Funky buildings
Yes its very very crowded
My that's a big temple
They do big buildings from up here
Tokyo tower dwarfed in the backgroundThe last full day in Tokyo dawned clear and warm and with a packed itinerary it was just as well.
Trying yet another private rail line we headed off to the area of Odaiba which is a reclaimed area on the bay full of funky architecture and lurid development.
It was a terrific train ride over the rainbow bridge which curls back on itself. You can walk over it but Alessandra and I chose to take a ride on the "hello kitty" ferris wheel and enjoy the view instead. We stopped off at the Toyota Museum and Alessandra had a ride on a small electric car while I took a very determined turn in a GT racer simulator. Let's just say that I won't be changing careers based on that drive.
We headed back into Tokyo proper and off up to Asakusa and the oldest temple in Tokyo Sensoji. Having got my temple etiquette down pat over that last few days I was able to confidently show the tourists how to wash each hand separately then wash out the mouth and spit it in the trough. We were even able to complete a prayer at the shrine but refrained from the customary clapping at the end of the prayer lest we look like idiots.
Hot? Over 32 and with high humidity in the midst of an unshaded lane of tacky souvenir shops with wall to wall people. It didn't stop Alessandra spying a bag with valentino on it which is coming home with us after some spirited debate.
From there it was a few sub-way changes and inventive use of the JR pass which got us back to Roppongi and a visit to the observatory and views over Tokyo which had been denied to us when we went up on Sunday into cloud cover. Gives you a tremendous sense of how huge this city is.
Shopping done and with gifts in hand it was back to the Hotel to change and shower after a long hot day.
Off to Shibuya for dinner and to be amazed at the mass of humanity that flows in and around that area. Think the George Street crossing at the top of the mall times a thousand every 3 minutes. At ten o'clock at night!!
We again took the risk of ordering from a Japanese menu and again scored well with some mystery chicken dish and gyoza. A small issue with the bacon and soy bean hot pot but it went down a treat. And I love Japanese ginger-ale.
Sad to be leaving but looking forward to the journey to Kyoto tomorrow on the shinkansen ( bullet train) and to a different city.
Tremendous memories of Tokyo and it is certainly somewhere worth a visit, even if just to appreciate how polite the people are when living in what must be trying circumstances. We have been amazed at how smoothly it all functions and how polite and civilized they are to each other and to dumb foreigners.
A real pleasure to be a visitor here.
Trying yet another private rail line we headed off to the area of Odaiba which is a reclaimed area on the bay full of funky architecture and lurid development.
It was a terrific train ride over the rainbow bridge which curls back on itself. You can walk over it but Alessandra and I chose to take a ride on the "hello kitty" ferris wheel and enjoy the view instead. We stopped off at the Toyota Museum and Alessandra had a ride on a small electric car while I took a very determined turn in a GT racer simulator. Let's just say that I won't be changing careers based on that drive.
We headed back into Tokyo proper and off up to Asakusa and the oldest temple in Tokyo Sensoji. Having got my temple etiquette down pat over that last few days I was able to confidently show the tourists how to wash each hand separately then wash out the mouth and spit it in the trough. We were even able to complete a prayer at the shrine but refrained from the customary clapping at the end of the prayer lest we look like idiots.
Hot? Over 32 and with high humidity in the midst of an unshaded lane of tacky souvenir shops with wall to wall people. It didn't stop Alessandra spying a bag with valentino on it which is coming home with us after some spirited debate.
From there it was a few sub-way changes and inventive use of the JR pass which got us back to Roppongi and a visit to the observatory and views over Tokyo which had been denied to us when we went up on Sunday into cloud cover. Gives you a tremendous sense of how huge this city is.
Shopping done and with gifts in hand it was back to the Hotel to change and shower after a long hot day.
Off to Shibuya for dinner and to be amazed at the mass of humanity that flows in and around that area. Think the George Street crossing at the top of the mall times a thousand every 3 minutes. At ten o'clock at night!!
We again took the risk of ordering from a Japanese menu and again scored well with some mystery chicken dish and gyoza. A small issue with the bacon and soy bean hot pot but it went down a treat. And I love Japanese ginger-ale.
Sad to be leaving but looking forward to the journey to Kyoto tomorrow on the shinkansen ( bullet train) and to a different city.
Tremendous memories of Tokyo and it is certainly somewhere worth a visit, even if just to appreciate how polite the people are when living in what must be trying circumstances. We have been amazed at how smoothly it all functions and how polite and civilized they are to each other and to dumb foreigners.
A real pleasure to be a visitor here.
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