Tag: Tokyo Japan

Sunday, April 21, 2024 – Photo of the Day – Tokyo, Japan

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Tokyo, Japan

Where in the World Are We?

We are in Tokyo, Japan

TOKYO, JAPAN
TRADITIONAL CULTURE AND PASSION FOR EVERYTHING NEW – A CITY LIKE NO OTHER

Tokyo has 23 special wards, each with distinct character and attractions. These were established in 1947, following the end of World War II and the adoption of Japan’s post-war constitution. They reflect the city’s unique mix of tradition and modernity and its diverse neighborhoods and districts.

The wards are located in the southeastern part of the Kanto region, on the eastern coast of Honshu, Japan’s main island.
The city is situated on a flat plain once the site of a large bay known as Edo Bay. The bay filled in over time as the city expanded. The bay was formed by the intersection of several rivers, including the Sumida River, which flows through the heart of Tokyo.

Each of the 23 wards has its local government, with a mayor and city council responsible for managing local services
and infrastructure. The wards are further subdivided into smaller neighborhoods with unique histories and cultures.

Some of the most well-known wards in Tokyo include Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ginza, and Asakusa. Shibuya is a bustling
commercial and entertainment district known for its fashion boutiques, trendy cafes, and famous pedestrian crossings.
Shinjuku is home to Tokyo’s skyscrapers, the city’s red-light district, and the Golden Gai nightlife area. Ginza is a high-end shopping and dining district with many luxury brands and Michelin-starred restaurants. Asakusa is a historic district known for its ancient temples and traditional street markets.

The wards are connected by an extensive public transportation network, including buses, trains, and subways, making it easy to travel between different parts of the city. The Tokyo Metro, for instance, is one of the largest subway systems in the world, with over 100 stations and 13 lines.

STATUE OF LIBERTY
This 11m-tall replica of Lady Liberty, a fixture on Odaiba’s waterfront since 1998, is a popular photo-op with the Rainbow Bridge in the background. France’s original replica from 1889 was moved from Île aux Cygnes in Paris to Odaiba to celebrate Franco-Japanese ties. But the statue was so famous that the city installed a permanent replica.

SIGHTS

  • teamLab Planets
  • Ueno Park
  • Tokyo National Museum
  • Tsukiji Outer Market
  • Ghibli Museum
  • Yoyogi Park

Today’s excursion was visiting our favorite places from when we lived here between 2004 to 2006.

Sandy at Water Wall in Ueno Park
Carrying a shrine in a parade festival
Another shrine parade
At the Museum of Natural History
A Bean at the Tokyo Museum of Art
Granite sculpture at the Museum
Display at the Annual Peony Show
It continues thru winding paths with many peonies shaded by paper umbrellas
Peaceful setting
Zen Garden display
View of Pagoda from the Peony Show
View just outside the Peony Show
Closer view
Inside view
Carp Kites
Stone Lanterns line the path to the Shrine
Maybe hundreds
Shrine entrance gate
Inside view
From Ueno Park we went to Omotosando, the premier shopping street in Tokyo where we saw this silver Rolls Royce
The shops there are better than Paris, London, & New York
Apple Store
Inside Apple Store
Crowds at Omotosando intersection
Next, we visited our favorite Ropongi spots
Our final spot was to Azabu-Juban were we lived
It has small shrines
With more modest entrances
We visited our Oakwook Residence

Pre-Dinner Showtime! “Emotions, A Taste of Things to Come”
Cruise Director Moss for a Voyage Overview and introduction of our Lecturers, Guest Acts, and Key Staff on board.

We enjoyed an entertaining evening with our Silversea Singers and Dancers!

Tonight’s dinner was in The Restaurant.

Tonight’s wines
Unadon
Japanese Sticky Rice served with smoked eel, sweet soy wasabi sauce, scallion
Zoni
Chicken Broth with Rice Bowl, Vegetable Juliennes, Pulled Chicken
Roasted Leg of Lamb
Dauphinoise Potato · Green Pea Puree · Sherry Glazed Shallots · Lamb Jus · Oven Roasted Parsnips
Nanbanzuke
Marinated Panko Crumbed Fried Fish, Yakisoba. Wasabi Kewpie Sauce
Lime-marinated Scallops *
Scallops · Lemon Butter Sauce · Oven-roasted Fennel · Grated Lime Zest · Roasted Red Onion Mash Potatoes
Goyo Uji
Japanese Style Cheese Cake Flavored with Matcha Green Tea served with Strawberry Coulis, Lemon Whip Cream
Lemon Meringue Pie
Lemon Curds · Sweet Crust Dough · Lemon Zest · Lemon Juice · Meringue · Edible Gold · Pink Rosewater Sugar Crystals

Check out today’s Chronicle.

