Entries about park

Today was kind of quiet & somber, the trip has come to an end {insert mega sad face}.

The weather was quite hot today, it was meant to reach 33 in Tokyo and there have been reports of records further north on the news. I will admit I’m looking forward to the cooler weather.

We started our day in Kamakura and headed back to where it all began in Ueno Park three & a half weeks ago. I took one last stroll around the park, amazed by how quick the lillys had put up new leaves and different flowers in bloom.

There was one last shrine visit to Yushimatenjin Shrine, where it appeared there was some street market/party happening with market stalls set up.

Strolling back to Birtes hotel we stumbled across a parade , I assume it was related to the shrine as we had seen some of the people dressed up there. It was interesting watching them chant, almost dance around, it was questionable if some actually had any pants on....

As I left Tokyo on my last Japanese train ride it felt as if the Skytree was waving me off. It was quite visible and the you can see it as we skirted out of the city bound for Narita.

So now I’m sitting in my airport hotel room reflecting on the trip, kinda feels like a dream but I’m sure I’ll have a rude awakening when I crash back to earth Thursday morning.

Ps no I haven’t seen Trump other than on the tv, he didn’t seem that happy to be watching the sumo tournament.

Birte arrived last night and while I enjoyed my time solo in Tokyo it’s nice have someone to laugh to laugh at things translated and help navigate even if you don’t listen.

A quiet day spent exploring the Park & collecting more stamps (total now 7 I think) which was nice after a busy day yesterday, so not much to report but here are a few happy snaps from today (cause I know that’s what your all waiting for :-) )

Don’t tell any one but we ate like locals today so Starbucks for breakfast, Korean for lunch & fish and chips at a British pub for dinner, which would you believe they gave us chopsticks for. I am starting to master more than the shovel and scoop but fear if I had to eat with chopsticks permanently ild starve, maybe it’ll become the new celebrity diet craze.

We’ve booked another night after tonight at the Ueno Centurion Ladies Hostel which I would recommend them, it’s clean, tidy, friendly & most importantly I’ve felt safe.

Let’s start with the sleep verdict - I slept great (that’s what flying & lack of sleep does to you + some magnesium stuff mum sent me with). The bed was reasonably comfortable, it is a box with a curtain on one side, plenty of space not to stick one leg out under the curtain. Here’s hoping I sleep as well for the rest of the trip.

I decided to have a chill day which meant a lie in plus that avoided my other room mates (there’s like 26 beds in my dorm but it’s only like half full) they don’t seem too friendly, they avoid eye contact & don’t return your smile, ild say it’s a language barrier. Since I’m right beside Ueno Park I thought ild explore it some more, there’s so much to see plus it’s a lovely green area in the city. I spent some time watching this guy catch tiny fish, he’ld be dead still, then his head would just shoot down & get it.

There’s a few shrines you can explore, most are free to enter & it’s interesting watching everyone and there customs. I managed to catch some kids training and playing baseball, sitting on a bench with two old men on either end I was grateful for the fence, those kids can hit.


I think I worked out this strange building wedged near Starbucks & a cafe was a police box....move over Tardis

I even tested out this fortune teller apparently my lucky item is a small rice bowl.

I’ve fallen pray to Goshuincho - The Honourable Red Stamp Notebook, Originally believed to to have been a way to record monetary donations given to temples or proving your travel was of a religious nature during strict travel restrictions centuries ago. For less than $5 most temples will mark a page with stamps & calligraphy a page in order (back to front). It’s all a bit of fun even though I have no idea where there are from.

Today’s meals have been sponsored by Family Mart & have been a lucky dip, for tea I thought I was buying noodles heated it up and it turned out to be soup, it’s all part of the fun.