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VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 09 Oct 2010, 17:14
by northernhenry
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So a whistle stop visit around some of Tokyo’s highlights, all good, and some real random experiences..
Have enlightened a fair bit as noted that Tokyo appears much on peoples top 5 places to visit hence the length of this TR: :w
Travelling around and using the subway, fine- It’s no worse than the London tube. The JR rail pass comes into its own as able to use all their own lines, which for us in Shinjuku was handy, travelling down to Shibuya & Harajuku (now there’s a bonkers place!) Although a lovely temple to visit as well. Wasn’t that bothered with Ginza (could be anywhere.)
Image Harajuku fashion ?|

Getting invited to join in with a post Shinto festival party with the city “elders” in Shibuya, piling us with Sushi & wine was probably the most surreal..Great people!

Anyway after 4 nights it was back to Shinjuku station and a trip over to the Shinkansen (Bullet train) booking office (JR pass covered but you can reserve a seat for free) however asked for reserved seats for Kyoto “Sorry all gone”! Bugger…started to get a bit worried (turns out end of public holiday and all booked up). We could still go but have to head for “unreserved carriages”, expecting the worse we trundled for what seemed miles to find the Bullet train platforms and headed down to the unreserved carriages, They were half empty and nearly had a full choice!!
Image
NB, the storage room on these trains is extremely tight, we found sitting at the Rear of the carriages better, as you get all the room behind the seats for bags.
I came over all-childish, taking lots of train photos, and trying to get mrs NH excited, but tis only a train to her! They are quite impressive, quiet, clean and very low set- tonnes of legroom and comfy also decent trolley service & sensible loos. I get the impression they must be pressure sealed as noise levels very low- and likely to stop your ears exploding as you enter one of the numerous tunnels heading out of Tokyo (no doubt some Train person/nerd will correct me on this ?). One point however is the speed these things pick up even before they’ve left the platform area..just like GNER, NOT.
Anyway back to the plot, The scenery on route to Kyoto is not that special, two and half hours, a glimpse of a hazy Mount Fuji- which to be fair has a very impressive outline & stature. Kyoto on the other hand, be ready to be underwhelmed by the scenes slowing into the station, not the prettiest of cities to arrive into- think Stoke crossed with Watford. However emerge out of the platform area and into the station –WOW, what a seriously impressive bit of civil engineering, the scale of the place is immense.

We had booked two nights at the Granvia located in the station/ mega city 4. As research had noted a good place to be located for a quick trip to the city, and proved correct. Local subways an easy venture having been Tokyo trained, and even ventured onto a municipal bus for one trip. The Granvia was very pleasant, we had a deluxe room, very nice & lounge access, however lounge was very disappointing (No Booze & food!) just hot drinks/soft drinks etc, not much use in the NH household.. Breakfast wasn’t included, so asked (out of interest) would be £23/each for American Breakfast… :0 luckily a Starbucks across the road. The Station has the odd eatery within it, numbering 30 odd I think!
Kyoto was the cultural part of our trip and we walked our feet off, hate to think how far we did actually walk but must be into double figure miles easily, mainly due to our limited time there.

We managed most of the major temples, missed a few bits but couldn’t fit it all in. finishing off the day in the Gion district and surprisingly lucky to bump into a lady dressed up in Geisha style, possibly heading out for her evenings work..A real stroke of luck and really rounded the day off.
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Final night rounded off in a randomly picked restaurant (well had two western words on the menu so seemed a good idea)– ducked underneath the little curtains to be ushered inside and seats at the Chefs table, and much joking and excitement & beer throughout the preparation of some fantastic sushi, sashimi and others things that were nice but god knows what they were! A really excellent night, great humour with the chefs in the kitchen and made to feel really welcome. y)
The next morning, packed the bags and checked out, leaving cases at the hotel, went off to catch some more temples/shrines nearby before heading back to catch an afternoon Shinkansen back to Tokyo, then onwards up to NRT for a night at the Hilton before the morning departure.
Decamping into the Hilton, we needed to eat. Thought we’d go Japanese for the the final farewell & the hotels eatery didn’t disappoint, not cheap but a lovely spread..Involving cooking your own food in a boiling cauldron on your table. ?| .I’m sure the locals were shaking their heads at what we were doing, but hey we had fun! :|

Morning arrived, we were up early, so decided just to head to the airport and have some time mooching round the shops, chk-in hadn’t opened so had an hour to kill using remaining Yen on pointless/random souvenirs to pass on at Christmas. Before long we’d checked in, lounge pass issued, so decided to head over to ditch the hand luggage & head out again..(the lounge at NRT is nice enough, fairly small even a little bit cramped..?)

