Day 1 in Tokyo

Ready to travel

We lost a whole night's sleep on the way over, but soldiered on regardless.  The flight landed at about 10.00 am and we got out of the airport and after a couple of false starts, exchanged our online vouchers for train tickets on the Keisei Skyline and purchased Pasmo cards - the equivalent of an Oyster.  The train was smooth and fast and at Ueno station we hopped on the metro to the stop nearest our hotel.   It was all well signposted and not nearly as scary as we had anticipated, apart that is from the number of people wearing masks and making you feel you've wandered on to the set of Holby City!   There are some interesting explanations for all the masks - all white - and worn by people of both genders and all ages.  We also noticed that it's the rare odd person who hasn't got their nose in their phone!

Phones and masks

The hotel is not far from the tube station and we got straight into our room.   It is functional and cosy.  In other words, no room to swing a cat.   We had to take turns to unpack and we shall take turns to sleep against the wall and clamber over the other in the night on the way to the loo!   The loo has a step in the threshold and I predict a stubbed toe or two.

After getting more hangers and unpacking we set off for the National Art Centre about 20 minutes walk away.  Interesting building and spacious.  We had hoped to go straight to the cafe for a snack lunch, but there was nothing but cake so we wandered out again and found a mini-market and bought a picnic which we had on a stainless steel bench outside the Art Centre.    Inside was a vast exhibition on two floors of the work of students from 5 art universities in Tokyo.  An interest range of subjects and styles and crowds of young people.

National Art Center

National Art Center 

Actually a sculpture, not a girl

A miniature girl - realistic model

Dog men

Paintings

By now we were getting quite tired so decided to look for an early dinner.   We wandered around a bit and decided on a restaurant that had several groups of Japanese eating there and a menu with pictures!   We had some difficulty interpreting the menu even with pictures and in the end decided to have what the people on a nearby table were having as it looked good.   We were served a large plate of stir fried rice and a large earthenware bowl of sizzling ingredients in soup.  All very tasty and spicy.  We also had six spicy dumplings.   It was all simple food, but good.  

Dumplings in spicy sauce

Soup with mixed ingredients and rice