A slow start out of the blocks today.
Miserable weather and crazy architecture awaits. Tackling the subway again. But with more confidence, today. Firstly, there were very, very posh shops, including Luis Vuiton with two fine looking young gentlemen whose sole job it was to open the two big doors. Now I could watch that all day.
Omotesando Street
We wandered down the crazy, busy street which featured many locals promenading. As well as heaps of tourists all under umbrellas.
It was shock after shock. Not least "No Sexual Services" in the shop window.
The first of the remarkable cafes was a samoid cafe, then cat cafe, pig cafe and cappiburra and meerkat. I'm not sure about that last one.
We went down a side street, we were cold damp and a bit weary and had the nicest coffee and apple pie. Denise and Elio joined us.
Back together in our group. It was still chilly and damp.. We kept walking down crazy Street and some outfits were gobsmacking. There were baby dolls and really camp guys.
At the end, we crossed over and into the huge park, Meiji Jingu gardens. Notably there wide, wide pathways. At one point there barrels from Burgundy on one side and rice barrels on the other - symbolising the union between Burgundy and Tokyo. We wandered on to an enormous temple complex. There was a beautiful inner garden with a large lake, a teahouse and an iris grove.
Meanwhile, almost all of us found a great little Hawaiin restaurant for a bite to eat.
This is the place.. down below the restaurant is a beautiful antique shop where Meran sneakily purchased a gift for Lyle, right under Lyle's nose. Meanwhile, Marita was ushering Lyle away. Lyle tells it differently.
Some people went to the shopping street. We went to Ueno Park. I'd learnt about Ueno Park/Coen in my Japanese lessons. So, up the staircase we went with Di. At this level was a famous pop music duo playing on stage. They sounded great. They must have been beloved and very popular, everyone knew the words and were doing the actions, too. Then up the next staircase we went.
WOW!. What a surprise!
Here, at last, were the Sakura in all there glory. We had been waiting the entire holiday for a show like this. Firstly, a nod to the statue of the great man, Saigō Takamori, and his trusty dog. I like this statue, it wasn't too pompous. There was a lightness and joy about it. There aren't too many good sculptures of dogs in the world.
The Sakura display was literally heavenly. It transported everyone who saw it. Cute red lanterns were strung along the streets which intensified the impact of the white canopy of cherry blossoms. It was still cold and miserable, but there were smiles everywhere.
We had been invited to travel the end of shopping street to the Don Quixote, but we were sidetracked to a little bar, just a counter on the footpath, really. A beer. I like Japanese beer. So glad it's calorie-free, tee hee.
We bravely made our own way home on the train to Kanda station - What a triumph! Thanks, Don, the navigator. The public transport is quite logical it's actually me that's not.
An evening meal for eight?
A small group of us ventured into the food lane near our hotel. Small group? More like a prowling pack looking for food without a booking. After the first knock-back, we decided to break up into two groups. So four of us - Noelene, Wayne, Don and I went to a Chinese restaurant. What a feast! Two gyoza dishes, eggplant, and a chicken dish.
Back home to our hotel. I am getting the hang of this Japan caper. And we only have one more night.
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