Waking up in Tokyo is fun for sure!  The blackout curtains in our hotel are so dark I couldn’t tell what time of day it was!  And, of course, a few hours of time difference to home (16 to be precise).  So, waking up at 1:30am Tokyo time to check emails and be wide awake is always fun! 🙂

But, there is something special about being in a new place with no where to really go for a few hours.  I was able to read more about the neighborhood that we are in, what the local top rated restaurants are, and where the historical locations to go are.

After a few hours of reading about the Shogunate and the history of Edo (pronouced like “meadow”) (now called Tokyo) ending in 1868 I was ready to head out with the group to Tokyo.

A brief view from our hotel (which, by the way, starts on floor 25 of the Shiodome Media Group tower).  This is the view from floor 27 (of 34).

Today we headed out to Meiji Shrine Park & Asakusa Kannon Temple.

Meiji Shrine:

This was built for Emperor Meiji to commemorate the amazing and wonderful things he did for Japan – bringing it into the public world and away from separatism of Old Japan.  Read about it on Wiki here.

We learned all about the history of the place, the shrines, and the political and still spiritual importance of the place.

As you walk into the park you are surrounded by amazing forest, beautiful shrines amoungst the trees, and birds chirping everywhere.  We were also greeted by a procession of Shinto Priests on their daily route to the main temple.  I have to admit, my favorite part is the sound of the gravel crunching under the wooden shoes.  I don’t think those things would be comfortable, but they seemed just fine.  (Lots of practice and walking I am sure!).

We then had to ensure that we cleansed ourselves by walking through the large gate (there are a lot of these all over Japan – they are meant to cleanse your body of negative thoughts, emotions, day to day troubles etc as you enter a holy place) and proceeding to also wash our hands with fresh spring water from the underground aquifers.

We were lucky to be able to see not only the priests that day, but also a lovely wedding – gorgeous bride – and a whole team of new recruits for a company here in Japan being blessed on the first day of the companies fiscal year for prosperity in the new year! (No photos allowed inside the temple! Sorry guys! You will just have to visit! 🙂 )

Then on to Asakusa Kannon Temple.  This was fascinating for me! I LOVE busy places – people, smells of food, vendors, lots of colors! One of my favorites.  Basically, like most religious gathering places, there are tons of people making it a community.  Japan is no different!

 

After leaving the temple we were sent out on our own for the afternoon to checkout the city.  I LOVE SUSHI!!!  So, after 3 months ago finding out that I was headed to Japan, checking to see if I could get into Jiro’s sushi 3 Michelin Star Sushi restaurant, and being told that the reservations are 2 years out, I decided the next best thing would be to get sushi straight from the source.  I headed to Nippon Fish Market for the afternoon.

I know, it doesn’t look like much, but this is where the most expensive fish in the world is sold.  1.8 Million dollars later – for a fish!.

So, after eating some delicious sushi and finding some Mochi balls (Mango, my Mom’s favorite) I headed back towards the hotel and stopped in at the Hamarikyu Gardens (the old imperial gardens).

The smell of the flowers was overwhelming! And Ravens everywhere (one of my favorites) and lovely, lovely views – very Zen – at every turn.  Did you know that Zen garden designs will actually change the ground you are walking on to ensure that you stop to see they view they want you to?  If they have a path with small steps, you are meant to focus on the walking, when there is a large step / stone you are meant to stop and look around.  Check it out!

 

So, even though the park was amazing, I have to admit, so was the walk back.  Even the manhole covers are lovely!  

One of my favorite parts so far of Tokyo is the dichotomy of the integration between the natural landscape and the giant corporate towers that exist.  This picture perfectly summed that up for me.

Well, if that wasn’t enough for one day – adventure and beauty all wrapped in one – for the evening we went out for a traditional group Japanese dinner.  KAMPAI everyone

One more night in Japan down, and many more amazing journeys to live!