, we went inside a random building and were presently surprised by what might possibly be the most beautiful mosaic I've ever seen in my life! The entire interior of the building was decorated floor to ceiling with colorful pieces of ceramic glass, jewels, and even shattered pieces of mirror. I know that no matter what country you're in, mosaics are just mosaics and pretty much the same. However, this particular mosaic was different. For me, it represents the one facet of Japanese culture that I appreciate and cherish the most, close attention to detail. The Japanese people are so thorough, detailed, and pay attention to EVERYTHING you say and do. It is refreshing and makes you feel like they really care and really listen! Maybe if Kunmi and I had paid better attention to detail that day, we wouldn't have gotten lost so many times!
