Kyoto - Tokyo
Ever wished you were in a place where everyone just followed the rules? This is it! There's no pushing, jumping the queue or beeping of horns. No-one seems to be in a hurry, but everyone is purposeful. If the sign says stay to the left or stand behind the yellow lines - everyone does it. You walk at night - never fearful. If you leave something behind - it is likely to be there when you go back to retrieve it. So many thank yous and so much gratitude shown every day. I think it would be possible to just live here. Mind you, would probably choose the north island of #Hokkaido - we loved the open spaces up there and that constant ring of snow-capped peaks.
This was an earlier start with a 7.15 am formal booking for breakfast at 8.45 we were loading into taxis for the trip back to #Kyoto Station and on the platform in plenty of time for the 9.36 departure of the #Shinkansen. We were under the pall of an overcast sky so hopes of a #Fuji San glimpse from the #Shinkansen were less than9 optimistic.
True to form, the train swished to a stop right on time and we settled into our highly prized seats on the left-hand side of carriage 13 - wishing for good luck on the two-and-a-half-hour trip at speeds of 280 kph.
Despite her best efforts at securing window seating on the left-hand side of the train for each couple, the weather absolutely guaranteed no views. One hundred percent cloud cover meant we were restricted to views if the changing countryside which was a never-ending string of civilisation occasionally interrupted by some agriculture and always accompanied by a ring of razor-sharp mountains.
Cabbed it to the hotel in four separate vehicles and our driver threw us a little curve ball by dropping us off just past the venue. Our little threesome did some up and down in elevators and a little side track around the corner before @Yasuna reeled us in to the correct street level and entrance. Hard to fathom the size of the foyer in this earthquake prone city (apparently the most earthquake prone city in #Japan - must be some magic in the building design here) - it was a massive void that reached 10 stories high up onto the guts of the tower. Stunning really.
This was just a backpack dump - and a lunch buffet on the hotel before a quick turnaround- there were places to go and a new subway system to learn.
Always a lesson on mastering the map - but there are robotic helpers here - could even shake your hand and make love hearts for picture time
Today's explorations
The Golden Poop - After a little bypass to get a glimpse of the #Sky Tree @Yasuna had a giggle (haven't mentioned the #Japanese female giggle - a restrained laugh behind a clinched fist - we will never forget her laugh) pointing out the froth and bubble of the building that is the home base for #Ashai Beer Hall. The beer glass shaped building with the white froth on top was easy to discern. And the yellow bit beside it was even easier to see but certainly a little more curious to make out it' significance.
Once you see it, you can't forget it - the Golden Poop
Originally planned to stand vertically as a flame, when an attempt was made to put it in place, it was too heavy to stand upright and had to be placed horizontally. Although good for a laugh, apparently a "golden poo" is good luck in #Japan so not as big a disaster as you might think.
We have so many ardent beer drinkers in the group that @Yasuna had to include this highlight.
Senso-ji - With that out of the way, it was straight to another "gate and temple." This time, the oldest Buddhist temple in the capital. A main street that was teaming with people that was comprised of the enormous gate which provided an entrance way to a long line of tourist shops and then banks of covered arcades over the shopping streets. And tucked right at the back was the temple - almost an afterthought in this crush and surge of people.
Lower picture shows crush for the smoke - temple roof in the distance of top shot
@Yasuna told us the legend of the temple. Two fishermen, brothers, caught a statue in their net and threw it back into the sea only to have it return. They repeated this a number of times and eventually realised it was @Kannon and had it enshrined. This dates the founding of #Senso-ji to 628! The current crimson building is much more modern as it was rebuilt after the bombing raids of WW2.
This temple is one of the most significant in #Tokyo. The #Kaminari Gate (lightning gate), the #Nakamise Dori (the promenade) and the temple itself (still laughing because I almost missed it - couldn't see it beyond the crush of people) are some of the biggest tourist attractions of the city.
That crazy Disneyland vibe pervaded the space again. Lots of people, plenty of food, people making offerings and prayers, incense burning and wishes going up in smoke. I am still not sure how devotees find solace in this craziness but obviously they do. And it was almost impossible to find a space around the burning incense to wave it over yourself to get good health. But we tried.
So many local #Japanese girls in traditional costume. They have hired for the day and often with very faithful male companions trailing with them they are here for the photo shoot. It is a familiar ritual .... she poses, he snaps, she checks and if she isn't happy with what has been captured - more snaps are taken. Need the very best angles and smiles for the social media uploads.
Lots of local dress up with photo quality check
Used the free time here to try and find a shoe shop - have blown out the toe of my pink walkers and need a replacement - but no luck amongst the handkerchiefs, handbags and hats that were on offer in the hundreds of shops here.
Back at the #Villa Fontaine just after 5 for our check-in on the fourth floor. This is home for 4 nights - two with #Inspiring and then we will have to checkout and will be allocated another room until we leave for the cruise.
Decided to go solo and leave the building and get outside to check out the lights! Crazy time. People everywhere again. Long queues formed outside restaurants and bars. Men, universally dressed in dark suits with a white shirt and tie carrying a black satchel. #Pachinko venues ablaze with light and noise and packed with young people with headsets clamped to their ears playing games and accumulating tokens.
Mind you - the funniest thing was traversing the subway and spotting about 500 middle aged men corralled in a roped off area to see a female artist named @True perform. No photos - there was lots of security. But it was something else. When @True came on stage, the assembled audience went wild. They jumped, clapped, fist pumped and chanted. They knew every lyric and joined in at every opportunity for audience participation. She was high energy - and could sing. Loads of fun.
Even funnier, was the regular stream of young trendy guys who walked by with their hands over their ears, shaking their head!
And then there was the meet and greet. If you bought a physical CD it contained at ti ket that entitled you to shake hands and say "hello" to @True.
We were on the hunt for dinner and decided to try an Hibachi restaurant. There were pictured in the window with English translations so we took a chance and were confident we could cobble together a menu option that didn't include intestines or tongue.
Scored ourselves a great spot at the window and @Mac was back on the tools as he BBQ'd our thin slices of beef and pork. Washed it all down with rice, soup, sauces and drinks and thoroughly enjoyed watching the world go by.
Bright lights everywhere - welcome to #Tokyo at night
Didn't miss a beat on the walk home - found the right entry to the subway network and with underground landmarks in place made the last turn at the indoor garden to get us back to the escalators that led to #Villa Fontaine.
Weather: 19 degrees and overcast in Tokyo
Steps: 13 320
KEEP CALM THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Age is just a number. It's totally irrelevant unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine. Joan Collins
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