Tokyo After Typhoon Wipha Has Passed - Wednesday 16 October

We could hear rain against our hotel room window during the night but nothing overly heavy. Slept in this morning and when we opened the curtains the clouds were actually clearing and there was a rainbow in the sky. The mountains which sit around Mt Fuji were visible but old Fuji-san was not going to reveal itself!

A reminder of God's promise of blessings

Beautiful blue sky but no Fuji!

Feasted on one of our large red apples in the room for breakfast and then headed off to visit Shinjuku. The gutters on the street in front of our hotel were full of leaves so obviously the wind had given the trees in the area a bit of a beating during the night. Took a walk through the Shinagawa Station and were able to easily find the Shinagawa branch of Dean & Deluca - our favourite New York City providores.

Alison in Dean & Deluca Shinagawa

Smashed chocolate muffins with Oreos - Jessica would have been drooling!

Large lattes and delectable sweet items for breakfast! Or maybe brunch by this time!

Up to Shinjuku Station (noticed announcements on the train that some rail lines had no services with the reason being either wind or typhoon) and then a pleasant stroll with a cool breeze blowing down to the Tokyo Municipal Government building to go up to the observatory floor.

Buildings in Shinjuku District

Signs up saying lifts closed because of wind! All the normal lifts were operating for the workers to get to the office floors. We enquired at the information desk as to whether the observation floor would open and were told that it would at 1pm. So we decided to head back towards Shinjuku station and the neighbouring area to visit a store mentioned in the Lonely Planet Guide - Don Quixote. It is five floors of everything and anything for sale.

Entrance to Don Quixote

Some of the everything for sale at Don Quixote. These Tim Tams are made in Indonesia!

Alison almost bought herself a wig so she could do the Lucy Durack "flick, flick" thing but didn't part with the Yen. We did buy ourselves some flavoured pretzel pieces for snacking on.

Back through Shinjuku Station and onto the travelator which goes a considerable part of the way to the Metropolitan Government Buildings. Observatory floor was now open but only on one of the towers so up we went and there was a good clear view of the city but Mt Fuji was still being shy and hiding in the clouds. Blue sky and sunshine however so it was a change from yesterday.

Mt Fuji still in hiding!

Back for a quick stop off at Harajuku and then on to Yurakucho so Alison could get a feel for the Ginza. Unlike the other day we managed to find the Mercure Hotel so Alison could see where Philip and Jessica had stayed and also to investigate whether the restaurant was worth a visit if we used our Accor Card. We did pass Alain Ducasse's restaurant "Beige" on our way but decided not to try some of the food. Mind you the prices looked reasonable.

Alison in Ginza - we did not shop across the road in Chanel or Cartier!

Shopped in Matsuya Ginza department store where Philip purchased a soba pillow at a much higher price than the smaller ones that Alison got from the ma and pa drapery in Kyoto. A very helpful fully suited older gentleman shop assistant who used an instrument to measure the distance between the spine/shoulders and bottom of the back of the skull to recommend the correct thickness of pillow. Then insisted that Philip use the bed that they have set up next to the pillows to try both number 3 and 4 pillows. Decided on the 4 (same price as a 3) and so made the purchase.

The pillow is shrink wrapped so that makes it less bulky to bring home. Also took advantage of the tax back for international buyers and got Y600 back. Only thing is that we will have to have the pillow with us going out of Japan and not packed in our checked luggage.

Then down into the food hall in the basement and once again we were amazed at the display of take home prepared foods available.

Plastic copies to help choose your take home box at Matsuya

There was a seafood counter with some cooked items for tasting and Philip was eyeing up some deep fried sardine size fish. The lady working on the counter saw us looking and offered us some cooked marinated calamari to try and then also some of the fish. Philip enjoyed both whilst Alison didn't like the fish. We purchased a container of the calamari to take back for dinner at the hotel. Then we spotted a sandwich counter which had both savoury and sweet sandwiches. We purchased a tonkatsu sandwich and a salmon and avocado one as well. We gave the mango and cream cheese and strawberry and cream cheese sandwiches a miss!

Sweet sandwich anyone?

Thought we would eat the sandwiches with the calamari for dinner but have now decided to keep them in the fridge for breakfast tomorrow on the Shinkansen to Sendai.

Back in our hotel as the sun was getting ready to set with the hope of catching Fuji out of hiding but that was not to be. So fortunately we had Fuji as it should be in Autumn at Yurakacho!