00:00:00 John Daub: Welcome to Tokyo everybody! This is where I live, not too far away. I guess you'd call this my neighborhood. This road here cuts past the Imperial Palace and Hibiya Park—right there, the Imperial Palace starts right around here—Harumi-dori (Harumi Avenue). This avenue cuts straight through the heart of Ginza. We're going to be walking underneath the Shinkansen tracks, past one of the most expensive real estate areas in the world, Ginza Yonchome, making our way through some shops, a closed pedestrian street on weekends, and then to Kabukiza, the theater where Kabuki takes place.

00:00:33 John Daub: I hope you're excited. Buckle in for about a 30-minute episode. There goes the Shinkansen—woohoo! I love this road; it is so convenient. It starts right there, but if you keep going straight, you'll pretty much get to the Parliament Building, where the government's offices are, where they vote and all that political stuff. If you go around the Imperial Palace a little and straight on Route 246, you're in Shibuya. This road cuts through the heart of Tokyo. There goes a Yamanote Line. This starts at Hibiya Station underneath me. Walk a little to the left and you'll get to Yurakucho and eventually Tokyo Station.

00:01:50 John Daub: This is the Marunouchi Nakadori. I've had a couple live streams here; it's beautiful during Christmas, and they're setting up the lights. That's the new Hibiya Midtown building, a big shopping mall and office buildings. Behind there is a massive Godzilla statue—that's the one where you take a picture next to. It's gotten more ferocious; they changed it to a modern-looking Godzilla that will eat you alive. There's a sign: Hibiya Park 200 meters and Ginza Station. We're walking towards Ginza Station along Harumi-dori. There might be some street food.

00:02:48 John Daub: Cody's here—how's it going? Mr. Donut or takoyaki? Oh, taiyaki! That sounds good. Vending machine corner—do you see it, all boarded up? Sad state, but due to non-smoking laws, Olympics revitalizing the area, they closed it down. It was such an important place underneath the tracks. You have old-style restaurants modernized for tourists—not a lot of local food, but they're still open. Many local foods are on the ground level. Good restaurant Showa and the [inaudible] campground to eat. Neat posters; the roof is interesting, much unchanged since the Showa period, which ended in the 1980s, through World War II and Vietnam War era.

00:04:01 John Daub: Let's wait for the traffic crossing here. I love this road. It goes past the Imperial Palace, straight through Ginza, then past Tsukiji Market, over the bridge to Kachidoki—which we've done a live stream on—to the Harumi area, a manmade island, and eventually the new Toyosu Market. If you kept going straight, you'd get to Tokyo Bay. Hey, Antares, N-A-E, nay nay. Let's see what we find along the way. I'm social distancing, staying two, three meters away. Not easy on the weekend with people out.

00:05:01 John Daub: Torotoro Porco writes, "the magic of 720p"—yes, when the signal is clean, magical. Sam Carver got here first with Super Chat—thank you, Sam. Beautiful blue sky afternoon in November that feels like end of September, slight chill but warm sun. This bus cuts through Harumi Avenue to Big Sight, the huge convention area—used to be Tokyo Marathon end, but now conventions canceled, ghost town.

00:06:02 John Daub: Not gonna say too much about what they're talking about right here—conservative party. Kanai tells me to stay away. Ultra right side, I guess. I don't get into politics much, but Japanese politicians don't adhere to noise policies—they just use a megaphone. Merry Christmas. Social distance. This is Tsukiyabashi. Underneath in the basement is Jiro Sushi—that guy from the documentary, 100 years old making sushi.

00:07:13 John Daub: Hey, Irvin, Shane, WRX Turbo—looks like the three amigos. John Kimura chiming in. Food and drink fund—is that for Toby (crow) or us? This is Tokyo Plaza, built not long ago. Up top is a beautiful observation point where you can look down on Tsukiyabashi intersection—stunning angles. You see down Harumi Avenue, across the street the highway I've driven—scary as hell—then Shinkansen tracks we walked under.

00:08:11 Spencer: How you doing? How'd you find me? Yes, you were here.

00:08:16 John Daub: This is our neighbor, Spencer. Hi, oh, don't look at my shirt. It's another YouTuber. How dare you? How have you been?

00:08:29 Spencer: Tired, cold—tired mostly. I have a lot of work. Busy life.

00:08:35 John Daub: I noticed your attire—shorts. Beautiful day, 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Perfect. What are you doing here?

00:08:50 Spencer: Just walking down Harumi Avenue, showing the people. Already done Ginza a million times—something different. You going to Kabukiza?

00:09:02 John Daub: Yeah, to Kabukiza then a JNTO seminar at four. Don't keep me too long. How's everything at Disney? Spencer knows Disney well—TDR planning on Twitter, which one to go to now?

00:09:24 Spencer: We can walk.

00:09:32 John Daub: Okay, avoiding people—down the side. What's it like in Tokyo Disneyland these days?

00:09:42 Spencer: Not fun. More fun sent to Osaka covering USJ. Went last week—Tuesday, Wednesday at Disney for Christmas, then USJ Christmas press event. More fun in Osaka than here.

00:10:07 John Daub: Wow—don't tell anyone. Secret: USJ doing better than Tokyo Disneyland. Hopefully wakuchin (vaccine) helps.

00:10:31 John Daub: This sign and alley—or one of these—in You Only Live Twice, James Bond movie, where Aki and Sean Connery escaped Osato Chemicals, drove past here. Changed a lot since 1967. Signs and buildings different since Connery days. May he rest in peace—huge loss with Trebek too. Saturday Night Live skit—Connery gave Trebek hard time.

00:11:29 Spencer: Gonna go buy snacks later.

