Day One: Tokyo

Our first day in Japan was truly glorious.  Sunshine and cherry blossoms!  So many new experiences packed into so little space and time - only in Tokyo.  We met up with Baaba and Grandpa in the morning and had our first Japanese breakfast.  Miso soup and curry rice are favorites.  The kids got their introduction to the trains in Japan and thoroughly approve of this mode of transportation.  The cherry blossoms in Ueno park were gorgeous.  For us and for what felt like a good chunk of Tokyo.  And finishing the day with the electronics of Akihabara proved a big hit.  Everyone fought through their jet lag and made it through dinner.  Sixteen hours of time zones is quite an adjustment.  Some udon noodles and a night of sleep and on to day two!

Breakfast in Tokyo at the Remm hotel

At Tokyo Station.  The original brick - charred wood from World War II

 

Navigating the trains of Tokyo

Train surfing in Tokyo

Cherry blossoms in Ueno park.  It was literally snowing cherry blossoms.  Absolutely beautiful.  And crowded.

 

Baaba and Mom at the Tokyo National Museum gardens.  Cherry blossoms and tea houses.  The Museum was a fun collection of Japanese painting, calligraphy, ceramics, lacquer, tea sets and Samurai armor and weapons.

 

The boys do Akihabara.  Lots of stores with all kinds of electronics.  But the real fun are all the little stalls in the underground alleyways selling everything from switches to wire to chips.  A young Makers dream!  And Mom liked the light stores showing off all the fancy new LED lights.