Final missive from Tokyo. December 21, 2016

This morning… following breakfast, Mike took the subway to the Train System’s Lost and Found which is located at one of the stations, and as mentioned in the previous post… retrieved his computer bag. While we were completely amazed, no one else seemed to be, although I did detect a bit of relief from the hotel staff who I assumed worried that perhaps it might not have been turned in. OK.. Mike is “whole.” As he went his way, I decided to walk from the hotel to the Ginza – about 15 minutes from the hotel – half of the walk was on pedestrian bridges that connect buildings and enable one to ignore traffic. Once in the Ginza, I strolled around.. sort of 5^th Avenue on steroids and a lot more side streets with yet more shops. Must admit I stopped into Yacco Marquand and did a little retail therapeutic work (just a little).

Mike called to say he was now en route back so he decided to meet me in Ginza and then we could start out to explore a few more neighborhoods. I said I’d wait at the shop (or close to that location) so that we’d have a meeting place. When he emerged from the subway he called to get directions to that location. From what I could tell (and what the sales person at the store could tell, using some kind of sign language since English was limited), he was one block away. He said he was in front of the Armani store. The sales person kept saying Alemany was close; took a while for me to figure out that she too was referring to Armani… Anyway, I told Mike to stay put and that I’d walk over there since I had passed the store on my stroll. I got there but no Mike… Called and he said he was still in front of Armani and that the Ginza station was directly in front of him. I too was now in front of Armani and the Ginza station was right in front of me.. OK… many Armani stores in the area and many entrances to Ginza station.

Finally connected and headed to Abazu neighborhood – a posh, quiet area with a nice mix of residential and commercial activities. Lots of local shops, restaurants, and nice scale – feels a little village-like. Must be upscale because we passed a lot of embassies and those guys always settle in the nicest neighborhoods! Apparently, it’s home to a lot of artists and during World War II there was some kind of underground space that sheltered some important people — including Yoko Ono! Stopped for some noodles for lunch and then headed to Aoyama, another neighborhood that again seemed pretty middle class/upper middle – frankly all of the neighborhoods seem solidly middle class or upper middle class.  Strolled past many temples and shrines.

Took subway from the Moto Santo station to head back to our high rise area; had a birthday drink in the hotel bar which had a nice view.. and got ready for our dinner at Ginza Kojyu.. and the rest is history. Sorry we couldn’t make Tokyo (and actually Japan) a longer stay. Next time.

A few hours left until we land in Yangon; plane is only about half-full.

Will sign in from Yangon –

Fern