National Diet

A short walk from the Palace took us past the National Diet and through the Japanese equivalent of Whitehall. After dropping our bags at the hotel, we headed out into the heart of government, walking past the members' offices, National Diet Library and the Supreme Court being taking a tour of the House of Representatives. A very strangely architectured building, varying from hospital-esque Ellis Island, to American Art Deco to something more traditional in the chamber, it seems to lack a sense of continuity - it is simply functional on a massive scale. A fascinating tour nonetheless.

We finally managed to check in to our hotel. Rooms famously small in Tokyo, but we managed to find one with a bit of space. Worryingly though, the drill in the event of a fire seems to be to put a plastic bag over your head...! That aside, Japanese hospitality is brilliant. Beyond the usual hotel room amenities we have pyjamas, kimonos, a well stocked bathroom and a computer tablet in the room.Read more