Tokyo and heading home

I had set an alarm for 8 am in case we needed it but we were all awake by 7:30 am. We ate breakfast, packed, and were ready to leave around 9 am. Checkout was smooth and the staff were happy to store our bags for the day.

We had hoped to have a Tokyo Free Guide for today but that did not come through so we would be finding our own way around. Our plans for the day included Asakusa and Akihabara. It seemed best to start with the one further away so I used the app to find transport to Asakusa. I knew we could ride from Shin-Nihombashi to Tokyo and go from there but the first suggestion was walk about 500 metres to Kanda station and catch the Ginza metro from there. The rain was just a sprinkle so we opted to walk.

Finding Kanda station was easy but we had to weave through the length of the station to find the Ginza line. A few stops along the Ginza line brought us to Asakusa where we followed signs in the station toward the temple. We entered under the main gate and into the alley of small shops leading to the main building. The first reaction from Lucas was that it did not live up to its reputation. It was very touristy at the entrance but after we had walked through that area, near the temple at the far end there was incense burning and inside the temple there was chanting. A sign dated one original building to the late 900s but it was destroyed in the 1600s and again in WWII and had been rebuilt since. The area is touristy but that is because of its long history.

As we wandered back down the line of stores Lucas made a purchase. We took a side arcade that ran a couple of blocks and saw some interesting stores including a couple selling high end cooking knives. Lucas asked about the knives and had interest from the vendor but soon admitted he was not buying and we walked on.

On our way back toward the river and the Tokyo sky Tree we spent a few minutes looking in the store where we bought origami paper last time. We did not buy any because our bags seemed unlikely to get it home safely.

The Tokyo Sky Tree had been visible at various times during our wandering around the temple. Now we could see it across the river and set off to walk there. It was further than we thought and the rain increased for a bit but we made it. Once inside the building Lucas found an Anime shop to look at but there was nothing he wanted to buy. Majella recalled that Emily had posted a photo with red cushions she had found in a store there and we searched for that. She later found it was at Asakusa Station but we didn’t find it there either when we passed through later. Majella also went in search of a KitKat store she had seen last time selling KitKats in several different flavours. We didn’t find that either.

Before leaving the Sky Tree building we ate lunch in the food court. For once, with multiple outlets, we were each able to find something to eat. Lucas had ginger pork and rice, Majella had dumplings, and I had ramen noodles with pork.

Next target was Akihabara. I planned a route with a stop at Asakusa so Majella could look for Emily’s cushions. She had no luck with that and we went on to Ueno where we changed to a JR line for Akihabara.

In Akihabara station we followed signs for the Electric Town exit and stepped out into a street lined with buildings advertising all manner of electrical goods. Lucas led us up and down through a couple of buildings. Eventually he found something he wanted and thought was reasonably priced. We bought it and made our way back to the street.

Majella and I had been needing coffee since late morning and it was then after 2 pm. I located a Tully’s coffee shop and we walked the short distance there. It was good to sit and relax a while.

Caffeinated and armed with information about a public piano at Takanawa Gateway station we headed back to Akihabara Station and boarded a train. As we ascended on the escalator at Takanawa Gateway we heard the piano playing in a space above the platform. The schoolboy player left soon after we arrived and Lucas played for a while.

We thought of taking a look around the local area but outside our way was blocked by major construction and we had no idea what we might find. We went back into the station, caught a train to Kanda and walked back to Hotel Kazusaya. There I was unable to find the luggage chip I had put away carefully this morning. It should have been in my wallet but was not there nor in any of my many pockets. Fortunately the staff gave us our bags without it.

We walked the shorter distance to Shin-Nihombashi Station. The planner app I was using had planned our trip to Haneda Terminal 3 from there at 4:20 pm with changes at Shimbashi and Hamamatsucho to access the monorail to the airport. That was all on our JR Passes and worked smoothly. We were at the airport before 5 pm. Checkin for Qantas was not open until 6 pm so we had a quick look around the terminal and then found seats and waited.

A little before 6 pm we moved to stand in line at the checkin counter. It opened promptly at 6 pm and the women at the bag drop issued paper boarding passes and dealt with our bags. At security Lucas had to remove his shoes because they had slightly higher sides and my bag was shunted to one side for an extra check. Those were small prices to pay for not having to remove belts and items from our carryon bags. Passport control was even easier once Majella placed her passport the right way on the machine. Our faces were recognised and we were through.

The woman at checkin had marked my boarding pass and told me to that my Qantas Club membership would get me and one guest into the JAL Sakura Lounge. Majella generously offered to stay out while Lucas and I went in. I gave her my remaining Japanese currency, enough, I hoped, to buy a decent dinner and Lucas and I went up to enjoy what food and drink we could find in the lounge. there was a variety of tasty food and drink so we did OK. I video-called Majella on Facebook Messenger to check that she was doing OK.

Boarding time was 9:20 pm. Lucas and I went downstairs a little before that to join up with Majella. My Fitbit had recorded almost 16 000 steps today. We might be tired enough to get some sleep on our flight.