HNL to TKY  May 2012

Tue/Wed May 21/22:  From Honolulu to Tokyo.  Our flight left on time and was full of tourists returning to China.  Not a pretty sight; lots of pushing and cutting lines.  Restrooms were constantly full.

The time flew by for me because I watched three movies on the seat back screen:  J.Edgar, My Week with Marilyn and The Descendants.  Enjoyed all.

Narita is a shiny new  airport since I last visited 17 years ago.  Breezed through immigration and customs.  Fingerprint scanner and camera not withstanding.  (Remember to fill in the blank "occupation"; never leave it blank!)

Susan's foresight and planning made our transition so smooth and quick.  Plus, Narita mid week seemed rather empty. 
Shipped Wayne's suitcase ahead to Hiroshima, then got our JR passes and train ticket assignments downstairs at the JR East Travel Center. You must know the exact time and destination of your trains.  (or I guess you could wing it).  The girls are bilingual and very patient.  This transportation system is fantastic.  I also purchased a SUICA card to use on the local trains and subways.  These are also refillable.

We took the Limo bus to the Shinagawa Prince Hotel.  Location is great!  The station is immense and has lots of shops and restaurants which I found, stayed open late into the night.  Checked in, dropped our suitcases and got on the Yamanote Line.




Waiting for the Yamanote train

 




Our first stop was Akihabara, Denki (Electric) Town.  I was a little disappointed at the lack of product selection.  As I remember it, there were a myriad of duty free shops catering to us tourists.  Cameras galore, audio players, video cameras, watches and much more.  I guess the economy determines supply and with no demand......

But we found some fun little gifts.

Akihabara




Yurakucho Yakitori Bar

 

On to Yurakucho.  It was dinner time for us so we found a good yakitori bar under the train tracks near Shimbashi.  Yurakucho is so cleaned up and gentrified now, I almost didn't recognize the place.  Kinda lost some of it's old-time charm.  Nevertheless, this was a cultural and delicious experience.

We asked our waiter for directions to the Godzilla statue.  We found it close to the Shimbashi station/Ginza 4-chome-5-chome.  Next to the 7-ll store.  Back to Shinagawa Station and the place was still jumping.  So many trains and subways pass through here that the little shops and restaurants are open very late.  Picked up some snacks and water.



Godzilla still lives in Tokyo