Tokyo Tourists

We were well nourished by the delicious breakfast buffet at the hotel. It even had a soft serve ice cream machine!
We met in the lobby for 9 to start our busy day of sightseeing.
We started out at Meiji Jingu, a shrine built in 1920 to commemorate Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Its tranquil setting in the midst of 100,000 trees makes you forget you are in one of biggest cities in the world. You walk through massive gates leading to the main shrine where you could say a prayer (bow twice, clap twice, said your prayer and then bow at the end. Before that you did a cleansing at the fountain by washing your hands and mouth (left hand first, then right, gather water in your hands to wash your mouth and then wash hands again). We also wrote wishes on a sheet of paper and placed at the shrine. There is also a museum there with a wonderful display. We even saw a wedding processional.
Then on to the Tsukiji Outer Fish market! 400 shops and restaurants with all kinds of fresh seafood and big crowds! Some of the group were adventurous and tried an octopus, shrimp, cabbage and ginger skewer.
The Imperial palace was next on the list where we saw the double-arched Nijubashi Bridge.
And we weren't done yet! The Senso-ji Temple was next, a Buddhist Temple dating back to the 7th century. Again big crowds, lots of shops and culture.
We came back to the hotel happy and exhausted , still feeling some effects of our long travel day. Faye and I stayed at the hotel for dinner and even indulged in dessert tonight. Another great day!
(if you ever have the chance to try Matcha kit Kats, don't)Read more