We’d decided we needed to improve someone’s day, so approached a nice couple who were flying PE who were wandering around the shops- got chatting and invited them into the lounge (well why not! |:) ), Please note & welcome Glynfly, who has sinced joined V-Flyer..!! y)
After the obligatory bubbles and smoked salmon breakfast, boarding was delayed about an hour as were all flights due to a huge thunderstorm and torrential downpour hitting NRT, this meant however NH was able to drink probably one to many glasses of bubbles for the wrong side of 1pm. On board it was looking busy, actually pretty much full. Could see a few nervous looks around the cabin as a couple with very young baby decamped into the bassinet seat in UC, however as it turned out, an amazingly silent, well-behaved little lad… oo)
There was a huge queue waiting for the runway, due to the delay, but we nudged forward bit by bit, had a great view of the aircraft in front taking off, SQ’s A380 in heavy spray..impressive watching all that water being sucked up by the engines.. We were next so settled back into routine..
Food and associated needs were all pre-ordered & sorted out, during the wait on taxi, so settled back snoozed off the booze before the lunchtime onslaught of fermented grapes..
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Unless you get your bed nicked!

Lunch was a similar menu to outbound:

Marinated prawns with mixed leaves, avocado salsa,lemon/herb dressing
Stewed shoulder of beef, in rich red wine sauce, mashed potatoes,broccoli & carrots
Chocolate & ginger tart

Yum.
The remaining flight became a bit hazy as we decamped to the bar :| , after lunch, and ended up being a bit of a sesh. Fairly good atmosphere, with gang of musicians (classical I may add, not exactly Lemmy’s road crew),tax advisors? automotive engineers & us (can’t ask for a more cross-sectional mix), two of the Musicians’ acquaintances had been invited in from PE (all very OX/CAM banter), and bubbles were flowing, after a while the PE guys were told to leave, quite nice to get “that look “ as they leave the scruffy northern oik still sat at the bar with his daughters Kermit ):

At some point must of stumbled back to my seat and bedded down for a good few hours, awaking with that Sahara mouth 8D , mooched back to the bar/ oasis and proceeded to finish off all the orange juice.. that’s better.. feeling refreshed, watched Bad lieutenant during the afternoon sandwich disappointment (although scones were nice) and began to re-organize for the incoming UK.
Bags off very quickly, and then out to the hell hole that is the arrivals hall- what a dump - over crowed, disorganized, shambolic v( – welcome to London!

Apologies for the epic, but being Japan I know some of you are keen the Nottinghams & Buns of this world for example... :w

Few other piccies here:http://v-flyer.com/the-community/photos/album?albumid=4497&userid=3639

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 09 Oct 2010, 17:40
by Tinkerbelle
Nice TR NH but I might be about to burst a bubble here :# - are you sure that it was a real Geisha in Gion - the accessories she is wearing are not those of a Geisha, they are of a Maiko (apprentice Geisha) instead.

Real Geishas will not stop for photos. However the whole of Kyoto (and especially Gion) are full of studios where anyone can be made up as a Maiko and have photos taken and go for a walk around the local area.

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 09 Oct 2010, 19:00
by Treelo
Thanks NH, great TR. Sounds like you had a super time. Hope Kermit enjoyed himself too :D

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 09 Oct 2010, 19:36
by northernhenry
Tinkerbelle wrote:Nice TR NH but I might be about to burst a bubble here :# - are you sure that it was a real Geisha in Gion - the accessories she is wearing are not those of a Geisha, they are of a Maiko (apprentice Geisha) instead.

Real Geishas will not stop for photos. However the whole of Kyoto (and especially Gion) are full of studios where anyone can be made up as a Maiko and have photos taken and go for a walk around the local area.


Duh, spoil all my illusions Tink :# !

