Time to take stock and perform a quick review of Tokyo.

The city itself is superb. 5 days (the effective amount of time we had there) is no where near enough. Ideally you would want two weeks if you’re up to the pace, else three if you want to take a slightly more leisurely pace. It is a city full of contradictions. If you’re wanting an exotic location you will instantly be disappointed as Tokyo is the number 1 western city. We’re talking state of the art and modern buildings here, however dig deeper and the old locations (even if rebuilt out of ferro-concrete in the 1960s) are just round the corner. Temples sit alongside modern high rises and crowds are every where. Continue reading →

We had a slight scare this morning as I realised the JR Travel Bureau at Tokyo station would not be open till 09:30 where as we’d be needing to buy our tickets at 08:00. Fortunately we found the main ticket desk and were able to get them from there. The trip from Tokyo station to Narita was as relaxing as the way out, the Japanese do their express trains well, and we arrived on time.

Checking in at Narita (for JAL anyhow) is now automatic, no option of a desk clerk. The machine was a pain to use, but partly because it looks like the flight is full and most people pre-checked in. We’re not going to be able to sit together, but at least I get on aisle seat so can stretch my legs.

Used up the remaining credit on my Suica card by buying some extra goodies, but forgot about the cash I had left. Fortunately some of that has gone on our coffees, where I’m typing this up offline as we pass time and I recharge the laptop batteries. There is a free internet set up here care of Yahoo, but you have to use their PCs so we did not bother (we’re not exactly in any hurry to check emails, etc).

Review to follow tomorrow.

Ja Matta

When organising this trip with Pak I found that the Yomiuri Giants were playing at home against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on one of the nights we were there, and as myself and Dave had enjoyed watching the Hiroshima Toya Carps we decided to go. Kaoru, Derek and Pat joined us and we watched a rather fun game. The atmosphere inside the stadium was very good, there were girls running round selling beers (about 5 different brands) and soft drinks, and towards the end of the gae the tnsion got rather high. Yomiuri Giants won in the end, but despite early impressions it was not a high scoring game (4-3) and had the potential to go either way. Continue reading →

We both had some final shopping to do and were recommended a market area just south of Ueno station. The only problem was that while it was a lrge and varied market, think English town market, not some where to find craft and local produce stalls.

Kabukiza is an oditity. It’s an old building, sat square in the middle of one of the most advanced pieces of real estate in the world (I hate to use the term modern as modernity was the 1960s, some 50 years ago). We got off at Ginza station to find ourselves with a two block walk (there is another station right in front of it, but we forgot due to running late). I’d already found out that Kaoru was already inside along with Pat (Derek’s mother) and Owen (a friend of Derek’s from a former work place), but that Derek was waiting outside for us. We arrived late, 10 minutes after the performance started, but fortuantely Derek and Kaoru had bought us tickets and hired us radios that give an over view of what is happening on stage in English. Continue reading →

Today’s out final full day in Tokyo and once more we had plans. We’re going to be meeting Derek and Kaoru late morning for Kabuki, then in the evening we’ll be going to watch the Yomiuri Giants play at home (baseball). The initil idea as hit a near by shrine (yes there’s even a temple close to Akihabara), primarilly because there’s meant to be a traditional shopby there which sells a type of sake flavoured with ginger, then hit Akihabara for the final time before heading off to Ginza and kabuki.

To get to Kanda Myojin we first of all had to pass Ushimaseido,a place of learning dedicated to Confusious. I think the seido is the original 16th centrury (?) building, but it awas hard to get interesting photos of is as the front was full of cars (it’s still an active building for a college). Moving on round it we got to the temple to find the shop maybe no more. Never mind we went for a quick wander round Kanda Myolin expecting us to be finished in just a few minutes as there’s not much there, except it draws you in by it’s sereness and you keep finding new things to look at. Needless to say we’re now running late for Kabuki.

We decided to sort out food too late tonight. Partly because we both lost track of time and partly because neither of us was at first hungry. Our main problem was that many restaurants in Japan close at 21:00, limiting where we could get to. We found a tempura restaurant in Ginza that was open till 21:30 – ideal, so we went there. No where in the review did it mention price, nor was there any displayed outside. Turns out this one, Ten-Ichi is considered to be one of the world’s best, resulting in set meals rangine between 10,500 yen and 18,500 yen, that’s ~£50-95. We were comitted so went for it. The tempura was nice, but to be very honest for much of it Tsunahachi in Shinjuku was superior, but at under half the price. Over all our bill came to 36,000 yen, so around £180, almost 4 times as much for food that as a whole was not as good and all that extra for the ambience was not worth it. On top of which no guidance was given for what to use as a dip with each time.

Thinking back, I think the place myself and Dave went to in Hiroshima three years back was still the best I’ve eaten at, and I think it was only around £40 a head there, so possibly now £50-60, on top oif which back there the hef took pride in advising us what to use with what, resulting in the perfect flavour ballances.

Oyasumi Nasai

Just read that Kotooshu won his bout yesterday to become the basho champion for the first time. He won today to finish 14-1. His nearest competitrs were both 11-3

As expected the Shinto wedding was quite quick, simple, but artistically and beautifully done. I won’t mention here that it is possibly the nicest wedding ceremony I’ve attended as atleast a few people reading this might start venturing in to voodoo ….

The ceremony was held in a wedding shrine attached to Happoen, a beautiful set of gardens which I would have toured round before hand if it had not been raining. We met up in an ante room where tea was served. Everyone met here including the bride and groom. There was only three of us here was the UK (exluding Derek and Kaoru), Derek’s mother and an old friend of his, Owen. At this stage it was informal and a very pleasant atmosphere. In some respects I think this stage may have partly been so the bride and groom could relax after getting changed, as the traditional Japense clothing does take a while to put on and requires a number of people. Continue reading →

This afternoon I’m off to a freind/colleague’s wedding, but ths morning we planned to head over to the location, Happoen, as it has a well regarded garden, plus near by is the Shinto shrine to the 47 ronin. Except of course it was raining, so plan B. We’d do our own things then meet up after the wedding.

While Pak stayed back and started to sort out his photos, I went back to Akihabara severl times (first time was too early), before getting changed and heading out to Happoen for Derek and Kaoru’s wedding.