# Day 3 - Modernity & tradition ## Shibuya We started the day by taking the metro to Shibuya Station, which is home to three different famous landmarks. The first is “The Myth of Tomorrow”, a massive mural inside the station depicting the instant of an atomic bomb explosion. ![[day 3 - 1.jpg]] Just outside of the station, is a statue of the legendary Hachikō, an Akita dog who in the 1920’s and 30’s came to the station on his own every day to greet his owner, and continued to do so for nine years after his owner’s death. The statue is also featured in our favorite anime series, and we couldn’t wait to pay our respects! ![[day 3 - 2.jpg]] ![[day 3 - 3.jpg]] Finally we made our way across the iconic “Shibuya Crossing”, and had a fun time trying to take pictures without getting swept away by the crowd. A quick trip up to a rooftop bar gave us a great overhead view of the scramble. ![[day 3 - 4.jpg]] ![[day 3 - 5.jpg]] ![[day 3 - 6.jpg]] ## Time in nature A nice walk through Yoyogi Park offered enjoyable people (and bird) watching. ![[day 3 - 7.jpg]] We then headed over to our first major Shinto shrine visit: Meiji Jingu. As you walk through the towering Torii, you are suddenly transported from the bustling city to a beautiful and lush forest. We learned the proper way to purify yourself with water before approaching the shrine, bought a few lucky amulets, and even discovered two sacred intertwined trees known as “Husband and Wife”, which are meant to bring luck for a successful relationship to those who visit. A perfect destination for two honeymooners. ![[day 3 - 8.jpg]] ![[day 3 - 9.jpg]] ![[day 3 - 10.jpg]] ## Nakameguro As the day wound down, we walked along the Meguro River, which is fully lined with cherry trees. Sadly only the first few blossoms on some of the trees had begun to open, so we had to use our imagination to picture how incredible it would look in full bloom. Fortunately the river is also flanked by a charming lineup of shops and restaurants with interesting and vibrant window displays. The neighborhood had a great atmosphere that we really enjoyed. The true purpose of our visit to the area, however, was dinner at Michelin starred restaurant, Udatsu Sushi. Once we found the barely noticeable front door located in a quiet unassuming alleyway, we were ushered by a woman dressed in a kimono first to a small bar to sip on Japanese whiskey, and then upstairs to a wooden sushi counter that sat only four guests. Imagine our surprise when we discovered the two other diners were a married couple our age also from Seattle! The chef’s-choice tasting menu that followed (including a fully vegan version for Sophia), was nothing short of spectacular, and while we did not take photos out of respect to the sushi chef, it was a meal we will not soon forget. ![[day 3 - 12.jpg]]