Mariella Gattini

Tokyo II

Shinjuku Station

Hotel view of Shinjuku

We arrived at Shinjuku Station this time. Near by, our hotel was a towering, international one, and our room was comfortable with a magnificent view of one of the most modern sides of Tokyo, looking from the 24th floor, and facing two monumental department stores: Takashimaya and Tokyu Hands. We were located right by the massive train station and couldn’t hear a thing coming from it. Shinjuku is very close to Shibuya where you can find the famous pedestrian crossing you can see in every film or documentary about Tokyo, or Japan, and there also are plenty of boutiques and stores in general. Me? Of course I crossed it.

This time, among many other things, we went to a cat café where you can have a cup of coffee and pet the cats they keep very healthy and as aloof as they can be. That’s what we love the most about cats. Later, we went to a hedgehog café, where most of the hedgehogs where sleeping and we could, with special gloves, take them in the palms of our hands with much care and feed them.

Cat Café in Shibuya

Hedgehog Café also in Shibuya

We also went to visit another artist. The contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama in her own museum located in Shinjuku-Bentencho. Although we had to take the train and walk our way in a rainy afternoon, it was worth it. The small, three-or-four-floors building was luminous, open, modern, and inviting. Managed by very warm, courteous women. We could feel Kusama’s presence in every one of her pieces—some of which we couldn’t take pictures of. I particularly enjoyed the pieces she created in New York in the 60’s, especially a chair with innumerable protuberances spiking out of the seat and back of the chair. Ground breaking at the time. I felt her desperation, the rejection she felt, her attempted suicide, her recovery, and her flourishing again. I smiled big. The ladies in charge, so accommodating, didn’t know that I was smiling because I felt happy for Yayoi, and also for them and their opportunity to work in such a special place.

Standing at the entrance of Yayoi Kusama's wonderful museum.

 

The Takashimaya and Tokyu Hands department stores are located side by side in a colossal conglomerate of buildings all connected among them. In their basement, there is a small supermarket on the Tokyu Hands side and a huge deli on the Takashimaya side. At that deli, we could choose among a great variety of prepared dishes we could take to our room the days we couldn’t stand our feet one more minute. They have a large variety of baking goods, too. But what I most enjoyed was a place where young ladies prepared the most delicious smoothies made from scratch with fresh fruits. It seems that I went to see them more often than I realized because they smiled at me and asked, in perfect English, if I wanted the usual. They too put a big smile on my face every time, and left in me one of the best memories of hard-working girls in their prime trying to make it.

I don’t know you, but for me traveling is always a source of happiness, of discovery, and of wonder. The more you know, the more you want to know. And having a peek at a culture this important and rich is not enough. You need an entire life to understand it completely, but even in that case you remain a bystander, a foreigner, and a simple observer.

On the other hand, we are not that different. Our lives have been marked by the decisions of others in our historical background and personal past growing up. And later our own decisions have been hampered by the reality and limitations of our own upbringing and social structures. So we all are the best we can be, toiling our way toward an uncertain future. We all are suffering the consequences of a global warming that is becoming more and more serious with the passing of a new year. We all laugh, enjoy a good meal in good company, and find something interesting in others. We all are subjected to the economic, social, and psychological pressures coming from our environment and from within.

No matter our circumstances, we can all choose to rise above them or allow them to annihilate us. And, in the best of cases, we get to live a life that allows for more moments of contemplation, remembrance, and joy.

After everything experienced, Japan became closer and more familiar thanks to our friend Takashi, our wonderful guides in Tokyo and Kyoto, and every individual who willingly opened their hearts to us. We reciprocated as much as we could, because our interest in them was genuine and respectful.

Although what we experienced was much more than what I can share with you, to protect the privacy of all those we met, the sentiment and images I share with you are truthful and factual.

Just as the hot chocolate infused in champagne I had from Pierre Marcolini. I couldn’t believe I could walk around with what it looked like a cup of coffee to go, sipping this mix of velvety hot chocolate and bubbly champagne, delicious. Only in Tokyo!