A little over a week ago i was sent a book from a guy that’s been keeping up to date with my travels around the 29 stops of the JR Yamanote Line. He asked whether i’d heard of the book “Footloose In Tokyo” a 1976 publication following the authors travels around the “Best Bargain In Japan” as the Yamanote Line is referred to.
I hadn’t heard of the book before but did think it would be useful and well worth a read. The guy that mentioned it was kind enough to send me a copy and i’ve started reading it. The best thing about the book so far is the authors opening remarks about not needing to read it in any particular order, so not unlike my travels where i move around the line in alphabetical order i can do so with the book too.
So far i’ve read the chapter on Komagome which i found quite interesting. I’ll use the book in the future to read up on each stop prior to my arrival, i’ll be keen to compare and see how much it has or hasn’t changed.
There’s a lot more to do and see on the JR Yamanote Line than just sleep.
When time permits i’ll go back and read the chapters on the stations i’ve visited so far, which have been Akihabara, Ebisu, Gotanda, Harajuku, Hamamatsucho, Ikebukuro and Kanda in that order … next stop is Meguro where i know they have a parasite museum as a point of interest.
So onward I push on my journey to cover all 29 stops on the JR Yamanote Line with today’s trip taking me to Hamamatsucho.
After 23 minutes from my home station Yoyogi only to find i’d actually used this station several times to connect with the Monorail to go to Haneda Airport. I’d usually take the Toei Oedo Subway and change at Daimon, now i know i’ve realised how much easier it would be to use the JR line instead … the connection is much easier when you have luggage.
The ride past Hamamatsucho was the original inspiration for me to visit all 29 stops on the JR Yamanote Line. I can’t remember where it was i was going, but on route through this station i saw scenes i hadn’t previously seen so today i was off to explore in greater detail.
Right next door to the station was the Kyu-Shiba Rikyu Gardens and for 150 yen you can spend all day there if you like.
“The focal point of the garden is the large pond, Sensui, which like Hama Rikyu’s pond still is, was once filled with seawater from Edo Bay by means of a inlet, that can still be seen.
Nowadays the lake is freshwater and contains a number of islands, rock formations and massive carp” - Japan Visitor
Saturday night saw the repeat of last years Hanami Party at Toshimaen. Toshimaen is one of the biggest theme parks in Japan although we were there for none of that carry-on. The easiest way to get to Toshimaen is on the Oedo Subway line, it’s about 18 minutes from Shinjuku.
There must have been a good 30 of us this year, all Friends from a local Sushi bar and predominantly the same crew i go to the Onsen trips with.
It started early in the evening and what a show they put on, 5000 yen for all you can eat and all you can drink for a good few hours, set in the greatly lit surroundings of Toshimaen.
After a good feed of Yakiniku and Nabe, along with my fair quota of beers it was off to Nerima for the second party of Karaoke and Whisky … plenty of both.
Next week, now the Cherry Blossom Season and related Hanami parties are finished and i’ve hung up my Snowboarding Boots for this winter, i will resume my journey on the JR Yamanote Line.
Next stop will be Hamamatsucho, another first for me so i’m looking forward to it. So far i know very little about Hamamatsucho so i’m open to suggestions on things to see and do while i’m out that way.
