Tokyo

The JR Railpasses give you unlimited travel on most trains in Japan except for a few of the very fast Shinkansen trains and a few private lines. If you are doing more than a couple of trips, it is quite a money saver. You have to buy a voucher outside Japan and have a visitor visa stamp in your passport. You then exchange your voucher for the pass at a JR counter at one of the major airports or railway stations. We were served straight away by a nice young lady who also did some seat reservations for us.

The pass covers the Narita Express train into Tokyo. Notice the wire barriers preventing you from falling onto the tracks.

They raise up and you walk under them to get on the carriage. You need a seat reservation to get on the train and signs tell you where to stand for your carriage.

Robin was very pleased that I lashed out and purchased the 'Green Pass' or first-class tickets. This was very spiffy with leather seats, carpet and lots of room. I think she could get used to luxury.

My attitude is that at this stage of my life, I may as well spend a bit extra to make it easier on my old body.

It was lunchtime when we arrived so we went to a spiffy department store where there were several restaurants spread around the building. This one specialises in French-style Japanese food. Robin had these noodles which were delicious.

Ned and I each had this beef stew on top of rice along with a cup of soup. The soup was the best part.

The restaurant features many different desserts and Robin indulged. Most of the patrons were young women also indulging.

It was a rainy day so the umbrellas were out in force. This is the famous Shibuya scramble where multiple streets converge and when the pedestrian lights turn green, everybody crosses the intersection at once.

I had two things I wanted to do in Tokyo. The first was to go to a kissa, and here I am about to enter.

A Kissa is a place where you go to drink coffee or whatever and more importantly, listen to the kind of music you like.  The Lion Kissa specializes in classical music and the Adagio from Mahler's 5th symphony was playing when we entered. We found seats, ordered coffee and listened. Typically the sound system is high quality and exotic, in this case, using large coaxial speakers mounted in large horns. Everyone is silent.

When we arrived, most of the cliental were older men but after a while, several women came in. I found the sound a bit disappointing with not enough bass.

Further along the street from the Kissa. To be honest, most of downtown Tokyo is not all that attractive with tall buildings predominating.

It was after 5 pm so Ned and I had some fish and chips along with a beer. Robin had gone off to do her own thing and meet us at Tokyo station.

My other goal in Tokyo was to buy a set of electrostatic headphones. We went to a multi-story building in Akihabara and I found what I wanted for less than half of what I would have paid in Australia. Because our neighbour in Urangan complains if I play my music loud, I mostly listen through headphones.

A grate outside the station. It was an exhausting day in Tokyo with lots of walking. I survived pretty well but I went to bed soon after we arrived home.

Ned has been a wonderful host and has gone out of his way to make sure we get to experience life in Japan. He really enjoys living there 

Today we head off to Nikko.