Well this is the last day of my trip and it will be a long one! As Japan was 9 hours ahead that will make this a 33 hour day. Normally I like the idea of more hours in the day, but today I think it will be beginning to tell on me!
Started the day well as woke up at 6 as planned and managed to be out of the hotel by 7, suitably showered and breakfasted....although didn’t have much! Managed to go the right way back to the station with my 3 cases and got to the correct platform in time for the direct train to the airport. When the train came it was way to crowded for me to squeeze on with luggage and I also was too far back in the queue. This is Japan and things happen on time so I decided to wait for the next one as would be in front of the queue. This paid off and I got a seat after about 10 minutes. Just as well as this train wasn’t quite so quick due to the number of stops along the way. Arrived at the airport about 9.20 and went straight to check in. Had to queue here for about an hour or just over, but the important think was both suitcases were below the limit of 23kgs. Phew, with capital PH!
Returned the mobile WiFi which has proved to be well worth the cost. Japan does have quite a bit of free WiFi but on the whole is slow and when you are lost you can guarantee no free WiFi!
That was all the stresses dealt with, so now for departure lounge followed by first flight. All ok so far, did sleep but not that much and films not that good but tolerable! Now at Frankfurt waiting for boarding...at least 20 minutes left, then it will be the final leg underway! Have no idea how long it will take to clear customs and get luggage but it will feel too long.
Had made sure that I had a few Euros so could get a drink but can’t find them....most likely in something odd inside big suitcase as couldn’t find them yesterday either!
I would like to thank you all for following my blog and hope you have enjoyed it. Special thanks to the people who kept in touch and to my family for talking to me, sometimes at strange times - sorry Lynne!!
Hello also to Harue who I met when on the train to Tokyo. I will keep in touch and thanks for the emails!
So another trip comes to a close and again I am thinking this will be the last time I go to Japan but I do have Denmark in mind for 2022 if I am still with it....at least it is closer and shouldn’t suffer from typhoons...or tsunamis (2016!).
Sorry no photos today as camera tucked safely away and don’t want to get locked up for taking pictures in airports!
TTFN
Thursday, 31 October 2019
Tuesday, 29 October 2019
Day 20, Tuesday 29th October
So here we are again - on a train! Just managed to catch the 5.50pm Shinkansen to Nagoya, literally by the skin of my teeth. I decided last night that ideas of travelling overnight were just “ricidoodlous” as am just so tired. Holidays are damped hard work especially when you are unfit, decrepit and to top it all a cleptomaniac with far too much to carry or drag! So decided on teatime train and booked hotel so get some sleep. Will have to be up early as still need to make the transfer to airport but that is only about half an hour. Flight just before 11am so reasonable.
Let’s start at the beginning of the day... woke up reasonably refreshed and decided to skip hotel breakfast as not much better than my own camp-out style! Was happily doing my ablutions, well near the end, on the make up, when I had a call from Lynne, my sister, who is now in Australia. I have to say WhatsApp is brilliant especially when you are on the move, nearly said on the run then, but mind still behind me trying to get to this***train!
All is well in the family camp, and Lynne and husband Richard were off to buy cleaning stuff and goodness knows what else, as they get the keys to their home for a year in Woy Woy! Just love that name!! Some of you might remember Lynne lived in S Africa for many years, then Spain, where they still have a holiday retreat and soon it will be Woy Woy. Their residence applications are in the system but who knows when a decision will be given, by them or the powers that be!
So good to have a natter ! It is one of the things that is difficult when you are travelling alone, leaving loved ones to do the chores! Watch out world though, I am about to return!
To continue today, watched the forecast and all looks ok cloud and temperature of 23....don’t know who plans this but mostly it is incorrect....today I looked out of the window and could see people scurrying about under umbrellas...rain!! So how to spend the day.... first I thought I would go to the drum museum as it is nearby, then shopping in kitchen street followed by trip over the river Sumida to the Sumida Hokusai museum. That should all be achievable and some of the journey can be by subway train or normal train.
