Tokyo in the rain

The weather has changed, fortunately after all hiking has been completed.  It rained most the day and is predicted to be the same tomorrow.  But, we weren't going to sit in our hotel all day, so out we went with our umbrellas and rain jackets.

We started with breakfast in the hotel, which was western style buffet, with some Japanese-items for those inclined.  We walked first to the Tsukiji Outer Market, which appeared to be the area where Japanese come on Sunday for brunch.  It is only open on Sundays, Wednesdays and holidays.  The shops and cafes offered sashima on rice (raw fish). 

The fish comes from next door from the wholesale fish market.  One curious thing that happened in the outer market.  I walked into a knife store (some where as long as swords) and a guy jumped up and stood directly in front of me.  I said I just looking; he didn't move, smile or say anything.  I took that as a sign I was not wanted and left.

We left the market for a stroll through the Minato City area.  We walked by the Hama-rikyu Gardens, which we toured about a month ago the first time while in Tokyo, then to the Sengaku-ji Temple.  

Great joinery

And, carvings on a beam

It was built in 1612, and is the grave site for the Ako Ronin (or known in the west as the "47 Ronin").  Their leader was Naganori Asano and is famous from the Ako Incident or "Chushingura."  The Japanese seem to still pay their respects to these disgraced samuri by placing incense at each gravesite.

We tried to find a large tree (chinquapin) and may have saw it later from afar.  But ended up in a Japanese Garden known as Happo-en.  It had a series of bonzai trees on display, a few over 500 years old and the many other things normally associated with such gardens.  We walked around the pond with large koi.  

Bonzai trees

520 years old!

We walked to the nearest subway station and caught a train back to our hotel.  We picked up some snacks and retreated to our hotel room for tea and to dry out.

We went to the edge of the Ginza to find dinner and after wandering around a bit, chose a small restaurant, a "shokudo" with an unknow name.  We sat at the counter peering up at the bartender.  We ordered off the menu, 2 beers, Korean pancake, pot stickers, chicken skewers, salad with mushrooms and bacon dressing (came with an egg in the center, mostly uncooked), and tuna sushi.  It was great value and fun to watch the action.  The beer is poured from an automatic machine that first tilts the mug, fills it to within 1 1/2 inches of the rim, straightens the mug and finally squirts in foam, making a consistent sized head.  We walked back to our hotel, the rains had stopped for now.