Fifth and sixth days in Japan

二重橋

Friday morning in Akihabara 秋葉原:

Picking up her breakfast from a robot:

"Taiwan Castella" on the menu:

Checking out the gachapon ガシャポン on offer:

Posing in front of the infamous "golden turd" building. My daughter claimed not to see the resemblance:

Looking down on Nakamise-dōri 仲見世通り and Sensōji Temple 浅草寺 from the tourist information center's observation deck:

Tokyo Skytree 東京スカイツリー:

Kaminari-mon 雷門 entrance gate, one of the most recognizable symbols of Asakusa 浅草 :

Buying five red bean-filled cakes for ¥300 on Nakamise-dori:

The tourists (us included, as Amber pointed out, and to which I grudgingly had to agree) are back in force in Asakusa:

Approaching the temple:

Five-Storied Pagoda 五重塔:

Munching on those snacks by the Sumida-gawa 隅田川:

From Asakusa we made our way to the area around the Imperial Palace 皇居, and in search of sustenance. But not before posing with the captain of Japan's national rugby team, Michael Leitch リーチマイケル:

Passing by Tōkyō Station 東京駅 in search of food:

Found it! Tonkatsu 豚カツ at Katsukichi かつ吉, the finest lunch had so far on this journey:

In front of the Nijūbashi Bridge 二重橋 at the Imperial Palace. I once read that the plaza in front of the bridge is the most popular locale for photographs in Japan:

On the mean streets of Omotesandō 表参道, in front of Omotesando Hills 表参道ヒルズ. The latter development was a source of major controversy during the time I was living in Yokkaichi 四日市, with only a small section of the 1927 apartments surviving to become part of the shopping complex:

As to be expected, a lot has changed over the years. I once received a vaccination at a small clinic around this corner. Now it's been swallowed up by yet another massive redevelopment project:

You can't visit Harajuku 原宿 without mingling with the masses on Takeshita-dōri 竹下通り, though these days it seems tourists outnumber the original target demographic, namely middle- and high school girls from the surrounding suburbs:

Harajuku and Omotesando are constantly being remade, but Meiji-jingū 明治神宮 seemingly remains constant as a peaceful green oasis in a sea of frenzied commercial activity. Amber celebrates after learning that the Ōtorii grand shrine gate 大鳥居 was built using 1500-year-old hinoki ヒノキ wood from Mt. Danda 丹大山 in Taiwan:

I also joined in the Formosan pride:

Getting ready to enter the main precinct of the shrine:

Another honden 本殿, another coin offering, another beseeching of the kami 神 for protection and safety:

Our day on Friday finished up in fine fashion as were treated to a delicious homemade paella dinner at the home of my friend Doug, prepared for us by his charming wife Keiko:

It was yet another enjoyable evening catching up on old times and learning about current goings on, with conversation fueled by a little too much wine and beer. If nothing else, my daughter has learned her father is a borderline alcoholic who "actually has friends" (the latter being her exact words):

On Saturday morning it was time to check out of what had been our Tōkyō 東京 abode, the BnA STUDIO Akihabara:

Time to bade farewell to Tokyo at Shinjuku Station 新宿駅 before boarding the Azusa あずさ limited express bound for Matsumoto 松本. My thanks go out to Jun, Mone, David, John, Andy, Aviva, Wes, Doug and Keiko for taking the time to see us while we were there:

Passing by Kannonyama Park 観音山公園 on the train into Nirasaki Station 韮崎駅: 

Arriving in Matsumoto famished, we settled for lunch at the Matsumoto Karaage Center 松本からあげセンター just in front of the station. The unexpectedly huge chunks of chicken have fried me out for the time being:

A forlorn-looking shrine on the way to our lodgings:

The Former Sensai Bridge Monument 旧千歳橋の記念碑:

Entering the bustling Nawate Shopping Street なわて通り商店街:

Waiting to check in at our hotel:

Matsumoto Castle 松本城, one of only a dozen original structures still extant, and my personal favorite. This day would be the occasion of my sixth visit:

Views from the top floor:

We had to get our photos taken:

The Former Kaichi School 旧開智学校, temporarily closed for renovations:

Matsumoto is the birthplace of Yayoi Kusama 草間彌生, which presumably explains the polka dot buses:

Back at our accommodations, before going out again:

Amber was in the mood for Thai:

Taking a walk after dinner, first back to Nawate-dōri...:

...and then to Nakamachi-dōri 中町通り:

The girl wanted to try this pudding drink from a vending machine, and it turned out to be very refreshing, as it warmed the cockles of our hearts: 

Looking across from Matsumoto Station 松本駅:

A well-deserved nightcap following an active day in one of my favorite places in Japan:

Tomorrow we'll be moving on again...