Happy Valentine's Day!

We didn't need room service today so we put the sign out for just towels. Not a lot of cleaning required. We'll see what happens when we get back.

A bit of a nostalgia today, visiting some familiar places.

First stop today - Akahabara (Electric Town)

We went across the street to the Shimbashi Station to consult the big JR train map. 4 stops to get to Akihabara station 160 Yen. Easy Conversion here, basically 100 Yen = $1.00 CDN. So $1.60 CDN each.

We buy the tickets from the machine. English is available. More options for paying in the last few years. We go to the entrance gate of the station, stick in our ticket and it comes out lightening speed to greet us when we walk through a step or 2 later. Don't lose your ticket as you need it to get out of the station at your destination! There we put the ticket into the gate and the machine keeps it. No litter! Some commuters use passes, which the gate machine can scan on the way in or out. While we are waiting on platform for the train, we can see it is 6 tracks wide with the bullet train on a higher platform right next to the last track. Signage is everywhere to point us in the right direction.  The other option we used this year is the Tokyo Metro Subway System, there are many companies running subways.  JR & Metro are the two large ones in Tokyo, as the maps show.  We got the Metro Pass, for tourists, on this trip, as well as buying individual tickets on the JR system.  Many, many ways to get around.  Also, an abundance of maps to make getting around a little easier.

We got a bite to eat at Vie de France restaurant & bakery just outside Akihabara Station. We have been to several of these on past visits so it was an easy decision to go in. They offer an array of pastries, sandwiches, beverages as well as meal options. Greg had a coffee, apple Custard pie and some type of sausage/hot dog bun. I had a coffee au lait, a Croque-Monsieur Ham & cheese and a Rice flour smoked bacon & egg bun. About $20 CDN (We are not in Vietnam anymore! :-)

Though we JUST ate, Greg spied a Mr. Donut shop and in we went. He had a coffee & Carmel pie pastry and I had iced tea (which is actually cold tea) and one of my favourites - like a honey dipped donut at home but lighter and a little sweeter and always reminds me of a Wilma Flintstone bracelet.

We checked out a lot of shops - everything pertaining to gaming & electronics in Akihabara. This is where we first saw curved tvs, 4K tvs, compartmentalized fridges, elaborate cell phones and interesting home appliances years ago long before they made it to Canada.

We picked up some assorted purchases, mostly from 3 discount type store - Daiso (110 yen store - used to be 100 Yen or dollar store to us), Don Quixote store and the 3 Coins store (like a 300 yen store).

We came back to the hotel for a quick break

(Happy Hour Greg says). We found a bag hanging on our door with fresh towels.

We headed back out - this time to Ginza. Ginza is the Rodeo Drive of Tokyo - anyone who is anyone is here ... Prada to Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Bvlgari, Salvatore Ferragamo and Swarovski just to name a few. The stores are very glitzy and have the prices to match!

We stopped in at one of the big department stores - Matsuya Ginza. In Japan the custom is for the women to buy chocolates for their valentine - sweetheart or friend. We found almost a whole floor of chocolate vendors with some VERY nice chocolates. Alas though very beautiful and delicious looking with exquisite packaging most every package was waaay beyond my budget.  It is Valentine's Day, so the women of Japan were out in force, buying chocolates for their Husband's, boyfriends, etc.  Here in Japan its the Women that buy the Valentines gifts, not the Men.  ;)

We stopped at the Ginza Lion Beer Hall for supper. The place is still the same inside, as it was 14 years ago, except the servers no longer wear lederhosen! Greg ordered a beer about the size of his head, (Chilled) Octopus Carpaccio, which came on a bed of assorted onions and (surprise!!!) hidden wasabi, and some fried chicken. I had the pork loin with tomato sauce that came with french fries all in a bed if sauteed onions. All was quite good. About $70.CDN. I did manage to buy 2 beer glasses for Greg :-) Happy Valentine's!!

A short leisurely stroll home to gear up for tomorrow.  Some interesting shops along our walking route tonight.

Looks like we'll check out some new sites tomorrow!