Japan

 

Location: Japan (Yokohama,  Tokyo, Izu Peninsula, Narita, Odaiba, Harajuku, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Fujisawa-shi)

 Hosts: Miss Gail and Miss Issa

 

 

Satchmo and Alaska ready to leave for Japan!

Alaska and Satchmo, singing: “We’re going on a trip on our favorite rocket ship. Zooming through the skies… *clap* *clap* On to Japan!” (with apologies to Little Einstein cartoons makers). – Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Washington, USA 

We have our reserved tickets on the Narita Express from the airport to Shinagawa Station where we’ll meet Issa! – Narita, Japan 

Issa reading Satch’s note 

Ready for our Asakusa adventure 

Tree lined shopping area 

I’m not quite sure what building this was. – Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. 

One of the statues at the Hozomon, the inner of the two large gates to the Asakusa Temple. 

Taking a picture of you taking a picture of me 

I love these beams! 

Random fortunes at Asakusa. Then you tie it around the wire thing.

Buddha 

Asakusa 

Which shirt to buy? 

A photo op with Go, our rickshaw guide. Only 8000 yen for 30 minutes! – Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan 

Watch out for traffic!

Our friendly English-speaking college-educated rickshaw driver and tour guide. Yay for Go! – Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan 

What?! We travel halfway around the world for American food? We chose this place because it’s open later than most.
Alaska and Satchmo arrive safe and sound and hungry in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan. 

Very popular spot to pick up souvenirs is Asakusa. 

The inner of the two large entrance gates at Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. 

5-story pagoda 

People are basking in the incense before going into the temple. 

Koi pond in Asakusa 

Asakusa 

Sumida River 

According to our rickshaw tour guide, Go, the building is like a case of beer with crap beside it. – Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan 

Across the main building of Ueno Station, Tokyo, Japan 

Electric Town. Akihabara. If only I had bottomless pockets filled by endless yen. – Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan 

A cruise shaped building called the Museum of Maritime Science, as seen from the Yurikamome Elevated Train. – Odaiba, Japan 

The future of transportation, so says Toyota. But this one just glides and not “walk.” – Mega Web, Palette Town, Odaiba, Japan 

The future of transportation… as Toyota envisions it. – Mega Web, Palette Town, Odaiba, Japan 

We are in a Toyota Harrier.

Toyota Partner Robot. I didn’t catch its name, though. It plays Totoro’s theme on his trumpet, among other things it can possibly do. – Universal Design Showcase, Palette Town, Odaiba, Japan 

We wanted to ride but there were still plenty of things to see. – Palette Town Ferris Wheel, Odaiba, Japan 

Venus Fort menu 

You wouldn’t guess we’re in Japan inside this huge shopping complex. – Venus Fort, Odaiba, Japan 

Gone were the days when gas was that low. – Venus Fort, Odaiba, Japan

The largest ferris wheel in the world when it was built in 1989 is the Cosmo Clock 21. The light changes patterns and there’s a clock too. Yokohama was one of my favorite stops. – Minato Mirai, Yokohama, Japan 

We got off the Keihin-Tohoku Line to meet Issa’s friends in Yokohama. Issa said she couldn’t believe how busy and more alive the area has become. – Sakuragicho Station, Yokohama, Japan. 

Not being a Starbucks nor a coffee drinker, I was able to hold out until we got too chilled waiting for friends to arrive. – Near Sakuragicho Station, Yokohama, Japan 

Satchmo visited the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse in Yokohama, where Yokohama’s Oktoberfest was held that year. We saw some revelry but did not get some beer. – Yokohama, Japan 

Yokohama Landmark Tower is Japan’s tallest skyscraper. – Minato Mirai, Yokohama, Japan 

Satch finds a Harajuku girl. – Harajuku, Japan 

After these Harajuku girls were interviewed by a Vietnamese filming crew, this lady came up to them to have her picture taken. – Harajuku, Japan 

Harajuku girls 

We could have taken a better view of the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world if the Starbucks had seats near the 2nd floor window.  - Shibuya Crossing, Japan 

Satchmo and Alaska meet Hachiko, a famous Akita known for his loyalty to his master. A popular meeting place in Shibuya as well. – Hachiko’s statue, Shibuya, Japan 

Satchmo is about to ride the Hikari bullet train, which is fast approaching. See the train’s nose in the background. – Shinagawa Station, Shinagawa, Japan 

While waiting to go up to our room, we sat in the waiting area. The lady near us was smoking like a chimney. You can see plenty of hotel slippers at the entrance. These are for guests to use while at the inn. But by the next morning, all the slippers are gone. In place of them are the guests’ shoes. – Goyokan, Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

At a traditional inn – Goyokan, Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

Goyokan, Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

Sashimi at Kusi Yakitori in Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

Goyokan Bed and Breakfast, Japanese style Rates for 1 night with breakfast is 7500 yen per person. Pretty cheap. -Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

Historic Spot of where the first hot springs in Shuzenji were discovered. No full body bathing allowed, but putting feet in is free. Water is super hot! – Tokku-no-Yu, Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

Perhaps another hot spring hotel across the river from the first ever hot spring in Shuzenji. – Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

We stayed overnight in a traditional hot spring hotel. – Goyokan, Shuzenji Onsen, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

Green tea – Goyokan, Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

Satchmo is cozy in my purse. – Kusi Yakitori in Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

After our hot spring bath… and no, we didn’t bring nor bathe Satchmo. – Goyokan, Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

Goyokan Bed and Breakfast, Japanese style 

Satch is in good hands, don’t worry. – Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan - Satchmo at a bridge in Shuzenji, quite near the Shuzenji Onsen bus station. 

Brings back memories of our own rickshaw ride near Asakusa in Tokyo. – Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan

Historic Spot of where the first hot springs in Shuzenji were discovered. – Tokku-no-Yu, Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

Shuzenji Temple, Izu Peninsula, Japan Beautiful Shuzenji Temple 

Shuzenji Temple, Izu Peninsula, Japan

Shuzenji Temple, Izu Peninsula, Japan

Shuzenji Temple, Izu Peninsula, Japan. Each statue depicting different poses. 

Satch reenacts a scene in many an Asian movie featuring bamboo groves. – Shuzenji Temple, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

RC opened his home for us while in Japan. – Zengyo, Fujisawa-shi, Japan 

Satchmo and Alaska are ready to eat all-you-can-cook-and-eat grilled meat near the winery. – Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan 

Sashimi at Kusi Yakitori in Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan 

After a long hike, Satchmo (and friends) reaches Chateau T.S. Izu Winery Hills in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. 

Hie Shrine 

Satchmo at Hie Shrine, Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula, Japan. 

Satchmo sneaks a peak at Mount Rainier on a Northwest Airlines flight Narita to Seattle. 

With the bday girl Sarah at Buca di Beppo Restaurant, Lynnwood, Washington. 

Buca di Beppo, Lynnwood, WA, USA 

 

photos and text by Miss Gail