Asia 2010: Tokyo

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Itinerary for Tokyo (base of operations was the Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan [Google Maps]):

2010/09/25 – Arrival in Tokyo (on the Shinkansen from Kyoto); Walking Tokyo
2010/09/26 – Owakudani (Mount Fuji)
2010/09/27 – Tokyo Tower, Akihabara, Asakusa
2010/09/28 – Sushi breakfast (at Sushi-Dai), Shopping, Onsen
2010/09/29 – Departure via NRT

Breakfast on the train. [2010/09/25 - Tokyo] — Breakfast on the train.

Our room at the Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro. [2010/09/25 - Tokyo/Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro] — Our room at the Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro.

The hotel from the outside...and yet another new coffee for me. [2010/09/25 - Tokyo/Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro] — The hotel from the outside…and yet another new coffee for me.

Time for a little walk through the streets of Tokyo. [2010/09/25 - Tokyo] — Time for a little walk through the streets of Tokyo.

Yep, the "Japanese English" is definitely getting worse. [2010/09/25 - Tokyo] — Yep, the “Japanese English” is definitely getting worse.

Outside of Ueno Station. [2010/09/25 - Tokyo/Near JR Ueno Station] — Outside of Ueno Station.

In front of the Ueno Zoo. [2010/09/25 - Tokyo/Ueno Zoo] — In front of the Ueno Zoo.

And to finish off the day, live music in front of Tokyo Station. [2010/09/25 - Tokyo/Near JR Tokyo Station] — And to finish off the day, live music in front of Tokyo Station.

I started the day with another new drink: a pancake-flavored one. [2010/09/26 - Tokyo] — I started the day with another new drink: a pancake-flavored one.

We wanted to take a look at Fuji-san...so we went up... [2010/09/26 - Tokyo/Hakone-Gora] — We wanted to take a look at Fuji-san…so we went up…

...and further up till we reached Owakudani. [2010/09/26 - Tokyo/Hakone-Owakudani] — …and further up till we reached Owakudani.

The last leg of the trip was in one of those. [2010/09/26 - Tokyo/Hakone-Owakudani] — The last leg of the trip was in one of those.

Fuji-san is supposed to be over there... [2010/09/26 - Tokyo/Hakone-Owakudani] — Fuji-san is supposed to be over there…

...or so the sign says. [2010/09/26 - Tokyo/Hakone-Owakudani] — …or so the sign says.

Guess we will have to go and have a sniff over there. [2010/09/26 - Tokyo/Hakone-Owakudani] — Guess we will have to go and have a sniff over there.

Who would have guessed that breathing the stuff might be unhealthy. [2010/09/26 - Tokyo/Hakone-Owakudani] — Who would have guessed that breathing the stuff might be unhealthy.

A little 80C pond and a lot of smelly smog. [2010/09/26 - Tokyo/Hakone-Owakudani] — A little 80C pond and a lot of smelly smog.

Visibility has gone down somewhat in the last minute or so. [2010/09/26 - Tokyo/Hakone-Owakudani] — Visibility has gone down somewhat in the last minute or so.

You can buy volcano-cooked eggs here. [2010/09/26 - Tokyo/Hakone-Owakudani] — You can buy volcano-cooked eggs here.

Then it was time to get a ride off mountain...or we would have had to stay here overnight. [2010/09/26 - Tokyo/Hakone-Owakudani] — Then it was time to get a ride off mountain…or we would have had to stay here overnight.

Day 3 in Tokyo...Tokyo Tower day. [2010/09/27 - Tokyo/Tokyo Tower] — Day 3 in Tokyo…Tokyo Tower day.

At least the model isn't shrouded in fog or clouds or whatever. [2010/09/27 - Tokyo/Tokyo Tower] — At least the model isn’t shrouded in fog or clouds or whatever.

Not much to see up here. [2010/09/27 - Tokyo/Tokyo Tower] — Not much to see up here.

What would I do for a clear day. [2010/09/27 - Tokyo/Tokyo Tower] — What would I do for a clear day.

