Roppongi, Shinjuku

Today Adam took me to the Kiyosumi Gardens. I've been really looking forward to seeing an authentic Japanese garden. Every plant is tended to the minutest detail. We get to watch workers pruning the upper balcony of pine trees on tall ladders. Many elderly Japanese people stroll through the garden soaking in the serenity.
















After the garden we head to Roppongi Hills, a classy, rich shopping district with incredible towers boasting designer stores. We find a quaint restaurant and I eat an omurice (an omlette fried with rice in the center), and we drink Asahi beers. After dinner we go to the Ababu Juban Onsen, one of three traditional public bath houses in Tokyo. After removing our shoes at the entrance, we receive a towel and soap to cleanse the body before bathing in the theraputic waters. Adam gets into the bath first but jumps out from the heat. The old lady at the entrance comes running out to him yelling at him in Japanese. We find out that she's trying to tell him about the cold water tap to mitigate some of the heat. Adam sits under the cold water tap the whole time but I venture onto the "man's" side and into the jets. The water is a rusty caramel colour. Afterwards we feel incredibly relaxed and rejuvenated. I try to get a photo but the old lady says, "no photos!" I guess because of all the naked people?

Afterwards we go to Shinjuku Station, reportedly the busiest train station in the world. There are people everywhere and towering skyscrapers. We buy some beer and sake at a convenience store and drink on the sidewalk.