Since I woke up at 2:30 a.m. and could not fall back to sleep I decided to Skype my mom (because it was 1:30 in the afternoon back at home). After we spoke for a while I tried to fall back to sleep but it just wasn't going to happen. I started writing this diary and about 5:15 I called Thomas since he leaves work at about 4:15 our time. After that there was no sense even trying to go back to sleep so, I got up and took a shower and picked out the outfit of the day (a dress of course, since it was going to be mega hot). At about 6:25 or so my mother in law phoned me and asked if I was awake....they were up since about 3:00 a.m.. Since all of us were up and dressed we decided to go down to breakfast at 6:30 am - it was a buffet and they had a GREAT selection and very happy about that! They had western and Japanese choices so... Waffles for me!
After breakfast I skyped Thomas again before heading out for our all day tour. At 8:00 am we went to the lobby to meet our group for our first tour of Tokyo! We boarded a motor coach and were driven to Tokyo Station where we received our tour tickets, and then boarded another motor coach. This tour would have 6 stops. The first stop was Tokyo tower. It was really cool to see the city from that high but I bet it's even better at night!
We met Charles and Noreen, who were on the exact tour as us (the entire 9 days we'd be on tour together) a small group of 5 people touring Japan....amazing. Charles and I hit it off because he worked for NASA and Noreen's an Irish/Italian from Brooklyn...hello, new friends!! They aren't a couple - just 2 people traveling on their own. Although Noreen's mission on this trip was to find a husband. I'm not sure she accomplished this, however she did accomplish one cool thing after the trip-- she made a major purchase when she returned back home...a ToTo Japanese style toilet! This may not sound exciting but believe me IT IS! The toilets in Japan were a tourist attraction in their own right.
Here are some photos taken on our way to Tokyo Tower and then from Tokyo Tower....
Morning Rush Hour
After Tokyo tower we went to the Meiji Shrine. Very beautiful and serene. I did an offering and wish... and thought I offed 10 cents...turned out it was a dollar so I'm guessing my wish will come true.
Our next stop was lunch. We arrived at the super fancy hotel Chinzanso and made our way through the Japanese gardens to the Mokushundu restaurant. Lunch was amazing. Cooked in front of us hibachi style. At the end of our lunch a young Japanese girl celebrating her 20th birthday arrived for her celebration luncheon and her entire family was dressed in traditional kimono. Very beautiful. She nicely accepted our congratulations and best wishes and then posed for photos with us. We learned on our tour that only single women wear colorful kimono. Once women are married (or reach a certain age they will only wear bland colored and plain kimono).
After lunch we went to the Imperial Palace where the Emperor resides. It was hotter than I can even describe. I don't remember much and somehow only took photos of one of the buildings and the mote.
Then we boarded a river cruise that took us up the Sumida River and to Asakusa - which I LOVED!!! Shopping in Asakusa is at the Nakamise Shopping Arcade. It's the BEST souvenir shopping in Tokyo. I was having a grand old time power shopping..... Until the sky literally opened up on us! There was a very dangerous lightening storm. We got drenched! We Made it back to our tour bus (about 5 minutes late) that took us through Ginza (briefly without stopping) and then dropped us at Tokyo Station at the end of our tour. OMG Tokyo Station is BEAUTIFUL! We all figured out how to use the ticket machines (easy peasy....getting OUT of the train station -not so much) and then took the train to our hotel stop in Shinagawa. We arrived back at the hotel at 5:30 or so. At 7:30 we went to the steakhouse across the street from the hotel for dinner. I only ordered a salad because I was exhausted and literally fell asleep at the table waiting for our food to arrive.....I don't remember how the salad was or what kind it was (probably with grilled chicken knowing me)?? After dinner we went straight back to the hotel. Once I was in my room I showered and then I Skyped Thomas and my mom and then I finally went to bed!
Oh, and here's the Kokeshi Doll I bought for myself :)
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