3 Our most important item: it says, "We are vegetarians. We do not eat meat, fish, or fowl, but dairy is ok." We showed this at every restuarant. It was very helpful.
4 The first thing we had to do was learn how to navigate the subways. When there's an error, a clerk opens a window and helps!
5 Hundred Stay Hotel from the Okubo train station
6 Shinjuku district from our hotel
7 Bill, after a long first day, in the fast food place next to our hotel. We were in Shinjuku neighborhood and the train was just 3 blocks away.
8 We went to the Ginza District our second night
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10 We found a great place to eat
11 Tatsumi Yagura turret and Kikyo-bori Moat, East Gardens, Imperial Palace
12 Otemon Gate. The Imperial Palace East Gardens (皇居東御苑, Kōkyo Higashi Gyoen) are a part of the inner palace area and are open to the public. Unfortunately, you have to make reservations 3-4 months in advance.
13 so we just walked around the park area since we didn't have advance tickets to the palace
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16 Ninomaru Japanese garden, East Gardens, Imperial Palace
17 Then we went to see The Great Buddah
18 We were able to go inside the Great Buddah for a small fee. It was interesting, but more for saying we did than anything else.
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21 Hokokuji Temple, Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan Kamakura (鎌倉) is a coastal town in Kanagawa Prefecture, less than an hour south of Tokyo.
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28 Jomyoji Temple (浄妙寺, Jōmyōji) is a Zen temple in the hills of eastern Kamakura. Ranked fifth among the five great Zen temples of Kamakura
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30 I thought this tripod ladder was interesting.
31 Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (鶴岡八幡宮, Tsurugaoka Hachimangū) is Kamakura's most important shrine. It was founded by Minamoto Yoriyoshi in 1063, and enlarged and moved to its current site in 1180
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36 Skytree view, Sumida, Tokyo
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39 Tokyo is a very large city
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41 Floral arrangement at the base of the Sky Tree tower
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44 a view inside
45 Kaminarimon Gate, Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo
Sensoji (浅草寺, Sensōji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple
46 The temples were mostly crowded most of the time
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56 Visit to Ueno Hill. Ueno Park (上野公園, Ueno Kōen) is a large public park next to Ueno Station in central Tokyo. The park grounds were originally part of Kaneiji Temple
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58 Francisco at Kiyomizu Kannon-do temple
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60 it was common to walk by a bathroom and be able to look right in from the sidewalk. I guess everyone stands real close!
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67 The Flame of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, from the original fire
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71 On our return trip to Tokyo before departure, we stayed at the Hyatt.
72 Our room at the Hyatt
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74 View from our room. With Shinjuku Central Park below. The Park is located right behind the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings. It is like an oasis for all the residents around here,
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76 The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁, Tōkyō Tochō) in Shinjuku
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79 The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁, Tōkyō Tochō) in Shinjuku is often visited by tourists for its free observation decks which provide good panoramic views of Tokyo. Our hotel below.
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82 Kegs of sake
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92 Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) is one of Tokyo's largest and most popular parks. Located just a short walk from Shinjuku Station,
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105 Leaving the park, we stopped for a very refreshing drink. It was so good we had two!
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107 Our last night on the town
108 At our favorite restuarant in Ginza
109 Our last night in Japan, at our favorite restuarant in Ginza District
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111 Shinjuku Central Park is located right behind the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings. It is like an oasis for all the residents around here, the Shinjuku sub center of Tokyo, nestled between all the office buildings. Its overall size is 88,065.95 square meters and there are 80,000 trees planted there
