Final evening in Japan
And so here we are; the last day of the holiday, and all of Tokyo to explore and snap. And we don't have a scooby where to go. We had thought about it, looked on line, and 2nd on Tripadvisor was Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. And as we enjoyed the gardens at the Imperial Palace, we thought this might be a good idea.
We went down for breakfast at 07:10, and found the restaurant in the middle of the lobby packed, but somehow I managed to get a table for us. And seeing as this was more of an international place, breakfast had more of a European feel. The freshly baked rolls looked nice, still warm from baking, so I thought one would be fine with marmalade on. I cut it open only to find it part filled with blue cheese; and I wanted to have marmalade! Oh, what the heck, lets mix flavours, and it came out as being tasty!
We got our stuff together, ready to brave the madness of the Metro for the first time in 10 days, our route planned; we set off.
Up to now we had seen subway trains with just standing room available, but this was the first time we had seen a train pull in with there no space whatsoever to get on. Some locals did push on, and we saw their faces as the train pulled out. Thankfully, the next one was less full, and we did get one for the few stops before we had to change again.
We arrived at the station near the garden, and the security guard saw us looking at a map and told us to cross the road on street level and then turn right.
Which is what we did, along a shaded promenade walk to the main gate of the park, which only charged 200 Yen to get in. The walks were well signposted, and as we just wanted to see the Japanese garden, we set off through the woods for it. Also in the park were dozens of school parties, all very young children, who had come for some nature-based activities and then a packed lunch.
I suppose what we had hoped for was something akin to the garden at the Imperial Palace, with flowers, insects and ponds. But here there was a pond or two, bridges and paths leading through them, but it lacked the wow factor of the Imperial Palace, and out of blossom season is "just a park". I say that as there isn't a lot of green spaces in downtown Tokyo, but this gives a chance to escape the crowds and have some quiet time, walking through garden or over the grass, maybe have a picnic.
We pause for a cool drink from a vending machine and an ice cream from the small shop.
It was darn hot, so darned hot that by half eleven, we decided not to go to the English garden, which might have been the wrong decision, but then again, it was our holiday, so we get to do what we want.
I was trying to write my blogs out before we left, or at least get the first week written before we left, so I said I would like to spend some time in the hotel with the view, radio and air conditioning, writing. Jen said she would like to do some last minute shopping and Jools wanted to go back to Beadtown. So it was set, we took the metro back, then walked via a huge subway past shops and yet more vending machines until we came to the correct exit for the hotel.
The afternoon slipped past, I wrote, Jools and Jen shopped. I was writing away when I heard a noise at the window, only to see two blokes cleaning the window via a gondolier. They didn't notice me, and within 15 seconds had moved on to another floor. Just enough time to rattle off a shot or two of them!
Jools came back at something like four, and I needed a drink, so we go down to reception and in the same bar where I had drunk the whisky the night before, they presented me with the cocktail menu. I had always though that Jools would like a White Russian, so I order two, happy that if she didn't like it, I would be able to finish it. Which is what happened. We sat in the bar, chatting to the manager about Tokyo, visitors and the difference between Americans and Brits, and that we may speak the same language but we rarely mean the same thing! He smiled.
Reflected in the building opposite were the colours of sunset. We went round to the other side of the lobby to look and were treated to a wonderful site; the sky was all oranges and reds with the city beginning to light up, and the iconic Tokyo Tower centre. But best of all, on the horizon, poking through some thin clouds was the silhouette of Mt Fuji.
Jen came down, and we went hunting for dinner. Or somewhere to have it at least. Down in the subway, we saw an ad for "sky high dining", eating whilst looking at the city far below sounded wonderful, so went up.
In a place named after Oregon State, we were given a table right by the picture window, with views to a railway station surrounded by skyscrapers. It was perfect. Instead of shabu-shabu, which what had been planned, we had steak, and wine. It was glorious, a fine end to the holiday, the city laid out for our enjoyment before us.
It has to come to an end of course, and this now had, the final curtain rushed towards us just as we were getting used to Japan.
There's always next time I suppose.
