[2019-10-02]
On our third day, we woke up late and, after our coffee, we took the train to Chiyoda ward, right in the center of Tokyo. Our first destination was the Imperial Palace, so we got off at its nearest station, Otemachi (I think), but it depends on which line you take and from where you take it.
We bought some wraps at a konbini as some kind of brunch; our eating schedules weren’t the best ones, but also, for me, the 14-hour offset from my home was still influencing.
We headed then to the Kokyo Gaien Gardens, where we could have some nice views of the palace surroundings; there, we skipped the palace tour as a recommendation from my friend.
If you go thinking about seeing the palace itself, you will be disappointed because the tour will get you only through the east side gardens; they don’t look bad at all, but other beautiful locations in Tokyo are worth more the visit than this one.
It was October already, but it didn’t feel as I expected; around noon, the sun was unbearable; I couldn’t understand why many people were jogging at that time.
Around the palace area, there is a pretty popular 5km course; the trail looked interesting, but maybe for another time. Some of those around were people who work in the vicinity and use lunchtime to do exercise or to have a pause from their jobs.
If you like jogging and have the time, you may find the route attractive; you can read more about it here.
Beside the gardens is a business district full of offices in tall buildings. The contrasts from the peaceful nature to those busy areas are fascinating, and I discover that Tokyo is full of spaces like that, where you can escape for a while from your work or your concerns.
Also, from where we stood, everywhere I look were construction cranes, between or above the buildings; all of the city was changing for the expected following year’s Olympics (it’s sad now, knowing that all those preparations were mostly in vain).
After resting beside some trees for a while, we walked to the other side of the palace. The main reason we went there was for attending an exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art (MOMAT).
I’ve been a fan of Studio Ghibli for many years now, and three months before my journey, I saw some news about an exhibition of Isao Takahata (the late co-founder of the studio). I, of course, set one day for that purpose.
It was truly remarkable, “Takahata Isao: A Legend in Japanese Animation”; I fully enjoyed it, as an animator, learning about his techniques and all the process for such captivating productions; as anime lover, discovering works of him I’ve never heard before; as an illustrator, watching all the sketches and character ideas.
I wasn’t expecting such vast satisfaction from an art exhibition. After around 3 hours, I also learned about our world and life itself; he was an extraordinary person, with great ideals and a hopeful view of the world.
The exhibition is still running in a different city; you can search about it on its official Japanese site; I completely recommend it.
Don‘t hesitate to ask any questions in the comments below.
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