Tokyo

Tokyo - Day 1

A gorgeous morning in Tokyo, brilliant sunshine and temps heading to +18C/65F today. We met our guide Hatsue (hat-sway) at 10AM and headed for the Metro and our first stop, the Senso-ji Temple.

And our first up close look at cherry blossoms.

Mrs. SFO picked out a beautiful artisan fan.

Back to the Metro.

To beautiful Ueno Park where cherry blossoms were in bloom... an absolutely stunning visual feast.

Lots of people taking pictures including selfies.

And in an annual tradition, thousands are out picnicking under the cherry blossoms.

And a quick stop at the Zoo to see the Giant Panda.

The flute playing giant panda!!

Back to the Metro where Mrs. SFO insisted on trying (in vain) to buy our tickets without touching the English button.

First to lunch.

And then another Metro ride to a beautiful park near Imperial Palace Grounds where the cherry blossoms were even more spectacular.

Tokyo - Day 2

It's a good thing our body clocks are screwed up because I set our alarm for 2:45AM this morning so we could head out to the Tsukiji Fish Market and auction. We met our wonderful guide Toru in the lobby at 3:15A, hopped into a taxi and arrived at the Tsukiji Market at 3:25AM. Despite the early arrival, there were at least 20 people in the queue before we arrived.

They only admit 120 people each day, first come first served, with 60 admitted into the market at 5:25AM and the second group of 60 admitted at 5:50AM. So we all sat and waited for nearly two hours.

At 5:25A, the doors opened and we entered, escorted by our personable and entertaining security guard, who navigated the labyrinth of passageways, stopping and starting so none of us would get run over by the hundreds and trucks and carts that were scurrying about.

Fortunately, our guide knew the best viewing position for the auction and we got a front row position for a very cool show as buyers inspected the merchandise and got ready to bid.

Not everyone was as excited as us to be here this morning.

Auction time!

One of the bidders, using sign language to bid.

The auctioneer marking the name of the high bidder.

Hauling away the winnings.

Time to leave and make way for the next group.

Our security guy leading us safely out.

And putting on a great show.

Fresh wasabi.

And to breakfast at 6:30AM at a small 12 seat place near Tsukiji.

He's been here for 40 years.

Marinated boiled eel to start was really delicious.

Mrs. SFO wimped out and asked for just maguro please.

I took one for the team and went for the combo platter. All was fine until Mrs. SFO pointed out that one of mine was still moving. Yikes. I don't think so. Both our guide Toru and chef laughed at me and noted "very fresh". Indeed, but not for me. Toru was very happy when I offered it to him, and the sea urchin, and the roe. Please another Sapporo.

The most delicious miso soup I've tasted.

What an experience. Sushi and beer for breakfast.
After breakfast, we stopped at a tea shop.

And then to a sumo wrestling stable to watch a training session.

Anyone for the Boys of Tokyo?

By now it was 8:15AM and nap time back at the hotel. While Mrs. SFO went to sleep, I couldn't find my iphone. Looked everywhere and finally figured that I had left in the last taxi. Thanks to the taxi receipts I kept and icloud, we were able to locate it, and the driver delivered it back to the hotel later than afternoon.

ipad in Denver, iphone in Tokyo. How cool is that?

And there it is, traveling around Tokyo on the floor of a taxi.

At around 2:30P we headed out for formal tea ceremony at Happo-en, a beautiful historical Japanese garden in the Shirokanedai district.

The tea ceremony was private for just The two of us. The Muan historic teahouse... built by a wealthy silk merchant in the Meiji Era and subsequent moved and reconstructed.

A lovely and elegant tea service in a beautiful, tranquil setting.

Back to the hotel and then a short walk up the street to the Ginza district for the inevitable shopping experience. Amazingly I escaped unscathed after Mrs. SFO decided she could (or I could) buy most of the same shoes and bags a lot cheaper back home.

The only bad recommendations from our concierge was Monday night at touristy izakaya Gonbachi... terrible food and whose claim to fame was that it was featured in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. So tonight, our last night, we decided to stay in and had a wonderful meal at Peters on the 24th floor. Great atmosphere and views of the city.