Festival time.

After waking we got changed and headed out. The first thing we noticed upon leaving was the shear heat that blasted us, you think we had a heat wave back home? that’s nothing.

Quick breakfast and jumped on the metro system, which is so efficient compared to London. The latest we have seen a train arrive was 1 min late so far.

First stop was the Imperial Palace. We exited the tube and started walking. 10 mins later and we find out we’ve only been heading the wrong way and on the wrong side of it anyway. A few tube stops later and off we get. You can not enter the actual Palace grounds without booking the walking tour in advanced. So we wondered the Eastern Grounds which are the Palace Gardens. Featuring different trees and plants, as well as the Music Hall and Gymnasium. We took a wander through viewing the sights. This place was huge and took at least an hour. Be the end of this the heat was hitting me hard.

We walked up to the Science museum, which had a kids science festival going on, so quickly turned and walked the other way.

Next stop was the Shinjuki District. This is the busiest station ever, with 60 exits. We talk one at a gamble. There was a dance festival here, but we could not find it where we were. So we walked a bit then ended up in the affectionately named ‘piss alley’ for some ramen. So-called named as it did not used to have facilities onsite. We decided to head for the massive gardens nearby and just happened upon the dance festival we were looking for. We headed back to cool down a bit before the summer festival fireworks in Kuramae where we were staying.

We headed out to see these fireworks, with people in traditional Japanese dress of Kimono’s. There were people queuing by the bridge so we joined them, then the police blocked people into groups. We were in the 2nd. After a while the first 3 groups were moved onto the bridge to watch the fireworks. After 20 mins of fireworks the heavens opened up, and so did the umbrellas. Those without started diving into doorways, shops, restaurants and the metro. With our hostel close by we ran back. We spent the rest of the night chatting with people back in the hostel. A couple from Australia. A guy from America , Japan and Lebanon. And of course a girl from Southend.

So ended our 2nd day in Japan.