Brave or Foolhardy

We chose perhaps the hottest day to find out a bit more about what Tokyo has to offer. Also to learn a few lessons about booking things. We started off grabbing some breakfast out before heading to Sunshine City where we had hoped to fix the shopping bug and visit the aquarium. Sadly the heat set light to our shopping as we just didn’t have the energy and when we enquired about the aquarium after queuing we established that all tickets for today were sold out. So much for plan A. So we reverted to visiting the imperial palace and gardens where the heat was turned up to 11! We basically had to hide in shade and take some photos as it was simply unbearable in the business district.

The afternoon was more successful. We ventured to a pre-booked all senses immersive experience called TeamLABS. It was fab and a real break from the norm and the heat. Part of it was the sharing of a flame above that has been transported by guests to over 400k destinations around the world. We will bring ours back to Hampshire. Following that was a lovely traditional “Japanese” meal where we were only accompanied by tourists 🙂

What we did do eventually was book the aquarium for tomorrow and once that was done Susie and I dashed out in the slightly milder evening air to hit the Anime capital for Otaku. We geeked out in front of the myriad shops and signs and people congregating at this late hour.

For me quite an inauspicious start as I managed to get dehydrated and then sick in the hours up to the 9am scheduled bike ride. Jenni took over with the 10% contribution I would have made and had to sort the directions, a train journey, topping up contactless travel cards and keep up the spirits of three jet lagged children. I slept.

The bike ride was fab though and while it was in the mid 30s temperature wise, the team put in a sterling effort. Tokyo was made for cyclists. You can cycle on pavements, roads, up one way roads the wrong way etc. Overall people are just more geared up for it. We have seen so few cars. It is like the whole of the city is how London now is with the ULEZ zone.

Below we have the entrance to the Atago shrine, Zojoji temple garden with figurines representing children lost through miscarriage and more recently prayers for healthy children.

This afternoon, we then grabbed a bite at a restaurant where commonly you enter the dish you want on a ticket machine in the lobby and then pay. You hand the ticket to the chef and then they bring it to you when it is ready. We have so many etiquette pieces to learn that sometimes they overlap themselves and you find yourself simultaneously in the way, not doing the right thing, bringing the restaurant to shut down status with 5 people. It is amazing we got any food at all but everyone was trying so hard to help and we were so grateful to finally eat something.

After lunch we went on a cruise up the river. A company that the cycling team spotted on the way back. It was another “guess the script” occasion but we did eventually get on the right boat. The sky tree was a popular photo subject from the river.

The temptation to go back to the hotel was strong with the people who didn’t sleep off their sickness but we managed to cajole everyone into a visit to the sky tree tower. Some waiting and shopping and waiting later we got in the cramped lifts and were treated to a spectacular sunset overlooking Mount Fuji. We were so expecting not to see it at all, so to see it on our first day suggested the holiday has gotten off to a fabulous start. We grabbed some food in the food court on the way out and mulled over the day. Some real tired and sore folk now so a train back to the hotel completed the festivities.

The sunrise on the morning of our flight to the land of the rising sun was spectacular. The advantage of getting up earlier to reduce jet lag resulted in a very prompt departure. We are checked in and having a nibble of breakfast in the lounge. So far so good.

A quick update on some of the things we have coming up on the trip….

Cycle tour of Tokyo – tomorrow morning!
Cooking lesson in Kyoto
Team lab in Tokyo
Spa in Hakone


We will be taking in the Kyoto skyline, visiting the memorial in Hiroshima, seeing the Osaka fireworks festival and getting to almost everywhere by Shinkansen.

It feels like we have less than half the luggage of everyone else here today. I don’t think the lounge was expecting a whole family. The army of single road warriors had an air of disapproval wafting across. No speaking is the norm isn’t it, but is it because that is respectful or because people don’t want to talk to other people before they fly. Maybe it was because it was 07:00.

We were undeterred however and as the crescendo of work life is deadened by elevator Muzak in the lounge and a glass of bubbly is duelling with a handsome breakfast brains appear to be repairing themselves. Children who have hardly said a word are remembering the art of communication and quality time together as a family. We need this!

Next stop Abu Dhabi for a plane changeover.

It feels almost unreal that we are in the final stages of getting ready to go to Japan. It seems to have taken ages and then, all at once it is upon us. We have planned a packed agenda for the couple of weeks and over the course of the trip we will be posting updates here to let you know what is going on.

Jumping onto the local sorng tao buses yesterday we were dropped off at the impressive South Gate to the city wall of Chiang Mai. It was to be the start of a full on tour of the city centre which which had thus far failed to achieve despite staying nearby for over a week.

We approximated the lonely planet walking tour but focused on some key objectives.

1) a shop selling items made by street children to begin our souvenir hunt.
2) lunch at the blue diamond cafe
3) escaping the heat at the air conditioned cultural museum
4) visiting the Wat for monk chatting
5) finishing souvenir buying in the night market

Ihave to sau that given we have a young family, they have really come along during our trip. If we had asked them to walk this much in one day back in June it would have caused a cacophony of wailing before we were even half way round.

Lunch was delightful, I had a handsome tuna and avocado salad washed down with hill tribe coffee.

Walking to the cultural centre we were acutely aware that Chiang Mai is a traveller haven and on those streets the backpackers are in the majority.

Following a top up on the history of Chiang Mai and the Lanna Kingdom we felt that we were going to expire before the day was done

We therefore made a stop at Central Plaza Mall because we all thought the afternoon/evening activities would go more smoothly with a rest and an ice cream.

Chatting to the monks was neat and we spent nearly an hour discussing the teaching of meditation, objectives and moralities.

By the time we got oto the night market we were hungry and my nemesis awaited. There is a food court procedure here that I will never understand the benefit of. You cannot buy food with cash. You have to convert cash to coupons and then spend the coupons. It is utterly pointless in this age and I spent 30 mins dancing between stalls, cashier booths and the separate place to purchase drinks. I will not miss that element of Asia at all.

The night market was fairly predictable so I will close to say we had a full and fulfilling day.

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