I spent the day in Tokyo. It wasn’t a great photo day. Tokyo is a big city, and it reminds me of the other big cities I’ve visited. If you didn’t have the Japanese signage, you might think you were in New York City (but NYC on steroids).
The one thing that did stand out is the dress: black and white. Men dressed in black suits with white shirts (and most often black ties). There were a few male fashion rebels who were in navy blue. The women also seemed to dress in black and white. Men in uniforms often wore white gloves.
Here are a few of my photos from my very long day in Tokyo.
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| The guide's shortened name is pronounced "new," but no one can pronounce her full Japanese name. |
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| Shintoism is the original religion/lifestyle of the Japanese. Here's a gate to a Shinto shrine. |
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| In Asakusa in downtown Tokyo, we walk to the Shinto shrine. |
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| A Shinto ceremony is underway. |
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| Buddhism is also an important religion/lifestyle. |
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| I visited the Buddhist shrine next door to the Shinto shrine in Asakusa. |
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| The gate leading to a shopping section of Asakusa. |
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| A closer look at the shrine. |
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| Cough! Cough! Incense is being burned. |
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| The group had an early lunch at a downtown Japanese hotel. It was a combination of traditional and western dishes. |
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| Offerings to Buddha. |
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| Next stop was the gardens of the Imperial Palace. Black pines are pruned in Bonsai style. |
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| The Imperial Palace is home to the emperor who is 84 years old. He has cancer and has asked to retire next year (which is highly unusual). |
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| The guard at the Imperial Gate. The gates are only open two times to the public each year: New Year's and the emperor's birthday. |
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| A statue commemorating the shoguns or feudal lords. |
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| The group visited a mall in the Ginza district. Here's the famed Kobe beef. |
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| That melon goes for $32.40! |
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| Everything is beautifully presented, however, I'm not willing to pay $9.80 for six small oranges. |
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| The store had every kind of prepared food. It was amazing. |
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| I tasted the green tea at the mall, but they didn't offer a free taste of the Sakis. |
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| A look at the Ginza district of Tokyo. It's all about shopping! |
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| The Apple Store was packed. |
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| Holograms were being used to advertise in the windows of Louis Vuitton. |
