All the toilet seats are heated...

We started off our first full day with a free breakfast at our hotel, which was a strange mix of salad, eggs, sweet rolls and seaweed soup.

Mike was keen to buy a tripod for his camera, so where else to go than the electronics district! We discovered these wonderful tickets for the Tokyo subway called 'Free Tickets', which aren't really free and actually cost around $15, but they allow unlimited access to all train lines for the day. So after arming ourselves with a 'Free Ticket' we rode the train to Akihabara, nicknamed 'Electric Town'.

Akihabara has to be seen to be believed. Thousands of shops line the strees selling every gizmo, gadget, electronic device, computer part etc. imaginable. You can buy the strangest USB applicances - such as a heated pet mat! This district is also the centre of Japan's (geek) subculture of manga and anime!

The amazing sight as you exit Akihabara Station

A cute little Japanese taxi (that one's for you Dad)

Mike in one of the many arcades full of computer parts

After Akihabara (and still without a tripod) we travelled to Harajuku, which is ground zero for Tokyo street style and the fashion-conscious. The streets of Harajuku are just so busy. If you wanted to you could let the crowds of people just push you along the footpath. There is every designer label you could ever imagine and each of them have at least a three level store each. The girls who walk the streets are so immaculately dressed, each wearing different versions of the exact same ensemble (boots, tights, skirt, top, big jacket and accessories galore). After fighting the crowds we finally fumbled our way through making a lunch reservation and ate at 'Jonathon's Coffee and Restaurant' - a Japanese version of an American diner.

A few times throughout the day I became a little light headed with all the possibilities with which to spend my money. I had to keep reminding myself that it was just our first day and so I only came away with a nice warm jumper from H&M (which I needed!) and a hand bag (which I also needed!). We only came to Japan with 14kg of luggage, but if I came again I would only bring a change of underwear and buy the rest in Harajuku!

Me in my nice new jumper

Mike's artistic night shot

Main street in Harajuku with its amazing rows of lit up trees

A wall of stuffed toys - when someone buys one it's replaced with a 'sold' sign

The most amazing store totally dedicated to accessories

At about 8:00pm we decided to head back to the hotel. Close to the hotel, in one of Ueno's little alleyways we had dinner in an empty restaurant. The food was fresh and delicious and the gyoza was particularly amazing. However during the entire meal the lady serving us just stood in the corner staring at us, which was really awkward!