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Saturday, April 20, 2024 – Photo of the Day – Tokyo, Japan

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Tokyo, Japan with Mt. Fuji in the background

Where in the World Are We?

We are in Tokyo, Japan.

TOKYO, JAPAN
A SEEMINGLY UNLIMITED CHOICE OF SHOPPING, ENTERTAINMENT, CULTURE & DINING

Dense and delightful, there’s nowhere else like Japan’s kinetic capital – a city where ancient traditions blend seamlessly
with a relentless pursuit for the future’s sharpest edge. See the city from above, as elevators rocket you up to towering
viewing platforms, from which you can survey a vast urban ocean, interspersed with sky-scraping needles.

Look out as far as the distant loom of Mount Fuji’s cone on clear days. Futuristic – second-accurate – transport seamlessly
links Tokyo’s 14 districts, while the glow of flashing advertisement boards, clanks of arcade machines, and waves of
humanity flowing along its streets, adds to the sense of mesmerising, dizzying and glorious sensory overload. One of
Tokyo’s most iconic sights, don’t miss the flood of people scrambling to cross Shibuya’s famous intersection.

Join the choreographed dance, as crowds of briefcase-carrying commuters are given the green light to cross at the
same time – bathed in the light of massive neon advertisements. The culture is immensely rich and deep, with 7thcentury,
lantern-decorated temples, stunning palaces and tranquil scarlet shrines waiting below cloaks of incense and
nestling between soaring skyscrapers.

Restaurants serve up precisely prepared sushi, and wafer-thin seafood slivers, offering a unique taste of the country’s
refined cuisine. Settle into traditional teahouses, to witness intricate ceremonies, or join the locals as they fill
out karaoke bars to sing the night away. In the spring, cherry blossom paints a delicate pink sheen over the city’s
innumerable parks and gardens.

IMPERIAL PALACE
The Imperial Palace has served as the residential place of the successive Emperors since 1868. It contains the Imperial Residence and the Imperial Palace Complex, where His Majesty the Emperor undertakes official duties. Various ceremonies and public activities are held there too. The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace are located on the eastern part of
the palace grounds and opened to the public.

SIGHTS

  • Sensō-ji Temple
  • Tokyo Skytree
  • Meiji Jingu Shrine
  • Tokyo Tower
  • Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
  • Shibuya Scramble Crossing

Today’s Activities Included:

  • Bridge Lessons
  • Dance Lessons
  • Enrichment Lecture with Mark Stanton: Top 20 Useless Inventions in the World
    • Everyone thinks that they have an idea for the best invention in the world. Everyone is going to need one and it will make him or her a fortune. The truth is far from this utopian idea. The British are famous for having had more patents issued than any other nation on Earth, but not all of them have been the roaring success that their inventors hoped for. What were some of the more useless inventions that have been granted a patent?
  • In Conversation and Q&A with Forensic Anthropologist Kathy Reichs hosted by Cruise Director Moss
    • We all watch TV crime shows, and hear about criminal investigations on the news. Our forensic expert Kathy, separates the facts from the fiction, and then she answered your questions in the Q&A session. It was a fascinating insight into the world of forensic evidence and crime investigation.
  • Enrichment Lecture with Michael DiSpezio: Christopher Columbus – The Science and History of Encountering a New World
    • Discover the incredible backstory of Columbus and his journey to uncover a shorter route to the Indies. Plus, discover the real story of why sailors use nautical miles.
    • The sliges are self explanatory.

TONIGHT’S LOCAL SHOW – THE POWER OF CORE

CORE is Japan’s first drum performance group using marching drums,
formed in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, the birthplace of marching
bands in Japan.

At that time, drum line entertainment only existed in the United States, the home of marching bands. It did not exist in Japan, and CORE could not even find marching instruments in Japan.

CORE creates performances derived from traditional US marching drum line shows combined with the expression and style that is uniquely Japanese.

The core of CORE performances include:
“A powerful performance with the entire stage”, “The Art of Stick Control”, “The stage and the audience are one”.

Our performances surprise and inspire audiences and as a pioneer of the first drum performance group in Japan, The CORE will continue to provide smiles, hopes, dreams, and impressions to all people in the world sharing their
exciting and unique drum performances.

Tonight’s dinner was in The Restaurant.

Cucumber Salad
Sticky Rice with grilled onions and beef appetizer
BBQ Lamb with rice and bok choy
Grilled Halibut, broccolli, and green beans
Japanese Pancake with Red Bean filing
Rasberry Meringue

Check out today’s Chronicle.

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