Author: nellyglass

Today our minds were blown… in more ways than one. First, Maneau had arranged 9 am tickets for us to the Team Labs Planets Museum on one of the man-made islands in Tokyo Bay. A 40 minute rail commute got us there just in time and well ahead of the crowds coming later in the morning.

Team Labs Planets is an interactive digital museum where the art changes depending on the presence of the human body. As you touch the walls and move through the spaces, the art follows you. In one section, digital animals roam around, stopping to look at you. Then there’s the LED light show as if you are standing in a virtual meteor shower. In another section, hundreds of living Orchid flowers suspended on strings rise and fall as you stroll through. In yet another section, you take off your shoes and wade through knee-deep water as digital fish swim around your legs. Very very cool! I highly recommend this museum experience.

Walking back to the train station, we passed the enormous Unicorn Gundham statue. This is a full scale, 20 meter tall, 50 ton replica of the famous military robot from Japanese anime. At certain times of the day, it transforms into battle mode but today was hot and humid so we didn’t wait for the show. Ryan has enjoyed Gundham animation since he was a little boy and it was wonderful to see him experience this art and relive his memories.

We also saw the Statue of Liberty on the waterfront. It was given to Tokyo by France in 1998 to celebrate French-Japanese friendship.

We rested in the afternoon, had refreshments in our rooms and then at dusk, we took the subway to the Akihabara district to see the night lights. This area is Japanese Anime central and the sidewalks were jam-packed with young people (like Ryan) seeking escapism from daily life. It was colorful, weird, mesmerizing and intimidating for a senior like me. I was the only white-haired person among thousands. However, Ryan was in his glory and I loved that he got to see (and purchase) some of his favorite anime art.

As I said, out minds were blown today… our feet worn out…. our bellies empty. Finding a seat in a restaurant was almost impossible but we did finally get an Italian meal near our hotel. Then we crashed. It was a great day.

Jake was our leader as we took the 1-hour train ride to Yokohama. The main attraction today was the “Yokohama Oktoberfest”… an authentic reproduction of the original beer festival held each year in Munich, Germany. Here, one can taste over 200 different craft beers from Germany, enjoy authentic German live music and snack on various pub foods.

One unexpected delight of the day was the stroll from the train station through Chinatown to get to the beer hall on the waterfront. This Chinatown is absolutely fascinating with a grid work of streets lined with colorful food stalls and souvenir shops. There are multiple “paifang” or street entrance gates (highly decorated architectural archways) plus an impressive Buddhist temple in the center of the neighborhood. Along the way, we also strolled through the shady zen gardens of Yokohama Park, past the Yokohama Baseball stadium and finally the lovely flower gardens along the waterfront. One lasting impression is how clean everything is here in Japan… you never see garbage lying on the ground despite the fact that garbage cans are practically non-existent. You are expected to carry your garbage with you (!!!) until you do find a disposal bin (rare).

We arrived at the beer hall just in time to see several hundred other people in the main tent participating in a conga line dance to polka music. It was a brilliant introduction to the spirit of Oktoberfest. The day was hot and even hotter in the tent but our spirits were lifted by the enthusiasm of the crowd. We quickly found a shady table outside the tent and enjoyed 3-4 hours of story telling, laughter, drinking beer and even socializing with other locals at our table. Jake was in his glory as he found some of his all-time favorite beers.

After enough drinking (lol) it was time to head back to Tokyo. First we stepped into a nearby 7-Eleven store which reportedly has the world’s largest collection of craft beer. Just imagine… we were like kids in a candy shop and picked up a few cans to take back to the hotel. Then we walked back to the train station through Chinatown. It was dark by now and the lights were truly mesmerizing. We were all tired and sleepy. I actually nodded off on the train ride into Tokyo.

Today was an eleven hour round trip car ride to the Nagano mountains to see the snow monkeys in the hot springs at Jigokudani Yaen-Koen park. Our Get Your Guide taxi driver, Alex, met us at the hotel at 8 am and away we went. Tokyo is so huge, it took us an hour driving at full highway speed just to get outside the city.

