Tokyo in a day

Today was our only full day in Tokyo so we needed to experience it all. We did this by joining the Dynamic Tokyo Tour.  We boarded a bus with a great tour guide and 38 other hearty travelers ready for adventure.

First we went to the Tokyo Tower to get a bird's eye view of the city.  And with a city of 13 million or 40 million if you take in the surrounding area there is a lot to see.  Interesting fact, because of the lack of space everyone is cremated.  The only cemeteries left in the city are those that were built hundreds of years ago.  But then on to more pleasant things. We traveled to Happo-en which is a beautiful garden with an authentic tea house.  Here we experienced the beauty of the tea ceremony.  I didn't know that tea used in tea ceremonies was powder instead of the leaves-and always green.  The locals claim that this drinking of green tea is the reason that the Japanese people live for such long lives.  In the garden were my favorite--huge carp and old Bonsai trees.

From here we toured what you could see of the Emperor's Palace.  The grounds of the Emperor's Palace are only opened twice a year and otherwise remain closed,  However, you can see the remains of the Samurai walls and moat.  These walls are some of the few things to remain after the earthquakes  and bombings that the city has experienced.        

Lunch was delicious japanese barbecue cooked on lava from Mount Fugi.  Then we took a boat ride under the many bridges of Tokyo.  After this what better way to complete a day of touring tthan by shopping at the Asakusa Market before visiting the Manin Hall of Kannon Temple.