Old Places in Tokyo

At Lake Ashi - beautiful family!

We have friends visit us!  Craig, Michelle, Hannah and Emily all manage to fit in our apartment...and even with only one shower, it works out.  Of course, it helps that they're the perfect guests.

Steve took advantage of their expat assignment to the Netherlands in the 1990s and visited on many occasions.  So they make sure to return the favor and come see us.  We have a wonderful time showing them around the Tokyo. We see all the highlights, and with more people you have more fun with the photos!

Breakfast on a stick!

We even remember to take pictures at the Tsukiji Fish Market.  There's lots of "fast" food available on the streets outside the main fish market. 

Beer for breakfast?!?

At the  Koishikawa Korakuen Garden the girls enjoy the stone bridge...

Superwoman pose

Model pose

Not a selfie

...and have fun photobombing our selfie!











While the girls are shopping in Harajuku, Steve amuses himself with a mascot.

Japanese pose (seriously - every time we see Japanese kids taking a picture, they do this)

Experiencing the subway is part of the enjoyment of visiting Tokyo!  Everyone got to feel the rush hour sardine effect.

There are ten people touching me at once.

And they learn to act like the locals - take a little cat nap when you can!

We would have woken you up if you started to drool.  No, really, we mean it. (Okay, we would have taken a picture first.)

Yum - I want one now!

We make a stop one morning at our favorite doughnut shop - Good Time Doughnuts! 

There are no pagodas in this picture.

Sensoji Temple is always on the list of places to see.  Craig was looking forward to seeing the 5-story pagoda here.  Unfortunately, it was under construction and completed covered with tarps.  It was visible just a month earlier when my sister was here. 







Some new things happen while visiting all the "old" places.  Our friends got to see a ceremony taking place at our local shrine.

Do the musicians take requests?

There's no way we'll miss a Swallows baseball game! Somehow, we manage to get tickets that allow us to get a free green jersey (they sell for $90 in the shop).  Thankfully, Steve saw someone getting in a line and asked some questions. We hop in a line, show our tickets, and get the jersey.  I'm starting to feel like a real fan!

Swallow fans

Why a mini-umbrella?  If they were full size we wouldn't get wet!

I think the mascot looks for Steve at every game.  See his pose...

We finish up one night with a home cooked "Japanese" meal.  Yes, we all fit around the table! 

Good friends, good food!