Tokyo

Our weekend trip to Tokyo Japan started out quite smooth last Friday afternoon.  We left Korea around 11:00 and arrived two and a half hours later at Narita airport, just to the NW of Tokyo.  We hopped a train from Narita to the Shinbashi train station and walked a short few blocks to our hotel, the Sunroute Shimbashi in the Ginza part of town.

Well the reviews for the hotel were pretty spot on.  Clean, up to date, conveniently  located with 100s or restaurants within walking distance, and small rooms.  Small is accurate. I guess they are considered big in Japanese terms but tiny for Americans.

But they were spot on about food being close.  There was everything you could imagine to eat quite close.  We found a little noodle place the first day and boy was it good.  Ate there a couple of times.  By the time we left I think we had the "slurping" down to an art form.







The train and subway were the main means of travel and very easy.  We were on and off the train numerous time and had the ticket machines perfected.  Watch your wallets though.  They aren't kidding when they say Tokyo is the second most expensive city in the world.  Once ticket just to go one stop was 130 yen per person, about $2.00 us.  We pay about .90 cents here in Korea to go pretty much anywhere.  And yes that is me asking for help.

Now that is a gigantic pillar.  To the left is the entrance of the Meiji Jingo, which is a Shinto shrine.  This one was dedicated to the divine souls of Emperor Meiji and his consort Empress Shoken.  Above are tubs of beer from all over the world.  Emperor Meiji felt if his people were happy then all would be good.  So he brought in barrels of wine and beer from all over the world, unfortunately no Portland Micro brews.  Funny thing is that none of it was open.  Not sure just having it there would make me happy.  Need to tap that keg!

Kelly hanging up our votive tablet around the tree pictured above.

 Here we are at the Shibuya Crossing in Shibuya. Or as Kelly and I say it... "Shi BOOOYA!"  This is the world's busiest intersection.  http://www.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1897812_1897772_1897742,00.html

 

After the crossing we hit another Japanese place for lunch.  These ladies were just out for the day and were very helpful in show us how to order and make up our tea.

The Tokyo Tower, which is 30+ meters taller than the Eiffel Tower, was just out our window.  It unlike the Eiffel tower, was built for the purpose of being a communication tower.  At night it was lit up with different colors and during the day it is open for visitors to view the city.  More pics from the observation deck to come later.  We thought this pic was neat at sunset just prior to the lights coming on.

The Shinjuku Shrine was quite popular with everyone visiting this part of town.  There was a gigantic outdoor shopping area leading up to the entrance.  The "pot" on the right is where people would burn healing incense and swirl the smoke around their body.  It smelled great. 




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This one if for the boys at work.  True "Blue Hairs" do exist.














Here we are after visiting the Shinjuku Shrine.  And what you can't see is the ice cream place we went next. It was a tough choice.  Asahi brewery on one side of the river, or ice cream on the other.  We went for ice cream.