So I eventually set off having left 3 suitcases at hotel for collection later. Found the drum shop next to the museum, but, guess what....the **** drum museum is closed on Tuesdays as well as Mondays! Still made up for it as asked a few questions one of the employees who could at least understand my questions enough to be able to give brief responses. I found it all very interesting...drums not that heavy, as chap demo-ed for me. The body of the drum is made in the same way as a wine cask or barrel, but am not sure if this is bamboo or another wood. The sides, ie playing surfaces are tied onto the cylinder with thick cord and heavily tensioned. Drumsticks come in a variety of lengths and woods. The harder the wood, the louder the sound. Phots later so you will understand them now! There are also pictures of portable shrines as drums usually go hand in hand with festival processions.
After drums, I went to the Tokyo handicraft museum. This again was very interesting and possibly better than Kanazawa’s or Kyoto’s, although they all are featuring the crafts from their own region most. Would have liked the booklet that was in the museum for reference but it wasn’t for sale. Have to make do with the little pamphlet!
After exiting the museum, I hoped for the rain to stop, but it wasn’t playing ball, in fact it had got heavier. Time to put on my supermarket raincoat, old pack a Mack type. It kept me dry from the rain but boy, was I cooking in there! Soldiered on to the famous Happakabashi cooking utensils street. I have been before but had a few items that I wanted to purchase and knew this was the place! Had a
good mooch about and continued to the end of the street where I could turn left and be back to my hotel. As I now knew the lie of the land a bit, I went straight past and down into the subway system to get a train to near the Hokusai museum. Time was going ok, and I should have had plenty of time....
......That assumes that you a, get off train at nearest station and b, that you walk in the right direction! Let’s not make a big deal of it, the museum appeared to be mid way between two stations, but it wasn’t! It had to be nearer the one that I didn’t choose, then, due to being tired and brain dead, I proceeded to go in totally the wrong direction. By the time I realised my mistake, I was wondering if I would have time to see the museum, or should I just head back? Well I had walked so flipping far I couldn’t give up but did decide to try and get a taxi there. I managed eventually to stop one, and got as far as sitting inside for a very brief rest, but he wasn’t prepared to take me ...I think it was too short a journey, time for his lunch, time for a sleep, who knows! So got out and ambled slowly in the rain till I got there - over an hour later than planned. All timings are adjustable as it is up to me when I try to arrive at Nagoya, but didn’t want to be too late as have to manage the cases etc etc....
I am just so glad that I stuck to my plan since the museum was excellent. I skipped the final part of the permanent exhibition as time really had flown by. It was wonderful to see 18 off the 36 views of Mount Fuji. I liked them all, but some were really funny when you look hard at what is going on, the expressions etc.
Remembered to collect my new umbrella from the lock-up area, I had traded my old broken one for a new non collapsible one en route, for 500 yen. Hope I can bring it on the plane but it was cheap so if I have to abandon it, well, too bad!
Managed to grab a taxi outside the museum, far far too tired to do anything else! Got back to hotel and via Google translate got the driver to wait while I got my luggage then off to Tokyo main station to catch this Shinkansen.
No doubt I will have a struggle when I get to Nagoya, just hope I can find a route without steps! Will update you tomorrow, or later tonight if I can keep awake by then!
So here is a round up of today’s pictures.....first the Drum shop, as museum closed had to make the best of it!
Let’s start at the beginning of the day... woke up reasonably refreshed and decided to skip hotel breakfast as not much better than my own camp-out style! Was happily doing my ablutions, well near the end, on the make up, when I had a call from Lynne, my sister, who is now in Australia. I have to say WhatsApp is brilliant especially when you are on the move, nearly said on the run then, but mind still behind me trying to get to this***train!
All is well in the family camp, and Lynne and husband Richard were off to buy cleaning stuff and goodness knows what else, as they get the keys to their home for a year in Woy Woy! Just love that name!! Some of you might remember Lynne lived in S Africa for many years, then Spain, where they still have a holiday retreat and soon it will be Woy Woy. Their residence applications are in the system but who knows when a decision will be given, by them or the powers that be!
So good to have a natter ! It is one of the things that is difficult when you are travelling alone, leaving loved ones to do the chores! Watch out world though, I am about to return!
To continue today, watched the forecast and all looks ok cloud and temperature of 23....don’t know who plans this but mostly it is incorrect....today I looked out of the window and could see people scurrying about under umbrellas...rain!! So how to spend the day.... first I thought I would go to the drum museum as it is nearby, then shopping in kitchen street followed by trip over the river Sumida to the Sumida Hokusai museum. That should all be achievable and some of the journey can be by subway train or normal train.
