Today was Brigid and Campbell's last day in Japan heading home tonight. They came up from Yokohama and I was to meet them at the Main Entrance of Osaki station (2 stops from me and on the way to Tokyo station). I had only been to the station to change platforms to go to Yokohama, and of course, when one makes arrangements like this, we found their is no 'main' entrance just a North & South one! But we all decided on the same one to start with so 
found each other quickly.
found each other quickly.As I waited for them, I saw this group of kids lining up to stamp their sheets, part of a travel holiday event. The station staff was calling out, as any family came through the gate that the stamps were there.
We went off to Tokyo and left their bags in lockers just next to the Narita Express access escalator and booked a ticket (my Japanese being of use here). Then we went off to Ueno where I had planned a small tour of my favourite areas.
We walked down the Ameyoko lane of stalls and they did a bit of last minute shopping of tea, birch bark tea scoops, canisters covered in washi (Japanese paper) and chopstick rests. It was INCREDIBLY hot 34 degrees and HUMID. The heat seemed to press down on you as you walked outside. We went into every little air-conditioned place we came across for a brief respite.
We were looking for some children / baby books and found a small shop in the Ameyoko. I had told Brigid about seeing Mitsumata Anno drawings yesterday, but she didn't know him though Campbell did So we asked in this shop for his books. The young girl had no idea but directed us to an old man sorting stuff on a shelf. After a minute he got who I was asking about and went looking, but did not have any. Meanwhile as Brigid was buying some books, he gave me a calendar (1/3 A4 size) of Anno's pictures "a gift" as it was 2008. He had no other but got another of an artist I don't know and now can't remember and gave to Campbell a "gift". As Brigid pointed out she was the one who bought something!We then walked over to Shinobazu pond and saw that the waterlilies were out in force so lots of pics there. A breeze made it a bit better.
Because we were going on to the Yanaka district (old Edo area undamaged du
ring WWII) we first visited the Shitamachi (Low district) Museum. This is a small museum set up like a local street all with donated good from past residents, so original carts, household goods etc, so very much the lifestyle museum. Had a very
nice elderly woman as a guide, who was delighted by our interest.
We then had lunch at Buri ( a standing bar - but seats at lunch time) then off to Nippori by train. We walked down the old street area
and Campbell bought some lovely tea cups and traditional sweets. We then went to the old paper shop Isetaya and Brigid bought up big. I was seriously heat stressed by this time so we got a taxi back to Nippori Station (about $2 each) and then the train to Tokyo again, in time for them to pack their purchases and get the train.
We went off to Tokyo and left their bags in lockers just next to the Narita Express access escalator and booked a ticket (my Japanese being of use here). Then we went off to Ueno where I had planned a small tour of my favourite areas.
We walked down the Ameyoko lane of stalls and they did a bit of last minute shopping of tea, birch bark tea scoops, canisters covered in washi (Japanese paper) and chopstick rests. It was INCREDIBLY hot 34 degrees and HUMID. The heat seemed to press down on you as you walked outside. We went into every little air-conditioned place we came across for a brief respite.
We were looking for some children / baby books and found a small shop in the Ameyoko. I had told Brigid about seeing Mitsumata Anno drawings yesterday, but she didn't know him though Campbell did So we asked in this shop for his books. The young girl had no idea but directed us to an old man sorting stuff on a shelf. After a minute he got who I was asking about and went looking, but did not have any. Meanwhile as Brigid was buying some books, he gave me a calendar (1/3 A4 size) of Anno's pictures "a gift" as it was 2008. He had no other but got another of an artist I don't know and now can't remember and gave to Campbell a "gift". As Brigid pointed out she was the one who bought something!We then walked over to Shinobazu pond and saw that the waterlilies were out in force so lots of pics there. A breeze made it a bit better.
Because we were going on to the Yanaka district (old Edo area undamaged du
ring WWII) we first visited the Shitamachi (Low district) Museum. This is a small museum set up like a local street all with donated good from past residents, so original carts, household goods etc, so very much the lifestyle museum. Had a very
nice elderly woman as a guide, who was delighted by our interest.We then had lunch at Buri ( a standing bar - but seats at lunch time) then off to Nippori by train. We walked down the old street area
and Campbell bought some lovely tea cups and traditional sweets. We then went to the old paper shop Isetaya and Brigid bought up big. I was seriously heat stressed by this time so we got a taxi back to Nippori Station (about $2 each) and then the train to Tokyo again, in time for them to pack their purchases and get the train.
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