tokyo

On arrival in Tokyo, we took the local train into town and out to the local area where our Ryakan stood. Ryakan are traditional Japanese hotels, and incredibly cozy and authentic. We all love our beds on the floor, small low tables, paper sliding windows. And not least, our outdoor hot baths. Girls' bathroom was on top of another building, so we sat at night in 40 degrees hot water under the stars, great!. The first day we were out in the local area, well tired after the long flight. Ate in one of the local eateries.

Our first full day in Tokyo, we got up early and took the train out to, in my opinion the city's biggest attraction, Tsukiji central fish market. The Fish market is simply a town in it selves. We stopped at a small cafe in the outer market and had breakfast, when the time was around 6am. Then through the market into the inner part. Hard to explain rather think it is one of the things you yourself must see to understand. A patchwork of old tradition and hyper Technologie. Virtually all fish and marine animals exist, they can also be found on the world's largest fish market, unfortunately, even those who are protected ....
But a huge experience for us all, and especially girls who were deeply impressed by all the different fish, squids, giant crab and tuna bigger than the girls themselves.

After having gone through a couple of hours at the fish market, we were hungry and curious to taste Japanese sushi. There was a whole series of small streets with just sushi bars. We chose a good place and it was probably the best sushi I have ever tasted, and the only time I've been eating it at 8 in the morning. We had such a large plate with the largest pieces of sushi I have ever seen that it was quite impossible to eat it all.

From the fish market we went to the Asakusa district, where we followed a walking route Lonely Planet recommended. The place was filled with old temples and a giant market where Japanese and tourists go to buy their gifts. We arrived at Asakusa subway and started our walk at Nakamise-Dori, a wide street with lots of small stalls selling everything Japanese traditional and modern gift stuff. Good we were on our long journey, otherwiseNadia had bought half of the street. Especially all the Hello Kitty things had her interest, and the beautiful Japanese kiminos. One keyring was the souvenir for the girls, we had to carry it around with us the next 3 months, so no heavy things in the backpack, but the temptation was there.

At the end of Nakamise-Dori is Hözöman gate, which is the entrance to Senso-ji temple. The place was well visited, but most were local who came and pray, or put the prayer letters up. The place was full of incense and holy wells with water. The place was very beautiful and wonderful place to take pictures. There was also the 5-story high Pagoda, which is the second highest in Japan.

From the temple area we continued our route, which then went through some theatrical and cinematic streets there also were big gambling halls. Finally we came to a large temple with a cemetery, which had a small marble pillars each. Beautiful and different than we see at home. So the trip went home because everyone was tired after this long but very exciting day. At home we got the sushi take away and eat in the rooms and finally a nice hot bath on the roof.

We started the day with taking into the Imperial Palace and park outside the palace. The palace was surrounded by a huge park that is closed to people outside it was also a park that was open to all. An enormous green area in the huge city.

From Imperial Palace, we continued to one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods, Nippori, which was not destroyed during WWII. Again, a great route in Lonely Planet book. Started by Nishi-Nippori station and went through the narrow street down to Ueno park. All of the long street filled with old houses and temples. One temple more beautiful than the other, and rested a quiet peace of the whole area in this hectic city. We then continued throughout the enourmous Ueno park, which will be fantastic when the cherry trees bloom. There was one avenue after another of cherry trees.

From Ueno Park ahead with metro to the Shinjuku district. The city's theater and redlight district and shopping in giant warehouses. Here, we saw a lot of wonderful neon advertisments, as we often associate with Japan.

We had some fantastic days in Tokyo, and we had an insight into Japanese culture and history. Definitely a place that I would like to visit for a longer period at a later date. Now, the journey went to warmer climate and New Year in Sydney, Australia.