So I eventually set off having left 3 suitcases at hotel for collection later. Found the drum shop next to the museum, but, guess what....the **** drum museum is closed on Tuesdays as well as Mondays! Still made up for it as asked a few questions one of the employees who could at least understand my questions enough to be able to give brief responses. I found it all very interesting...drums not that heavy, as chap demo-ed for me. The body of the drum is made in the same way as a wine cask or barrel, but am not sure if this is bamboo or another wood. The sides, ie playing surfaces are tied onto the cylinder with thick cord and heavily tensioned. Drumsticks come in a variety of lengths and woods. The harder the wood, the louder the sound. Phots later so you will understand them now! There are also pictures of portable shrines as drums usually go hand in hand with festival processions.
After drums, I went to the Tokyo handicraft museum. This again was very interesting and possibly better than Kanazawa’s or Kyoto’s, although they all are featuring the crafts from their own region most. Would have liked the booklet that was in the museum for reference but it wasn’t for sale. Have to make do with the little pamphlet!
After exiting the museum, I hoped for the rain to stop, but it wasn’t playing ball, in fact it had got heavier. Time to put on my supermarket raincoat, old pack a Mack type. It kept me dry from the rain but boy, was I cooking in there! Soldiered on to the famous Happakabashi cooking utensils street. I have been before but had a few items that I wanted to purchase and knew this was the place! Had a
good mooch about and continued to the end of the street where I could turn left and be back to my hotel. As I now knew the lie of the land a bit, I went straight past and down into the subway system to get a train to near the Hokusai museum. Time was going ok, and I should have had plenty of time....
......That assumes that you a, get off train at nearest station and b, that you walk in the right direction! Let’s not make a big deal of it, the museum appeared to be mid way between two stations, but it wasn’t! It had to be nearer the one that I didn’t choose, then, due to being tired and brain dead, I proceeded to go in totally the wrong direction. By the time I realised my mistake, I was wondering if I would have time to see the museum, or should I just head back? Well I had walked so flipping far I couldn’t give up but did decide to try and get a taxi there. I managed eventually to stop one, and got as far as sitting inside for a very brief rest, but he wasn’t prepared to take me ...I think it was too short a journey, time for his lunch, time for a sleep, who knows! So got out and ambled slowly in the rain till I got there - over an hour later than planned. All timings are adjustable as it is up to me when I try to arrive at Nagoya, but didn’t want to be too late as have to manage the cases etc etc....
I am just so glad that I stuck to my plan since the museum was excellent. I skipped the final part of the permanent exhibition as time really had flown by. It was wonderful to see 18 off the 36 views of Mount Fuji. I liked them all, but some were really funny when you look hard at what is going on, the expressions etc.
Remembered to collect my new umbrella from the lock-up area, I had traded my old broken one for a new non collapsible one en route, for 500 yen. Hope I can bring it on the plane but it was cheap so if I have to abandon it, well, too bad!
Managed to grab a taxi outside the museum, far far too tired to do anything else! Got back to hotel and via Google translate got the driver to wait while I got my luggage then off to Tokyo main station to catch this Shinkansen.
No doubt I will have a struggle when I get to Nagoya, just hope I can find a route without steps! Will update you tomorrow, or later tonight if I can keep awake by then!
So here is a round up of today’s pictures.....first the Drum shop, as museum closed had to make the best of it!
Queue outside supermarket waiting for it to open at 10a.m.
Passed these fish on the way...assume it was a restaurant!
Kitchen street...ladles of every possible size
These were sieves of all sizes.....
Just loved these two sitting on the shelf!
This is the arcade that the craft museum was in.
And now the items in the craft museum....
Banner carried by firemen?!
This brute was all made of leather!
Miniature house made of leather
Tortoise shell necklace....prefer the shell on the animal!
Glass ware
Love that big bag!
Monday, 28 October 2019
Day 19, Monday 28th October.
Slept better, perhaps as had gone to the Onsen for a soak last night. This hotel price includes breakfast so tried not to be too late up as there were signs saying try to avoid the busy time from 7 till 9 ....but then that is the only time they serve breakfast! Had to queue to be seated so obviously it is popular! The food was a little slow in coming, but was ok when it arrived. Hard boiled egg, still warm with some toast served with a bowl of salad. There was also a little dish of something white with a sort of sauce...turned out to be yoghurt and a sweet topping not unlike runny honey! Washed down with a cup of black tea, not too bad!
