Japan 2024

We went to a small bakery a few blocks away from our apartment; we spotted it on our wanders last night. We got some bakery items (OK, I got a breakfast hotdog) and a custard tart thing and good coffee - we'll come back here.

We took bus 33 from near our apartment to Kyosumi Gardens. A lovely japanese garden, with its own lake (some blue green algae, no judgement, it's really hot). We walked around, sticking to the shade, and it was really awesome, always miniature versions of larger landscapes.

After the heat, it was time for a good old-fashioned, recreated Edo-era village, and it was inside an air-conditioned museum. The displays were interesting, and english explanations were good. Did I mention it was air-conditioned!

We decided it was time for a more modern museum and took the metro to Ginza - we're getting accustomed to train changes and exit door strategies, it's fun. We found our way back to the Mitsukoshi department store (we didn't realise there was a museum on the 9th floor before) and visited the Art Aquarium museum. It's fish in cool aquariums with very cool light displays. I don't do it justice with my simple choice of words. It is quite spectacular and, I would imagine, a lot of hard work to maintain.

It was time for lunch, so we took the familiar Ginza line back to Asakusa and bought lunch to take 'home'. We bought gyoza and a sushi bento from Matsuya food hall, omg, this place is amazing 👏

You know what comes after a holiday lunch on a hot day, that's right, an arvo nap. Some clothes washing was also squeezed in - this is how you travel with carry-on bags, regular washing 😄 🤣

We had an arvo snack and icy cold beer at the apartment before heading out in search of drinks and food. We stopped for happy our drinks at Jonathon's - suntory whiskey highballs with fresh ginger and non-descript white wine.

I think its going to be Yakiniku for dinner, but we'll see! Change of plans, one needs to be nimble, the Yakuniku place is temporarily closed. It's going to be Trattoria Takahashi! Don't be judgemental;the japanese do international cuisines very well. The pizza was beautiful and we enjoyed a drink or two.

The owner of the Trattoria discovered we were Australian and was very excited. His wife studied at Macquarie University, and he'd visited many times; we spoke to her on his phone as she spoke really great English. This is what travel is all about to us!Читать далее