Can’t access blogger directly, so going to try using email to update the blog.
Last I left off we were in the train on our way to Tokyo. We got to our hotel only to find that that extra luggage we’ve been forwarding went to the wrong hotel (right chain, wrong address). So we took the hotel shuttle back to the train station, walked several blocks and found the other hotel. The ladies at the reception desk were very nice and seemed more pleased than we were about getting the bag back. Back to the shuttle bus, back to the hotel we went. We were so tired by then that we practically went straight to bed.
Breakfast the next morning was a buffet but I think the words “until food runs out” had people worried so everyone showed up at 7am. There was a long line up right through the lobby. It was the typical spread – rice, soup, boiled vegetables, salad, hot dogs…
We were in no particular rush so we relaxed in our room and checked out as late as possible (10). Our JR Rail pass was no longer valid so we actually had to figure out how to buy and use train tickets. It was also the end of our nice long distance commuter trains with leg room and plenty of seating. At least they still line up to get on but they sure pack it in. Just when you think no one else can fit another swarm comes in. Our first stop was Tokyo station proper where we found a locker to stash most of our luggage. Then we headed out to explore Tokyo. After a bit of meandering around Tokyo station we decided to head to the fish market. The real thing to do is get up at 5am to watch the auctions but even though we have been waking up early, actually getting up and out the door for 5 is a totally different matter and wasn’t going to happen. But there was plenty to see outside of the fish market. We did venture into the market itself but there was not much to see so we decided to have lunch (sushi of course) while we were there.
I had booked a tour through a group called Eyexplore for 3pm so we headed in the general direction of the meeting point which was conveniently near some very nice gardens.
The Eyexplore tour was amazing. Hi highly recommend it to anyone going to Tokyo - http://eyexploretokyo.com/
Our guide has been living in Japan for the past 10 years and had great insight into the Japanese culture. He explained the Japanese art of composition and took the time to answer all of our questions as we walked through the streets of Tokyo. He knew some wonderful places that we would never have found on our own and he knew just the right place to stand to catch the train coming around the corner. Of course we talked about photography a lot. I really liked that it got me out of tourist mode (well, of course there were still a lot of tourist shots that I just had to take) but he had me seeing things differently as well.
The tour ended with a view of Tokyo station as the sun was setting. It was the end of another long day and we were exhausted so we decided to head to the hotel, not before lots of confusion around tickets and trains but eventually we got it all sorted.
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