Suitably sustained, it was time to leg it again. I had planned to start with some bead shopping, then weather permitting, head to the sword museum. Not sure where the forecast was for, but it didn’t fit today’s weather! It was a beautiful day with no rain. Bit of a nuisance as I was carrying a plastic coat and umbrella as well as a light weight cardigan that I only wore for the first 20 minutes or so!
Had a look in various shops, just in case they might sell something that could be useful!
Bought some clear acrylic boxes for displaying my Temari. Had a very pleasant morning and did finally buy some beads and some offcuts of leather, but even I couldn’t keep going into any more bead shops! Decided to head for the sword museum, quite a walk so you can imagine that I wasn’t very pleased with myself when I realised that it was a Monday.....almost all museums are closed on Mondays! So plan B , ah there is a little public garden nearby, so off I toddled. The gardens were lovely with a large pond, a heron or similar and lots of turtles. Plenty of photographical challenges, but it kept me out of mischief for a good while! Mid afternoon I decided to go to the fabric area of Tokyo so that I could complete all the shopping today, leaving tomorrow for a museum visit. I went by train and subway. I had read good reports of the bargains to be had but was very disappointed....more like a massive version of Nova trimmings! Train prices have increased in the last 3 years but it was a waste of time going. Most of the fabric was imported and of poor quality. I am glad I went in so far as having seen for myself what it was like, but no need to panic about finding yet more space in my suitcases! You can’t win them all!
Exhausted by the time I returned to the hotel and desperate for sleep, so will add a few photos from today and talk agin tomorrow! Giving Onsen a miss as just too tired to be bothered!
...and more reflections
And trains on bridges crossing the river
Suitably sustained, it was time to leg it again. I had planned to start with some bead shopping, then weather permitting, head to the sword museum. Not sure where the forecast was for, but it didn’t fit today’s weather! It was a beautiful day with no rain. Bit of a nuisance as I was carrying a plastic coat and umbrella as well as a light weight cardigan that I only wore for the first 20 minutes or so!
Had a look in various shops, just in case they might sell something that could be useful!
Bought some clear acrylic boxes for displaying my Temari. Had a very pleasant morning and did finally buy some beads and some offcuts of leather, but even I couldn’t keep going into any more bead shops! Decided to head for the sword museum, quite a walk so you can imagine that I wasn’t very pleased with myself when I realised that it was a Monday.....almost all museums are closed on Mondays! So plan B , ah there is a little public garden nearby, so off I toddled. The gardens were lovely with a large pond, a heron or similar and lots of turtles. Plenty of photographical challenges, but it kept me out of mischief for a good while! Mid afternoon I decided to go to the fabric area of Tokyo so that I could complete all the shopping today, leaving tomorrow for a museum visit. I went by train and subway. I had read good reports of the bargains to be had but was very disappointed....more like a massive version of Nova trimmings! Train prices have increased in the last 3 years but it was a waste of time going. Most of the fabric was imported and of poor quality. I am glad I went in so far as having seen for myself what it was like, but no need to panic about finding yet more space in my suitcases! You can’t win them all!
Exhausted by the time I returned to the hotel and desperate for sleep, so will add a few photos from today and talk agin tomorrow! Giving Onsen a miss as just too tired to be bothered!
Shop windows...
Cranes and reflections
View of the river as walked along for a few hundred yards...
Christmas is coming!
Tokyo manhole cover...not very exciting!
Another window...
...and more reflections
Bridges...
A pleasure boat, not in action today!
Just look at the moorings!
I would be a bit concerned to know the metal structure of the building is rusting before the building is completed!
How do they get the crane up there, or for that matter how do they get it down?
I went to the sumo museum, but that was closed too!
A leisure cruise...nice boat!
That crane
Where’s my dinner?
Old paintings along the river’s edge
How to make a sword...
Next door to sumo museum a space showing the size and setup for a sumo bout
Picture cut out sumo!
Lovely, another set of wedding photos being taken...
Speeding along the river...
Just look at the blokes working on the scaffolding!
Just love these gardens!
Sun bathing
That’s all for now, night night!
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