March 31 - Tokyo

 I forgot to add this photo of the ordering tablet at Denny's.  You can see all of the menus stacked behind it along with the instructions in English which we didn't find until we'd already figured it out.  And the little button thing on the right is used when you want to call someone for service.

Today is Easter Sunday, but that isn't celebrated here since the religions are Shinto or Buddhism. We had breakfast again in the buffet (this is included in the tour package) and then headed off on our tour.  Our guide, Umi, was a cute little thing and better than the gentleman yesterday.  Our first stop was at the Tokyo National Museum, which has over 100,000 items on display.  We had 30 minutes there.  Obviously, we didn't see much.  We headed to the garden in back and then made a quick stop at the museum shop for a glass nail file, which makes for a nice souvenir - pretty, practical, lightweight and inexpensive.

Umi said these steps are often used in movies and TV shows.

We were on the same bus as Jan and Tom.

There are a few cherry blossoms blooming now, but peak is still a ways away.

Along our drive, we passed some interesting buildings.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.  This has a light show on the outside every evening.

The Tokyo Skytree - a broadcasting and observation tower. At 634 meters it is the tallest tower in the world.

One of several Denny's we saw - not the one we ate at last night.

Our next stop was the Asakusa-Sensoji Temple.  Michael and I went here in 2017 and it was not nearly as crowded back then, but we did see young women in kimonos then also.

One of the entry gates

It was very crowded today.

Umi said that 70% of those in kimonos are tourists.

The weather has been great - in the low 70's with a slight breeze.  It seemed all of Tokyo was out enjoying the warm weather.

This is where you wash your hands before entering the temple

I tried to get the baby cherry blossom and the temple in the same photo

Then it was back to the hotel.

In the back of the bus in seats with extra legroom.

Lunch was a quick sandwich and chips picked up at the 7-11 next door.  Denny's, 7-11 - boy, we really live high on the hog here in Tokyo! We have resisted the McDonald's and Wendy's though, so that's something. The little noodle cafes are always so busy and a little intimidating to figure out how to order and pay.  I figure we'll do better in smaller cities during our cruise.

Michael went to the fitness center for a while and I read until it was time for dinner.  We went with Jan & Tom, Phil & Carol Juckeland (friends we met on the 2020 World Cruise who live near to our former home in Eagle Crest), and their friends Jerry & Susan Freschi from Klamath Falls, OR.  Phil asked the concierge to make reservations at a nearby casual Japanese restaurant.  It was really good and surprisingly reasonable.  I had a sort of combo plate and, except for the miso soup and the two pieces of tempura, I have no idea what it all was, but it was very tasty.  Michael had a beef plate and together with 2 beers, the total was $40.  

Tomorrow we have one more morning tour, then we will be taken to the ship.