Day 4 City and Shrines

 Didn't quite make sunrise this morning but we still left the hotel just before 9 a.m, The sun was shining so we left our jackets behind, braving the slight morning chill.

We walked the half mile or so to Yogogi Park, the "black hole" that we could see from our hotel room on  the evening of our arrival. Entering through one of the Torii Gates called Kitasando.

Walking along the tree lined road in the fresh air, the calmness and serenity was a delight after the busy streets.

Our first stop was to visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine

The Husband and Wife camphor trees, considered to be sacred so no posing in front of them

Another wedding ceremony

The whole park and shrine area is kept spotlessly clean

We then walked on to the Meiji Jingu Gardens with its Tea House

 

Consecrated wine barrels

and barrels of sake wrapped in straw

The crowds were growing by the minute, with coach loads of visitors, after a well earned cuppa in the cafe we left through a different Torii

and headed towards the shopping district of Takeshita-Dori Street for quite a different experience! Unusual fashion, food options and massive queues outside 'trendy' stores.

The next shrine that we had planned to visit was closed for, you guessed it, another wedding. So we continued walking down the main street to the famous Shibuya Crossing. 

Shibuya Crossing, just mad the number of people crossing at once

View from Scramble Square Tower 12 floors up

Where we had a very tasty lunch, all ordered via a QR code

We then took the metro to Nogi-Jinja Shrine in Roppongi where we came across another wedding, but at least the shrine was still open.

Back to our hotel mid afternoon as we were going on a food tour at 6 p.m a few minutes walk away in the Shinjuku area.

We met up with 12 others, ate delicious Japanese food in 3 different places and had a general tour of the area, quite an experience.

Passed a K Pop concert, where the fans were really getting involved

Ramen and noodles from a vending machine anyone? Not for us!

Then a short walk back to our hotel, past all the locals enjoying an evening out.