Ikebukero/NamJaTown

      There is some . . . contention—as ot the placement of this link, in the [time-]sequential narrative of our journey(s).  If one goes by the date on the photos, this should go before Hakone (and after the Ghibli Museum); however, the date/time on her camera, was set for CHINA, so. . . .

      I don't suppose it really matters, anyhow.

      Oh—and this settles a "mystery": I remember forgetting my camera one day, and yet I remember taking pictures (which I subsequently could not find) on said day.  Mystery solved: I took them with Laura's camera. . . .

      We set out to find ice cream (yes, ice cream), made out to be Godzilla, and his various enemies.  It was in a place called "NamJaTown," located in a complex, called "Sunshine City."  Now, Sunshine City, was something like 40, 60, or 80 stories tall (!!)—and contained many other buildings in its clutches.  (It was–quite literally–like something out of a sciene fiction epic.  Seriously.) We could've wandered there, for weeks (and never found it).  So, realizing this, this time it was the MAN who forced the group, to stop and ask directions.  (To, like, foreign readers, 'n stuff.  In the US (and Canada) men are notorious, for NOT asking directions, 'n stuff.)

      The woman behind the counter, was very helpful, and we were able to (eventually) find. . . .



       . . . Seemed like we were on the right track.

      Further exploration yielded:



      FINALLY, with MORE directions, from more he'pful Japanese peeps, 'n stuff, we found. . . .



      And here she is—following a 'Web link, advertizing it, traveling halfway around the world, and we found it.  It was so . . . UNDERwhelming, we at first argued, whether or not, we had actually found it.  In fact, it took some convincing, to assure ourselves that we had.

      (Note the card on the bottom; it is given to one who has partaken.  I have it/them around here, somewhere. . . .



      Outside NamJaTown, we found this one.  Travel halfway around the world, to finally find a Pokemon center.

       :) ;)



      The one things we did not find—was a multiply advertised, creepy looking Japanese horror movie.  (I might spend the rest of my life, lookin' for that.  (!)) Just how the Japanese have embraced Halloween (complete with orange Christmas style lights (!!)), was more than a little surprising. . . .

      The level of . . . overstimulation, in the place, can not be understated.  I sat down on a bench, outside, and tried to recover.  Ever time I closed my eyes, my vision screamed with images, from the place.  My brain was dreaming, in an attempt to cope—and while I was still awake.  Normally, I have to drive 3,700+ miles, in four days, to achieve such an effect—but that's a different story.  (. . .)

( :) ;) )

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