Hong Kong, Tokyo & a day trip to Kyoto

[jetlagger]

Once again.. Thanks so much for sharing your inspiring trip.. I love the photos! I was in Japan twice this year - I adore the place, especially the cuisine.. I must make a concerted effort to also do a TR.
Please continue..

 

[amaroo]

After the mild shock from the night before we woke early & headed out around 9.30am:shock: Breakfast was a feast....sorry no photos.

For those that have not been to Park Hyatt Tokyo - check-in is on the 41st floor & everything else is above that. As we were up early & no one was about we pulled the camera out & clicked some shots.....

This is the view you see as you step out of the lift & enter the check-in level on the 41st floor.

 

[amaroo]

Today we are going to Meiji Jingu - Meiji Jingu-About Meiji Jingu-

Shinto Shrine set in a beautiful park not far from the PHT...walk after breakfast is just the ticket. Walking through the park & shrine was a wonderful experience & very different to the mass commercial feel of the Sensoji (Buddhist) temple we saw two days before:!:

We were lucky enough to see a wedding - always a happy experience.

 

[amaroo]

Always a happy occasion to witness....

 

[drron]

your TR is bringing back great memories.We just love Tokyo.We do steer clear of the Kobe beef apart from one occasion in Kobe just after the Tsunami when it was just expensive rather than horrendously expensive.
You have given us a couple of restaurants to try-we are in tokyo 1-2 times a year so really appreciate when someone tells us of something new.
And TRs are such a great way of reminding yourself of your journey.Keep up the good work.

 

[amaroo]

After the shrine we walked to the other end of Yoyogi Park....love cities that have large green spaces throughout & Tokyo has plenty of them.

We exited the park at Harajuku - Tokyo Travel: Harajuku vibrant, busy & colourful is the best way to describe this area. We spent a few hours wondering around & doing a little shopping along Omotesando.

A quick bite at Dean & DeLuca we then headed over to Ginza for more shopping:shock: Walked down to Marunouchi & over to the Imperial Palace.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Great TR. reminds me of when we were last there. Great food people etc, but not the best for shopping bargains

 

[amaroo]

Walking around Ginza was an eye opener! One shop we went into sold Closionne - Cloisonné - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia .....the store was very nice! As the girls looked around downstairs the boys went upstairs.

Without any exaggeration the prices of some of the goods on display were unbelievable.......

Large urns sitting on the floor were priced at JPY 145,000,000 ......at todays exchange rate = A$1,812,500 :shock::shock::shock: Smaller urns in showcases were more expensive!

After the shock - I bearhugged my son to ensure no accidental breakage......the girls joined us upstairs & after SWMBO purchased the cheapest ($100) item in the store we left:-|

The Japanese are polite & good natured - as we were walking the streets/shops people approached to warn of the approaching typhoon "Jelawat" and advised that we should be in-doors by 6pm. Heeding the advice we got the metro back to the JR Yamanote line to Shinjuku station.

The trains broadcast messages & radar images updating commuters on what was occurring to the network....very impressive!

It wasn't all bad as we arrived back in time for coughtail hour The kids wanted to come up tonight so we arranged to sit in the NY Grill (kids are not allowed in bars) we enjoyed our drinks and the entertainment.

As the now tropical storm hit Tokyo the weather turned very foul......no going out for us this evening. We decided to have dinner at the NY Grill however, it was looking dicey as everyone else had the same idea. After discussions with bar/restaurant supervisors we were allowed to keep our table

No1 son had lamb chops

No1 daughter had chicken

We had the Tomahawk for 2

The meal was very good & I can't think of a better way to experience our first Typhoon.

 

[Simo]

Great TR and I am now starving with the last food pics.

Makes me want to go back to Asia.

 

[Sprucegoose]

i remember experiencing a typhoon in tokyo...better than a quake........

 

[drron]

i remember experiencing a typhoon in tokyo...better than a quake........

Not when you are trying to land at NRT as happened to us on one of the last JAL flights from BNE.

 

[amaroo]

Big day today - our 18th wedding anniversary:shock:

What better way to celebrate our special day.....we are going on a day trip to Kyoto We are so excited - this is our first Shinkansen (bullet train)

In true accidental tourist style - we got the concierge to arrange the return train tickets, car & tour guide for our time in Kyoto.....perfect.

Up early today....getting the Nozomi - Nozomi (train) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia need to get to Shinagawa station for our 7.37am. We ordered room service for breakfast.....when it arrived, I remembered why I never order room service. The food & service was first class however, eating in the bedroom has never done it for me.

Quick walk to Shinjuku station...jump on the JR Yamanote line & we arrive 30min early. I have to say that the public rail system of Tokyo is unreal.....it's simple to use, easy to work out & really great value. They even have a system where you can purchase the cheapest ticket when entering & they have an adjuster ticket machine when exiting - put the ticket in & it either comes back out or tells you how much you need to top it up by.

Our train arrives & we are sitting in car 16 seat 1D/E & 2D/E.....the train has 16 cars & each one (at a rough guess) is around 25m long.....thats a whopping 400m:shock:

Haven't quite worked out the photo attachments.....can't figure out how you can split photos with text in between.....anyone that can give me a tip - very happy to accept.

Anyway........the last photo is Mt Fuji at 300km/h

 

[jetlagger]

Oh, how I love those gorgeous trains! Thanks for sharing & the pictures..

 

[drron]

Lucky day getting such a great picture of mt.Fuji.
We first went to Japan in 1985.Amazing to think they had the bullet trains back then.Always on time and always stop at the mark on the platform.

 

[amaroo]

The trip to Kyoto is 470km and will take 2 hours & 13 minutes - the ride is smooth, fast & very pleasant. Our first Shinkansen experience was wonderful, I can only imagine how life could be if Australia invested in the same infrastructure:!:

As we step onto the platform at Kyoto our tour guide is waiting for us Unbelievably the trains stop on the exactly same spot every time Noboru, introduces himself & we walk towards the car. He asks if we have any special requests & then suggest an itinerary which we gladly accept. He asked what type of food we would like to eat for lunch.....with the details sorted he books a restaurant.

First stop is Kiyomizudera Temple - Kiyomizu-dera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia UNESCO world heritage site. Buddhist site dated 798 with the current buildings dated 1633.....not a nail used.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Lucky day getting such a great picture of mt.Fuji.
We first went to Japan in 1985.Amazing to think they had the bullet trains back then.Always on time and always stop at the mark on the platform.

If its more than 10 min late a personal letter from the CEO and free tickets ensues

 

[Sprucegoose]

Not when you are trying to land at NRT as happened to us on one of the last JAL flights from BNE.

[Crosswind landing - wind shear] Japan Airlines Boeing 777-300ER (JA736J) at NRT (Tokyo - Narita) - YouTube

 

[amaroo]

Next stop, Nijo Castle - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nijō_Castle

This is a special place! The history, gardens, buildings & ambience....just wonderful. I'll let the photos tell the story......

Loved the Nightingale Floor Nightingale floor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia It worked a treat however, No 1 son thinks a real ninja would just use the walls:!:

The first photo is a palm that is over 400 years old.

 

[amaroo]

More photos.....

 

[MissBurrill]

You have made me keen to return to Hong Kong and Tokyo Thank you.