Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Another Day Trip to Tokyo (August 2012)

On a sweltering hot day last August, Mrs. Bag-O and I set off for a day of sight-seeing in Tokyo.  Our first stop was Shibuya Station - the world's busiest transport hub according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Statute of Hachiko ... a beloved dog who used to walk his owner to the train station each morning and be there waiting for him each night.

Waiting to cross at Shibuya Crossing

Here we go ...

Our destination ... the second floor Starbucks to watch Shibuya Crossing

Watching Shibuya Crossing



After our trip to Shibuya, we headed over to Harajuku ...

Takeshita Street - a pedestrian street lined with fashion boutiques, cafes and restaurants.

Fox tail anyone?

Hair accessories

Nudy Boy Clothes


Perfect outfit for a night out on the town!

At the end of Takeshita Street

Harajuku Street

We wandered into Oriental Bazaar ...

... and admired the chandeliers in Missoni


And window shopped at Louis Vuitton ...

Before heading into Yoyogi Park to see Meiji Shrine

In the middle of one of the busiest parts of Tokyo, lies this giant sanctuary from 
the hustle and bustle of city life.

Sake barrels

Wine barrels


The entrance to Meiji Shrine

The purification fountain where you wash your hands prior to entering the shrine

Meiji Shrine

One of the beautiful doors leading into the shrine


We were lucky to visit on a day when virtually no one else was there.  I've been back several times and have never seen it so quiet.

I loved this giant tree

People writing on Ema - small wooden plaques where people write their prayers or wishes before hanging them up so the spirits can receive them

The Ema

After our visit to Meiji, we headed over to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building which is actually two towers with a free observatory.  The observatory is open from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., however the South Tower closes at 5:30 p.m.

Our view of Tokyo from the North Tower





Looking down onto Kumano Shrine



The (then) brand new Tokyo Skytree


That green expanse is Meiji Shrine ... where we had just been!

Tokyo Tower


Tokyo is a Candidate City for the 2020 Olympics!

And then we got on the train and headed back to Atsugi!






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