Japan.It's Bloomin marvellous.

[drron]

That night we decided to eat at the CP's Japanese restaurant.Decided to have Teppanyaki.We needed have bothered as certainly not busy.That caused us to worry a little.Of course a bottle of wine to accompany the meal-

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An appetiser and salad before the teppanyaki-

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Veggies next-

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Then seafood-

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Then the steak.We had the cheapest meat but the more expensive cuts were the extra marbled beef that the Japanese love.Ours was lean and just beautiful-

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Finished with a sakura sorbet-

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It cost 30000 yen but we really enjoyed it.Great service with a cook and waitress virtually for us alone.The food was really good.As well we had an offer of bonus points for eating in house.
All in all I was very happy with our stay at the CP.We do intend to travel to some less visited Japanese cities and if there is a CP we will be happy to stay there.

 

[drron]

I really liked the floral arrangement at the restaurant.So Japanese-

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Simple yet spectacular.
Sunday and back to Tokyo we go.Saw for the first time-

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Sake flavoured KitKat.
Unusual sculpture for a Japanese train station-

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Outside impressive flower arrangements-

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And the new Niigata shinkansen due to start just 2 weeks after we were there-

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So we are going back on Max Toki 320-

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[drron]

The flower arrangement at the restaurant was typical Japanese-simple but stunning.

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At a store in the station we saw something for the first time-

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Sake flavoured KitKat.
Unusual sculpture for a train station-

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Nice flower arrangements outside-

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A new shinkansen to start 2 weeks after we leave-

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But we are off on Max Toki 320-

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[drron]

These double decker shinkansens are in fact old and are starting to be phased out.

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Now one difference was less selection of snacks-they only had a very small cart so it could be taken up and down stairs.Around Niigata very flat but obviously fertile country-

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But impressive mountains in the distance.

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[drron]

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They are preparing for rice planting-

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A few bare ski runs.

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Then the weather changed.

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[drron]

As our train got close to Tokyo we noticed that there were announcements of various shinkansen services being delayed or cancelled.Nothing untoward at Tokyo station and we changed to the Yamanote line for Meguro station on our way to the Sheraton Miyako.Noticed again messages about train delays and cancellations.Some had some more information saying the disruptions were due to high winds.We weren't worried.But after exiting Meguro station and going to the Miyako shuttle stopped we discovered why services were being cancelled.The wind was incredible.
One small Japanese woman was trying to walk into the wind but was going backwards.A mother with 2 young sons was walking with the wind.The smaller child literally took off.She tried to get him back on the ground she let go of the other boy who was immediately blown over.The boys thought it was a huge joke.Fortunately the shuttle arrived very soon after we arrived so out of the wind.At checkin we were told our bags had arrived.Given a bigger room than previous visits.Plus the Miyako now has a lounge.

So the room-

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This is how your bags come when you use a takubin service-

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The hotel does look good at night-

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And the view from the room at night-

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[drron]

We knew when we planned the trip that we would be far too late for cherry blossom viewing and was planned as a quiet time for recovery.We decided the first day to go back to the Imperial Palace garden to see if the azaleas were in full bloom.We caught the subway at Meguro.Their statio is just 2 blocks from the garden entrance.You walk through a park to get to the Palace.A swan was swimming in the moat-

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[drron]

Off to the East Garden-

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The azaleas near the entrance haven't really advanced-

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But the iris are about to bloom-

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[drron]

There were still some of the late flowering cherries and the wisteria was just beginning it's show.

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[drron]

The azaleas especially near the tea house were a better show than the week before-

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And the peonies had started to flower.

 

[drron]

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The Emperor's olives-

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We now walked to the upper level of the garden.

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[love_the_life]

Gorgeous peonies and azaleas, even though they are not quite in full bloom yet.

 

[drron]

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There were quite a few of the late flowering cherries-

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[drron]

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And an unusual rose display-

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The flowers of the midoriyoshino cherry again-

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[drron]

At this stage I had been asked by 2 groups of Germans to take their photos.No problems and I didn't mention the war.At the green cherry I was approached by an older Japanese woman who wanted to practise her English.Mrsdrron was paying a visit.She had been an English teacher at an International school.She had been to Australia twice-Sydney and Perth.An interesting chat.One subject did amuse me-she asked why Australians don't have jacaranda viewing parties.
Later on as we were sitting resting an older gent also approached us to have an English conversation.I enjoy these interactions.

Back to the pictorial-

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There was a café plus information area to one side.An intriquing display of the celebrations for the beginning of the rice harvest.A new building goes up each time in the Palace grounds for the Emperor to be presented with the new season's rice-

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[drron]

Obviously no smog back in the day-

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[drron]

Ground orchids again-

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This butterfly kept posing for me so I kept taking it's picture.Mrsdrron was patiently waiting whilst I was doing this.A Russian came up and without warning pushed her out of the way so he and his moll could have their photo taken.He was much younger,taller and fitter than me so I decided not to shirt front him but did give him the finger.
Now on our way out.Had an icecream at the café near the entrance and once more a woman sat down opposite us to have an English conversation.We were very popular that day.So the last flowers of the garden-

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[drron]

We now walked down to Tokyo station to book our Shinkansen to Akita.

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I do like the old station building.Character.But a view showing how close it is to the Imperial Palace-

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When booking our shinkansen as usual I had the train name,number and time written down and it takes very little time.A younger Australian was next to me showing off his Japanese prowess-he was taking very much longer.
We now got the Yamanote line back to Meguro station and had a very late lunch at a very cheap tempurs place.For the price-600 yen it was good-

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[drron]

The first day in Tokyo we had gone to the shops above Meguro station.Mrsdrron had some new favorites.First though we looked through the supermarket.Some more unusual wine offerings including my new line-

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Then to Muji where mrsdrron picks up some kitchen items.Some unusual food offerings-

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We have a packet of the blood orange drink.Have no idea what the other flavour is-

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The delivery man has this nifty bit of equipment that can ascend the stairs.Mrsdrron meanwhile has gone to Uniglo for the first time.Gets some Liberty tops.She has previously bought one in Sportscraft but here about 25% of the price there.I got some more Suduko books.We then walked back to the Sheraton.

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[drron]

Interesting sign-

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Stopped at the 100 yen shop.Seems like another of a former QLD Premier's businesses-

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Interesting sign on the container.Then an upmarket supermarket and liquor shop-

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Green tea Kahlua.Whatever is next.
Outside a large fish tank.Much better photos than snorkelling-

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