A Bit of Tokyo Magic

On our second day in the big city, we ventured out, first to the Shinjuku area and then on to Roppongi Hills for lunch with two of Marie’s Filipino friends, both of whom are in the diplomatic service.

In the afternoon Evan took the grandkids off to Akihabara to submerge themselves in everything “geeky” - video and virtual reality games, action figures and collectibles, the latest in anime and manga.  Sarah and Marie opted for Asakusa and the shopping arcade leading up to Sensoji, Tokyo’s best known Buddhist temple.  Heidi and Lee returned to our AirBnB for an afternoon nap.

We shared our last evening meal in Japan with Takuma, grandson Sean’s host brother, at a seventh floor restaurant in the VelVia Building just off the Ginza - a nabe do-it-ourselves hot pot delight thoroughly enjoyed by all.


On our way back to the subway, we happened on a small display window featuring very detailed miniatures depicting recognizable scenes and props from the animated films of Miyazaki Hayao.  It seemed to summarize our entire Tokyo experience in its magical recollection of what we have witnessed and experienced in our collective long term exposure to contemporary Japanese life and culture, both now and in the past, piling up all kinds of memories to savor again and again in the years ahead. 


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