Up early again, at breakfast buffet when they opened at 7am! Good brekkie actually, Western and Japanese fare. Saw Indian couple who were on their way to #Kyoto, we are with Aussie couple, the hubbie suffering the ill effects of too much to drink last night! Met our guide who took several groups to the #Odawara train station where we caught the #Shinkansen (bullet train), 200mph! Changed to regular express train to #Takayama where we met up with two other couples, one from Quebec and one from East Finchley (London) – small world! Walked around… Read Article →
We had an early start with less than five hours of sleep after our night out with Adam, so we were feeling a bit worn out today. We made it to the meeting point on time this morning. The bus was overcrowded, extra seats folded out of the armrests adding a row down the center. Two bus rides later we finally made onto the tour bus destined for mount Fuji about a one and half hour ride up a winding road to the viewing point around 2200 meters up the volcano. A huge snow covered active volcano… Read Article →
Met Adam for lunch in #Koenji and then checked out the little side streets selling vintage everything, a quieter quaint version of Portobello Market. Headed over to Akihabhara district, the techie geek area which is jamming with kids shopping for everything gaming and tech imaginable! Evening was a pre-release party for ‘Lowlife Love’ and also a birthday bash for the director Uchida Eiji, at Good Heavens British pub. Adam was DJ’ing when we arrived and the place was already packed. Charming eclectic bar covered from floor to ceiling with film, music and largely British… Read Article →
Love the message on the subway- ‘please set your mobile phones to silent and refrain from talking on them!’ No one is fat or obese and there are plenty of tall Japanese – note for my mum, they are not all short! Food isn’t as healthy as we’d anticipated. Lots of high protein foods, no fresh fruit offered in any restaurants and very little for sale in shops at outrageous price. Very little in the way of veggies also, carrots, interesting variety of onions and cabbage, plus weird (to us Westerners) pickled veg. White wonderbread… Read Article →
Rainy and jolly chilly morning. Got going after the rain to the #MeijiShrine,(opened in 1920) dedicated to the Emperor (of the same name), locating in the #Yoyogipark. Onward to #Harajuku district, a combo of vintage shops, bizarre narrow streets of numerous sickly looking crepe and candy shops mingled with weird Japanese Hello Kitty baby doll meets punk clothing stores, primarily for the teenage market! Mobbed with locals and tourists, particularly school age teens on spring break! A stones throw away is the endless shopping streets of Magi Dori and Omotesando with all the high end International shops,… Read Article →
#japan #tokyo
Went to see the #Hanazonoshrine to the God of Fertility and Worldly Success, and then wandered around the tiny ramshackle bar area of the #GoldenGai. Tokyo’s tiniest drinking dens: a guide to Golden Gai Lunch with Adam in the #Asakusa district and to see the famous #Senso-ji – Tokyo’s oldest temple, and a wander round the market stalls sampling weird and yummy foods, mainly varieties of rice cakes! Then off to #Tokyo #Skytree, the world’s tallest tower. Massive Disney length line to get in -90 minute wait. Not happening. Googled. Aha! Foreigners can buy a… Read Article →
The hotel room is so small there is only room for one of us to move at a time! Mainly used by business travelers, but it is all that was available as it’s a holiday weekend. #japan #tokyo Lunch with Adam today was quite an experience, not just lunch! Delicious. Then off to Shibuya to people watch! Waiting for the green crossing man! Thousands all crossing every which way
Only another hour or so and we will be at our hotel, so looking forward to sleep!