Tokyo

Shinkansen back to Tokyo

/ brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

We had another rainy morning so headed to the station and had coffee there before getting the Shinkansen train to Tokyo.

If you’re in Japan you must experience their trains. Especially the Shinkansen. It’s the Bullet train and clocks speeds of around 264 km per hour. Amazing.

The stations have a great assortment of bento boxes, sandwiches / from Family Mart, drinks machines everywhere making taking a snack very easy. On these longer trips 2.5 hrs to cross the country most people bring their food. But by the end of the journey there isn’t one bit of rubbish left behind. Amazing!!!

We got off a stop earlier than Tokyo main station because we realised that Ueno Park was closer to our hotel. We changed to a JR train and in two stops were close to our hotel – the Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku. It’s fairly new and off the Main Street and close to all the little laneways of restaurants and shops. It’s a complete contrast to upmarket Ginza where we stayed when we first arrived.

As we were arriving Chris & Jill were leaving! They are heading home today.

I like the change of areas. I had a big walk around to get to know the place while Steve did the washing. These hotels all have cooperated laundry rooms. For 400 yen ( $4) you can do a load of washing. Drying is 100 yen.

Beautifully lit gates

We headed off for a drink and dinner and wandered the covered market streets.

Lots of street art

We were looking for bar but most here are all restaurants as well Until we found Zen which looked like a wine bar but did turn into a restaurant. It was a great little place

We stayed and had a great meal. Steve had the ginger pork and I had octopus rice hot pot.

We walked back to the hotel via Lawsons – like 7 eleven. Only so much better than our Australian ones. We got a few supplies and now I’m preparing for a bubble bath and Steve’s having whiskey bought from Lawsons and watching the baseball finals.

Day 3 Tokyo

/ brisbanefrannie / 4 Comments

An early start – 7am and in the train to our appointment at The Sumo wrestling. We booked a practice session starting at 8am.

Our guides Moana and Aya met us in a park nearby and explained the session to us.

It’s very formal. No talking or distracting the wrestlers. They are not the higher ranking wrestlers but are training with Master.

Some of the warm up drills

It as fascinating to watch the drills they practiced. It all happens within a small ring and each game can take just a minute! If they wrestle them out of the ring or onto the ground they win.

With the session over we had some question time and found out they have to train twice a day, do their own cooking and cleaning and the lower ranks don’t earn a lot of money! We learned some of the nuances of the sport.

Wrestlers here wear black loin clothes but strive to white – that means they are professional. They wore loin cloths in history as they couldn’t conceal weapons.

The throw salt in the ring before starting……. a ritual of respect and they stamp to scare off evil spirits. They grow their hair long to wear a top knot , can’t drive or wear normal street clothes. They eat twice a day and sleep after a meal to allow the weight to increase! Something I don’t want to do especially in this holiday!

They always finish with a prayer and then move around the circle in a line.

Play this video. I hope it works.
Lower ranked samurai cook lunch for the seniors after training

We walked back through the rain towards Tokyo tower but it was shrouded by clouds so we didn’t go up. Instead, we had bad coffee and delicious pastries!

Twenty minute walk later we arrived at the Senso-ji temple. It was super crowded. Not the experience of yesterday’s peaceful shrine.

What was fascinating was the number of people dressed in kimonos. Obviously Saturday is dress up day.

Women after a visit to a hire company.
Senso Ji. Awash with umbrellas

Deciding it was too crowded we made our way to the Samurai Ninja museum.

Spread over 4 floors we got to dress up, had a lesson in the history of samurai, learned to throw the shuriken – a star shaped weapon.

Every inch the samurai!
Not so fierce

Samurai existed from the late 16th century until around 1867. They came from the upper classes. Woman were samurai ! They had different swords. but were quick and dangerous. It was a fascinating visit.

It was still raining so we walked through the covered lanes and side streets. Everyone was out today. Fashion is as big thing in Japan and many of the young girls were out to impress.

There were lots of food stalls. I’d like uk try a few of these food items. But another day !

Japan : A Discovery

/ brisbanefrannie / 4 Comments

We’ve always wanted to go to Japan but kept putting it off thinking it was so close we could go anytime!

Now’s the time. We rounded up friends Peter & Elizabeth from Crescent Head and Jill & Chris from Brisbane and started planning.

For some reason it seemed quite daunting. So different in so many ways to our previous holidays. But after talking to a travel company we decided we could do it ourselves. Especially with help from friend Aimee, a friend of our sons, who lived here for 6 years Let’s see!

We travelled to Sydney at 5.15. Which didn’t leave much time before boarding. No lounge for us. Pete & Elizabeth were at the gate. So lots of smiles and hugs. They nearly didn’t come. Both have been quite sick. But there they were!

The flight was good. We got the Qantas pjs always a treat. Especially seeing people disappear into the small toilets to wrestle into them.

Arrival into Tokyo was smooth. It was 5.40 when we landed and we were ushered through the priority lane. I’d like to think it’s because we looked important but I think it was our age.

A quick trip to the toilet. The toilets deserve a whole post of their own. They are big, spotless and well appointed. You could be in there for ages.

Note the buttons. Rear cleaning , front cleaning, off, on and flush.
Heated seats.

We met up with the Wilsons who arrived last night. Across the road to a coffee shop and some planning.

A visit to Lawsons kept us entertained. It’s another store like 7- eleven. Lots of everything. I bought an umbrella as it’s overcast and cooler than expected!

Now heading to Tokyo station to book a bunch of train tickets for the longer journeys over the next few weeks.

We navigated the underground quite well. Google maps helped. I’m not sure 6 people giving an opinion is helpful so a few of us butted out!!!

The trains come regularly!
The crew of 6
The peaceful gardens.

Next up was a 2 hr walking tour of the Imperial palace and gardens. You don’t get into any Palace but the other buildings and gardens were lovely. Our guide was an Australian from Wollongong. He’s lived here for 8 years and clearly explained the hierarchy involving the emperor , the shoguns ( they really welded the power) and the samurai.

A guard house

We walked and listened and after 2 hours needed lunch! so it was back to Tokyo station and searching for a restaurant. We found a good one serving salad bowls of salmon , sushi sets and beer!

The weather has been overcast and blowy but no rain. Not hot like I thought it might be.

Back to the hotel to check in at 3 and finally shower. The hardy Jill, Chris and Steve headed straight out to visit a shrine The rest of us are showering, unpacking and resting.

Dinner tonight is at a Yakitori restaurant. Hopefully with a drink on a nearby rooftop.

A great first day.