New Places in Tokyo - Part 2

Pizza selfie!

At this point in the visit Heather's craving some American-type food, so we try out a pizza place in Omotesando.  We especially appreciate the free refills on the raspberry tea (which even I like), since the summer has gotten warm.  The pizza's pretty good, too.

Working on my tan!

Another day we take a short cruise along the Sumida River on the Tokyo Water Bus from Asakusa to the Hama Rikyu Garden.  It's not a tour, so there's no explanation during the thirty minute ride, but since I have Google Maps, I can identify what we are passing and point out the sights.  There's no food, but they do sell drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and we're glad, because we're very thirsty this day, too!

Wait, you mean Steve actually does work?!?

We go pass the IBM building, and I text Steve to let him know we're on the boat.  We try to get him to wave out a window at us, but he's in a meeting.  He's got a pretty nice view!

Scenic shot

There's absolutely no reason for this picture...Heather just thought we should act shocked.

I'm tired - I'd fall over if the bridge wasn't supporting me!

We arrive at the Hama Rikyu Gardens, and we already have our (discounted) ticket that we're required to purchase in order to disembark at this port.  I thought we should experience a different Japanese garden then the one I usually bring people.  This one also has an audio app (not an audio guide like it says on the website).  Luckily I'm able to download it on my phone and we listen to it a little bit.  But Heather's getting tired (she's still sick) and sore feet, so we do just a quick stroll around.

This garden is pretty flat, so you don't have to climb up and down hills like you do at Koishikawa Korakuen.  But I miss seeing the elevation changes - that's more pleasing to my eye.  We're also here at a slow flower blooming time.  Some irises are out, but that's the only flowers we see. We use them to practice our photography.

Is it illegal to pick the flowers?

This would make a nice bouquet in my vase...

Pretty picture!

A common sight while Heather is visiting...

Focus....focus....

Does cold medicine make you hallucinate?

In the center of the lake there's a tea house.  We decide to check it out.  There's a crooked walkway leading to it.  Apparently, ghosts cannot go around corners, so that's why you rarely see a straight path in Japan (or China - I guess they share the same ghosts).  Heather believe she is being attacked by the plant on our way to the tea house (look carefully at her right wrist).

 
After taking off our shoes and sitting on the tatami mats we're all set for our tea.  They have nicely provided us with instructions on the proper way to eat our sweets and drink our tea.  I didn't realize you're supposed to eat the sweet first - I thought you took a bite, took a sip, etc.  

Heather orders the tea cold, and it comes with ice cubes.  I wonder if they just throw those in at the end?  I stick with hot tea.  The sweets are the cutest ones I've seen so far - one is yuzu (my new favorite flavor) and the other represents hydrangeas.  

Almost too pretty to eat!

Heather looking at her bowl with "a feeling of gratitude." (See last step in the instructions.) It was all we could do to not burst into giggles while we did this.  I'm afraid we're not very good at proper green tea drinking.

After we finish our tea, we take some pictures on their balcony.  








Okay, I lied, there is one small hill. 

Giving the people a place to sit for their picnic...

 
A friend recommends a yakitori restaurant to us.  These generally serve grilled chicken - you'd be amazed at the number of chicken parts considered edible in Japan - but it's something we think my non-seafood eating sister will like.  We're very happy with the place - the food is good (they even grill some vegetables), there's very little smoking, and Steve is able to get masu sake.  Yakitori restaurants are usually very casual eating establishments, places people might stop by after work for drinks and a snack while talking with friends.  This one feels more like a place to go for dinner.

One Sunday morning we spend about an hour at the Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine Flea Market.  There are over 100 stalls, selling everything from cheap ($2 necklaces made in China) items to expensive antique furniture.  It's fun to look at, but we don't buy anything.  Heather does get to see a wedding party - they are setting up for the formal portraits (a lot of time is taken to arrange the drape of the women's kimonos).  Another fun part of Japan is that the shrines don't close for private events (like a wedding), so you can be wandering around looking at old toys while a ceremony is taking place at the next building.

I can't take it anymore!  I want to get out of here!

Heather's visit wouldn't be complete without a trip down to Yokohama!  Okay, it's not a new place, but we like bringing people here.  It's her last day, and I think she's getting a little sick of us...





First stop is the Cup Noodles Museum.  I knew she would enjoy decorating her cup - Steve would have taken a nap while he waited but the hundreds of screaming kids make it difficult.  Of course we stop by the Noodles Bazaar so I can have my favorite version of Tom Yum soup. 

Dang, I forgot again to take a picture of the very cool packaging that prevents your soup from being damaged.

Then off to Chinatown!  Heather has fun shopping at the souvenir shops and we randomly pick a restaurant to eat in (requirements:  chairs to sit in and air conditioning).  We have some fun with photos here, too.

I'm on my tiptoes so I look taller than her...

...and here I'm trying to stomp on her foot because she's doing bunny ears!

The next day we're off to the airport.  Everything goes well, except while connecting in Dallas they confiscate the miniature samurai sword model she bought as a gift.  It's not sharp, and it's only a few inches long.  Japan didn't seem to mind her having it in her carry on....  Otherwise, she makes it back safely and is glad to be home with her family and American food!

New Places in Tokyo - Animal Version

Partying at the pop up highball bar at Tokyo Midtown - a great way to start Heather's visit!

Part of the fun of having people visit is going to places we haven't been before.  My sister loves animals, so we make sure she doesn't miss her own menagerie at home, at least not too much!

