Out and About in Tokyo - Friday 18 October

Alison thought that she was lined up for a sleep-in and was surprised when the alarm went off at 7am. Philip wanted to be up and going so that we could see some action at the Tsujiki Fish Market area. Shared our last ginormous apple from Kyoto for breakfast and headed down to catch a train to Yurakucho station but got to the top of the stairs to the platform and took one look at the seething mass of Japanese commuters on the platform and decided there must be an easier way. This would have been around 9am.

Off to the Shinkansen line and on to a Kodama bound for Tokyo Station. Even got seats in a non-reserved carriage for the quick ride. Then it was a case of taking a leisurely stroll back through the Ginza and down towards Tsujiki.

Where else but Japan would you find pink rabbits supporting road barricades?

Walked pass the Kabuki Theatre in the Ginza area so that was another sight to tick off.

Alison in front of the Kabuki Theatre

Variety of foot massaging surfaces in park on way into Tsukiji - we could have made use of these at the end of the day!

Mixed with crowds in the market streets around the fish market

You know you are there!

Unclear as to what anything is but it looks good!

and then went over into the actual markets.

Gutting some large fish

Sawing up large frozen tuna. Heads in the yellow basket at the front.

All types of crustaceans

Had to watch out for speeding electric trolleys

Electric trolley about to leave ice works with polystyrene boxes of shaved ice

Old trolleys which have been pensioned off. It wouldn't be half as much fun hauling the fish and aiming for tourists on these!

and buckets of water being thrown especially when there were tourists nearby! We reckon that if it moves and comes from the sea, there is somewhere in Japanese cuisine that it will be used.

With a stop at a friendly street vendor selling various types of dried fruit

(we bought a bag of ginger), it was back then to Yurakucho Station through the Ginza with a couple of photo opportunity stops

Philip in front of the new age Nissan NYC Yellow Cab at the Nissan display on Ginza Corner 

Alison at Ginza Corner

and on to a north bound service to Nippori Station. From this station it was a short walk to our next goal - Textile Town. In this street there are a myriad of little stores selling all types of fabric and sewing accessories. We were particularly looking for a larger store called Tomato which internet reports had told us had fabric from Y150 per metre. Alison was chasing Japanese themed fabric for pillow cases to go with the new soba pillows. It would not be funny if the material gets through customs but the soba pillows don't!

After our purchases, Alison outside Tomato in Nippori Textile Town

Managed to buy a number of pieces with different patterns and all fabric was actually Made in Japan - not China.

From Nippori it was then a short train ride back to Tokyo Station and out towards Marunouchi District and the Imperial Palace grounds. On this train Philip tried to volunteer his seat to either of an elderly couple but they refused with an indication that they were only travelling to the next stop. But they certainly were amused and chatting behind their hands to each other all the way to that stop! We had seen a new Subway version at a Subway outlet in the Ginza earlier and were hoping that we might find a Subway store as it was by now actually lunch time. Sure enough we found one in the basement of one of the towers and in the middle of the store is a conveyer belt lift of trays on which they grow their own hydroponic lettuces.

Hydro lettuces growing in the Subway store

As in the USA, Subway here offers flat bread as an alternative to the normal rolls and we were able to buy the special item that we had seen earlier. Fresh salmon with marscapone and salad on flat bread - yummy!

Back up to street level and then walked over to the surrounds of the Imperial Palace.

Very large carp in Imperial Palace moat

View to one of the Palace buildings

One of the gates into the Palace grounds

Fabric pack-horse in Palace outer park

Feet starting to tire by now so had a quick look and then headed back to approach the historic red brick Tokyo Rail Station from the front.

Tokyo Station

Back to Shinagawa and off to investigate some jewellery stores and food outlets at the opposite end to our hotel. Found some delicious looking items that we will purchase for tonight's dinner and also some ideas for lunch items for the train trip back to Shin-Yokohama tomorrow.

We can't get over the age of the school children on their own heading through the station on their way home. Captured the photo below of two little boys in spectacular uniforms and then followed a little girl trudging along with a similar solid leather backpack on and also carrying a large leather bag.

Two independent young men!

Now having an afternoon break in our hotel room enjoying some iced coffee from the supermarket.

Tomorrow we have to check out of the hotel by 11am and then we will be taking a 12.45pm Shinkansen Hikari to Shin-Osaka and then the Haruka to Kansai Airport where we will arrive at 4.34pm. Our flight home leaves at 8.50pm and the adventure will be over when we land at Coolangatta on Sunday morning.