April 13, 2014

Last night when we arrived we found a food court near the hotel and the train station. It was just what we needed for a quick bite before we headed to bed. Funny, you order by almost a vending machine menu. You click on the photo that you want to order and then insert money into the machine and your order is placed and then you get change and a ticket. You then go to the counter and give her the ticket and a few minutes later she hands you your food. We figured it out based on photos and numbers, feeling good about that and navigating foreign obstacles :)

Our next accomplishment came today, navigating the subways and waterways as we figured out what lines to take, how much to pay and what train and water bus to get onto. This mornings early morning planning session paid off, we figured it all out and covered from the north end to the south end of the city.

Our goal today was to see the cherry blossoms. Many of the blossoms have peaked and past, but we were told that Shinjuku National Gardens had a different kind of cherry blossom  that were just at peak, they were right. We wanted to go to church today at the LDS Tokyo 1st Ward near Roppongi. After strolling the gardens of our Sakura Prince Hotel and having breakfast we took a taxi to church. When we go there we found out they were playing General Conference. We had gone to Conference last week in SLC and so decided that we would stroll through the beautiful Japanese Garden Park by the church. The LDS Temple is located right next to the church, handsome building- large temple with a tall spire and a statue of the Angel Moroni on top. Fun to see a city temple packed right in next to the park, the church and another building, yet  on a quiet street. We strolled the gardens which had lots of meandering dirt paths that lead to streams and small pond where many older gentleman were fishing. 

We took the subway up to Shinjuku National Gardens. We met a sweet older man as we were looking for the gate to the gardens. He kept signaling us to follow him. We had to walk around the park to get to the main entrance. As we walked he made small conversation with us and then his wife caught up, she was so cute. They had brought a picnic for the park and planned to spend the day. They were so friendly and we enjoyed meeting them.  

The gardens were all we were expecting. Large and spacious with a variety of gardens, and  blossoming trees and hundreds of people with their families and large drop cloths and picnics. Everyone was taking photos. The blossoms were in full bloom. We strolled the gardens and their many paths. We headed out the Shinjuku gate and went looking for Tokyu Hands- well known Japanese department store with everything from tools to pens to mattresses to toys. Albert Bertha had told us it was one of his favorite stores. I can imagine him spending hours in there buying all kinds of knick knacks :)

We then found a restaurant nearby. There are signs with photos of food. If you like a bowl of noodles and it says next to the photo Floor 4, you go to the 4th Floor of the building and the elevator opens and your in the restaurant. No photos for lunch, so blindly ordered. Not our best meal, but a good experience. 

After lunch we headed down to the waterfront where we caught a water taxi- a boat that went up several miles to the upper side of Central Tokyo. We enjoyed resting while we looked out the open windows of the boat. We had a great view of the Sky Tree- tallest tower in the world and a golden building whose reflection made the river look gold. We strolled over to Sensoji Temple. This is the oldest temple in Tokyo somewhere around 650 AD and it houses HUGE lanterns. Gates marked all entries to the temple. As we approached I remembered when Sydney, Kendall and I had read our fortunes. You pay $1 and then shake this shaker box and a numbered chop stick falls out. You look up that number on a bunch of little drawers and pull out your fortune from the drawer. I didn't like mine at all and neither did Nate and Sam didn't like that his said he would marry late, so we all tied our fortunes to a close line like stand next to the fortune area. There the fortune stays, doesn't move with us. We then went over to the incense lantern where later Sam bought some incense and then you waft the smoke over you...think it is for cleansing. After my fortune I wanted some cleansing. So then we approached the temple, through some money in for good measure into a grate before the temple- another offering for good luck, along with a good wish. Huge lanterns hanging from the temple and gates approaching it. It's what you hope to see in Japan. 

We meandered through the shops, Sam examining some Samurai swords, and then made our way to the subway and took the train back to our note. Resting up before our big Japanese "new entertainment" show. Should be entertaining. So fun to be with Sam and see him excited about all the new experiences.

Just came back from Roppongi Kaguwa- it was a dinner theater show. Lots of dancing, like a Japanese Dance Tech performance- good dances, lots of dramatic story lines, flying ninjas, Geishas,...actually it wasn't nearly as cheesy as I thought it would be and it was very entertaining. At the end of the show Nate said there were at least 2 transvestites in the show. I said there is no way. They were definitely all women, they even "popped their tops" at one point - although they weren't totally exposed-and they weren't men or couldn't have been men,... but apparently at the end of the show we asked the server and there was a program and she said the top part were "She He" and the men were all "Hes" and the bottom photos were all "Shes". Blew me away. Didn't see it, still couldn't see it. They had dainty hands, fine features and high pitched voices. Sam and I were amazed. It was perfect length, 1 hour. We had a fun time and are reach to head to bed. Thank you Tokyo for an entertaining day and night.