And now for something completely different.

Leaving the "traditional" Japanese experience behind this morning, we reentered the modern world, first by bus through the mountains down to Odawara, where the lower altitude allowed for a quick peek at more cherry trees blooming. We hopped aboard the famous "bullet" train (187 mph), transfering then to a regular train for our next destination, the cosmopolitan city of Kanazawa, 200 miles to the south. The train rides gave us time to relax and reset our bodies and minds back into the 21st century. OAT likes to provide lots of discoveries. We are now staying the next 3 nights in a high rise,16 story Holiday Inn.
Kanazawa has a huge covered market near the hotel that we immediately explored. More kinds of fish swimming in the Pacific and ending up on the table than I ever imagined! However, many of us were happy to have a Western style dinner tonight.

Pic 1: cherry blossoms at Odawara Castle;  Pic 2: the bullet train; Pic 3: bulk green tea at the Omicho Market

Tokyo Sampler

Completing our pre-trip portion, the rest of our 16 member group joined us today for a whirlwind tour of frenetic Tokyo by coach, on foot, and subway. We will leave for the high country and Mt. Fuji tomorrow. Tokyo was just too much for our new folks to absorb in one day! First stop, the 7th century Asakusa Kannon Temple, a lovely Shinto shrine complex with little souvenier shops along the way. Then, after peeking at the Emperor's palace we spent time at the first shogun Emperor Meiji Jingu's shrine, a beautiful wooded complex where we were fortunate to observe a number of wedding parties, in full dress, parading around the grounds. Plenty of time to enjoy these sites.
On from the Historical to the Fashionable, the high end Ginza shopping area with its huge department stores. It is so busy that the street is blocked of at the main intersection on the weekend, turning it into a pedestrian mall. Bento box lunches at the dept. store here on their terrace roof.
From the hustle and bustle of the commercial world to the Zen of a private traditional Tea ceremony this afternoon. Then one last series of subway rides, 7 people deep during rush hour, to our Welcome dinner back in our own neighborhood. This city is not for the faint of heart!

Pic 1: Kannon Temple; Pic 2: Ginza shopping; Pic 3: Tea ceremony ; (bonus: subway map!)

Something fishy going on...

Off to Tokyo's famous Tsukiji Fish Market this morning. Acres of buildings housing the auctions and wholesale booths where the restaurants, chefs, and  commercial buyers get first pick, from blowfish to bait, salmon to shrimp. The huge complex is surrounded by an outdoor market for the public consumer, including eateries and shops with other consumer goods, including those ginsu knives we all love. Our trip leader, Kana, took us to an adjacent sushi cafe where we feasted on  the freshest sushi I've ever eaten!
Temps are warming up and we were turned loose in the city this afternoon to explore (or get lost) as we wished. Fear and trepidation set in so Lee and I joined a couple who had actually done research on the subway system. We first went to Shinjuko Gyoen National Garden in search of our cherry blossoms. It was delightful to see hundreds of families, picnics spread out under trees, enjoying the park on this beautiful spring day.
Final adventure (more trains) was to a crazy neighborhood which I had seen featured on a recent travel video at home. Takeshita Street (no, I didn't make up that name!) is a long pedestrian street crammed full of outlandish shops for young kids, mostly girls, and crammed full of outlandish young kids, mostly girls. It is totally counterculture to the "serious suit" culture of the adult commuters who dominate the city.
Found our way home, overstimulated, exhausted, and with sore feet, but happy that we finally navigated the subway system on our own.
Pic 1: inside the fish market
Pic 2: sushi brunch
Pic 3: selling dried squid at the outdoor market

Five trains to Kamakura

Japan could not exist without its trains! Our side trip today was 40 miles by 5 trains ("local", express, hanging monorail, and two more "locals") southwest to the seaside town of Kamakura, home of the political center of Japan in 12th century shogun times. Clear skies afforded us our first peek at Mt. Fugi along the way. This was a day of shogun (military government) era Buddhas, temples and gardens. The first stop brought us to the Great Amida Buddha of Kamakura, the huge bronze  open air statue cast in 1252.
Lunch at a very traditional Japanese restaurant stretched our comfort zone. While the presentation was colorfully artistic it included more raw fish than most of us could appreciate. Thank goodness for the sweet potato and green tea soft serve ice cream we had later (and, yes, that was really good). Second stop was the beautiful multi-level Hasadera Temple complex, high above the city, with many versions of the Buddha. Lots of steps to keep our heart rates up.
A trek through the long pedestrian shopping street brought us to our last temple grounds, this one a Shinto shrine. No Buddha, but a big mirror to reflect the Spirit back. Various people were dressed in traditional komono garb to celebrate family events.
Full day today with lots of walking and train rides, but we couldn't end it without going to a neighborhood noodle restaurant. See pic. 3 for inservice: look at all the pictures of noodle dishes displayed on the vending machine, put your money in the slot, punch the picture/button you want, take the ensuing ticket to your table,  hand to the waiter, have a seat, and voila! Your meal is served to you in minutes. Reminded us all of the days of the Horn and Hardart automats! By the way, this was great fresh food.
Pic 1: bronze Buddha  pic 2: Hasadera Temple complex pic 3: "fixing" dinner

Hitting the ground running...

I'm traveling this Overseas Adventure Travels trip with my friend, Lee, whom I met on a previous Grand Circle trip. After our 11+ hour flight from San Francisco to Narita (Tokyo), with a16 hour time difference, we met last evening for our 3 day "pre-trip" with our trip leader, Kana, and 9 fellow travelers at our hotel, which will be our home for the first 5 nights.
After a good night's sleep we jumped right in to this city of 15 million people for a full day city tour. Two city train rides took us to the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park, one of the oldest districts in Tokyo. Walking the nearby Yanaka district, we passed university students dressed in their Japanese finest for graduation. Wooden houses (shop on the first level, living quarters above), family temples and a traditional cemetery provided a peaceful interlude in an otherwise bustling city. Nearby we found the narrow pedestrian shopping alley before taking a little bus to an elegant buffet style restaurant for new discoveries. More about the food later!
It is still quite chilly and windy, though sunny here, and the cherry blossoms are just starting to make an appearance. They should be continuing to unfold all aling the trip.
Pix:1. Tokyo National Museum garden 2. wooden house with family temple 3. first cherry blossoms!

Looking ahead at the itinerary

Our travels begin in San Francisco Monday, March 23rd, when Lee and Lainey board our 12:00 noon  United flight (11+hrs!) to Tokyo, arriving at 3:00 p.m., faster than light? While in Japan I intend to blog daily, when possible, so check back often.

East Meets West

Journey with Lainey Brown and Lee Ranadive

March 23 to April 8, 2015

 Overseas Adventure Travels