We wake to blue sky, sun, 24 and finally sightseeing weather. The hotel is full so people are all traveling here in Japan. First off to the modern Tokyo Municipal building and up to the 42nd floor viewing area, free. It's hazy from pollution and still no sign if Mt.Fuji. But a good overview of this huge city, largest in the world, and some of the nice downtown buildings. Its not a patch on Shanghai's Pudong, but attractive all the sae.
Way off you can see the dome which is probably in preparation for the 2020 Olympics. Unlike Beijing, Tokyo is not selling Olympic paraphernalia big time yet. I had hoped to pick up a small memento or two but prices for small things are still a bit outrageous. No sign of their mascots yet!
But the popularity of all these little furry toys and toons is unbelievable. Everyone has them hanging from everything, extraordinary really.
You can see some large green spots in Tokyo and we know that Shinjuku park is waiting for us out there. The cocoon building is a marvel of elliptical steel and glass but we skip touring that.
We walk back up through the busy shopping area - similar to Oxford and Regent Street in England. We follow the Insight guide recommendation of an old established tempura restaurant in an old wooden building tucked into this frantic shopping area. We have to wait in line with the other locals, no sign of tourists, and enjoy a very good feed of freshest fish and seafood and veggies in a light tempura, but it's expensive. We order a set meal of soup, rice, pickles, plus tempura shrimp, mushroom bouquet, lotus, small fish large fish, as well as some wonderful shrimp stuffed mushrooms.
We then walk it off strolling around the beautiful Shinjuku park, with its separate Japanese, French and English style garden. People are all out strolling, picnicking (it's Saturday) and enjoying this lovely fall day. The colors have not started to turn so it will be a picture in another 3 weeks!
Back to the shopping area, we go to Isakaya where I check out the white canvas Balenciaga bag I spotted someone sporting recently. turns out it is C$1000+. Pass!! But Ted finds a sake he likes in the marvellous food floor in the basement, equal to anything Harrods and Fortnums can offer.
I've also found the great little snack food of almonds mixed with tiny crispy fish that go well with the sake or beer. After a soak and a few tot of sake it is off to bed at 10:30 and sleep soundly til 7:30.
Sadly, the CNN news program runs an article about our previous premier Jim Prentice being killed in a small plane crash in Kelowna. Even more sadly my wonderful optometrist who has improved my visual quality of life for over 30 years, went down in the same plane.
It is sunny and cloudy but 23 and we stoke up at the great breakfast buffet for a heavy day of sightseeing. First the subway, with is really easy to get the hang of, to Tokyo station and walk to Imperial Park gardens. This is where the imperial family actually reside in a huge park, populated by many many Japanese out enjoying the day, and lots of tour buses too.
First we run the gamut of huge crowds out for a Tennis anime, more young people outfitted in gear to support their favourite toon characters.
We enjoy the red brick tony Craft Museum, which is really a lovely art gallery, then use the same ticket to tour the National Art Gallery of rather mediocre art.
Over the highway bridge, we enter the massive Imperial Set Garden area, and later to Kitanomaru Park, former home of the imperial guard. Some of the original buildings still stand.
Within walking distance is the famed Ginza shopping area. We tour the impressive Tokyo International Forum Building, then visit the Sony building, home of futuristic electronics. In the basement we have a beer and franks at the German style pub, then back on the subway exhausted at7pm. At 8:3 I muster the energy to walk over the tracks to have a disappointing crepe in the lovely rooftop garden at the Brittany restaurant. We pick up fruit and desserts at our local Family Mart and crash after a soak.
Way off you can see the dome which is probably in preparation for the 2020 Olympics. Unlike Beijing, Tokyo is not selling Olympic paraphernalia big time yet. I had hoped to pick up a small memento or two but prices for small things are still a bit outrageous. No sign of their mascots yet!
But the popularity of all these little furry toys and toons is unbelievable. Everyone has them hanging from everything, extraordinary really.
You can see some large green spots in Tokyo and we know that Shinjuku park is waiting for us out there. The cocoon building is a marvel of elliptical steel and glass but we skip touring that.
We walk back up through the busy shopping area - similar to Oxford and Regent Street in England. We follow the Insight guide recommendation of an old established tempura restaurant in an old wooden building tucked into this frantic shopping area. We have to wait in line with the other locals, no sign of tourists, and enjoy a very good feed of freshest fish and seafood and veggies in a light tempura, but it's expensive. We order a set meal of soup, rice, pickles, plus tempura shrimp, mushroom bouquet, lotus, small fish large fish, as well as some wonderful shrimp stuffed mushrooms.
We then walk it off strolling around the beautiful Shinjuku park, with its separate Japanese, French and English style garden. People are all out strolling, picnicking (it's Saturday) and enjoying this lovely fall day. The colors have not started to turn so it will be a picture in another 3 weeks!
Back to the shopping area, we go to Isakaya where I check out the white canvas Balenciaga bag I spotted someone sporting recently. turns out it is C$1000+. Pass!! But Ted finds a sake he likes in the marvellous food floor in the basement, equal to anything Harrods and Fortnums can offer.
I've also found the great little snack food of almonds mixed with tiny crispy fish that go well with the sake or beer. After a soak and a few tot of sake it is off to bed at 10:30 and sleep soundly til 7:30.
Sadly, the CNN news program runs an article about our previous premier Jim Prentice being killed in a small plane crash in Kelowna. Even more sadly my wonderful optometrist who has improved my visual quality of life for over 30 years, went down in the same plane.
It is sunny and cloudy but 23 and we stoke up at the great breakfast buffet for a heavy day of sightseeing. First the subway, with is really easy to get the hang of, to Tokyo station and walk to Imperial Park gardens. This is where the imperial family actually reside in a huge park, populated by many many Japanese out enjoying the day, and lots of tour buses too.
First we run the gamut of huge crowds out for a Tennis anime, more young people outfitted in gear to support their favourite toon characters.
We enjoy the red brick tony Craft Museum, which is really a lovely art gallery, then use the same ticket to tour the National Art Gallery of rather mediocre art.
Over the highway bridge, we enter the massive Imperial Set Garden area, and later to Kitanomaru Park, former home of the imperial guard. Some of the original buildings still stand.
Within walking distance is the famed Ginza shopping area. We tour the impressive Tokyo International Forum Building, then visit the Sony building, home of futuristic electronics. In the basement we have a beer and franks at the German style pub, then back on the subway exhausted at7pm. At 8:3 I muster the energy to walk over the tracks to have a disappointing crepe in the lovely rooftop garden at the Brittany restaurant. We pick up fruit and desserts at our local Family Mart and crash after a soak.
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