Sophie Hits Tokyo - Day Three

The first thing we did was check out of our hotel, and try to stash our luggage in a coin locker in Tokyo station, so we could pick it up before getting back on the Shinkansen. Turns out, it's ridiculously difficult to get a coin locker in Tokyo station. We literally had to loiter about until we saw someone take their stuff out, and then swoop on the empty locker.

Having done much shopping over the past two days, the third day was our Culture day. We started with a stroll through the part of the Imperial Gardens that is open to the masses. It's a very pleasant park, and also contains the remains of Edo Castle. Here's me in the remains:


There's a lot of general greenery,


and some bamboo,


and some koi,


and really awesome, BIG spiders in the bushes! Check this lady out! She's all multi-coloured and shit.


After the Imperial Gardens, we headed for Ueno Park, because that's where the Tokyo National Museum is. Ueno Park is also pleasant, and has some cool pathway lamps, with little Japanese scenes painted on them.


The museum was great. Their main display was a chronological display of Japanese art. It was really interesting to see the development from 4000 year old ceramics to the ceramics, paintings and textiles that were much more recognisably Japanese. Oh, and there were samurai helmets and armour and swords. Cooooool, but also educational! We learnt the difference between a tachi (a big sword that hangs from your waist by a chain, and has the sharp edge downwards) and a katana (a big sword that you stick through your obi, and has the sharp edge upwards).

After the museum, we had a little time to kill, so we went to Ginza and had an expensive afternoon tea. Ginza isn't all that interesting. It does have some bright lights though:


Then we headed back to Tokyo Station, got our stashed luggage, and settled into our Shinkansen seats. I snoozed at record speeds all the way back to Osaka.