Pre-Kyoto

Mum and Keith were here over two months ago, so in timely fashion, here is a little summary about what we got up to in the Tokyo area. I'm not going to focus too heavily on this part, just skim over with pictures, as most of it is things that have appeared on this blog at least once before.

The first evening we met in Shinagawa, and went to an Izakaya for dinner; a selection of Japanese delicacies. Some went down better than others, but kudos to them for trying nearly everything the whole time in Japan*.

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The first full day was Sunday, which meant the best and only real opportunity to do the Shibuya route and see the Harajuku girls. We started at the Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. Luckily, there was a kimono display and an area to try one on for free.

Unfortunately, it rained on and off but we still got to see a mix of sights, from Meiji Shrine to the Hachiko crossroads. And as a treat, we even saw Fuji at sunset back at the top of the Government Building.

That evening, we went to Kawasaki, the third biggest city situated on the edge of Tokyo and Yokohama (the cities never really end - they are only formally divided by rivers) with over a million citizens, for dinner. We also sat outside the cinema in the Latin Quarter to watch the water and light show. Free and fantastic.
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The second day, we went to:

a) Kamakura to see the temples,



b) Hase to see the revolving bookcase temple and Daibutsu (the Buddha) - even going inside!**,

c) and past Fuji to Enoshima to walk the whole way across the Island. And back. Stairs. Lots of stairs. So many stairs.

A very long day and we were all absolutely shattered by the end, but we managed to see some early blossom.

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The third day, we started at Hama-Rikyu park and saw the rape flowers.

Afterwards, we took a boat up Sumida River to Asakusa, stopping briefly at the "Penis Statue" Building for an Asahi beer. A brief stroll along the river to the Sumo area, Ryogoku, to attempt the impenetrable Edo Tokyo Museum. So much information and never enough time.

That night we ate at the conveyor belt sushi bar in Tsunashima and walked around the freezing but modern Minato Mirai area of Yokohama.
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The next two days were an overnight trip to Hakone, staying in a ryokan (traditional Japanese style hotel) in Yugawara. We met up with Keiko in Yokohama and took the train along the coast to the rural area South of Tokyo. After arriving, we all walked along a waterfall-lined river, had a relax at the foot spa - nearly burning ourselves in one of the freshly heated-up pools - and then checked into the hotel.

A pleasant onsen on the roof-top later, we were treated to kaiseki-ryouri, many different seasonal dishes, served by a lady who did the whole routine with the sliding doors etc.

A few plum wines and some sake later at the nearby "old men's pub" I took a quick onsen and then slept soundly.

Getting my money's worth, another bath in the morning before heading off to Hakone. Unfortunately, it was a little overcast so Fuji was hidden for the larger part of the day, although at some points at peaked over the clouds which created the incredible impression that it was floating in the sky. So dramatic. So impossible to capture on camera.

We drunk some sake in front of a mostly-covered Fuji, ate sulphur-style eggs in Owakudani (Hell Valley), rode the cable-car and sailed the boat across Lake Ashi.

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The last full day in Tokyo was, in hindsight, over-packed. But then again, we all survived and I would've been disappointed not to have shown my guests everything. We started by climbing Mount Takao which, not in the same scale as Fuji, was still a mean feat before lunch. I have some fantastic videos of Mum dancing to a strange Russian-Japanese song*** but I'm divided whether to post them.

My timing wasn't great so we didn't get to the yakiniku restaurant in Shibuya until late but it was worth it. Oishii! That afternoon, we had a look around some electronice stores and then took the Yurikamome (driverless monorail) to Odaiba; seeing the infamous red sun setting, walking along the beach-front, and exploring the Toyota Showroom.

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For regular readers, most of the above must sound like old news now, but I hope that for those who have actually been here that it brings back some good memories.

*I'll let Mum off for the baby squid in the ryokan.
**The statue itself inside was really hot in parts, and there was some clever explanation about the structuring of it. I've forgotten since. A case of in one ear, out the other.
***I've heard stranger: techno-accordion in rural France.