-- Tokyo
The road tracklog
From
Tokyo to Mt Fuji
from 2011/01/17 to 2011/01/20
Monday January 18 I got into the bus at the West-Gate of Shinjuku Station for Kawaguchi-ko, the way lasted approximately two hours. Near the city the Mt Fuji appeared in all its immaculate splendour in its quasi geometrical shape. The weather was splendid and the posted temperature was of 2°C with a strong wind. Alas I learned in the Tourist Office that Cable-car to go to the lookout was closed due to maintenance, in Tokyo nobody had informed me. From the city it was impossible to see the Mt Fuji without electric wire and roof of the houses. I went to Visitor Centre at approximately two kilometres where from the terrace I took some pictures. By hoping others I embarked in a Retro Bus which skirts the Lake Kawaguchiko bordered with hotels and second homes. At the terminal station I unloaded for some pictures before returning to the city to take a bus for returning to Tokyo-Shinjuku where I arrived around 5 am. I had spent most of the day in bus for a few moment of spectacle certainly unforgettable.
Shinjuku at 8am
Tokyo
17/01/2011
Mt Fuji
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Mt Fuji, from Engaku-ji, Kamakura, Japan
The next day was dedicated to the visit of two museums in Roppongi Art Triangle. But there was only one because the National Art Center is closed Tuesdays contrary to the others which are to it Mondays!
National Art Center
Tokyo
18/01/2011
I moved towards Roppongi Hills to climb the Mori Tower up to the 5F where Tokyo City View is, 360° panoramic view on the city. The pictures behind tinted panes do not give the reality of the spectacle. Mori Museum, included in the ticket -forced sale- is not worth displacement besides visitors were not delayed preferring the bird's eye spectacle.
Bird's eye view from Mori Tower 52F
Tokyo
18/01/2011
Bird's eye view from Mori Tower 52F
Tokyo
18/01/2011
To fill the day I visited Edo-Tokyo Museum which recalls the history of the city with documents, models and reconstitutions.
Edo-Tokyo Museum
Tokyo
18/01/2011
Edo-Tokyo Museum
Tokyo
18/01/2011
Edo-Tokyo Museum, Instrument of Surrender
Tokyo
18/01/2011
January 19 around 7 hours of the morning I made the essential visit of Tsukiji Fish Market supposed to be the world's biggest. I waded in the water from slack to slack in front of the pieces of red tuna of which fishing is fought by Greenpeace. I met Food Sanitation Inspectors controlling with accuracy the product freshness.
Tsukiji Fish Market
Tokyo
19/01/2011
Red tuna
Tokyo
19/01/2011
Tsukiji Fish Market
Tokyo
19/01/2011
Food Sanitation Inspector
Tokyo
19/01/2011
The fish odour drove me back towards the Hama-Rikyu-Gardens. I acknowledge that I was not enthusiastic but I entered. I was equipped with an "automatic audio-visual interpretation" which delivered me on the 26 stations judicious comments, reproductions of paintings of time and directions to follow not to lose me. I was flabbergasted per such technology to which I was not accustomed. I strolled during more than two hours under a heat spring sun. This park must be a pure wonder in spring during flowering.
Hama-Rikyu-Teien
Tokyo
19/01/2011
Hama-Rikyu-Teien
Tokyo
19/01/2011
Hama-Rikyu-Teien
Tokyo
19/01/2011
Hama-Rikyu-Teien
Tokyo
19/01/2011
At the end of the morning I returned to Roppongi Art Triangle to visit the National Art Center. There was a temporary exhibit which held my attention not more than the many rooms devoted to the art of calligraphy not understanding nothing there or rather not reading Japanese. I noticed that on the third floor there was a Brasserie Paul Bocuse as an Atelier Joël Robuchon in Roppongi Hills.
National Art Center
Tokyo
19/01/2011
National Art Center
Tokyo
19/01/2011
Friday January 20, 2011 I left Japan with a flight of Air Canada for Vancouver at the end of the afternoon under a radiant sky. The last picture was a poster of the Mt Fuji at the airport. SDV Logistics in Vancouver informed me that ETA of the vessel with my campervan was February 1st. I should stay until at Vancouver.
Narita Airport
Tokyo
20/01/2011
