The first cultural experience of the day was the lavish buffet breakfast at the Westin. Unlike anything I've ever seen or eaten for breakfast. We tried to choose a mix of familiar/delicious foods and new things we wouldn't normally fathom to eat, especially for breakfast. I tried Onigiri rice balls, custom prepared with choice of fillings like bonito flakes, spiced beef, smoked fishes with condiments of pickled items ranging from familiar (cucumbers) to salted plums (intensely sour and briney). An omlette station exhibited characteristic efficiency - you are given a number and asked to return in 7.0 minutes. A pancake machine and coffee machinery exhibited an inclination to new innovative tech. A comprehensive tea bar with busy attendants a nod to the traditional. The challenge was to try new food experiences without overeating for the day's adventures.
We did a self-guided walk to a few local parks:
- Happo-En - a semi-private park with an outdoor bonsai display, used for weddings; recommended by a tour guide.
- A garden wedged between the Tokyo Institute of Medical Science and the Minato City Local History Museum
- Park surrounding the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum.
Our Gohagan guide Chip Reeves and our local guide Reiko Kanari took us around Tokyo on a tour bus today. Main stops:
- The Imperial Palace and park in front of it.
- Tokyo National Museum and gardens behind.
- Ueno Park
- Dinner Cruise on Tokyo Bay
(Note: Photos below should be expandable by mouse click).
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| View from Westin, Tokyo, room 1117, looking south. |
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| Onigiri rice ball breakfast station. Fillings are added to rice, then roll into ball, enclose in seaweed wrapper. Add condiments. |
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| Bonsai displays at Happo-en. |
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| Glad to catch some cherry trees (sakura) still blooming. |
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| Glad to see these here, since we are missing them at home! |
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| We learned that this photo of MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito was what convinced the Japanese populace that the surrender was real. In general, MacArthur's approach was appreciated. |
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| Prominent warrior statue in front of Imperial Palace park, symbolizing extreme loyalty to emperors over many centuries. |
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| Entrance to Imperial Palace. Impressively protective moat. |
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| Many, many pine trees, well-tended, dot the massive lawns in front of the Imperial Palace. These lawns provide one of the largest open spaces in the extremely dense Tokyo urban area. |
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| Collections at the Tokyo museum go back 11,000 years. This wooden Buddha is from ~13/14th century. |
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| Lots of great sculptures in front of the Museum of Western Art. Rodin is a favorite, with the Thinker, Burghers of Calais, cathedral "Gates of Hell" doors, all in original sizes. |
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| Ueno park, everyone out on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. |
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| Rainbow bridge from dinner cruise. We were on a boat like the one on the right. |
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| Another bridge from dinner cruise. |
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| Cable stay bridge at night, from dinner cruise. |
We saw a lot in the first day, and learned a lot, thanks to our great guides Reika and Chip. The weather cooperated all day and night. Tomorrow is another sightseeing day around Tokyo for us.
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