26 december DK- Tokyo Tokyo var første stop på vores 3 måneders orlov i Stillehavet. Vi var 9 afsted på turen, pigerne og mig, mine forældre, Jytte, Inge, Bente og Kjeld. Turen startede på Fredericia banegård hvorfra vi skulle med nattog til Kastrup for at nå vores morgenfly til London. Alle tog tidspunktet i stiv arm, spændte på hvad der ventede os forude de næste 3 måneder. Turen til Tokyo var dog lang da vi først skulle i modsatte retning til London for at tage med flyet derfra, så da vi havde været hjemmefra i næsten 8 timer fløj vi henover Jylland igen...Men ellers havde vi en fin tur hen over Asien. Tokyo was the first stop on our 3-month leave in the Pacific. We were 9 people on the journey, the girls and me, my parents, Jytte, Inge, Bente and Kjeld. The trip started at Fredericia station where we were with the night train to Copenhagen to achieve our morning to London. All took the time in stiff arm, curius at what awaited us ahead for the next 3 months. The trip to Tokyo was long when we first had to go the opposite direction to London to take flight from there, so when we had been home for nearly 8 hours we flew over Jutland again ... But otherwise we had a nice trip across Asia		Pigerne på vores værelse på Ryakan Kangetsu
Vores dejlige hjem Ryakan Kangetsu		27 december Tokyo Ved ankomst til Tokyo, tog vi de lokale tog ind til byen, og ud til det lokal område hvor vores Ryakan lå. Ryakan er traditionelle japanske hoteller, og utrolig hyggelige og autentiske. Vi var allesammen vilde med vores senge på gulvet, små lave borde, papirskydevinduer. Og ikke mindst vores udendørs varme bade. Pigernes bad var på toppen af en anden bygning, så vi sad om aftenen i 40 grader varmt vand under stjernehimlen, skønt. Den første dag blev vi ude i lokalområdet, godt trætte efter den lange flyvetur. Spiste på et af de lokale spisesteder. On arrival in Tokyo, we took the local train into town and out to the local area where our Ryakan stood. Ryakan are traditional Japanese hotels, and incredibly cozy and authentic. We all love our beds on the floor, small low tables, paper sliding windows. And not least, our outdoor hot baths. Girls' bathroom was on top of another building, so we sat at night in 40 degrees hot water under the stars, great!. The first day we were out in the local area, well tired after the long flight. Ate in one of the local eateries.
28 december Tokyo Vores første hele dag i Tokyo, stod vi tidlig op og tog toget ud til, efter min mening byens største seværdighed, Tsukiji centrale fiskemarked. Fiskemarkedet er simpelthen en hel bydel, vi stoppede ved en af de små cafeer i ydre markedet og fik morgenmad, da klokken var omkring 6. Derefter igennem markedet ind til den indre del. Svært at forklare stedet, tror det er en af de ting man selv skal opleve, for at forstå. Et virvar af gammel tradition og hypertechnologi. Stort set alle fisk og havdyr der findes, kan også findes på dette verdens største fiskemarked, desværre også dem der er fredet.... Men en kæmpe oplevelse for os alle, og ikke mindst pigerne der var dybt imponeret over alle de forskellige fisk, blæksprutter, gigantiske krabber og tun større end pigerne selv.		Natasha på Tsukiji centrale fiskemarked
Nadia og en kæmpe tun på Tsukiji centrale fiskemarked		Our first full day in Tokyo, we got up early and took the train out to, in my opinion the city's biggest attraction, Tsukiji central fish market. The Fish market is simply a town in it selves. We stopped at a small cafe in the outer market and had breakfast, when the time was around 6am. Then through the market into the inner part. Hard to explain rather think it is one of the things you yourself must see to understand. A patchwork of old tradition and hyper Technologie. Virtually all fish and marine animals exist, they can also be found on the world's largest fish market, unfortunately, even those who are protected .... But a huge experience for us all, and especially girls who were deeply impressed by all the different fish, squids, giant crab and tuna bigger than the girls themselves.
Kæmpe blæksprutte på Tsukiji centrale fiskemarked		Kæmpe muslinger på Tsukiji centrale fiskemarked
Efter at have gået rundt et par timer på fiskemarkedet, var vi sultne og nysgerrige efter at smage japansk sushi. Der var en hel række små gader med ene sushibarer. Vi valgte et godt sted og fik nok det bedste sushi jeg nogensinde har smagt, og det eneste jeg har fået kl. 8 om morgenen. Vi fik en så stor tallerken med de største stykker sushi jeg nogensinde har set, at det stortset var umulig at spise det hele.		Sushibar ved Tsukiji centrale fiskemarked
Lækker sushi		After having gone through a couple of hours at the fish market, we were hungry and curious to taste Japanese sushi. There was a whole series of small streets with just sushi bars. We chose a good place and it was probably the best sushi I have ever tasted, and the only time I've been eating it at 8 in the morning. We had such a large plate with the largest pieces of sushi I have ever seen that it was quite impossible to eat it all.
Fra fiskemarkedet tog vi så videre til Asakusa bydelen, hvor vi fulgte en gårute Lonely Planet anbefalede. Stedet var fyldt med gamle templer og et kæmpe marked, hvor japanerne og turister køber deres gaver. Vi ankom ved Asakusa metro og startede vores gåtur Nakamise-döri, som er en lang gade med masser af små boder der sælger alt inden for japanske traditionelle og nyere gaveting. Godt vi var først på vores lange tur, ellers havde Nadia købt det halve af gaden. Specielt alle de forskellige Hello Kitty ting fandt hendes interesse og de flotte japanske kiminoer. En enkelt nøglering blev det til af souvenir til pigerne, vi skulle jo bære det rundt med os de næste 3 måneder, så ingen tunge ting i rygsækken, men fristende var det da.		Sælger på Nakamise-döri
