Ever since I started travelling internationally on a regular basis during my single days in Southern California, I have always wanted to fly on Singapore Airlines due to its incredible reputation as one of the best airlines in the world. So, I was absolutely thrilled when I started shopping for our plane tickets and discovered that the most affordable airfare from Seattle to Tokyo was on this airline. And, let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint! The customer service on this airline was top notch. Ron and I just could not get over it the entire time we were flying to Tokyo! We were almost sad to land and leave our plane after our 12-hour flight due to how well we were treated. Here is a picture of our plane after getting off in the Narita Airport in Tokyo on the evening of July 4th.
A very, travel-worn me standing next to the "Welcome to Japan" sign we found once we entered the airport from our plane.
On the morning of July 5th, we headed out to face the day after a decent night's sleep in our little hotel room in Tokyo. After picking up breakfast at one of the hundreds of convenience stores in Tokyo, we stopped to eat in Ueno Park. Here is Ron standing next to the beautiful entrance to a building in this large park.
Posing on a bridge overlooking the lily pads in Ueno Park.
We then wandered over to the Ameyoko Market in Ueno to look around. Here I am braving a rain shower with the colorful signs in the background.
We enjoyed exploring this lively market with all of its vendors and goods for sale.
We then hopped on the train to head over to Shibuyu Crossing. I just couldn't get over how crowded these trains always were and how people were just jammed in like sardines. Since I was normally a head or so taller than everyone, it was easy to get a picture from above!
We wandered through a high-end grocery store after we first arrived in this part of Tokyo. I was shocked to discover this kind of toilet in the women's, public restroom. I haven't seen one of these in a LONG time and just couldn't resist taking a picture!
Apparently, fruit is extremely expensive in Japan. As a result, we ate loads of vegetables every day, but only had fruit (a pineapple slice on a stick) ONE time during our almost two weeks in Japan! Here is a cantaloupe we saw at this grocery store wrapped in a fancy box for sale for $250 American Dollars! Ron said that this could be given as a wedding gift! Unbelievable.
We then headed over to Shibuya Crossing--the busiest intersection in the world! It was absolutely incredible to see in person.
Here is a picture I took as we crossed the intersection ourselves!
We actually walked up to a Starbucks (on the second floor of a building) and watch the intersection for several minutes while drinking our fruit smoothies. It was absolutely fascinating to watch this many people cross one street in just a few minutes time.
We then ventured over to a mall called Shibuya 109 that is just a block or so from the intersection. Ron had read about this mall in a tall tower and we had NO idea what we were in for when we walked into this place. It was unreal as we found floor after floor of teenage employees shouting through megaphones at the top of their lungs trying to get shoppers to enter their stores. The majority of these store employees had bleach, blond hair and eyes that were "blown out" by their make-up to make their eyes look large and round. Most of these employees were wearing extremely skimpy outfits and walked around their stores like they were the coolest things on the planet. Ron and I found it absolutely fascinating to peek into the world of Japanese teenagers and young adults who want to look and dress like the Western world!
Here I am posing with a group of tiny, Japanese store clerks. They got so excited that I wanted to take a picture with them that they even gave me a sunflower to put behind my ear. Don't I look so tall next to all of them?!
After returning back to our hotel for a well-needed nap and break from the heat, we returned to the Ameyoko Market for dinner. We stumbled across this fabulous sushi bar and spent a very authentic evening eating sushi with Japanese patrons (we were the only tourists in the restaurant). They were so nice that the hostess gave us gifts when we left!
On the morning of July 6th, we headed over to the Asagoa Flower Festival that had been recommended to us the night before by a Japanese couple eating next to us at the sushi bar. It turned out to be pretty small, so after a short stay, we headed on our way.
We then took the train to the Asakusa Station to spend the next few hours shopping and sight seeing. We shopped in the Nakamise Dori and visited the Senso-ji Temple.
The Senso-ji Temple.
Ron and I in front of the temple.
We passed through a beautiful park near the temple and found this pond full of koi fish.
Ron and I in the park.
One of the many bike racks FULL of bikes we saw throughout the city!
After returning to our hotel for another afternoon nap and break from the heat (which became part of our daily routine), Ron and I ventured out to the crazy Shinjuku District to observe some of the wild, nightlife found there. Large, brightly lit signs covered the buildings on every street we explored.
Ron and I and the bright lights of the Shinjuku District.
Another shot of this district with its lights and crowds of people!
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