TOKYO

I wanted to take a photo of the famous Shibuya Crossing...a great place is the second floor of the glass-fronted Starbucks at Shibuya. We thought it would be nice to have a coffee and cake while we were there.

It was certainly not as busy as it was the first night we were in Tokyo but it was still interesting to watch the energy of the pedestrians crossing the roads....

The National Art Centre... the building itself was awesome...and the art was a pleasure to see.

my favourite....

...I like this one too. This exhibition was of Western Art and we found it really interesting...so much more colourful than what we are used to seeing in Australia.

We were very impressed with this sculpture exhibition...

In the Minato-Roppongi area....

The Roppongi Hills Mori Tower

In front of the Mori Art Museum which is located in the Mori Tower is Louise Bourgeois's spider-like " Maman". It is 9 metres tall and 10 metres wide and made of bronze.

The tranquil gardens around the tower.

It was a shame it was such a cloudy day but we still appreciated the beauty of the gardens.

After a rather long train ride we visited the Tokyo Skytree, the tallest structure in Japan. Its main function is broadcasting but it is also home to shops, cafes and restaurants. If it had been a clear day we might have gone to the viewing deck. Instead we had some lunch in one of the many restaurants under the tower.

Takoyaki, a popular Japanese street food. Takoyaki are ball-shaped snacks made from a wheat flour-based batter cooked in a special moulded pan.The snack is typically filled with diced octopus, pickled ginger and green onion. Then topped with a special takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, green laver (seaweed), and bonito flakes (dried fish) . Delicious!

Not all subway stations are crowded....

 

TOKYO

Today Pete and I went on a day trip to the town of Kamakura, which is a 90 minute train ride from Tokyo. It is a seaside town of temples and wooded hills. Above is one of the shrines in the National Historic Site of Meigetsu-in....a Buddhist Temple. 

All the gardeners everywhere in Japan seem to use these brooms...I think they do a good job getting the leaves out of the rock crevices....

On either side of these steps are hydrangeas ....it must look pretty when they are flowering.

Another little shrine....

A cave tomb, one of several that were commonly built in medieval Kamakura.

One of the very few old wells, of Kamakura that are still in use today...

Beautiful....

After our pleasant walk around the shrines and gardens we enjoyed a coffee and biscuit at this little cafe ....we sat out in the sunshine surrounded by greenery.

Walking along the main road into town from the train station...

Kencho-ji Temple...and home of the oldest Zen Monastery in Japan. It was founded in 1253.

This bell was cast in 1255, which has a Zen inscription by the temple's founder.

...one of the many buildings surrounding the temple...

The ceiling in the temple....

The Hojo building which is used for Buddhist memorial services, meditation and training.

And beautiful tranquil gardens...

The last shrine we visited was the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine....above are sake barrels which are sometimes on display at temples in Japan. They are an important part of Shinto ceremonies because they represent purity and connection between the people and the Gods. 

This path was down the middle of the main road in Kamakura.

At the end of the main road is the beach....so nice to see the ocean..

Kamakura is obviously a very popular summer holiday destination ...

One of Japan's most photographed sights, the Great Buddha Daibutsu. The bronze statue is a representation of Amida Buddha sitting in the lotus position of meditation. It was completed in 1252.

Before catching our train back to Tokyo we walked along this street hoping to find a snack that we would like....

...yummy deep fried squid cake...

Equally yummy deep fried shrimp and ginger cake...it is a Japanese thing that you eat outside the store where you bought your snack.

On our way home....note the guy with 2 phones...we have seen that often here in Japan.

Night lights and crowds....so Tokyo....

We have been having granola, fruit and yoghurt for breakfast most mornings...thank goodness for the camera on Google Translate....I wouldn't be able to find the yoghurt that I like in the supermarket without that App.