Japan. Onsen Explorer. Day 13. Tokyo. Thursday

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Onsen Explorer. Day 13. Thursday.

After sleeping like a log we needed a more European breakfast so had a egg and bacon tea cake at Cafe Delice before a trip on the Ginza underground line to Asakusa. Whilst this is a big tourist destination it is well worth the visit, full of tourist stalls down both sides of the street with the exquisite Senso-Ji shrine at the end with people milling around everywhere. There are several shops selling and renting out kimonos so there are girls and ladies parading the streets wearing them - very nice.
The restaurants are good too if you get away from the main area selling traditional Japanese fare and Italian etc. From there a walk to Ueno Park is possible where you will find a zoo and several shrines of Shinto and Buddhist religions, plus the Starbucks which seems obligatory on many streets of Tokyo. This is tiring work so a shower and rest is required before a trip to Shibuya and Scramble Square for dinner at La Boheme, which is in a cellar and very good. The ambient noise is very loud plus some good music on the speakers making it a great place for the younger generation. The meals are Italian and a nice change for us.
The journey there was on the Ginza line Sardine Express,with people squashed in so tight the doors struggled to close. As we journeyed back there were lots of young people just returning from work in their black trousers and white shirts. This is slave labour and a factor in the high Japanese suicide rate. This has been a tiring day and bed beckons.

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