If you have read the first blog you will know that all did not go smoothly on our arrival. We didn't actually get into our apartment until Argentina had a man sent off. I guess it was about 6pm and that event pretty well ensured that England would win this must win match. As well as watching the rugby on the television, I had to explain to Nari, the Airbnb rep the grounds of our grievance and prise £100 compensation out of them. We haven't heard any more about that so far. Next game up was Japan vs. Samoa so we helped the Japanese as much as we could. Mind you this might come at the expense of Scotland.
Anyway have a look at the apartment, our home for the next three nights.
Taken from the sleeping end of the apartment. Left to right you can see, telly and table, wash hand baisin, wet room with bath and shower, toilet door, behind Helen the front door, washing machine, fridge freezer and finally the cooking area. The toilet is quite cute.
Looking the other way, makes you feel quite at home doesn't it?
Now you can see the cooking area, the two double beds and the built in wardrobe. Outside the front door is a walkway leading to the steps down. We are on the third level and the steps are rather steep. The next building contains a Lawson convenience store which contains pretty well all you need including an ATM. Today we have some tasks to complete. First thing is to buy an IC card. This is like old Oyster card. You pay a deposit and then prepay cash on to it so you can use the public transport system by pinging it each time you enter and leave the system. You can also use the card to make purchases in some shops and it can be used in any city in the country. We put Y3000 (about £20) on each card and that lasted for the three days we were in Tokyo. Armed with our cards we made for Tokyo Central Station to validate the JR rail passes and obtain the tickets for all our major journeys.
New Zealand were giving Namibia a good thumping which we witnessed in this welcoming bar next to the station.
The TV captures a rare moment when New Zealand were defending. After a bit of a queue and a lengthy session with an amazingly helpful member of the ticketing staff we were able to come away with all our serious train journeys ticketed and seats booked. Brilliant!
Last remaining task is to rent our pocket wifi but this will need some more research and can wait until tomorrow. As did our walk in the park. This is Ueno Park which is a large green space in the middle of Tokyo and in addition to these Shinto shrines, contains the Zoo, the National Museum and many other attractions.
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Most spiritual things also are concerned about mammon and here there are plenty of opportunities to spend. You can wish for anything, the wooden wishing tablets cost more than the paper ones. I was quite tempted by the trinket purporting to be for the lower body.
Inside this temple there was quite a spiritual feeling. This was made all the more so by the person in the Snoopy tee shirt who was praying loudly with a repetitive hypnotic rhythm. It really made the Snoopy and Olaf motif seem rather inappropriate and a monk's gown would be much more at home on him.
There is a large lake with pedallos for hire on part of it, but most of the water had large plants which looked like a cross between rhubarb and lilies growing thickly. Within the plants were masses of huge black carp swimming around.
The light was now fading and being replaced by human light which gave its own distinctive and charming atmosphere.
The streets especially are transformed
Anyway have a look at the apartment, our home for the next three nights.
Taken from the sleeping end of the apartment. Left to right you can see, telly and table, wash hand baisin, wet room with bath and shower, toilet door, behind Helen the front door, washing machine, fridge freezer and finally the cooking area. The toilet is quite cute.
Looking the other way, makes you feel quite at home doesn't it?
Now you can see the cooking area, the two double beds and the built in wardrobe. Outside the front door is a walkway leading to the steps down. We are on the third level and the steps are rather steep. The next building contains a Lawson convenience store which contains pretty well all you need including an ATM. Today we have some tasks to complete. First thing is to buy an IC card. This is like old Oyster card. You pay a deposit and then prepay cash on to it so you can use the public transport system by pinging it each time you enter and leave the system. You can also use the card to make purchases in some shops and it can be used in any city in the country. We put Y3000 (about £20) on each card and that lasted for the three days we were in Tokyo. Armed with our cards we made for Tokyo Central Station to validate the JR rail passes and obtain the tickets for all our major journeys.
New Zealand were giving Namibia a good thumping which we witnessed in this welcoming bar next to the station.
The TV captures a rare moment when New Zealand were defending. After a bit of a queue and a lengthy session with an amazingly helpful member of the ticketing staff we were able to come away with all our serious train journeys ticketed and seats booked. Brilliant!
Last remaining task is to rent our pocket wifi but this will need some more research and can wait until tomorrow. As did our walk in the park. This is Ueno Park which is a large green space in the middle of Tokyo and in addition to these Shinto shrines, contains the Zoo, the National Museum and many other attractions.
Most spiritual things also are concerned about mammon and here there are plenty of opportunities to spend. You can wish for anything, the wooden wishing tablets cost more than the paper ones. I was quite tempted by the trinket purporting to be for the lower body.
Inside this temple there was quite a spiritual feeling. This was made all the more so by the person in the Snoopy tee shirt who was praying loudly with a repetitive hypnotic rhythm. It really made the Snoopy and Olaf motif seem rather inappropriate and a monk's gown would be much more at home on him.
There is a large lake with pedallos for hire on part of it, but most of the water had large plants which looked like a cross between rhubarb and lilies growing thickly. Within the plants were masses of huge black carp swimming around.
The light was now fading and being replaced by human light which gave its own distinctive and charming atmosphere.
The streets especially are transformed
Worried to hear a Typhoon is forecasted and that the games on Sunday are cancelled ?
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