Started the day with a visit to the studio of calligrapher Koshun Masunaga who designed many of the posters for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and other endeavors. She explained the techniques of calligraphy and the different tools/brushes she uses. Some people had a chance to draw with her assistance. At the end of the presentation, we were each presented with a small poster with our names, a design/figure and calligraphy lettering. We then went to Ginza, the famed shopping area of Tokyo. Emiko showed us around an area she called a food museum in one of the major department stores, which was actually a huge food court with counters serving everything you could ever want to eat. The variety was amazing.
After lunch we went to the Meiji Jingu Shrine which is built in the typical Shinto style. The shrine is surrounded by a small forest that was planted with donations from the general population. The temples in Japan are pretty plain unlike some other Asian countries we have visited.
After the shrine visit we were on our own but Emiko then took some of us to the Harajuku area where we walked down the overly crowded Takeshita Street a haven for young shoppers. After that we rode the train to Shibuya Station where we visited the Hochi dog statue and then crossed the busiest intersection in the world. 3000 people cross the intersection at a time during busy periods. It is a cross in any direction intersection. Organized mass confusion. We then took the subway back to Shimbashi Station and our hotel.
Before dinner we met a lady who was just starting her Japan tour that we had met on our Norway tour last year. Talked for a little then we went to dinner at the noodle place from the first night with some of our tour people.
Lennette Horton
2019-04-03
Beautiful cherry blossoms. Looks like you are having a wonderful time. Can't wait to hear all about it. Miss you dear neighbors!