We went to the Emerald ball which was good fun and involved a lot of dancing.There's even a parade at a high street near us. So we signed ourselves and our friends A&A, who were visiting from the UK, up. Perhaps not the most Japanese thing to do on day 3 of your holiday!
 |
| A couple were sitting having lunch with a box on their table...I peeked in and this is what I saw! |
We had several visits to a shop called Tokyu hands - it does loads of stuff from wood to Snoopy stickers...and lots of pens and pencils. You know those bulky biro contraptionswhere you can choose from 4 different colours red, blue, black or green in one device? Well here you can choose the empty device and then pick the colours that you want!!! Amaze balls!
 |
| Mount Fuji - looking great! |
We went away for a night to Hakone - we did the fabulous open air museum and the following day we took a bus, a cable car to get a good view of Mount Fuji, a boat across the lake (pirate themed of course!) and then walked part of an ancient path. The Japanese have a fascination with taking multiple forms of transport and that is one reason why Hakone is so popular.
For the final night together we went to Andy's - Andy is a northern lad who has been out here for ages and runs a typical Isakaya restaurant (pub) which is squeezed under the railway arches. He goes to the famous Tokyo fish market each day. Fermented sea cucumber was not available so he suggested sea pineapple. We asked what it was like and he said it was one of the most disgusting things you could put in your mouth. So we ordered a portion! A couple asked to see the dessert menus, Andy said there are none…but then produced a few After Eights from his own personal supply!
 |
| Chocolate tart with cherries. Coffee with a pastry containing marmalade to add to your coffee - the marmalade not the pastry! |
 |
| Blossom...with a bird! |
 |
| Naka Meguro |
We waved our friends off the next day at 6am, and at 9:30am were installed at our first hanami (Blossom watching) party! The Japanese don't really do picnic blankets instead they use massive bits of blue tarpaulin to mark their space. Peeps from our group had arrived on site at 6 am to grab the space under the biggest cherry tree. We started off with yoga and having finished this the beers were opened!! Food ranged from sashimi, fried chicken, Doritos, cheesecake to a Dominos pizza that was delivered! We then went to another party on a housing estate it featured various random entertainers. Apparently it is very traditional for people to balance spinning tops on the edge of fans and swords! The excitement! The local school brass band was the finale.
A place called Naka Meguro is famous for blossom watching - has loads of trees either side of a river which join each other over the water. Great viewpoints from the various bridges. The place is also full of stalls selling food and drink. I treated myself to a Sakura flavoured fizzy wine for around three quid. Dominic managed to hold out till he saw the pink Chandon for £3.50 a glass! We were blossomed out!