 






One of our stops is the Shinagawa Aquarium.  It's entrance is a little difficult to find - it took our taxi two tries to make the correct turn. (This is what's nice about Tokyo - after he missed the first turn, he stopped the meter.  The remaining ten minutes it took him to get there he didn't charge us.)  I'd say it's a typical medium size aquarium, good for a couple of hours of fun.  My favorite part is the animal shows - we got to see sea lions and dolphins.  The "underwater" tunnel through the tank of sharks, turtles, stingrays and fish is pretty cool, too.

He's smiling at me!

Wow - are they exactly the same height above the water?

Steve gets up close and personal with his dolphin photos.

Soft, smooth hands!

There's a bonus here, too - they have a touching tank, but it's not your typical starfish.  It's the fish that nibble the dead skin off your hands.  You have to pay money to have this "spa treatment" in Chinatown!  Steve hates it and yanks his hand out - he says they are biting him (that's kind of the point...)





Later in the week we stop by the Tokyo Zoo.  I'd say it's a typical medium size zoo - no unique way of interacting or experiencing the animals, but an enjoyable half day.  There are panda bears, lots of monkeys and one of my favorites - red pandas.  He was sleeping in the trees though, so I couldn't get a good picture of him.

We have fun with pictures here, too.

He wants to eat me!

Just monkeying around

He is very big in person.

I think my sister is starting to suffer from animal-petting withdrawal.  Does she realize this is just a statue?

Nice lemur...

Luckily I had planned for this and made arrangements to stop by a Cat Cafe.  In Tokyo, you can stop at a "cafe" (they do serve drinks, apparently) and pay to sit and pet cats.  I think there are also bunny and owl cafes, too.  Recently I read that there are a couple that are being investigated for unclean conditions, but I researched this one and it's safe for the cats.  They are also up for adoption, so it's a nice way for them to be introduced to many different people.

I know she's trying to figure out how she can sneak the cat home.

"I'm in my happy place!"

The owner gives us treats and we can entertain the cats using toys.  We're the only ones there, so half an hour is just the right amount of time.

Nespresso selfie!

We don't have coffee at the Cat Cafe, but we do stop to refresh ourselves at various Starbucks and the Nespresso Cafe while Heather's here.  Even though the sales people at Nespresso speak limited English, I get talked into buying "free" travel mugs....but it does mean we get an extra drink!  My sister convinces me to try a frozen coffee (it IS hot outside) and it's pretty good - better than any frappuccino I've gotten from Starbucks.

 

The dogs are enjoying Heather's visit, too!  They love the new toys "Aunt" Heather brought them.

They get to hang out at Bubbles with us, too!

Tahoe is looking for people to pet her.  Tie-Dye just wants me to protect him from strangers.

Another Visitor!

"I present to you...the Meiji Shrine Torii!"

My sister takes the long trip overseas to visit us!  She makes taking pictures fun - no need to just stand there.  

Of course, we have to visit the main sights.  I discover a new entrance into the Meiji Shrine - and with a light on-and-off rain, it's practically empty. 

"I feel strong after moving all these wine barrels."

I had never really noticed this bridge at the Meiji Shrine.  It's a nice green shot with all the trees in the background.

A scenic Japanese bridge...I think she doesn't feel well, otherwise she'd act like she was climbing over the railing.

Shabu shabu makes a relaxing dinner after a day of sightseeing. 

If you've ever eaten shabu shabu, you know why they give you bibs!

Sensoji Temple is also on the highlights tour of Tokyo and it's crowded, as usual.  My sister enjoys some shopping along Nakemise Dori while we are there.  You gotta love a religion that celebrates with over a hundred souvenir shops inside the temple grounds.

If only all these people would get out of our photo.

I can almost hug the pagoda!

We make good use of our time at the temple.  In addition, she lights some incense and wafts the smoke towards her nose.  This is supposed to have healing properties and she's gotten sick while she's visiting us.  Hmmm....Shirley got sick, Heather got sick....maybe there's something wrong here....

"Coughing, coughing, go away"

I should have bought platform shoes instead of socks!

We try to make it look like the Tokyo Skytree is growing out of her head, but she isn't tall enough. 

Jump!  Jump!

Touching the giant straw sandal (owaraji) that hangs on the back of the gate is supposed to help sore feet.   Unfortunately, she's too short to reach!  There's actually a really good story behind why the sandal is hung at Sensoji.  You can read about it here:  http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2005/06/16/reference/owaraji/#.V42c7aIpo21 gives     (I understand why a new pair is donated every ten years - you can see the fraying at the bottom of the sandal from people touching it.)





Everyone says you should attend a Japanese baseball game if possible, and we're lucky the Swallows have a home game while Heather's here. 

If she actually had a baseball it would hit the camera.

And speaking of lucky - Heather catches a t-shirt launched from one of the shirt cannons during the pregame festivities.  She graciously lets me keep it!

Maybe we shouldn't have let her drink seven of these...

Heather doesn't like alcohol, but she's up for trying new things.  (She actually doesn't like fish or seafood, either.  But she's been a trooper the whole time, sampling all sorts of new goodies).  We find a drink she likes - there's no liquor taste at all.  

There's a Swallows mascot in the middle somewhere.

Steve has the best time at the baseball games.  I think he's got his own little fan club.  They even bought him a beer.















After some busy days running around Tokyo, it's important to hydrate your face!  I call these "scary masks."  A couple months after I "named" them, they ended up coming out with kabuki mask patterns printed on the paper.  I wish I could have claimed credit!

The dogs run and hide when they see us...so does Steve.