May 30th. Royalty and Fish

 Today started off with showers (no photos) and late breakfast. Unfortunately we had ordered before we realized it has a smoking area. Like having a no peeing area is. Swimming pool. But breakfast was ok and we were hungry. 

Cafe signage. 

Then off to downtown following our guide Patricia and she does get us through the maze that is Tokyo subways. First stop os the Imperial Palace still used by the current Japanese Emperor.  We turn Jonah and Patricia lose to go rome the palace gardens at a faster pace than when with us and I settle down in a chair with my Starbuck’s Carmel Macchiato and watch the world go by. 

But first we have to watch the very large carp that swim in the moat surrounding the Imperial Palace. 

And the world does go by.  I sit in the sun sometimes blocked by clouds and Mary Ann retreats to full shade. 

Patricia and Jonah return not having seen the palace but getting to see the royal garden. Such beautiful irises you have never seen. 

Then I try to  straighten out some train tickets I had ordered back in March for this trip. Impossible to do so I just bought new ones and will get a refund from Japan Experience. 

And now the real experience. Shopping. In one of the busiest shopping places in Japan and maybe the world. Of course we have to walk past the famous intersecionw in Japan. 

After the Adidas Store and yes we bought something, time for a detour to go see the statue of  Hachiko the faithful dog. 

What a lovely story of faithfulness.  

Then shopping at a place I had never heard of. Maybe you have. 

They have the widest selection of nothing in the world.  Mary Ann and I waited first outside, then in a bakery while the other two shopped. 

Now this is really where the fish comes in. Mary Ann saw a sushi place while we were walking to the last store so we decided to try it. A twenty minute wait became a 3 minute wait and we were seated. But not your dad’s sushi store. Order from a tablet and the sushi comes to you on a conveyor belt, stops in front of you and you take it off. 

And so we ate until we could eat no more. And Mary Ann’s and my total bill was just over &30.00 and Patricia’s and Jonah’s just under &40.00.  What a deal. 

Then the train ride home and to bed. I must admist that the walking between train stations was hard on the old back. Can’t wait to get it repaired.