Konitchiwa from Tokyo

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23 July, 4:30pm - Our plane takes off from Tokyo airport. 5 minutes later, at 4:35, an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 shakes Tokyo injuring dozens of people and suspending flight and train services. Yes people, we rocked Tokyo and left it in our wake.

Our welcome to Tokyo was a little unusual. A drunk businessman staggered into our carriage and introduced us to the fine Japanese dinner, and dare I say sake, he had just consumed. We thought about moving into the adjoining carriage only to realise he had been considerate enough to show them his lunch.

We checked into Ryokan Kangetsu which is a traditional Japanese guest house that is apparently 'not exactly the lap of luxury'. If massage chairs, traditional Japanese baths, foot massagers and free DVDs and CDs isn't luxurious, we're not sure what is. Dave quickly donned a kimono and slippers and frolicked in a traditional bath (sorry ladies no photos!). The only dissapointing part for him was that there were no other men to share in his frolicking.

Japanese food was very different to what we are used to (well, except for sushi that you can buy on every street corner in Brisbane). We had shabu shabu at a traditional restaurant after a local woman called Remi kindly translated the menu for us. The bakeries offered plastic looking delights that Dave reckons are much better than what we have in the west. (Nic isn't so sure.)

While exploring the city we came across a huge fish market, the Sony Building containing lots of technological memorabilia, the Imperial Palace with its beautiful gardens and impenetrable walls, and colourfully decorated, well lit bustling streets, to name just a few.

Tokyo is brilliant: clean, friendly and very interesting - plus you can buy beer from vending machines on the street. What more could you need?

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Comments

[Sven]

Keep the pictures coming
Hi Guys Just in case you think no-one is checking your blog I thought I would tell you to KEEP THOSE PICS COMING!

[John]

Tokyo Hotel
Who stole the bed is your Tokyo hotel?

[Beth]

love this travelblog!
Hi Love being able to follow your travels without having to wait for phone calls, keep it up. Great pix, love the quirky ones like the autoteller.