Just wrapping up day four in Tokyo and what a day it was! My friend Midori, who came to see me at the hotel the night I arrived, took a day off of work and plannend a full day of sight seeing for me.  And when I say planned I don’t just mean that she put together a generic list of must see places, she actually did her homework. She picked out restaurants for lunch and dinner and had their menus translated into English on her mobile phone. She remembered that I like Japanese sweets and An Pan (bread filled with red bean paste) and picked out specialty shops where I could load up.  She had train routes mapped out in her notebook so we could easily get from one place to the next. She read my old blog posts, found out I liked visiting cemeteries, and planned a stop at a famous one that also was a great spot to see the cherry blossoms. She even got in touch with Mother Nature and had a beautiful sunny day arranged so I could enjoy every second of it (did I mention there were near tsunami like winds just 2 days before that had everyone on high alert?). This girl is organized!!  Thank you so much, Midori, for a great day.  Here’s some shots from our day.

Started off at Kitanomaru Park to see the Cherry Blossoms

In the spring, its all about the Cherry Blossoms.

Midori!

Taking in the scenery

Shopping for Japanese treats

Yummy Japanese sweets…

… and NOT so sweet.

Grave sites for humans…

… and a memorial for the famous Akita dog, Hachico.

I’ve died and gone to An Pan heaven

Shopping in Ginza

AGGH!! Trapped in Kiddieland (“Key-dee-ran-do”)

Strolling though the funky streets of Harajuku

I know its juvenile, but a great street name in Harajuku

You’d better watch your back, Bieber. Japan’s  got some competition for you!