Tokyo 19 Dec 1030 hrs Narita Airport Hilton, final photos and epilogue.

I am flying back today. Tokyo was a quick and pleasant stopover. I have been thru Narita-Tokyo airport several times, but have never take the opportunity to get down to Tokyo. I took a an express train called Skytrain to the Nippori station, and from there took a subway to a bus station to meet a tour bus. Taking the train and the subway was an interesting experience, and I managed NOT to get lost. On the way down I appeared to be the only gaijin riding on the train/subway. I heard some Japanese folks speaking Spanish, and it turns out that they are nisei from Peru. They indicated that there is a large Japanese population in Peru and also in Brazil, and that both groups maintain very close ties with Japan. Pleasant conversation, in Spanish, on the ride to Tokyo. Weird, huh?

On the bus tour were several US and European businessmen, like myself, who were simply taking a side trip on the way back from China, SE Asia, and other points in the region, eagerly waiting to get back to their families for Christmas, but also wanting a brief look at Tokyo. All of us in our 40’s and 50’s. It was fun yukking it up with these fellas. The lady guide we had on the bus was hilarious. I found the Japanese to be very polite, and for a short day trip, this was a pleasant experience.

On the way back, via train/subway, I struck up a conversation with an Aussie lady who was also headed to the airport for a flight back to Australia for the holidays. She is here teaching English, and her Japanese was impeccable. Apparently there is a push to get Japan to be less monolingual.

I’m not loading a lot of pics. Tokyo is a big modern city. Temples/palaces, etc., are rebuilt structures made to look like the old ones, as replacements after the war bombings. Word is that Kyoto is the city to visit to see “authentic” Japan.

Clik here for pix

Tokyo 001 – This is a guard house outside the Imperial Palace. No pics of the palace because it is closed to the public but for a couple of days out of the year.

Tokyo 008 – Asakusa Kannon Temple. This is a popular site. Notice the crowd. If you own a Cannon camera, it was named after this place.

Tokyo 021 – Tokyo Tower. This is their version of the Eiffel tower. They are proud of the fact that it is actually a few meters taller than the Paris tower. It is 333m tall.

Tokyo 015 – Me again. My departing shot.

In my several conversations with people, many brought up the subject of how nice it is to be alive in this day and age. This subject came up first with the Vietnam vet I met in Cambodia who did the bike ride from Hanoi to Saigon, and ended with the Aussie English teacher on the train in Tokyo. I’m sure every generation thinks this, but it is so very cool now that one can communicate globally from just about anywhere in the world to keep in contact with family, friends, run a business, send pics, internet in the hotel or a cafe, etc. Transportation systems, communications systems, information systems are a true marvel in this day and age. Unthinkable just a generation ago, that a sole individual could globetrot like this while running a profitable business. I thank God he chose to put here in this day and age.

Well, time to pack and catch a plane home. Merry Christmas.

Z