Guide Map


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The Yellow Pin is where we currently are, with some delay. Points of interest will also be added as we visit them and lodging ones are already there. Click on blue flight segment lines for flight info and real time tracking (lighter segments are completed). Red Segments have train info and green are for car segments.

History


It all started with the winning of 2 first class Continental RTW tickets from the American Express Wishlist way back in 2007 equivalently delivered with 560K miles. 6 years later with the merger of United and Continental, topping off the account to 700K miles with credit card offers, and a planned Leave of Absence from work, this trip is actually taking place starting 4/3/2013 and ending 6/28/2013.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Day 1 Tokyo - Fantastic

Hi All,

We've had a fantastic Day 1 in Tokyo. We explored the very large and beautiful Ueno Park, seeing many temples and museums as well as getting some great food.  We had our first Tokyo subway experience and it really is the most impressive transportation system ever.  The stations are huge and multi-level, and it really gives the true Sci-Fi feel when seen all this here. The big stations are almost like shopping/eating malls as well and we actually ate dinner at a random place in the subway station and it was wonderful. We even met some business man that was very nice to help us with the menu, and then after we ate and he asked if we liked it and where we were from; we said "California" and he said "oh nice, no wonder you know how to use chopstick". Everything is busy yet calm with chimes that are like pleasant midi music happening everywhere; there are no obnoxious subway horns like we think of normally.  This is a big yet quiet city. We saw a very impressive peony garden at one of the temples in the park as well. They really know how to keep things pristine here. I think its the cleanest city we've ever seen. Wondering around on foot we found many other temples and some impressive cemeteries.  We also went to the famous Park Hyatt New York Bar on top for a drink, a great view,  and some jazz music. It was just a must having seen "Lost in Translation".  We finished with a fun night out in Shinjuku sampling several bars and meeting some very cool people. Here are some pictures from the day.

At Shinjuku Station

One of the man hi-tech vending machines they have everywhere here.

Ueno Park

Peony Garden
 
Peony Garden

Temple in Ueno Park

A fabulous snack in the park

Sculpture at the Metropolitan Art Museum

Random Graveyard in Taito Town

Random Graveyard in Taito Town

Tokyo Tower form the Ueno Park Lakes

Flavored toasts sold in at deli in the Ueno Station

In a subway train - They devote every space possible to advertising here

Shinjuku Tower which hold the Park Hyat - Good illustration of how this is a 3-D city.

In the Park Hyatt

Top of the Park Hyatt

Subway station treats a plenty

3 comments:

  1. Once again oh wow. I especially fascinated by peony gardens so beautiful.
    Also the Subway station. And food looks
    Good.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very unique station. The park also looks so clean and fresh site. Station looks star trek. So did your flight. Fun fun fun

    ReplyDelete