Susan Spann writes mystery books, climbs mountains, and writes about that, too. She is also studying calligraphy. Despite being left-handed, she does it right-handed, because that's the correct way, and she's getting pretty darned good at it. I stand in awe. She has a piece on exhibit at a gallery in Nihonbashi. If you want to see her work, you'll have to look on Facebook, because I can't download the picture of it. It's a super photo she took of Mt. Fuji -- she's good at that, too -- and her beautiful calligraphy is a haiku by Murakami Kijo -- oh, just go look. It's worth it.
I had free time this morning, which I did not expect, and could actually take a bit of a break. I decided to go to the Temple, of course, but it occurred to me I could shoot up to Nihonbashi and take in the exhibit on my way.
The gallery is part of Ozu Washi, a washi paper store, and that sounded fun, too. I had its actual address, its web site in my phone, and directions including the exit from Nihonbashi station and a city map, plus a second map showing the specific route! Good to go, right?
Emerging from correct exit of Nihonbashi station, I follow the directions. I reach the place where the gallery's own map tells me it should be. It isn't. I look at physical addresses. Everything's quite clear in Nihonbashi, and there is a genuine physical map right there, to which I compare the address. Yes, I am standing right on top of the place! But it isn't there. I turn on the GPS, which tells me to walk about a kilometer in a long U-shaped route heading, vaguely, toward Tokyo Station. In Tokyo, that could be right. Anyway, if I get to Tokyo Station, it'll be easier to get to the Temple.
The little blue dots blink and blink as I follow their path, but when I am to turn -- HERE, there is a blank wall. For an entire block. Try finding a way around it. Just TRY. The little blue dots insist there is one. There isn't. Obviously the blue dots have not caught up to construction in Central Tokyo.
There is no gallery. There is no paper store. There is, however, the Yaesu Central Entrance to Tokyo Station. Inside Tokyo station, in the basement, is Ramen Street, and a restaurant that sells vegetarian ramen. Clearly, I am being led in the direction of food. This restaurant -- I have been there only once at this point -- is amazingly easy to find. I walk right to it. And have lunch.
This is the vegan ramen. I didn't take a picture until I'd tasted, so it was prettier, and yes, those orange things are saffron threads. Cost? 1200 yen.
Here's the place where you get it. The woman in gray is getting her ticket from a machine. Someone will come to seat her and take half her ticket to the kitchen, where the cooks will make her lunch. It will be very, very good. If you want to eat in Tokyo station, THIS is the place if you're veg -- and a good choice even if you aren't.
This is the Way of Tokyo, and often the Way of Japan. Start out with one goal, end up with something else. Go with the flow. It's all good.
