Sunday, May 24, 2015

Tokyo rush

Tokyo is huge with an amazing train system however it is too big to navigate on your own in a few days.  So we booked an all day Gray Line bus tour which was a great way to see it all with little hassle. The extra things we wanted to see we did on our own which wasn't too hard.  Loved the gloved train guards who controlled people flow in the station, whistled at you if you got too close to the line,  the orderly line up system for carriages and the female only carriages - so organised and clean.  We ended our trip to Japan with a day at Disney - so the challenges of Japanese food were soon forgotten by the kids.





Meiji Shinto Shrine - dedicated to Emperor Meiji who modernised Japan and disbanded the Shogun forces. 

Shinto Priest at Meiji

Lucky cat! with Hollander and Oren in the fish eyes.



Ninja on the streets

The sky line from the Sumida River Cruise

Asakusa Kannon Temple (Kaminarimon Gate large lantern).  There's a great shopping street Nakamise leading to the Buddist temple.

Incense burner (jokoro) is surrounded by people wafting the smoke over them to keep them healthy. 

Tokyo locals bringing their new born to the Asakusa Kannon temple.

Ueno  market streets found on our own way home - cheap goods and fun parlors.

Disney!! very clean and organised.

Loved Splash, Big Thunder and Space Mountain rides.


Cinderella's glass slipper

Disney at night was fantastic!!




Hello Kitty in Shinjuku - we spent ages trying to find this!

Outside Shibuya station is the Statue of Hachiko.  The dog waited for its master at the station every night for 10yrs after his owners death.  Since 1934 this statue has become a poplular meeting place. 

The busiest intersection opposite Shibuya Station.
Tokyo Tower - looked like Eiffel 

Asimo at Honda's Welcome Plaza in Aoyama 

Asimo runs 7km/hr, jumps, sings!



Traditional Ryokan in Hakone


Hakone is a short high speed train ride from Tokyo so I got the impression it was a popular weekend destination to the 'hills' for many.  There are lots of guest houses in the area popular for its geothermal activity and the views of Mt Fuji.  Unfortunately it was raining and misty for most of our stay so we couldn't get 'that picture' of the snow capped mountain.  When in Hakone you travel using a 3 day Free Pass – train, cable car, ropeway and a cruise on Lake Ashi.  A bit touristy and the geothermal area isn't anywhere near as spectacular as NZ but still a nice detour on our trip.

Our Hakone Ryokan – Kansuirou Hakone very old

Our room in the Ryokan overlooking the river
The house robes and path to the outside onsen




Mullusc dinner

Our hostess delivered beautifully presented food but not to the liking of our kids.

Our hostess was disappointed by our lack of appetite!



The replica Trafalgar gallon cruise boat 

Lake Ashi


The black eggs cooked in the thermal springs





Shirakawago, snow and a wooden bath


We caught a bus from Takayama to Shirakawa-go a small village in the mountainous area of Honshu.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage site preserving the Gassho style houses characterised by large steep thatched roofs - that resemble hands held in prayer.   In the lower level are the guest tatami mat rooms and an eating area with a fire pit.  Traditionally the attic area housed the silk worms that enjoyed the rising heat.  

Our hostess was a lovely old woman who couldn't speak English, worked really hard to cook our breakfast and dinner and was really small.  The communal bath was a wooden box with a wooden lid to keep the  heat in, you had to scrub first outside the bath and thoroughly rinse before hoping in.  Never had a wooden bath before! 

  



Our tatami mat room, with day table that was heated underneath thus the donnas to keep the heat in.


House robes


The dinning area


Our hostess



Shinto Shrine 




Koi kites for boys month


House boots and wooden shoes to borrow