Tokyo Day 16 4/10/2014

We're staying at the Centurion Hotel in Ueno, a district in North Tokyo.  Our room is box size, swinging cats (or not!) come to mind and the bathroom is shoe box size and not for the claustrophobic but it is very comfy.  We're on the 8th floor with a small balcony enabling us to have a good view over the city including the Sky Tree tower.  After breakfast we headed to the peaceful and very tranquil gardens at Meiji-Jingu which includes Tokyo's grandest Shino shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.  We were lucky enough to see the start of a marriage ceremony with the wedding party in traditional dress.  The bride and groom later headed off in what looked like a London black cab specially fitted with lifting roof to enable the brides hair to fit in!  We then went to what apparently is the busiest road crossing in the world at Shibuya and watched the numerous crossings from a very busy Starbucks that overlooked the junction (and treated ourselves to western style coffee).  Diane then gave an interview to a Japanese cable TV company about foreigners in Tokyo (it might be on the website www.zip.co.jp!).  After a quick lunch we went to Tokyo Tower (very similar to the Eiffel Tower) and had a 250m ride up to the highest vantage point to look over the city.  It was a shame it was cloudy and we weren't able to see Mt Fuji but we still got a great 360 view of the city.  We travelled around the city on the metro - one of the most extensive and complex underground networks in the world with competing companies running different lines (and some overground lines).  Having said that with a little bit of help from the station attendant we worked out that a day ticket was best value for money and saved paying for going the wrong way!  By the end of the day we'd got it worked out and were travelling around like locals.  That night we went to a tradition Yakitori restaurant and had a fantastic meal.  All felt very authentic including sitting on the floor (was a bit of a struggle to get up afterwards especially for Simon.  He really should practice yoga!).  Back to the hotel with a full day planned for tomorrow.