Tokyo

 Decided to go to Ueno Park for the morning but leave the museums for tomorrow as rain forecast. Was a beautiful day and walking is always our preferred mode of transport.

First sight was the queing before 8am to get into the gaming parlour. The crossing across the street was the queueing to access Ueno Zoo. Droves of people and it did not open until 9.30am! We decided viewing pandas was not on our " must do" list.

The gamers

The zoo queues

We enjoy reading about the notable notes either represented in statues or monuments/plaques. This doctor from Netherland had taught in Japan. The then  Japanese govt. in the late 18th century proposed a massive university hospital on the now park site. Dr Bauduin opposed and proposed making the most of what was to become Ueno Parks natural beauty. He was believer in green spaces for the soul and given the present population of Tokyo the good doctor was a prophet.

The good doctor. Dr A F Bauduin.

The Samurai Takamori Saigo, who in the battle of Ueno 1868, lost with heavy samurai casualties. The movie the "last Samurai" was based on this battle loosely by Hollywood

 

Toshogu Shrine with gold leaf no less.

There is a baseball diamond in the park which was full of little kids giving it their all. One particular lad, a leftie, boy could he hit the ball. Wear all the regalia and have all the moves.

After the park we walked to the Ameyoko market. The shear volume of "stuff" available and multiple eating establishments...mind numbing.

This is looking in on the sad puppy gamers. In China it would be gamblers.

So many piles of tee shirts

A coffee bean stall

Heaps of fresh seafood stalls. It is a wonder there is any seafood left in the Sea of Japan such is the abundance seen for sale and eaten.

We then moved on to another area called Asakusa. This was even more packed with the Saturday population. By this time we were famished and Gyoza ( fried dumplings) with rice was the business.  Mum, dad and two sons turning over diners in the alleyway with good food and very clean.

Some more mooching about then made our way back towards our hotel in Ueno. To our absolute surprise who do we see dragging their bags down the street, our good friends John and Karen. They have also been travelling Japan. They originally got us interested in this adventure with their hot tip about Fiji Airways value airfares. Although they have been tracking a different path to us we all fly out on the same with an overnight in Nadi. As John said the chances of passing each other in a city of 13 million is astounding!!!