It’s another gorgeous day here. We are up early and out walking through the park we found yesterday.  Then back to the hotel for breakfast, which is packed – and we have to take a number and wait!  Yikes!  It only takes about 5 minutes and we have a table, but it is a zoo in there.  I grab a couple of little things just to get something in me and out of the fray!  It empties out while we are sitting there, but still – it is too peopley, so we grab some coffee (in paper cups because they have run out of regular cups) and skedaddle up to the room for our showers and solitude. 

Surprisingly, everyone is on time for our tour this morning. There is a total CF with the seat assignments, because of course, once again, no one is listening to Osamu when he tells us how this all works. Sigh.  Finally all aboard we head off for our first stop – the Meiji Jingu shrine.  This is one of the original Emperor shrines – built when the Meiji Emperor opened the country to Western commerce. It is a typical Shinto shrine – and lovely – but packed!

It turns out today is a special Emperor’s Day memorial festival and there are lots of priest processions and women in costume.  But we can’t get near any of that.  There are guards who are keeping us at a distance.  We end up just wandering around – we have whisperers, so we can hear Osamu – taking pictures of the different gates and the sweet Camphor trees that known as the “Husband and Wife” trees.  They have become a symbol of happy marriage and harmonious life within the family.  Too bad it is such a zoo review at the shrine offering – otherwise we’d pay our alms and pray for a continuation of our happy marriage.  Oh well, we’ll just make our wishes to the trees!

We meander back to the bus area, then hop aboard and head off to the Imperial Palace. We were here yesterday, but today we are figuring we’ll get a much better look at the place.  Um. Not!  We just walk up to the double bridges – the same place we were yesterday on our own – and listen to Osamu tell us about the Emperor and the bridges and the military strategy that developed the 2 bridge system.  Oh well – It’s included.  What can you do?

Next stop – Asakusa and the Sensoji Temple.  I had read about a couple of great restaurants here serving the Tokyo version of Ohanamiyaki and had wanted to come – figuring we might do it on our own on the subway.  It is supposed to be a great shopping and entertainment area as well. Oh God!  It is a crazy tourist filled area that is not at all comfortable!  Wall to wall people, touristy shops that line a little lane leading to the temple.  Ick.  Osamu leads us through the throngs and shows us our meeting point at the temple – and we are off – on our own of course!  Osamu has sweetly printed out his own map of the area giving us his food suggestions and favorites, and we have decided to walk all the way back to where the bus dropped us off for one of the places that he had pointed out with a huge variety of really cheap eats.  But on the way we stumble upon Toryanse – a restaurant right on one of the main shopping cross-streets but a couple of blocks off the crazy jam packed tourist route – with an equally big menu and equally good prices. We’re in!

We lucked out with a table in a little alcove all by ourselves and had the best meal of Asakusa ramen – a huge mix of pork, noodles, ginger, mushrooms and other veggies – plus gyoza and Char Siu – one of my favorites.  Just an excellent meal!

On the way back to the bus, we walked past a place where there were a ton of people standing around eating this yummy looking bun thing. We passed it up in search of this place I had seen on the walk down that had little sweet snacks in the form of a bear.  Well, let me tell you!  We found it – but oh man – the prices!  We went back to the bun place and got this great huge sweet roll for nothing, and sat under the shade of a tree and snacked on our dessert until it was bus time.  So glad we came here today, because now we don’t have to come on our own and be totally disappointed!

Heading back to the hotel now – we have a “secret” surprise stop.  Turns out Osamu is taking us to the Tokyo tower!  Sweet – wish we hadn’t done it yesterday, but still…there is some confusion about how high we are going in the tower – we end up just on the main level where we were yesterday.  We had thought he said we’d be going all the way to the top – but whatever. It is a very sweet gesture on his and Gate 1’s part.

Today is not anywhere as clear as yesterday, so picture taking is pointless.  We end up walking around one circuit, taking a couple of pictures of the support pylons, then heading back downstairs to sit outside in the sunshine and wait for the rest of the group.

Later, Osamu walks a few of us (5 total) around to the train station, pointing out different shops and restaurants we can try later. This is perfect for us as we were looking for something for tonight and tomorrow!  We get lost in the train station looking for stores – there is renovation and it throws Osamu off his directions – end up back outside wandering through the great little business district. We stop at a place that has sweet treats in the shape of a fish – filled with red beans or sweet potatoes or cream. Like a stuffed waffle.  Osamu offers to buys us some for a treat – so sweet!  He gets us bags of the stuff which we all share.  The red bean is really good – and now we’ve had our dessert – so we’re coming back later for dinner!

And later we do – choosing Masuya for our meal. A totally traditional Japanese bar/pub place on 3 levels, we walk up to the door and the guy holds up 2 fingers. Yes.  Then says “upstairs.”  Ok – up we go, to be seated at a big long table divided by menus and condiments.  Here we order an assortment of snacks.  Sashimi of Octopus, Salmon and Tuna, Pork Shumai and an assortment of skewers – along with 2 beers and little pickled mushrooms and veggies that comes along with our beers. Awesome!  And so reasonable.  $27 USD and we’ve had the perfect dinner! 

We hit the Lawson’s convenience store in the basement of the hotel for supplies and spend the rest of the evening in our room, relaxing and hanging out.  A good day in Tokyo.