Japan.It's Bloomin marvellous.

[drron]

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Back to the Sheraton and a walk around their garden-

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Instant flowers coming up.Then to the lounge for some coffee and cake.A little later the shuttle back to Meguro to a sushi go round.It used to be pretty good but it has gone high tech and to pay for that the food quality has gone down.Order by computer and it is delivered to your seat by rail-

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[junbugging]

Have no idea what the other flavour is

It's not too far off yuzu but a bit sourer. Hard to explain. See the bottom of this:

https://www.tofugu.com/japan/unique-japanese-fruit/

 

[drron]

On our last full day in Tokyo we once more got the shuttle to Meguro but walked back a slightly different way.Past a cemetery-

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Then a garden shop-

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Their wisteria as in full flower as well as that at the neighbouring pre school-

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But we were heading for this place.Had passed it many times and thought it was about time we had a look-

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Lots of wildflowers,usually with signs but only in Japanese-

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[drron]

A native ground orchid-

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Hard to believe that you are in the middle of Tokyo.An oasis.

 

[drron]

The mounds are said to cover the remains of a settlement many hundreds of years ago.You then go downhill to a watercourse-

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[drron]

You go back along a little ridge but look down on a swampy area-

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The guide has just a little English and there is a pine at least 300 years old in the area so I take photos of any large pines with a sign.The next one however is obviously the one as it has the largest sign-

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Still hard to believe you are in the middle of Tokyo.Now an area described as the old garden and an amazing tree-

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Now down to the swampy area.Many wildflowers-

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The path winds between the grasses-

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[drron]

A lot of crows in this area making lots of noise.Appear to be eating the young maple leaves-

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We come to a lake with a heron doing very well catching small fish.

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We sat in the sun for a while and I kept an eye on the heron.I have called it the green eyed heron-

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[drron]

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The trees in the middle of the next pic are cherries.Well and truly past it.Probably 3 weeks ago this view would have been totally different-
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9NCEWu8xx_4/VxdA6J9WeHI/AAAAAAACW5A/TzszFiaV2ngClKiSHTxQZZd2aHFZa-rbgCCo/s400/DSC03817.JPG.

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Another smaller body of water with great reflections-

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This fellow was quick.seemed to be targeting insects-

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[drron]

Now heading back to the exit.

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So if you have been to Tokyo many times and think you have done it all this is a good place to while away a couple of hours.Easy to get to.A 310 yen admission but for us oldies over 65-free.
So once more a walk back to the Sheraton.Some street scenes on the way-

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The azaleas and dogwood in front of the Sheraton-

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[drron]

In the olden days hotels in Japan were not a bad place to change money.They gave close to bank rates without all the red tape of going to a bank.This time machines are taking over and the rate not so good.We were running a little low on cash so changed a few thousand yen anyway for convenience-

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Saw the same sort of machine at Hilton NRT.
Thursday and got the 1038 shuttle to Meguro.Yamanote line to Tokyo.Booked the Joyful train from Akita to Hirosaki on sunday as it is said to be full often and as this was peak blossom viewing there plus Golden week coming up thought it safer to book earlier.It is covered by the JR East pass.Then to Daimaru basement to buy some snacks for the train.on the way to the platform we saw this-

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We are on komachi 19.It is attached to the Hokkaido shinkansen until Morioka-a little north of Sendai.After Morioka it was time for lunch-

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Nice scenery after Morioka-
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0-nL-EzT0x8/Vxlnxx_W39I/AAAAAAACXEI/PfH0zvHv1QwliFfNiUcqZFR6yL8WHVOJwCCo/s400/DSC03857.JPG.

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[drron]

Fertile country.Fertilising the paddies-

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Then started following a river-

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Started seeing more glasshouses-

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And as the river flats disappeared logging became the major industry-

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[drron]

A very cold and overcast day-

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http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-coughj5iTebBU/VxlncAn-BnI/AAAAAAACXEI/YBRxkRXJJvU2hMw3clo8RDUpXlDoE50AQCCo/s400/DSC03896.JPG.

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[drron]

Very different country than we have been through before-

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Coming out onto the coastal plain.We notice the cherry blossoms look good-

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[drron]

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If you are eagle eyed you might notice a different perspective on that last picture.At Omiya the train changes line and direction.So for us we are now facing backwards.

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We arrive at Akita station.Our hotel is not far but it is cold and the wind blowing so we get a taxi to our hotel-the Akita Castle Hotel.

 

[drron]

When we were initially planning this holiday it was nearly impossible to get reasonable accommodation in Akita and Hirosaki.We made bookings at booking.com but at ~$400 a night.The hotels know this time will be a sellout.This is when a good TA shows their worth.At ~ 3 months out consolidators release the rooms they don't think they can now sell.Our Ta was ready and we got decent hotels at nearly 50% off our bookings.A saving of nearly $1000 for the 2 places.
The position in Akita was perfect.Not far from the station and across the road from Senshu Park and the castle-the best blossom viewing around here.Again when we initially booked we thought we would be a little early but this year the season was early so we were here at just the right time.
Now the Akita Castle Hotel-

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And the view.Pity about the weather-

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Very little English spoken here and checkin took a while.tried to book into their Japanese restaurant but told booked out for our stay.I think they didn't want gaijin there.

 

[drron]

Friday and a complete change in the weather.Blue skies and reasonable temperature.So off to Senshu Park.Even across the road there was beauty-

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[drron]

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Looking back to our hotel-

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The stalls started well before you got into the park.

 

[drron]

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Now up the hill to the park-

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[drron]

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It is well before lunch but places are being staked out.several school groups are making an appearance.

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The wisteria here is not even in bud.

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[drron]

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