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!