Yep I agree on the Maiko front, given circumstances- location, chaperone's manner,time of day.. doubt it to be a tourist make-over

Anyway, ticked my boxes y)

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 09 Oct 2010, 20:04
by Jacki
Great TR - I have Tokyo firmly on my wish list so appreciated the detail. Don't worry she looked every inch a Geisha to me, that said I once took a photograph of an overgrown bird bath mistakenly thinking it was the Trevi fountain! y)

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 09 Oct 2010, 20:28
by Tinkerbelle
Jacki wrote:that said I once took a photograph of an overgrown bird bath mistakenly thinking it was the Trevi fountain! y)


Do you still have it - it could be used as a "Where in the World" entry! y)

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 09 Oct 2010, 20:31
by DragonLady
Fab report :) .
Oh, what a nice couple you and Mrs/Dr (or is she still a Mrs? I'm not sure if she is a surgeon or physician) NH are :).Glynfly and his better half must have thought it was Christmas :D :D .
Japan intrigues me. It's one place neither DL the Elder and I have been (and she's been to most of the globe). The one thing that puts us both off is the cost once you get there :0 . Can this trip be done without taking out a second ( or even third) mortgage? :0 :0
DL

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 09 Oct 2010, 20:35
by honey lamb
DragonLady wrote:The one thing that puts us both off is the cost once you get there :0 . Can this trip be done without taking out a second ( or even third) mortgage? :0 :0
DL

Well I managed it :D

Nice TR. It brought back memories of my Tokyo trip. I really need to go back there

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 09 Oct 2010, 20:38
by Jacki
Tinkerbelle wrote:
Jacki wrote:that said I once took a photograph of an overgrown bird bath mistakenly thinking it was the Trevi fountain! y)


Do you still have it - it could be used as a "Where in the World" entry! y)


:D

We eventually walked around the corner and couldn't stop laughing when we came face to face with the real thing!

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 09 Oct 2010, 22:09
by northernhenry
DragonLady wrote:Fab report :) .
Oh, what a nice couple you and Mrs/Dr (or is she still a Mrs? I'm not sure if she is a surgeon or physician) NH are :).Glynfly and his better half must have thought it was Christmas :D :D .
Japan intrigues me. It's one place neither DL the Elder and I have been (and she's been to most of the globe). The one thing that puts us both off is the cost once you get there :0 . Can this trip be done without taking out a second ( or even third) mortgage? :0 :0
DL


Should be Dr NH, however the specialty area is probably best avoided in polite conversation.. :w :0
Price-wise Its not that bad, just don't go expecting it to be cheap and be a bit picky on where you decide to wander into for eating, unless you are on a civil service expense account... ): or someone else is paying.
Lady NH is back out there in Jan, so may look into a sale option nearer the time, as bunking up for a "long weekend" is highly tempting..There's so much more to see..

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 10 Oct 2010, 05:27
by LondonRaider
Great TR, glad I'm not the only person who sees the bar as something that must be drained to completion ):

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 10 Oct 2010, 09:45
by rich1664
Great report and glad you had a great trip.

I've been to Tokyo quite a few times for work, and never really made it out of the city, I always promise myself 'next time...'

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 11 Oct 2010, 07:37
by iforres1
Great TR and a good effort at the bar.
Would love to go to Japan. One day maybe ....One day.

Iain

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 11 Oct 2010, 16:24
by mdvipond
northernhenry wrote:We’d decided we needed to improve someone’s day, so approached a nice couple who were flying PE who were wandering around the shops- got chatting and invited them into the lounge

How terribly philanthropic of you, NH. Do you also distribute your unwanted sleepsuits amongst the needy come Christmastide?

Fascinating read. Wonderful to hear that you kept the Northern/V-Flyer end up at the bar. Sir, we salute you!

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 11 Oct 2010, 22:35
by pjh
Fascinating TR. I've also been a bit reluctant to head east due to thinking I'd be culturally a fish out of water. You make it sound both achievable and interesting. Make me think..

BTW, being both OX/CAM and also a northern oik are not incompatible states of being.

Paul

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 11 Oct 2010, 23:37
by rich1664
pjh wrote:I've also been a bit reluctant to head east due to thinking I'd be culturally a fish out of water.


Believe me - at times you are completely a fish out of water - but that's what makes it so fantastic over there.

It's everything you know - turned on it's head.

If you have the time and the where with all to have a trip to the far east - I couldn't recommend it highly enough.

Re: VS901 NRT-LHR 23 SEP 10 (Upper Class)

PostPosted: 18 Oct 2010, 16:41
by DarkAuror
Thanks for the great TR, NH. y)

Japan is high on my list of places to visit, possible in 2 1/2 years time for my significant birthday. :w