We arrived by plane at night and it was foollowed by a 1 1/2 hour drive from the airport to the Grand Hyatt Tokyo all the while watching flashes of light through the windows of the bus. We passed Tokyo Disneyland, the most popular theme park in Japan, easily identified by the castle in the background. The park is located only 17 minutes by train from Tokyo Station.
After resting for the night we took off to explore the city by rail, subway and walking. We visited the Times Square of Tokyo - the Ginza District known the world over for elegant shopping and its bright kaleidoscopic neon lights. For a glimpse of the past, we visited the Asakusa district with it's many narrow back streets, lined with old buildings and shops which sell traditional iems from kimono to hand made-combs. This is a great district for souvenirs. Onward to the underground and it's 14 lines all color coded on our map.
For an American, who enjoys her "personal space" a lot was learned by the crush of people on the streets of this sophisticated Asian city. It was almost impossible to walk some of the lanes without being pressed by people passing in both directions. This is important to remember when choosing where to go while on your visit to Tokyo.
This time of year is perfect for weddings and there were at least a half dozen taking place at the Meji Jingu Shrine, a holy Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meji and Empress Shoken. The bridal couple were dressed in traditional Japanese wedding garb and many of the women guests were dressed in beautiful kimonos. We felt so fortunate to see this special event.
The day ended with a Rickshaw ride. What a delightful way to see a small part of the city from a "birds-eye" view.
We are off to Kyoto tomorrow. More to tell.
Sharon Oberritter
Premier Aussie Specialist
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