The first destination of the day was to Soshigoya Okuda nicknamed Ultraman Street on the Odakyu line, 30 mins from Shinjuku. Outside the station is a large Ultraman statue and on the lamp posts on the streets are small flyers on both sides featuring Ultraman and his opponents. I’d read there was a flying Ultraman statue above one of the streets but it’s gone now or I missed it – maybe there was a potential for an accident with people standing on the road taking pictures of it underneath so they took it down. Either that or somebody’s stolen it? In the station entrance on the concrete pillars are posters featuring the many villains Ultraman has faced over the years.
Ultraman
Ultraman posters inside Soshigaya Okuda station
My next trip involved me heading way down to Odaiba – more for pictures than anything. As it was a Saturday there was a huge crowd heading there but I didn’t know that there was a major event taking place. There was a massive throng of teenage girls and young women around the Fuji TV building. There was a popular Winter event called Hot Fantasy Odaiba starting today which runs until 4th January. Various celebrities drop in during the 3 weeks and today as it was the first day the male trio Shuchishin were performing their new single Yowamushi Santa (Cowardly Santa) on a special stage set up outside. People had to pay to see them perform in a small enclosure but those lucky enough on the bridge overlooking the Fuji building that was jam packed with fans could see them for free. Never seen it this busy around here before. I didn’t wait to see them arrive but instead went around Tokyo Decks.
The crowd on the bridge overlooking the Fuji TV building
Rainbow Bridge and The Statue Of Liberty
Final stop during the afternoon was Ebisu and the photography museum. There was a pretty good exhibition by 2 renowned Japanese cameramen.
Ebisu Garden Place
This evening I was supposed to go to Kichijoji with my best friend to see one of her friends but she had the flu. I’d spoken to her friend very briefly a couple of days earlier when she gave me a ring using my best friend’s keitai and sounded like a fun person. Both of us decided instead to hang out in Kokubunji. But before any drinking shenanigans we headed to her local cafe to discuss the work I had to do for her company when I get back home. With that out of the way we retired to a different izakaya from last time for food and drink before another bout of karaoke. We had so much fun just messing about that we lost track of time and before I knew it I’d missed the last train to Shinjuku which presented me with a problem. She thought I could stay over at her place but her parents didn’t like the idea of a stranger staying. I understood their reason perfectly so no ill feeling from me. Anyway I had to get a taxi which cost 9,500 yen. It didn’t bother me as tonight had been so much fun.
Finally arrived back at my hotel at 2.15am, completely shattered.