Sælger på Nakamise-döri		From the fish market we went to the Asakusa district, where we followed a walking route Lonely Planet recommended. The place was filled with old temples and a giant market where Japanese and tourists go to buy their gifts. We arrived at Asakusa subway and started our walk at Nakamise-Dori, a wide street with lots of small stalls selling everything Japanese traditional and modern gift stuff. Good we were on our long journey, otherwiseNadia had bought half of the street. Especially all the Hello Kitty things had her interest, and the beautiful Japanese kiminos. One keyring was the souvenir for the girls, we had to carry it around with us the next 3 months, so no heavy things in the backpack, but the temptation was there.
Nadia drømmer om hvad hun kunne tænke sig med hjem		Mor, vi ville elske en af disse kiminoer...
Nakamise-döri		Nakamise-döri
For enden af Nakamise-döri ligger Hözöman porten, som er indgangen til Sensö-ji templet. Stedet var vel besøgt, men de fleste var lokale der kom og bad eller satte bedebreve op. Stedet var fuld af røgelse og brønde med hellig vand. Stedet var meget smukt og fantastisk sted at tage billeder. Her lå også den 5 etagers høje Pagode, som er den anden højeste i Japan.		Hözöman porten
Pigerne ved Hözöman porten		At the end of Nakamise-Dori is Hözöman gate, which is the entrance to Senso-ji temple. The place was well visited, but most were local who came and pray, or put the prayer letters up. The place was full of incense and holy wells with water. The place was very beautiful and wonderful place to take pictures. There was also the 5-story high Pagoda, which is the second highest in Japan.
Sonso-ji templet		Fra temple området fortsatte vi ruten, som derefter gik igennem nogle teater og biograf gader, hvir der også var store spillehaller. Til sidst kom vi til et stort temple med en kirkegård, hvor man havde en lille marmorsøjle hver. Smukt og anderledes end vi ser herhjemme. Så gik turen hjemaf da alle var trætte efter denne lange men utrolig spændende dag. Hjemme hentede vi sushi take away og spiste på værelserne og til slut et dejligt varmt bad på taget.
From the temple area we continued our route, which then went through some theatrical and cinematic streets there also were big gambling halls. Finally we came to a large temple with a cemetery, which had a small marble pillars each. Beautiful and different than we see at home. So the trip went home because everyone was tired after this long but very exciting day. At home we got the sushi take away and eat in the rooms and finally a nice hot bath on the roof.		Sonso-ji temple
Kejser paladset		29 december Tokyo Vi startede dagen med at tage ind til Kejser paladset og parken uden om paladset. Paladset var omgivet af en kæmpe park, der er aflukket for befolkningen, uden om den var der endnu en park som var åben for alle. Et enormt grønt område i den kæmpe by.
We started the day with taking into the Imperial Palace and park outside the palace. The palace was surrounded by a huge park that is closed to people outside it was also a park that was open to all. An enormous green area in the huge city.		Et af de mange templer i Nippori
Et af de mange templer i Nippori		Fra kejser paladset, fortsatte vi til en af byens ældste bydele, Nippori, som ikke blev ødelagt under anden verdenskrig. Igen en formidable rute i Lonely Planet bogen. Startede ved Nishi-Nippori stationen, og gik så igennem den smale gade ned imod Ueno parken. Hele den lange gade er fyldt med gamle huse og templer i masse vis. Det ene temple flottere end det andet, og der hvilede en stille fred over hele området i denne hektiske by. Vi forsatte så hele vejen igennem den store Ueno park, som vil være fantastisk flot når kirsebær træerne blomstrer. Der var den ene allé efter den anden af kirsebær træer.
From Imperial Palace, we continued to one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods, Nippori, which was not destroyed during WWII. Again, a great route in Lonely Planet book. Started by Nishi-Nippori station and went through the narrow street down to Ueno park. All of the long street filled with old houses and temples. One temple more beautiful than the other, and rested a quiet peace of the whole area in this hectic city. We then continued throughout the enourmous Ueno park, which will be fantastic when the cherry trees bloom. There was one avenue after another of cherry trees.		Pigerne i Nippori
Shinjuku by night		Fra Ueno parken videre med metro til Shinjuku bydelen. Det er byens teater, luder kvarter og shopping i kæmpe varehuse. Her fik vi set en masse af de flotte neon reklamer som man ofte forbinder med Japan.
From Ueno Park ahead with metro to the Shinjuku district. The city's theater and redlight district and shopping in giant warehouses. Here, we saw a lot of wonderful neon advertisments, as we often associate with Japan.		Shinjuku by night
30 december Tokyo - Fly imod Sydney Vi havde nogle fantastiske dage i Tokyo, og følgte vi havde fået et indblik i japansk kultur, og historie. Helt sikkert et sted der gerne skulle besøges i længere periode på et senere tidspunkt. Nu gik turen så imod varmere himmelstrøj og nytår i Sydney, Australien.		We had some fantastic days in Tokyo, and we had an insight into Japanese culture and history. Definitely a place that I would like to visit for a longer period at a later date. Now, the journey went to warmer climate and New Year in Sydney, Australia.