Sights
Ueno Park, Shinobazu Pond, Gojo Shrine | 上野公園
I knew today was going to be busy. Our bodies weren’t used to this sort of abuse, and I was dreading the end of today like nobody’s business. The walking was getting to us, but I think the feet were starting to become numb. Not numb as in can’t feel anything, but numb as in [...]
Tokyo National Museum | 東京国立博物館
Well, when in Rome, I mean Tokyo, the thing to do is check out some of the local museum fare. This would be the only time we’d really do this, so we wanted to do it right. I’m certainly glad we did.
The Tokyo National Museum is on the north end of Ueno Park, just past [...]
Kappabashi Dori, aka “Kitchentown”
Well, it was back to Ueno station for us. We were on to Kappabashi Dori, the home of the plastic food stores and other kitchen shops.
But not before we tried to find the temple from the day before. Tokudaiji Temple. And we found it. The bad thing is it was sort of difficult to find. [...]
Senso-ji and the Nakamise Arcade | 浅草寺, 仲店
At the end of the Ginza line is Asakusa station. A short walk from there begins the journey into Senso-ji, probably the most popular tourist destination in Tokyo, both for locals and foreigners alike. At least it seemed that way to us. The crowds around Shinjuku station had nothing on this scene, at least on [...]
Shibuya Crossing
Well the next morning we put on our walking shoes again and headed out towards Shibuya station, to witness the world’s biggest pedestrian crossing outside the Hachiko exit.
All I have to say is, good lord. For a Sunday morning the place was utterly full of people just hanging out, and of course, crossing the street. [...]
Omotesando to Harajuku
The next order of business was to make the relatively short walk from Omotesando station, along Omotesando street to Harajuku station, and the entrance to Yoyogi Park and the Meiji Shrine within. No problem.
Omotesando is the 5th Avenue of Tokyo. Tons of Mercedes and Porsches and other high dollar cars lined the streets as their [...]
Meiji Jingu
Well, at last we come down to it, the last major sight we’d see in Tokyo, The Meiji Jingu, or Meiji Shrine. Built to remember the Meiji Emperor, who as you recall, opened up Japan to the rest of the world in the mid 1800s, it occupies a large portion of Yoyogi Park, which is [...]
Mt. Takao
(note: I may split this post up, and with more detail later…)
Today we started our day trips out of the city. Rather than get breakfast at the hotel, we opted for a little (again, pseudo-Italian) bistro/cafe place up the street from the hotel. We shared a mediocre-at-best panini or whatever you call it. Meh. Not [...]
The Hakone Loop: Part 3, Moto-Hakone and the Old Cedar Highway
We got off the bus at Moto-Hakone, and stopped to take in the beauty of Lake Ashi, and the majesty of Mt. Fuji in the distance. We’d spotted the tip of Fujisan here and there on the train to Hakone-Yumoto, but it was more visible over the Ashi valley now. Wow. A few of the [...]
The Hakone Loop, Part 4: Lake Ashi
Once we got to the end of the old cedar highway, we had to walk the rest of the way to Hakone-Machi, and find the sightseeing boat docks. It was a bit of a walk, but not bad. We found ourselves going through an open air exhibit of some kind, that I think we were [...]
