After a long delay at immigration and a further delay due to slow moving traffic, we arrived at our hotel in Tokyo well after sunset and could only see the myriad of bright lights and tightly bunched buildings.
Our first day dawned with overcast skies as we toured Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine, the largest in Tokyo and as well as the Asakusa Kannon (whose name later morphed into Canon cameras.) Buddhist temple. As well as viewing these amazing complexes, it provided a chance to mingle with Kimono clad women and taste sweet pastries from food vendors.
Today is a travel day, leaving Hokone to the station at Odawara - riding the Bullet Train to Nagoya and then transferring to the Hida express train (North America, why can’t this mode of travel be mimicked) to our next stop - Takayama. Before proceeding to our hotel we are treated to a Japanese Tea Ceremony, instructed in how to ceremonially make, present and drink this most Asian of beverages.
Kanazawa and Kyoto in
Part 2.