24-MAY-2010
Rainy Day at the Imperial Palace
After walking through the huge front lawn of the Imperial Palace to see its landmark double bridges
Nijūbashi 二重橋, we were all soaked by the time we got back to our bus, parked near this statue of
Kusunoki Masashige 楠木 正成.
Umbrellas could not protect us from the wind-driven rains. Fortunately, that was the last time we encountered any heavy rain on this trip.
24-MAY-2010
In Front of Asakusa Temple 浅草寺
By the time we arrived at the Asakusa Temple, the morning downpour had tapered off to a light drizzle.
We passed through the famous Buddhist temple and turned south into the shopping alley of off Nakamise-dōri
仲見世通り.
24-MAY-2010
Early Lunch in Asakusa 浅草
After lunch the rain stopped. We were able to stroll around the
temple in relative dryness.
24-MAY-2010
Shopping at the Ginza Yon-chome Crossing
On the intersection of Harumi Dori
晴海通り & Chuo Dori
中央通り at the center of
Ginza, in front of the 1932 Neo-Renaissance style
Wako 和光 Building.
24-MAY-2010
Entering the Meiji Shrine
Passing under the large 12m tall Torii, the largest in Japan, we enter the outer gate of the
Meiji Shrine.
Shooting photos towards the inside of the shrine is not allowed. Unfortunately, I was not prepared when the wedding party exited right from the shrine.
25-MAY-2010
Coffee, Tea, or Whatever You Want
With low crime rate, especially vandalism, Japan is a nation of vending machines. We marveled at the varieties of drinks available at this rest stop in Oyama Town, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture
静岡県 駿東郡 小山町 on our way from
Tokyo to
Hakone 箱根.
25-MAY-2010
At the Top
We all posed for photos at the boiling hot spring.
We took it to
Lake Ashi , where our lunch was ready.
25-MAY-2010
Garden Tour
Touring the European style terrace garden of the Hotel New Akao. Many Japanese couples love the romantic setting of a Western style garden as their wedding venues.
Please click here to read the next page, as we continued our tour from Atami to Kyoto and beyond.