Tokyo with a Side Trip to Yokohama

We had every intention of making today a marathon day, but it just didn't happen.  I didn't get much sleep and Greg couldn't wake up.  We finally managed to get up and get ready and left only a couple of hours later than we were planning to.  I want to point out that I was ready soon after our scheduled departing time.

We took the metro from Hanzoman to Shibuya, then the train from Shibuya to the Sakuragicho train station (one stop after Yokohama).  I had read that this station was closest to the sites, but we had primarily wanted to visit the Chinatown, and we would have done better to get off the train a couple of stations later.

Boat at the Maritime Museum and the Cosmo World ferris wheel,
both near Yokohama port.

However, Sakuragicho was very close to the Maritime Museum, Cosmo World, and the Cup of Noodles Museum (which was unfortunately closed).

Near the Cup of Noodles Museum, we discovered a tourist bus that stopped exactly where we wanted to go.  We waited a few minutes for the next bus, hopped on, and paid our 100 yen each.

Chinatown, Yokohama

Chinatown is bordered by elaborate gates.  The food and architecture in this district is different from the rest of Japan, but the people are more outspoken as well.  In much of Japan, hawking services is not allowed, but in Chinatown, advertisement fliers were passed out at many corners and someone was standing outside each restaurant trying to convince people to eat in there.

Chinatown, Yokohama

Greg bought a steamed bun, but we held off on lunch until we returned to Tokyo.  Most of the restaurant hawkers wouldn't let us get close enough to the large picture menus posted outside to look at them.  And when we did get a rare glimpse of a picture menu, we couldn't tell what dishes, if any, contained no meat.

Chinatown, Yokohama

After wandering around the streets of Chinatown, and in and out of kitschy tourist shops, we checked the map and walked to the nearest JR train station.  Our next stop was the Asakusa district in Tokyo, known for Senso-ji Temple.

Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo

The New Year holiday seems to be winding down in cities like Kanazawa.  In Kanazawa, we walked by many temples that were in the process of dismantling their good luck charm sales tents and seemed to have gone back to their normal daily operations. However, the temple in Asakusa was still very much busy with activity.

Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo

Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo. I'm actually
not sure what this large shoe meant, but there
 were  Japanese people taking pictures of their
friends in front of it too.

Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo

Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo

Asakusa.

After visiting the temple, we wandered the streets popping in and out of little shops and booths selling everything from fans, to yukatas, to candies.  We finished exploring and discussed what we would do the rest of the day.  

Although we had a little daylight left, we were tired and so cut our day short and took the metro back to the hotel.  We found dinner at a convenience store and spent the rest of the evening at the hotel watching Japanese TV.  

Tomorrow we fly back home to San Francisco.  I admit I'm a little sad.