Our first day in Tokyo

As we were preparing to experience our first day in Tokyo, the well-defined Japanese way of doing things (called Shikata) surrounded us. Motivated by curiosity, we researched "kata" (as it is generally referred to):  kata is one of the most used and most important words in the Japanese language. It means "way of doing things" with special emphasis on the form and order of the process. 

Some of the more common uses of kata include way of reading, way of eating, way of writing, way of thinking, and one of the most emphasized is the way of living. This particular concept includes more than just the mechanical process of doing something; it incorporates the physical and spiritual laws of the cosmos. Kata is a means of expressing and maintaining harmony in society and the universe through an inner order (the individual heart) and a natural order (the cosmos).  

We have all probably seen Japanese calligraphy expressed in art form: peace, harmony, life, laughter to name a few. This wall art from the earliest times has been the promotion of "wa" ( pronounced wah).  Wa (harmony) pervades the culture. An ancient political figure included in the then constitution, " You must never decide great matters on your own. You must always discuss them with all kinds of people".  

Going forward...

An early rising to savor the view from our window...Obviously, it is morning, as there are tea cups on the window sill and not wine glasses.🤪

The breakfast buffet was delicious.  This Latte is not just another Latte -- it is a work of art, and delicious. 

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And the day continues...

There are thousands of ginkgo trees lining the streets of Tokyo, which are used to control air pollution. We have heard the term " ginkgo biloba" referring to the herb for memory enhancement. Until we visited Tokyo, we had no idea of the other valuable properties of the ginkgo tree. 

The name Tō-kyō has old borrowings from Middle Chinese: tō means "east" and kyō means "capital", so together they mean "east(ern) capital". 

Today’s tour started out to be quite unusual. We seem to have a pattern of being the only people on tours that we take. Could be luck of the draw (or bad odor😜). The upshot is we had an entire 60 person bus with only the two of us. We felt like rock stars with our own tour bus. 

Our tour guide, Makato, was exceptionally informative as well as humorous. His name means "honesty" and he shared this meaning has definitely, at times, guided his choices.  Since we were the only people on the tour, the presentation was more like a conversation. We received information as well as were given the opportunity to ask many questions.  

The tour of the Asakusa Shrine is known as The Shrine of the Three Gods. The shrine is one of the most famous in Tokyo and honors the three men who founded the Senso-Ji, which is a Buddhist temple located on the grounds. 

We first cleansed ourselves - washing our hands in a traditional Japanese manner - then proceeded on to the incense to bathe our hair with the smoke for good luck. 

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Unlike many other structures in the area, including the Sensō-ji, this shrine survived the Tokyo air raids of 1945.  Because of this rich history, it was designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese Government in 1951. 

From there we went to the Tokyo Sky Tower, the tallest structure in Tokyo. This tower is a broadcasting tower,  a restaurant, and an observation tower.  Designated the tallest structure in Japan in 2010, reaching its full height of 634.0 metres (2,080 ft) in March 2011, it is now the tallest tower in the world.

From the 350 meter high floor...

Looking down through the glass floor...

Once we left the Sky Tower, we went back to the hotel in the evening and had a nice glass of Japanese wine and some snacks...completing another wonderful day experiencing the interesting and beautiful Japanese cultures.