Back to Tokyo

After having my last Japanese set breakfast, we returned by ferry in a 1st class lounge rather than by hydrofoil to Niigata, and then by my final Shinkansen to a station on the outskirts of Tokyo, and then by a local train to Shinjuku Station from where we walked to the JR Blossom Hotel.
I went to Hands, a large department store, to buy thirty Japanese Christmas cards, Y440 each (about £2.50), which had been made in China. Returning with my passport, I was able to purchase them duty-free and save 10%. Some of my friends and relatives thanked me for the cards although I think few used Google Translate to read the greetings in English.
On the journey, I had my final dorayaki, a red bean, cream and sponge tart,
The final group dinner was upstairs in an izakaya in Omoide Yokocho where there was lots of food. Afterwards, we walked the streets in Shinjuku seeing the neon lights and especially the 3-D cat.
Back at the hotel, I said farewell to the group since I'd be having an early start in the morning.Read more