Welcome to Yebisu Gardens --
our Yuppie neighborhood for a week.

Check-in time at our fancy Westin hotel.
(I never got a decent picture of the lobby --
the lavish black marble soaked up all my light.)

Our ritzy toilet was electronic....

with enough controls to impress NASA.

Sing it with me: "I'm turning Japanese,
I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so."

Aboard the pristine Japanese subway.
(I dare you to spot graffiti anywhere.)

No visit to Tokyo is complete
without visiting the old Asakusa district.
(Yes it's a tourist trap.)

Robin prowls the food stalls of course...

...pointing out the notorious blowfish
(a delicacy known as "fugu")
which might fatally poison you.

VJ waits for the cruise boat to dock.

Does this look like any ferry you've ever seen?
(It reminded Robin of Jules Verne stories.)

We passed beneath 7 interesting bridges
on the lovely Sumida river.

Fast food!
Sushi on a moving conveyor belt.
Grab what you want.

Look how many plates of sushi Robin ate!

VJ tries to figure out where we are.
(Kanji signs aren't much help.)

These ancient gates open onto
the royal palace grounds.

English translation: "Do... Not...
Sit... On... The... Stones..."
(They are hundreds of years old.
And so is the water in that moat I think.)

Robin is charmed by an ancient pagoda.

Vicky Jo is charmed by the kimonos --
still commonly worn in Japan...

...as are punk fashions. (This was a contest
to imitate a popular rock group.)

A Shinto arch
graces a Japanese temple.

Robin petitions the gods
to grant him good luck.
(Musta worked! )

VJ stumbles on an elaborate miniature temple.

Robin explores a centuries-old garden
behind an inviting gateway.

The geek girl prowls the Ginza electronics district.

Robin partakes in a traditional tea ceremony.