The Meiji Jingu (Shrine) is worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and her sprawling metropolis. Despite the fact that this shrine is a stones throw away from one of the craziest metro stops and pedestrian areas known as Harajuku, Meiji Jingu holds onto an otherworldly silence. Entering through the massive Torii gate […]
Subway Manners
Fair warning was given about the difficulties inherent with navigating Tokyo’s subway system. Countless blogs, forum posts and even personal correspondence warned us that the easiest way of getting around was to NOT use the subway. Taxis are in abundance, the bus routes are reasonably easy and you can always rely on good old foot&sole. […]
Tokyo’s Last Cherry Blossom
Sakura, the Japanese cherry blossom festival, was in full bloom (see what I did there?) three weeks ago. Adam and I watched with barely disguised envy as daily reports showed the beauty and fleetingness of the blossoms marching relentlessly across the island of Japan oblivious to our fervent hopes that the blooms would, somehow, last […]
Point and Shoot, Point and Eat
Our first taste of Tokyo was well after dark as we weren’t quite resigned to a night in after 13 hours of rest on our flight. We set out meandering from our neighborhood, Tokyo-Midtown, through Roppongi to the famed Shibuya Crossing – one of the busiest crosswalks in the world. I’m always inexplicably drawn to […]
“200 Of My Closest Friends”
I remember all too clearly the dangers that are involved when combining early morning travel and zero coffee. Today another little wrinkle, if you can call it that, was thrown into the mix. First class seats. I didn’t really know what to expect. Celebrities in every seat, wild wild west mentality, rampant “please use the […]
Into the East
Except we’re traveling west…whatever. Another round of travel is upon us! A new country! A new language! A new chance to experience time travel!* Japan. From the days when my sister was (is) obsessed with Sailor Moon and all things Japanese to my ongoing love affair with sushi; Japan has been an eagerly anticipated destination […]