Day Eight: Saturday, July 4, 2009 Kyoto to Tokyo

Day Eight: Saturday, July 4, 2009
Kyoto to Tokyo
Bullet Train
Tokyo Museum
River Cruise
Dinner at the Hibiki Restaurant on the 49th Floor of the Nourimi Building

I woke up at five again and got some serious blog time in. But somehow I can never get caught up anymore. Way too much going on.


View from my room in Kyoto.




We had to have our luggage out by 7:30 as Mitzi was going to ship them to Tokyo so we didn't actually have to carry them on the train or to the museum. What a concept. Leave your luggage at one hotel and it magically appears at another.


It went against the very fiber of our beings to leave our bags outside our doors.


Last breakfast in Kyoto.


Experienced traveller or super geek. You decide.


In front of the Kyoto Station


The Kyoto Tower. Seems every city has some kind of a communications tower.


In the train station. Note the amazing architecture. Mark is pretty amazing himself.


Kevin and I actually climbed up all these steps.



The asian Rocky.



Up at the top was an observation area and a little garden.









Walking through the station. Mitzi gave us about 2o minutes to shop in the station.


Rule number one: never lose your ticket. Always know where it is. You have to have it to enter AND exit.


Waiting for the bullet train



Bullet Train to Tokyo
Shinkasen Bullet Train Nozomi #4

The engine looks like a platypus




Cute aluminum bottle. Or is it a can? Maybe it's a cottle? or a ban?


The conductor came by to punch our tickets. Great uniform.


Chillin' on the bullet.

Afternoon in Tokyo
Heading to the Tokyo National Museum, the oldest and largest museum in Japan.

We made it to Tokyo and we are on the move again.


On another local train.






You figure out what it means.


Jose knows his way around Tokyo.


Please do not smoke while walking.


Tokyo banana stand


Candy bananas


We stopped to watch a street performer


Balls!


Drew quote a crowd.


We ate at the museum restaurant for lunch.




Lunch


Mark and Deb

Tokyo National Museum

One of the 36 Views of Mt. Fuji by Katsushika Hokusai. Only two were on display at the Tokyo National Museum




Great Wave Off Kanagawa
At the museum shop Jose bought a hand reproduced version of this one.


Inume Pass
I got this one. I love the blues and greens. I just had to have my own print of Mt. Fujii.



Leaving the museum.






Ice cream stop



Tokyo River Cruise from Asakusa to Tokyo Bay
We then took a cab to the river to begin our 40 minute Tokyo Cruise from Asakusa to Tokyo Bay.

Strange Asahi building in the background


On the boat. It was a little hot and sticky. The guide talked a mile a minute and we couldn't understand any of it.


Notice the Tokyo Tower




Waiting for the next train. This train is controlled entirely by computers.






Kevin knows what this is. Some japanese cartoon character.




Taking the subway back to Shinjaku and the Keio Plaza hotel.












Jose…mugging.

Back at the Keio Plaza
We made it back to the Keio Plaza Hotel and Mitzi checked us in. We got the rest of our luggage out of storage and got up to our rooms on the 29th floor. They were even better than the last ones. Amazingly our luggage from Kyoto was already there.
We were in our rooms by almost five and had nearly two hours to rest. Delightful.

Final Dinner in Japan with Our Dear Friends
At 6:45 we walked over to the restaurant which was on the 49th floor. When I came out of my room and saw what everyone was wearing I quickly went back and put on my suit pants, dress shirt and tie.

The cacoon










Principal Nishimiya from Kouyama Elementary School brought us wonderful gifts from his students.






Ms. Nagumo, Kevin and Kevin showing their gifts from the children at Kouyama.




Me and Mr. Nishimiya. What a dear man. I will treasure what the students gave me.


Mr. Nishimiya, Principal of Kouyama Elementary School; Deb; Mr. Takemura, Vice Principal of Metropolitan Toyama High School. They had all travelled to the United States together 17 years ago.




Alastair and Mr. Takemura


Sashima. One of the two times we had sashimi. The dark fish in the middle was tuna.


Kevin and Mr. Toshiharu Tsuchihashi affectionately known as Mr. Tsuchi. He arrived late to the dinner as he had gotten lost along the way.






Deb meets Mr. Tsuchi


Deb and Mr. Tsuchi share some Japanese red wine


Foil wrapped fish and vegeables.


Sake. It was amazingly good.


What appeared to be sliced turkey


Keven and Mr. Nishimaya


Fried tofu


Udon noodles


Dessert. Some kind of paste and jam.


What a fantastic group of friends


Deb and Mr. Tsuchi


Mark and Mr. Nishimiya from Kouyama Elementary School. Although I enjoyed each visit in a special way, Kouyama was my favorite of all. I will never forget the lunch I shared with the kids there.




What a perfect end to a perfect trip. I could not have imagined it any better.

Back at the Keio Plaza
We walked together back to the Keio Plaza and still had time for a few more late night shenanagins.





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