00:11:31 John Daub: They're calling it the surge in Japan—trying hard to be careful, come to Ginza weekend afternoon. Genius—better than crowded theme parks mid-pandemic. Couple YouTubers went to Shibuya Halloween. Where that dude came from—Japan spiking in Tokyo, told to stay home. Sapporo stay home; Tokyo okay. Might have to soon—utilizing time. Went Hokkaido last month, feel better. Glad went Europe Christmas markets last year—world changed two months later. Austria, Prague—lucky.

00:13:04 Spencer: Never been there.

00:13:14 John Daub: Crossing street—Harumi Avenue crossed by Chuo-dori (Chuo Avenue). Straight this way to Shimbashi—featured bazillion times. Other way to Akihabara, eventually Ueno. This shopping street shuts weekends 12 to 5—too many people. Japan not as bad as West, but getting complacent.

00:13:50 Spencer: Friend interviewed internship—no masks; CEO said only for clients. Insane.

00:14:14 John Daub: Japan does good job, but dip made complacent—hard to get back. Fatigue real.

00:14:37 Spencer: [inaudible]

00:14:45 John Daub: Anytime—Spencer emoji on Discord. Nice to see you, stay safe. Don't look at my shirt—don't know that creator, Donna's t-shirt. Don't watch much YouTube. He's dressed for summer. See you, Spencer.

00:15:26 John Daub: Tis the season for mochi—fa la la la la. Mochi daifuku. Matcha kuri daifuku (matcha chestnut rice cake). Yes, please. Have daifuku money. Smells good. My favorite daifuku place—never seen matcha kuri before. Hajimete (first time). Line here—popular. Wash hands with alcohol. Protect people—fa la la la la. Too early for Christmas? Japan Christmas since Halloween ended. Daifuku main channel episode—film story, kinds. This one whole anko (red bean paste) beans—delicious. On Harumi Avenue.

00:18:04 John Daub: Inside shop, other confections—Akebono famous here, not cheap real estate. Daifuku hundred yen more than elsewhere, but good. Matcha kuri daifuku—kuri (chestnut). Social distancing. Thank you. YouTube 101—three amigos chimed in. Don't forget for Kanae. That's my daifuku—buy her fresh ones home. Thank you.

00:21:08 John Daub: People eat KFC in Japan—not big deal, few friends do. Ginza Chuo Avenue—not going, focus Harumi. Away from crowds. Love concept cars—Datsun! Had Datsun 510 kid station wagon. Sony headquarters—play with A7S3, ordered August, still no. Do you think Kanae like hairless dog? Aibo—robotic dog.

00:22:15 John Daub: Broke from crowds—look back at Wako department store, here since Meiji era. Hourly bell rings all over. Clock by Seiko, renovated. Toilet top floor nicest in Japan—I know good toilets. Ginza streets off Chuo-dori have interesting shops, always changing. That Starbucks first in Japan, 1998 when I came—only one long time. First McDonald's Japan on Harumi Avenue, 1970s—smell angered Ginza Shopping Association, moved. Big step for global McDonald's—Ginza means something.

00:24:45 John Daub: Area redone last few years—new benches for picnic, opened up. 300 yen bar—early 30s, beers with buddies, mischief. Pointing to Toyosu, Harumi—love signs. Same generation as MWSG27—high school '74. Harumi cuts major parts—wicked cars. Japan kick-ass cars. Passed Ginza Station (Hibiya, Ginza Lines)—now Higashi Ginza (Asakusa, Hibiya). Metro, Toei meet—close to others: Ginza 2 min, Hibiya 5, Yurakucho JR 10.

00:27:18 John Daub: Whoa—car aficionados, what is that? McLaren—can't be cheap. Rev it! Stealth mode. Awesome—dozen others passed unnoticed. Showa-dori (Showa Avenue) past Akihabara. Chuo-dori. Know these three, know this side Tokyo. Kabukiza goal. Peso equation not today—stuff to do. Kabukiza damaged 2011 quake, renovated—scaffolding gone 3-4 years ago. Skyscraper in its butt.

00:30:07 John Daub: Shutoko (expressway) underneath. 1964 Olympics, drained river for highway—quick infrastructure. Goes to Nihonbashi—cool driving to Yokohama, Tomei to Nagoya. Lanes split around poles—built fast. Kabukiza main Kabuki theater. Less crowded Higashi Ginza. That way Tsukiji, Kachidoki Bridge, Sumida River.

00:32:49 John Daub: Fujisoba—one coin (under 500 yen): tempura soba, gyudon-style soba, mini oyakodon soba, katsudon soba. Quick, cheap, good, salty. Map: Chuo City, walked Harumi—remember it for hotels on big roads. Kabuki on with distancing. Front: woodblock prints, people in kimono—traditional feel. Takes hours to dress—even men, wore for wedding.

00:35:05 John Daub: Sake barrels. Here till Nov 26. Not original building—wood, fires common. Kiyomizudera Kyoto over 1000 years. Mochi from Akebono—famous. Basement gift shops, escalator. Nice burger. Soft—rice flour. Mmm, big chestnut, matcha anko, roasted kuri—delish.

00:38:24 John Daub: History: reconstruction pre-quake, original Meiji 1889. Taisho era till 1921 Kanto quake. Post-WWII design, then skyscraper caboose. Iconic orange, green, black seating. Performance Dec 1-26—famous actors. Harumi, Chuo, Showa dissect Tokyo—key for taxis.

00:40:57 John Daub: Thanks for watching—safe day. Back soon. Questions in comments, thumbs up for more walking adventures. 1200 likes: Akihabara street view other side. Bye from Harumi.