Shinjuku in May

"We've only been in country four days, Lets go to Tokyo!"

Since we didn't have our Japanese driver's license yet, much less a plan...we decided to take the train and check out Shinjuku. The train itself was fairly easy and buying tickets wasn't that hard once you find the right terminal. The ticket machines all have an English option, the fare itself is cheap, a one way ticket was around 400 Yen (which is about $2.00.) Children under 6 are free! We didn't take the stroller because I was afraid the train would be packed or just a hassle with stairs in the city. The nightmare of the Paris train station is still burned into my memory so naturally I balked at the thought of dragging a huge double stroller up 4 flights of stairs while dealing with the worlds slowest 11 year old and Mr. My-knees-dont-work-after-twelve-stairs-in 5 year old. Needless to say, Paris is lousy with stairs. So instead we decided to brave on of the world's largest and most crowded cities with our baby carriers, ye old faithful Ergobaby and our new Boba.

 

Once we get into the train and take our seats its already pretty full...and absolutely silent.  SILENT.
I leaned over and whispered to my husband, "Why is everyone so quiet?!" to which he whispered back "I don't know, stop talking!" So there we sat, in complete  absences of all sound waiting for the train to start rolling. The social awkwardness of the silence didn't last long for  2 year old Caleb and he was soon looking for ladies to entertain. Caleb was really excited out the poles that reach from the ceiling to the floor and in his mind appeared to be just right for some pole dancing. He would jump up, grab the pole, squeal with glee and slide down.  I don't think the locals were impressed with our parenting skills.

The closer we got to Shinjuku the train got more and more crowded so it was a relief to finally get off. While no one ever even so much as glanced our way, we couldn't help but be painfully aware the entire ride of how loud and "obnoxious" our kids where being... by Japanese standards. American standards, they were great! You could have heard a pin drop on this train. Seriously, it was strange.

We spent the entire day in Shinjuku, pretty much just wandering around in a circle around the train station and eating everything in sight. We really didn't see anything touristy...really...we just ate! We found some neat pastry fish things. They looked like croissants cut in the shape of a fish, what was not immediately obvious was that they are stuffed with pudding. Not my thing but apparently Tokyo is known for this fish pastries! For lunch we had Ramen in a teeny little shop that looked like something that would be featured on an Anthony Bordain show. 

I've never been a fan of Japanese Ramen so this was nothing great for me, but my husband seemed to be enthralled and it was everything he had hoped it would be eating real authentic Ramen in Tokyo.

After lunch we walked around some more admiring window displays and enjoying all the huge screens on the sides of the buildings and K Pop music playing all around us. We even managed to stumbled upon Godzilla! 

We left to go back mid afternoon, hoping to beat the rush home from school and work by the locals and honestly the kids had worn us the heck out. Nothing like carrying an infant while chasing a toddler and listening to the non stop whining of a tired 5 year old to really suck the joy out of a moment.


 Oh, and you can totally do Shinjuku with a stroller. 

       Caleb  thought the hand hold rings would be a perfect place to practice his gymnastic skills