Day 12

March 27, 2023

Today we decided on the cheaper option of buying drink and pastries from the 7/11 and taking them back to our room for breakfast

At least, that was the plan

Unfortunately, although we were raring to go at 9am, Tokyo was not

In all the hours of reading the Japan Facebook groups not once did anyone mention that shops only really open at 10 and some don’t until 11!!!

So instead we had to find a cafe and sit there with some drinks - rather negating the cheapness of the start

Added to this, despite the weather app showing clear, it was in fact raining. So much so we even bought some cheap umbrellas

Then, with no plans made we kind of walked around a bit aimlessly in and out of shops - well not completely aimlessly as we did tick off some good souvenir hunting

Then we split for lunch. Joss and Hattie were due to have sushi but changed their minds and had noodles and soup

By then I had already promised Kieren a burger so we went to Burger King

After that we met up and Joss bought some jewellery- just as she did all those years ago in Singapore

Then it was 3 trains to go to teamlab Planets - an interactive art display

Yes, I of course realise that that seems a wanky way of describing it, but when I tell you what happened - then you be the judge

First of all, we were pulled out of the queue because Joss had a walking stick and the girl was telling us all how they could cater for it. After 5 minutes or so we managed to explain that Joss wouldn’t be using it, and she finally shut up and let us queue

We were ushered into an area to watch a video explaining that we had to take our shoes off now and when we got to the changing rooms we had to store all our stuff, including socks and that we had to roll our trousers up to the knee at least

What the bloody hell was going on?

The video also explained that some of the places we were going had mirrored floors so ladies could rent some shorts to protect their dignity

First of all, let me explain that between each “instillation” we had to walk through a darkened corridor - presumably to heighten our senses

The first experience was to walk up a slope with water pouring down the slope. It was quite a steep and not all fared well - we managed it ok and were rewarded with a tiny waterfall at the top

We then dried our feet, walked down a dark corridor and through a doorway

At which point we all fell on the floor as the entire 20ft by 20ft room was brown bean bag

We all went down like a sack of spuds with only Kieren and Hattie managing to crawl their way to the exit

Joss, unfortunately, had no such luck and at one point we considered leaving her as she just couldn’t get up - I must admit I’ve never laughed so much

She actually reminded us of something

Ah yes, probably best not to mention that again…

We eventually got her out and the next room was full of hanging beaded lights that changed colour and the walls/floors were mirrored making it very disorienting

As the next room approached we found ourselves getting deeper and deeper into a milky looking water - just below my knees

Lights were shone on the surface and again the walls were mirrors giving it that infinity feel

The next room was full of balloons that changed colours - I can’t think how else to describe it

The final indoor room was a mirrored floor under a domed roof with Sakura blossoms floating all over the ceiling - it was so trippy that it made you feel that the room was spinning