Time fo r acouple shots with Hachiko while we are waiting for Maiko. [2010/09/27 - Tokyo/Near Shibuya Station] — Time fo r acouple shots with Hachiko while we are waiting for Maiko.

Lunch in the mega-sized bowl. [2010/09/27 - Tokyo] — Lunch in the mega-sized bowl.

Maiko is showing us where you can buy some of those...ehm....interesting clothes. [2010/09/27 - Tokyo] — Maiko is showing us where you can buy some of those…ehm….interesting clothes.

Never seen so many shops selling hats per square km. [2010/09/27 - Tokyo] — Never seen so many shops selling hats per square km.

Uhm. Maybe not. [2010/09/27 - Tokyo] — Uhm. Maybe not.

And then a stop in Akihabara... [2010/09/27 - Tokyo/Akihabara] — And then a stop in Akihabara…

...to test-shoot a couple new Canon cameras. [2010/09/27 - Tokyo/Akihabara] — …to test-shoot a couple new Canon cameras.

Asasuka...for some dessert and another couple sets of chopsticks. [2010/09/27 - Tokyo/Asakusa] — Asasuka…for some dessert and another couple sets of chopsticks.

Need a ninja suit? [2010/09/27 - Tokyo/Asakusa] — Need a ninja suit?

The pagoda of Sensō-ji. [2010/09/27 - Tokyo/Asakusa] — The pagoda of Sensō-ji.

And that's it for Day 3 in Tokyo. [2010/09/27 - Tokyo/Asakusa] — And that’s it for Day 3 in Tokyo.

Day 4...Standing in line for our sushi breakfast. [2010/09/28 - Tokyo/Sushi-dai @ Tsukiji] — Day 4…Standing in line for our sushi breakfast.

Finally inside... tea and egg for starters. [2010/09/28 - Tokyo/Sushi-dai @ Tsukiji] — Finally inside… tea and egg for starters.

Come on...where's my sushi... [2010/09/28 - Tokyo/Sushi-dai @ Tsukiji] — Come on…where’s my sushi…

Ah, finally... [2010/09/28 - Tokyo/Sushi-dai @ Tsukiji] — Ah, finally…

...and it's gone again. [2010/09/28 - Tokyo/Sushi-dai @ Tsukiji] — …and it’s gone again.

Sushi is expensive. [2010/09/28 - Tokyo/Sushi-dai @ Tsukiji] — Sushi is expensive.

Sushi,... [2010/09/28 - Tokyo/Sushi-dai @ Tsukiji] — Sushi,…

...sushi,... [2010/09/28 - Tokyo/Sushi-dai @ Tsukiji] — …sushi,…

...sushi,... [2010/09/28 - Tokyo/Sushi-dai @ Tsukiji] — …sushi,…

...and some more sushi. [2010/09/28 - Tokyo/Sushi-dai @ Tsukiji] — …and some more sushi.

Outside there is still a line. [2010/09/28 - Tokyo/Sushi-dai @ Tsukiji] — Outside there is still a line.

Looking for some fresh fish? [2010/09/28 - Tokyo/Tsukiji fish market] — Looking for some fresh fish?

Time to go shopping... [2010/09/28 - Tokyo] — Time to go shopping…

...to get rid of the rest of our yen. [2010/09/28 - Tokyo] — …to get rid of the rest of our yen.

After all the shopping we went to his onsen (can't visit Japan without going to an onsen)... [2010/09/28 - Tokyo] — After all the shopping we went to his onsen (can’t visit Japan without going to an onsen)…

...with Maiko and then our trip was basically over. [2010/09/28 - Tokyo] — …with Maiko and then our trip was basically over.

Except for being stuck at Narita because our flight was delayed...time for some Matcha Lattes. [2010/09/29 - Tokyo/Narita airport] — Except for being stuck at Narita because our flight was delayed…time for some Matcha Lattes.

In front of Stuttgart Airport, eating a melon pan and waiting for the ride home. [2010/09/29 - Stuttgart/In front of STR] — In front of Stuttgart Airport, eating a melon pan and waiting for the ride home.

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