Shop til you drop in Tokyo

We had a fun but tiring day in Tokyo guided by local sailor Kuniko Yamada and her sister. I met Kuniko at the first Women’s Worlds in 1994 and she played the flute for Lexi’s first birthday when the WW were in Annapolis in 1998!

We started at the Nikon Museum (small but cool and free) and then headed to the Imperial Palace gardens. The grounds are vast and impressive, though 90 degrees walking in the midsummer may have made the experience less bueno than if it were fall or spring.

Then it was shopping mania in Shibuya and Shinjuku- Lexi helped the local economy out most with a camera lens purchase at Yodobashi Camera and Onitsuka Tiger shoes (apparently all the rage based on the crowd inside the store!). The Don Quijote (donki for short!) was insane - 7 floors of stuff - for anyone who has been to Jacks in NYC, it gave that vibe x 10. Much better was the Hands store recommended again by friends Stef and Brian. Much more tranquil and with cooler stuff. We headed home via the Shibuya Scramble crossing and the metro, which was awesome too - easy, convenient, and cheap :)

After 23,000 steps, we headed to the supermarket on the first floor of our hotel to get food for dinner. I want stores like this at home! We got sushi dinners, beer and dessert for 3 for ~$21!Read more