Final evening in Japan
And so here we are; the last day of the holiday, and all of Tokyo to explore and snap. And we don't have a scooby where to go. We had thought about it, looked on line, and 2nd on Tripadvisor was Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. And as we enjoyed the gardens at the Imperial Palace, we thought this might be a good idea.
We went down for breakfast at 07:10, and found the restaurant in the middle of the lobby packed, but somehow I managed to get a table for us. And seeing as this was more of an international place, breakfast had more of a European feel. The freshly baked rolls looked nice, still warm from baking, so I thought one would be fine with marmalade on. I cut it open only to find it part filled with blue cheese; and I wanted to have marmalade! Oh, what the heck, lets mix flavours, and it came out as being tasty!
We got our stuff together, ready to brave the madness of the Metro for the first time in 10 days, our route planned; we set off.
Up to now we had seen subway trains with just standing room available, but this was the first time we had seen a train pull in with there no space whatsoever to get on. Some locals did push on, and we saw their faces as the train pulled out. Thankfully, the next one was less full, and we did get one for the few stops before we had to change again.
We arrived at the station near the garden, and the security guard saw us looking at a map and told us to cross the road on street level and then turn right.
Which is what we did, along a shaded promenade walk to the main gate of the park, which only charged 200 Yen to get in. The walks were well signposted, and as we just wanted to see the Japanese garden, we set off through the woods for it. Also in the park were dozens of school parties, all very young children, who had come for some nature-based activities and then a packed lunch.
I suppose what we had hoped for was something akin to the garden at the Imperial Palace, with flowers, insects and ponds. But here there was a pond or two, bridges and paths leading through them, but it lacked the wow factor of the Imperial Palace, and out of blossom season is "just a park". I say that as there isn't a lot of green spaces in downtown Tokyo, but this gives a chance to escape the crowds and have some quiet time, walking through garden or over the grass, maybe have a picnic.
We pause for a cool drink from a vending machine and an ice cream from the small shop.
It was darn hot, so darned hot that by half eleven, we decided not to go to the English garden, which might have been the wrong decision, but then again, it was our holiday, so we get to do what we want.
I was trying to write my blogs out before we left, or at least get the first week written before we left, so I said I would like to spend some time in the hotel with the view, radio and air conditioning, writing. Jen said she would like to do some last minute shopping and Jools wanted to go back to Beadtown. So it was set, we took the metro back, then walked via a huge subway past shops and yet more vending machines until we came to the correct exit for the hotel.
The afternoon slipped past, I wrote, Jools and Jen shopped. I was writing away when I heard a noise at the window, only to see two blokes cleaning the window via a gondolier. They didn't notice me, and within 15 seconds had moved on to another floor. Just enough time to rattle off a shot or two of them!
Jools came back at something like four, and I needed a drink, so we go down to reception and in the same bar where I had drunk the whisky the night before, they presented me with the cocktail menu. I had always though that Jools would like a White Russian, so I order two, happy that if she didn't like it, I would be able to finish it. Which is what happened. We sat in the bar, chatting to the manager about Tokyo, visitors and the difference between Americans and Brits, and that we may speak the same language but we rarely mean the same thing! He smiled.
Reflected in the building opposite were the colours of sunset. We went round to the other side of the lobby to look and were treated to a wonderful site; the sky was all oranges and reds with the city beginning to light up, and the iconic Tokyo Tower centre. But best of all, on the horizon, poking through some thin clouds was the silhouette of Mt Fuji.
Jen came down, and we went hunting for dinner. Or somewhere to have it at least. Down in the subway, we saw an ad for "sky high dining", eating whilst looking at the city far below sounded wonderful, so went up.
In a place named after Oregon State, we were given a table right by the picture window, with views to a railway station surrounded by skyscrapers. It was perfect. Instead of shabu-shabu, which what had been planned, we had steak, and wine. It was glorious, a fine end to the holiday, the city laid out for our enjoyment before us.
It has to come to an end of course, and this now had, the final curtain rushed towards us just as we were getting used to Japan.
There's always next time I suppose.