Konnichiwa......You're in Japan!!

After a visit in Summer last year Sarah returned this year, with Steve, to totally different weather. Last year it had been bring on the heat, but within a very short time Sarah changed that idea. It was just so hot and so hard to do anything without a 'meltdown' (and that had nothing to do with a certain niece)! Nonetheless, Sarah had still really enjoyed it and wanted to share it with Steve (Sven to avoid confusion with 'himself'). This year the weather was perfect, warm and not humid! Spring is certainly a beautiful time of the year here. Everything is green again, flowers are blooming and the weather is so reliable.

Like everyone so far, Sven absolutely loved it and was really reluctant to leave on departure day. He was so amazed by the fact that he was actually in Japan (I still feel that way) and was busting to do as much as he could. The two enjoyed doing things with me, but they also went off on their own searching for amusement parks (especially roller coasters) and, for Sven, martial arts paraphernalia!! They took themselves off to DisneySea and also to Odaiba (an island in Tokyo Bay) to Tokyo Joypolis (a Sega amusement park).

Sven was addicted to vending machines and was always taste testing....one day I think he had 4 coffees in an hour. He even tried hot sweet corn from the machine in Ishikawacho Station. Everywhere you go there are vending machines....in every street, on every train platform, in the middle of nowhere.....anywhere! In the Summer they are lifesavers because water is always at hand. In the Winter when it's really cold why not grab a hot snack??

We visited our regular haunts....Jack's Bar (or the Beatle's Bar as we call it). We always start with a meal in a Japanese restaurant and then move to the bar at about 8.30 when it kicks off. It turns out to be a pretty expensive night so we don't do it that often, usually only when work colleagues or 'aliens' are here. We had sashimi, yakitori and tempura......oishi-i desu!!

Oshima, the guy who runs it, is always good value and the way he turns the disco lights on at the end of each song cracks us up! Last year I gave him a photo of the two of us and I was pleased to see it pinned on the door at the entrance, so this time I got a photo of him with the photo.

The current bottle of whisky, aptly named Steve Lewis Revival Band, took a bit of a hammering and I don't think Sven would have made it home without his chaperones. Not one to drink whisky, I have no choice here and apart from sake I get into the whisky and coke also. Often friends of Steve's go to the bar and they knock his bottle off. The rule is that you replace it and leave the new one on the shelf for the next visit. We had a great night and actually reached home before mid night (just as well because it was a school night after all).

Why Not? in Motomachi Street is always an easy spot to drop in and have a drink. With 400 yen Happy Hour Cocktails...why not? All drinks are 400 yen from 6 until 8pm. It's a bit of a trap but at least you don't have to drive home!

Sarah and Sven selected Harajuku as one of the places to go so, with 'himself' in tow, we headed off on a Sunday. As it was early, we visited Shibuya first then walked through Yoyogi Park to Harajuku. The 'famous' crossing was busy as usual but not insane like it can be during the week.

The boys did a bit of hat and t-shirt shopping whilst there. Fortunately they were not interested in any footwear from this shop.

It is hard not to be impressed by Yoyogi Park. I remember when we first visited it a year ago. We were living in Shinagawa and were out riding on our bikes.....it was such a lovely place to ride!

It's best to get to Harajuku around midday if you want to see interesting things. You are always sure to see some unusual fashions as you, and a million other people, walk down Takeshita Dori. It was insanely busy which really impressed Steve (not)!

The outfits on this couple were amazing!

Only a model but I have seen it on a pedestrian!

Across the road at the end of Takeshita Dori, there is another area which is not quite as crazy and has lots of 'retro' stuff, so we wandered around there and found a place to eat (always a bit of a lottery).

The two Steves....Kampaii!!

That is the dog's hair, it's not a wig!! What a classic.

This guy looked 'sweet'!!

From Harajuku we made our way to Ginza where, aside from walking down the famous street and seeing the unusual sights, we went into an incredible toyshop. We spent quite a while in there just browsing and the guys even did some slot car racing!

Weird!!! He was for real!

Of course...we all take our meerkats for a Sunday walk!

The taste tester extraordinaire! This was a tea.

Ginza....a great place to be seen with your friends!

The big kids rule!! Cost 200 yen each to have a go.

There was plenty of promotional events happening on the street....always the perfect opportunity for a 'tourist' snap.

Nice friend Sarah!

Ginza!

Leaving Harajuku we made our way back home.....changing trains at Shinagawa then again at Yokohama. Getting off at Sakuragicho we took a stroll through Landmark Tower and ended up having a roller coaster ride at Cosmo World. Phew!! What a day.

During the week we did pleny of cycling......a great way to see our area.

The Red Brick Buildings......this was the site of the Ice Rink in Winter!