There was rain in the forecast for the day and we did get some on us at times. However, we were lucky at the park and the rain held off long enough for us to get close and personal with the monkeys. They are very tame and will stroll around and through your legs if you stand still. When the weather is cold, they will lounge in the hot springs. However, today was mild and the monkeys were busy foraging for food.

Next we stopped into the quaint town of Obuse (pronounced Ob-oo-say). Charming and less crowded with tourists than other spots in Japan. This town is known for its chestnuts and the dreamy back alleys are lined with the trees in full fruit. We had lunch at an authentic Japanese restaurant where Jake and I both enjoyed a sake tasting with our meal.

After lunch we visited the Hokusai museum. Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is one of the most famous and celebrated Japanese artists. He popularized wood-block printing and produced many prints off each original carving. This essentially brought his art to the masses. The colors in his and other edo-period artists works are exquisite. “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa” is one of the world’s most recognized paintings and I have a photo of me standing beside it. Hokusai lived his final years in Obuse ergo his museum is here.

Then back to Tokyo. A wonderful day it was. Tomorrow we are planning a day trip to Yokohama for something less natural and less artsy but just as interesting and way more fun. Stay tuned! 🍺

Our first full day in Tokyo was a walking tour of the Ginza neighborhood around our hotel. We covered more than 10 kms starting with the imperial gardens and palace of the Japanese emperor. A highlight for me was seeing the street art including a Godzilla statue (first of 2 statues in the city of this famous monster).

We did some shopping, did some dining and oggled at the beautiful night lights on our way back to the hotel. Tired feet and full bellies signaled the end to a wonderful day.

Tomorrow will see us take a private tour out of the city and into the highlands of Nagano prefecture to the northwest.

Sarah and her family escorted us to the Saint John airport so she could take our car home to avoid the 3- week parking fee (much appreciated). The first leg of the journey took us to Toronto where we enjoyed an overnight stay with Monica’s sister, Marguerite. The next morning, Marg’s children, Sandy and Craig, joined us for breakfast along with Craig’s daughter, Eloise, and Monica’s niece, Catherine. It was a hearty breakfast and a heart warming gathering. Again, very much appreciated.

Then on to the airport where we met up with Maneau, Jake and Yogi for the 13-hr flight to Tokyo. Just after boarding, there was a medical emergency with a passenger which delayed our departure for one hour. Once airborne, however, the flight was uneventful. Thirteen hours allows for lot’s of time to build anticipation. That first glimpse of Tokyo was truly a thrill. It looks big enough on the map and even bigger from the air. Interesting to note that the population of greater Tokyo is equal to the entire population of Canada… 40 million!

When we landed, we were greeted by a representative from On The Go Tours who escorted us via subway right to our hotel just a step from Tokyo Central Station. A quick bite and a cold drink were all we could manage before crashing for the night. Sleep was welcomed.

A new adventure awaits. Monica, Ryan and myself along with good friends, Maneau, Jake and Maneau’s mother, Yolande (Yogi), are about to embark on a 3-week journey to the other side of the planet… to Japan. 👺🏯🇯🇵👘⛩️

Through On The Go Tours, we booked a twelve day tour called “Land of the Samurai”. We will arrive in Tokyo four days before the tour even begins giving us lots of time to adjust and see some sights not on the tour. Then, with the tour, we will continue three more days in Tokyo to really discover the city before we head west with stops at Mt. Fuji, Kyoto, Hiroshima, back to Kyoto and return to Tokyo for the flight home.

Excitement and anticipation are very high. Everything is expected to be strange and fascinating. I am most psyched for the food, the art and the night lights. Monica is looking forward to the shrines, castles and gardens. Ryan is seeking the history of Japan and anime culture. Yogi hopes to see Mt. Fuji and Geisha. Maneau & Jake will lead us on the search for fine Japanese beer, gin, sake, and whiskey.

It’s going to be an Epic Journey. God be with us as we join 40 million other tourists to visit the world’s favourite destination in 2025, Japan. Monica is wearing her silver Shepherd’s Bell for safe passage.