Ruiri met me off the coach in Shinjuku and steered me in the direction of where I was to meet Norie and her sister for a day of shopping and sight seeing. The first stop was a flee market that wasn't so good but we saw some of Norie's friends there. Next was Harajuku where we had lunch in a lovely restaurant and then hit the shops. topshop opened a concession in Tokyo in September so we checked that out (v.small - don't go out of your way to find it) and looked at hundreds of other concessions (it felt like hundreds for my feet) in a big fashion department store. I managed to refrain from from spending my whole months wages but it took great waves of willpower.
Back out on the street we done a bit of sightseeing and had some pics taken with 'harajuku' girls! They dress absolutely mad....there was lots of very trendy people in Tokyo though....quite envious.
The picture to the right is a queue of girls waiting to go into a shop called Johnny's. This is only a section of the queue to join the queue at the shop. They are waiting to go in to buy pictures of their idols! Guys who work at the shop are all supposed to be cute and everyone calls them the Johnny's.....umh!
After Harajuku we headed to Shibuya to meet Ruiri after training and stopped at some more really nice shops on the way. By this point I had no will power left but luckily I also had no energy to try clothes so again managed to refrain from splurging.
That night I went to Ruiri's friend, Glens, birthday party. It was in his apartment that he shares with his girlfriend....and my, what an apartment. I felt so grotty in my shopped out tired state with eyes red from allergies (thats another story) with all the Tokyo socialites in a swish pad, bbq on balcony and wine flowing - now I really want a good job, lots of pay, nice things, good parties! But its the mountains, kids and momo cherry for me!
I didn't hold out long enough to make the night club and headed back to Ruiris where I passed out after a lovely cup a Irish cha....everyone else managed to party in Tokyo until 7am...it must be my age!
The next day was supposed to be training with GAA to get ready for Shanghai. But having succumbed to the sweet taste of city life again I just couldnt pull myself away from Tokyo so spent the day sightseeing and shopping. The sun was out in full force and first stop was Yoyogi park. It was just like Hyde Park in the summer and all of a sudden a rush of home sickness swept over me as I longed to be sitting in the park with Ali, reading The Times, watching the boys play football and deciding if it would be Turkish or Brick Lane bbq for dinner.....oh how I miss those days. 
Ruiri met me after a trip to the hospital (injured ribs from training) and we went to the Meiji Shrine which is the biggest in Japan. It was so peaceful and a million miles away from the urban chaos just hundreds of meters away.
For lunch we had Pizza Express (making full use of my weekend in a real city!) and then Ruiri went training.
I spent the rest of the afternoon eating Baskin Robins, checking out the amazingly stocked book shops (and bought a trashy chick flick so any good reads you have come across please let me know!) and last minute shopping.
The bus home got me back to Nagano for 12am where I argued with a taxi driver for 10 minutes over my address....yes I know its Wakatsuki Odori and I know I'm not saying it right but I don't make your life hell when you say rondon do I???!!!!!
Tokyo was great and I spent all weekend longing to be in the city.....but then on Monday morning as I hopped on my cherry bike and cycled down the back streets and quiet roads, surrounded by mountains and lungs full of fresh air, I all of a sudden realised that I am very happy with what I already have.
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