Tokyo, Japan October 2010

We arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday, October 12th. Took the train to the Shinagawa Station and found our hotel across the street. The Shinagawa Prince Hotel complex--four towers, lots of restaurants, bowling alley, pools, tennis & golf areas, an aquarium, and surrounded by a shopping mall. Quite the place--for $105 a night!!

Our hotel entrance at night.

7-11, conveniently

20-feet from our hotel entrance.

Wednesday-10/13

Bus tour of Tokyo

Tokyo Tower looks like the Eiffel Tower!

Meija Shrine to Emperor Meija I, grandfather or current emporer.

Messages to the gods.

One of the torii gates.

Washing ritual.

Guard house for the Imperial Palace.

Massive wall in the east garden of the Imperial Palace.

Building in the east garden of the Imperial Palace.

Headquarters of Kirin beer, their gift to the city, a modern sculpture, the flame of promise,

which everyone calls--"The Golden Carrot."

Akasaka Buddhist Shrine

Giant wooden shoji

End of tour--Ginza

Thursday-10/14--Bullet train to Kyoto

scenes from the train.

Shinto shrine

Shrine of 1001 Buddhas.

Kimonos and ice cream.

Steep street below the last shrine, up the mountain.

Friday afternoon-10/15,

aquarium in our hotel complex

"Small" swordfish

Huge Ray

Dolphin Show.

Audience at seal show, groups of children in different hats.

Saturday morning-10/16 A walk around the neighborhood.

Shrine around the corner.

Catholic Church--memorial for first Christian martyrs, from 1600s.

Ethiopian Embassy

Morter-less stone wall, moves with earth tremors without falling.

Saturday afternoon bus tour-10/15

Hama Ryukyu gardens

300-year old oak tree.

Boat ride from Tokyo Bay, up the river, under about 12 bridges, each different, to the Akasaka area.

Our second visit to Akasaka Buddhist Shrine.

Ginza--at night

Sunday-10/17 Bus trip to Mt. Fuji, Hakone & Lake Ashi.

Mt. Fuji

My favorite picture

Shinto shrine at 5thstation.

Silver grass

Hanoke Area
Lake Ashi--boat ride.

Duck/swan peddle boats

Cable ride to the mountain top--Bill rode it.

Monday--10/18 The other side of Shinagawa train station.

Modern, western feel--

serene Asian influence--

The busy street beyond.

We ended our stay on October 19th, took off from Narita Airport at 11:30am and landed at Dulles Airport at 10:01am on October 19th--1 1/2 hours earlier than we left!!