TOKYO- LAST DAY

We spent our last day shopping in Ginza. We had lunch at the 100% Chocolate Cafe and then continued shopping. I bought a great pair of galoshes and some stuff at Muji (of course). We bought some Kubuki tickets and saw the act we were hoping for- the comedic dance. It was really interesting! I hope when to see some Noh someday- I didn't make it this time around. The we head back to the hotel to freshen up for our big night out. We had dinner at this great little place where we sat on the floor in our own private little space closed off by bamboo shades. The place was called Daidaiya. Then we headed for the Park Hyatt (the hotel from Lost In Translation) for one incredibly expensive, but amazingly exciting cocktail. I orderd a Carnegie Hall (the bar is called the New York Bar). I have never seen a skyline like the one you see from the bar (located on the 52nd floor). It is the most impressive view I have ever seen- It really felt like another planet. I can't wait to go back and do it all again!

TOKYO LAST NIGHT- LOST IN TRANSLATION HOTEL BAR

TOKYO- LAST NIGHT

TOKYO- VIEW FROM OUR AWESOME HOTEL

KAMAKURA-31 PICTURES

At Kamakura we visited several temples: Tokei-ji, Meihestsu In, Jochi-ji, and Daibutsu. I helped a catipilar cross the street and an old Japanese fellow assisted me in getting the catipilar off my umbrella- it was a great little moment! We ended the day at the beach after visiting the Grat Buddha at Daibutsu. We headed for Yokohoma to retrieve our luggage from the hotel and headed for Tokyo and our SWEET hotel!!!!

JUDO

FUJI-SAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAKONE- ON THE WAY TO FUJI-SAN!!!

Today we headed for Hakone fr a day to try to get a view of Mt Fuji, otherwise known as Fuji-san (but never Mt. Fuji San). We gagthered for lunch once we arrived at a place where we sat on tatmi mats and ate hot udon noodles called Tomaga Tojii. It was extremely awkward once we get settled in our seats- everyone in the restaurant was blatantly staring at us...I think I saw a couple of people even taking our pictures...
Later we took an expensive train ride up in to the Hakone mountains and traveled in funicular where we were able to fly over the sulfur mines (in the pictures below) and we fortunate enough to get an exciting view of Mt. Fuji despite the fact that it was a bit of a hazy day and the moron selling the tickets to the cable cars told us we would not be able to see a thing (because he told us this we almost did not go, and in fact two of the group members missed out and decided to go home and skip the funicular ride up the mountain. I felt so angry with the ticket guy- I guess he must not understand that this may be a once in a life time experience for some people!!)
At the end of the day we went back down to town and found an Onsen- natural hotspring for relaxation. The was likely the most serene/ transcendental experience of my life!!! The onsen was outdoors cut into the side of the mountain and it was night time. The baths were beautifully designed and we could float about with a view of the moon and stars while watching the wind gently blow through the trees. I know this all sounds really cheesy, but I know of know other way of even coming close to trying to explain what this was like- the only thing else I can think to say is why aren't these things eveywhere- I feel like I need it at least once a week!!! I wish I had some pictures to share, but the baths are not something you can photograhp as they are split in to segregated areas- one hidden side for men and one hidden side for woman. Swim suits are not allowed- you have to go naked.