Tokyo - Day 3

Plans to hit the fishmarket early at 5.30am were yet to materialise. Instead, we all slept in and had a leisurely breakfast at 9am. This morning, after everyone had enjoyed the massage chairs and Mario had taken advantage of the spa services on offer - again - we all headed out to the Imperial Palace. Total fail as we couldn't get in without a tour guide and the famous East gardens were closed.

Quick 40-minute dash to Uniqlo to stock up on thermals for skiing and then it was time for the Ninja Tokyo Restaurant experience. A female ninja jump-scared us and then escorted us through a special entrance to our own private room where food was served in elaborate style. Each dish was a mini performance involving ninja swords, dry ice smoking out of boxes and delicacies arranged with precision and aesthetic design. The food was very good and the adults were grateful that the $200 price per person wasn't wasted on the kids who ate everything they got. No fussy eaters here! The magician at the end was a big hit with the kids, and the adults savoured the quality sake and gin.

A bit more shopping afterwards and then back to the hotel. Except Ali who trekked off to the Tokyo National Museum for a dash of culture and Japanese art history, including information on the famous Japanese tea ceremony which has been around for 800 years and is considered a living art form.

In the evening we had drinks with Aki at the third best bar in Japan (Ali missed this one while soaking up culture at the Tokyo National museum) and then a speakeasy in Shinjuku. The four of us ended the night eating with our shoes off in a Japanese/European fusion restaurant while the kids revelled in being alone at the hotel.Read more