Japan in Thirty Days

GSE Day 30

15 Nov 2010 2 Comments

by gbesses in Gerald/ジェラルド

GSE Day 30
We met about 8:30. Tom and Honda san were waiting

and we were bused to the Shinkensan, which left at 9:10. Apparently a couple of folks got the wrong time and thought we left at 10:10; I was sorry to miss Yoshi and DG Nakayama san. We arrived an hour and a half later at Shinagawa station and walked to the Shinagawa Prince Hotel, about two blocks, but across the street- lots of walking in Tokyo. Of course, our rooms weren’t ready, so we checked the luggage and went for lunch. Tom took us [several subway stops and a change of trains later to Asakusa] for manja, which they call pancakes. Hot griddle built into the table on which a mixture of stuff that includes an egg was pored. Artful, different and good, as usual. Then, we went to a shopping area where there were what looked to me like hundreds of small shops behind a large gate and into a warren of streets without cars. I found the tea whisk that I wanted, compromising by getting the one made in China which was a quarter the price of the Japanese made one. After about an hour of wandering we met again and went to Akihabara, an electronics center, with many huge and tons of small shops selling electronic gear. I think I found the camera that Jerrie doesn’t know she wants - stylish, sleek, with a touch screen for controls instead of those interminable menus so it is super easy to use. Unfortunately, during this shopping time, it started to rain, not heavily but it was not pleasant either. I got slightly lost as I thought we were to meet up on a specific corner, but I found everyone a half block away and under cover. There were a number of young women dressed childishly and giving out notices, which I assume were for their clubs. I chose not to photograph them, but they were friendly.
We went to dinner nearby at a Korean barbecue, which means that there was a barbecue in the center of the table; we were brought plates of food and cooked it for ourselves. Superb mushrooms and excellent beef. Tom ordered beef stomach and beef sushi as well and it was all very good, except the spiced vegetables, which were too spicy for me. Then back to check into our hotel rooms, all of which have superb views from the 35th floor. Then we went to the Tokyo Tower Observation deck at 150 meters up - the views were even better and were 360 degrees, with little computer screens that named some of the places we were looking at and showed what was to be seen for a twenty four hour cycle. Then off to Roppongi, where we had drinks and some food in the Hard Rock Cafe, and home about 11:30. A good day; we meet at 11 to check out, go for lunch and catch a private bus to the airport for our 5:45 flight to Seattle. We get there about 9 AM; then the SF flight leaves at 11:54 and arrives at SF at 2 PM. No posting tomorrow. My pedometer says 3073 steps, but that must be too low.