What happens when the sun is up, it’s a Sunday and the British are around? We have a picnic. Because in England the phenomenon known commonly as “a nice day” happens, scientists have discovered, just once every three thousand years, every English person for miles grabs some blankets, triangle cut sandwiches and SP5,000,000 sunblock and drive like maniacs to the nearest park or beach, blind with optimism that the sun may actually touch them.
Lynsey, fellow Brit and professional picnic enthusiast, had spotted that all of the requirements were in place. With a heart full of hope and a squeezy bottle of Hellman’s Mayonnaise, I headed to Shinjuku to meet her and her friend Kanna.
The weather forecast was actually right for once and it was pleasant whilst we were picking up the sushi, Yakisoba (noodles!) and prawn salad that was to be our feast fit for a king. We headed to Shinjuku park and paid the couple of hundred yen entrance fee. This may strike you as strange, but I can confirm that Shinjuku-Gyoen is the only park in Japan with real grass that isn’t horrible and prickly.
I thought I’d wait until this long to break the news – I didn’t take my camera with me. I know, I’m sorry and it won’t happen again. (It totally will). I had no idea Shinjuku park looked so nice, otherwise I would have taken it with me.
We chose a spot under a tree in the shade, where Lynsey and I wouldn’t burn in the first thirty seconds (I nearly made it to a whole minute!) and started chowing down. Sadly we had chosen to make base camp right next to a large community of ants, and immediately under a huge crow’s favourite branch. Lynsey and Kanna seemed unfazed by this, so I got a lot closer to the wildlife of Japan than I wanted to.
We had decided to couple our meal with some rather tasty beer. The problem is alcohol is not allowed in Shinjuku park. At first I was worried we’d get spotted, but at 4.30, when the park closed, the sheer amount of empty wine bottles suggested we weren’t the only alcohol smugglers in the park.
After the picnic it would have been insanity not to go to a coffee shop. This is the only reason we went, it definitely was not for the delicious cakes. As I can see what looks like a large angry mob on the horizon, I shall make you a deal. Don’t kill me, and I’ll post a big update with lots of photographs soon. Put that pitchfork down.
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