Long but fun day in Tokyo

(note: despite the huge number of photos in this post, there's TONS more on Flickr)

I woke up early this morning, around 6:30, after getting a good 9 hours of sleep or so. What a relief! This did not prevent me from feeling really tired really early this afternon with the jet lag and all, but it felt good. And wow, I want to get one of the fluffy comforters they have on their tatami mats here. So squishy and comfortable!

Once I got myself organized, I went down to the restaurant for the buffet-style breakfast. Who needs western food? I can get that anytime! So I had miso soup, rice, some pickled things, salmon, and an egg cake thing. Tasty!

Breakfast:


Then, I was part of the morning subway rush this morning and had to sqeeeeeeze onto a subway car where there was no room. It's very much like getting into a sardine can, but there weren't external people smooshing us on, and I didn't get grabbed so it was all good.

No photos from the train, but here's one of the station:


I then made my way to the bus station to meet up with my tour. It was a great mix of people and I spent a lot of time with Kobi and Andrew, from Brisbane, Australia. I may even see them when I visit there later this month! Our first stop was the Tokyo Tower, which provides for some great views.

The tower:


Me and a view of a nearby temple:



Then we went to see a tea ceremony and a really beautiful garden. The pond and koi were amazing, and then they had a huge number of bonsai trees, including one that's 500 years old. The tea ceremony itself was tourist-ized because it was pretty quick and we got to sit on chairs and keep our shoes on. But it was fun to watch the tea master do her thing, and I learned that the turning of the bowl is to enjoy the picture, but then not drink from the pretty part. Also, the sweets you eat before the tea are really amazing. I also found a lovely shrine and gate tucked away in the back, and really just enjoyed wandering the garden. So peaceful!

Tea master:


Me drinking tea:


500 year-old bonsai tree:


Pond, trees, and koi:


After that garden, we went to a restaurant near the Four Seasons for a bbq-style lunch, where the meal is cooked not on iron, but on a volcanic stone. It was delicious, and fun to chat with more of the folks from my tour (a Brit who is working on a book about Japanese hot springs, a Swede, a Belgian, the two Aussies, and me).

Cooking lunch:


Our crew:


From there it was off to the Imperial Palace edge. You can't go in without reservations and you can't see the palace from outside, but we did see some of the guard towers and the moat. Plus the lovely black pine forest.



And finally we were off to Asakusa, to do some shopping in the "arcade" and then visit the Kannon Temple, a great buddhist site. The shopping area had its cheesiness, but it was fun to walk around, and the area is beautiful. The shrine and gates and pagoda are all lovely, and it's neat to see people going through their rituals to cleanse and pray.

The shopping arcade:


Me and pagoda:


Incense cleansing before entering shrine:


After that, I said goodbye to my lovely tour guide, and my new friends as they were all going back south. Since our last stop was so close to my area, I went back through the arcade, grabbed some street food noodles (YUM), some bean paste cakes (YUM), and then made it back via subway.

Me, tourguide Mai-san, Pikachu, and Flat Stanley:


Dinner and dessert:




In between all this, I've been taking tons of pictures of odd signs....
Please put off your shoes (by my room entrance):


By a public bathroom sink:


Trash signs (combustible?):


Inglorious Basterds (In-gu-ri-a-su Ba-su-taa-zu):



Also found a few interesting store fronts:



Many neat buildings great and small, old and new...







And, of course many photos of Flat Stanley and the sites (more over here):
Don't look down!


Mmm, tea:



And some of my favorite shots of the day:






I leave you with this, the Asahi beer headquarters. Get it? It's a beer! Don't ask about the little golden, erm, thing. It's apparently a "flame of passion" designed by a Frenchman. Uh, yeah.