Waking up in a Tokyo state of mind.
Sleeping soundly in our snug double we woke up at a fairly reasonable time in the morning ready to go. I find it weird that holidays are the only time I get up and am perked up and ready to go quickly, must be the anticipation of the day! We headed out into the daylight of Shinjuku in search of some traditional Japanese foods.
The streets were much quieter at 9am than they were at 11pm the night prior, with allot of the locals on their way to work. We wandered by the busiest train station in the world, Shinjuku Station, and to the other side, where all those neon assaulted pictures you see and associate with Tokyo, this is that place. Bright still in the daylight, we wandered past the menagerie of 10 story electronic meccas all being prepped for the ceremonial opening for the day.
We found a uniquely Japanese Café that we wanted to visit, however we were a little early. So we popped into a tiny Ramen Shop and had our first Japanese meal of the trip, a bowlful of awesomeness, Ramen.
After being filled with deliciousness, we headed to the cafe we actually wanted to visit, yep, can't get enough food right? Wrong. This wasn't your regular two latte's and a cake cafe, no no no. We entered one of my favorite quirky establishments in Japan, The Calico Cat Cafe.
What you say? A Cat Cafe, you eat cat??? No! don't be crazy, No, this cafe lets you buy time and enjoy the company of the fury four legged kind.
It seems in such a built up country like Japan they have found a great way for people to connect with animals where many just can't have them in their homes. Being Japan, this isn't done half assed. They celebrate each cats birthday and the cats all have their devoted fans, who visit several times a week just to see their favorite little kitty. People spend hours here and incase you get sick of the cats, they have an extensive library of Manga for you to read up on.
We spent the next hour over the two floors Calico occupy, with these awesome cats, being mauled by them and watching quite a few cat fights, especially over our chicken! Trying to drag Sam out of here was almost mission impossible, it was heaven for him. So much so we ended up back here again later in the trip (I'm sure he would have come back everyday if given the chance.)
When we finally left it was time to get back to the hotel but not before being lured into Shinjuku's electric alleys and buying some amazing new Cameras, which are still to come out here 6 months later.
Once we finally got back to the hotel, a little lighter in Yen but heaver in Tech, we packed, got out of there and headed off to the SHINKANSEN! to get on down to Osaka!