Tokyo - Day Three Meiji Shrine

The Meiji Shrine is one of the most important landmarks in Tokyo. It is currently under renovations in preparation for the crowds for the 2020 Olympics so much of the building is covered. They are replacing the copper roofs of the buildings to show off the amazing construction. Meiji is located in a beautiful park and was the starting place for our Night Out tour with Backstreet Guides today.

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Tokyo - Day Three Golden Gao

Located in the shadows of the Hanazono Shrine is Golden Gai - one of Tokyo's drinking areas. Golden Gai is filled with hundreds of tiny drinking spots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tokyo - Day Three Hanazono Shrine

The Hanazono Shrine is a colorful Shinto Shrine founded in the mid-17th century. The shrine is dedicated to worldly success and attracts lots of businessmen for prayer. It is located near the Seibu-Shinjuku Station.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tokyo - Day Three Tokyo Travel

We took off on our own today to see the town. It's raining pretty heavy and not the best photography day. We walk through Asakusa to discover some covered shopping street and indoor shopping areas. 

The JR Yamanote Line is an above ground train that encircles the city of Tokyo. It takes about 1 hour to make the complete circle with plenty of stops in local areas of the city. We grabbed the Ginza (G19) line from Asakusa to connect at Ueon (G16). The Pasmo transit card is a life saver for traveling since the trains area actually operated by different companies. The Pasmo provides for seamless train hopping. In preparation for the 2020 Olympics - Tokyo is adding languages including English to more and more signs and systems. 

Thank goodness for google maps and my portable wifi hotspot. It makes getting around the city so much easier. 

 

 

 

 

Tokyo - Day Two Yanaka

Yanaka was probably one of my favorite stops today with our guide Yoko from Backstreet Guides. It's a quieter and has a more local feel to it. You can see it all here - cemetery, small temple, drinking alley and typical shopping street.