Tokyo Trip 2: Places we Went and Things we Saw

Banana vending machine

Tokyo Sky Tree

John being inappropriate with the statues

John and his parents enjoying a boat trip from Asakusa to Hamarikyu gardens. It was a lovely thing to do on a hot, summer day! 

Watching the world go by

Tokyo Sky Tree from Hamarikyu Gardens

I would love to live in one of those skyscrapers, overlooking this garden and the river and harbour behind it.

This little bear is having a rather lonely summer festival! 

Tokyo tower

Following instructions, I went to Maruyama Kofun, an ancient grave site near the Tokyo tower. It provided a lovely shadowy escape from the august heat. 

John relaxing under the trees

Tokyo tower

Shinjuku by night

We made a visit to Yasakuni Shrine, the controversial shrine to Japan's war dead (including 14 class A war criminals, which is naturally where the controversy comes in!). If you didn't already know what it was a shrine to, you'd never be able to tell from the peaceful and serene surroundings. 

Although the right wing museum next door might give it away! We didn't go around it,  but you only need to peek into the lobby to realise where it's views lie. Any museum that celebrates the building of a railway that killed 106,000 PoW and forced labourers isn't exactly aiming for world wide peace. 

Adverts for a robot cafe. Naturally.

Yakiniku alley, next to Shinjuku station

Tokyo Trip 2: Keio Plaza

Despite what our Taiwan trip might have made you think, John and I don't usually bother with fancy hotels. We usually stay somewhere cheap, then spend our whole holiday (except for compulsory sleeping time) elsewhere. However, John's Mum does like nice hotels, and for our recent trip to Tokyo, she insisted on putting us up in the Keio Plaza, near Shinjuku station. Our (very nice) room was on the 33rd floor, and the view was gorgeous. No photos of the room, because I spent the whole time we were there gazing out the window! Plus, a bit of sweet talking on the part of John's Dad, and we all got complimentary passes to use the club room on the 34th floor, with drinks and snacks (including cheese, yummmmm) for the duration of our stay. Although we dragged ourselves away to explore Tokyo, I think it would have taken me a long time to get bored of this view!

View on the first morning, Fuji in the background. Apparently you can only see it about 100 days a year, mostly in the winter when it's clearer, so we were really lucky to get a view on 3 of the 4 days we were there.

View from the Club Room across central Tokyo to the Sky Tree

View from our room at night. Building on the left is where they filmed Lost in Translation, and the one on the right is the Metropolitan Building (which you can go up for a free view like these!)

Wine plus view plus cheese makes us happy! 

Fuji on our last morning

Scarlett Johansson, eat your heart out. 

PS - More variety next time, I promise! 

Tokyo: My First Trip, Part 3

John headed out to get very drunk and dance a lot on Saturday night, while I headed back to the hotel (but still managed to stay up until 2am chatting to our friend Chris). So we were both a little sleepy and lazy on Sunday. Luckily the weather had cheered up, so we spent our day in the vicinity of the alternate Universe that is Yoyogi Park, relaxing and people watching. (NB: Alternate both because it is full of strange people doing strange things, and also because it is so different to the skyscraper-ville that surrounds it!)

A rubbish photo of the Shibuya scramble crossing

Ridiculous dog outfit in a shop in Harajuku.

Entrance to Meiji Shrine Park

Relaxing in the spring sunshine (AKA making the most of Tokyo before the return to the frozen north)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Building

View from the top. Tokyo is big.

Hanami viewed from above.

Back to the Meiji Shrine Park.

Meiji Shrine

Barrels of sake (rice wine) outside the shrine

Ridiculous skipping outfits in Yoyogi Park.

It made a weird honking noise. Naturally.

Yoyogi Park at sunset.

Sampling traditional Japanese food...

It was a lovely long weekend in Tokyo. We'll be back soon! 

PS - WHAT'S WITH THE WEATHER CURRENTLY? Last night I was in desperate need of an Ark, and now I'm scared of getting blown to Kansas. A quick reminder, Japan, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SPRING. 

Tokyo: My First Trip, Day 1

An extra couple of days off meant that we had time to go to Tokyo for the weekend. We got an overnight bus down after work on Thursday night, and another one back on Sunday night. The bus was the cheapest way to get to Tokyo and back, but not the most comfortable!! Here are some photos of the first day we were there.

Our bus arriving before 7am meant it was the perfect time to go to Tsukiji Fish Market, and have sushi for breakfast.

John and I shared one bowl of mixed sushi, and this bowl of eel. It's currently my favourite sushi topping.

Fish eyes as big as my fist. Ewww.

Massive tuna.

Moat around the Emperor's Palace

We found an early flowering Cherry Tree :D

At a shrine in Ueno Park.

Lake in Ueno Park.

So cute!

Eating Green Tea Ice Cream at Senso-ji Temple.

Senso-ji Temple...once we were done eating ice-cream we actually managed to explore!

I found the statue of Rat Boy! Read all about him on Rurousha's fantastic blog.