Last dinner in Tokyo

I'm For our last dinner in Tolyo we went to Ninja where we had excellent Shabu Shabu, stone soup and a magic show that left Wesley gaping.  It was a great way to end our visit and now we're on our way back to the US.  Here are a few photos from that last meal. 

The ninja removing the stones from the stone soup.

Frog dessert

Tree dessert

Wesley's card with his name in it from the ninja magic show.

Only in Japan

We've had some unique experiences in Japan that we don't expect to see turning up in the U.S. anytime soon.

The CupNoodles Museum -- an experience celebrating instant Ramen noodles that includes:

The Noodle Bazaar -- very yummy we have Italian, Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese noodles represented at our table 

Noodle Park -- sorry for kids only

Make your own noodles beginning with designing your own noodle cup (You can also make your own Chicken Ramen noodles)

Filling your cup with noodles

Choosing your seasoning (Chicken, Seafood, Curry and Tomato Chili) and toppings ( you must get four -- no more and no less!)

Shrink wrapping your noodle cup

Walking around for the rest of the day with your noodle cup in a vacuum sealed baggy

LD enjoying his cup noodles in Raleigh!

The inventor of instant ramen noodles, Momfuku Ando, was a big proponent of creative, out-of-the box thinking.  The exhibit above is designed to help you look at objects in different ways.

I have no idea what this exhibit is supposed to teach you, but it looks funny!

More food innovations -- here you pay 100 to 200 yen for the chance to hook your dessert using one of those movable cranes.  We managed to hook a chocolate bunny and a creme brulee, probably spending about U.S.$10  with our various attempts at these desserts plus the ones that got away!

The pedal-power roller coaster at Cosmo World.  We all had to be careful that we didn't pedal too fast and get reprimanded!

Bathroom accessories, including a tub that talks to you and reheats your bath water!

Pokemon in Tokyo

You walk around with a sheets with Pokemon and a poke-ball and used machines to try to figure out what the kind of Pokemon was inside of it. It was fun because some activities made you move.

Wesley selecting his pokeball.

On Saturday, we made it to one of the several Pokemon Centers in Tokyo.  And yes, it is basically just a few stores, but according to Wesley it looks just like a center where you'd take your Pokemon to restore their health.  They did however have a Pokemon tournament that you could play, plus they give away free Pikachu hats with every purchaseQ!

At the Miraikon (the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation -- where the Pokemon Lab was), we also saw Asimo, a robot designed and built by Honda (below he is singing a song with hand gestures)

Wesley also tried out a therapeutic robot used to provide interaction for people who can't have live pets.

Hakone

Hakone is an area about a 90 minute train ride outside of Tokyo renowned for its natural beauty, including hot springs fed by the volcanic activity in the area.  Like much of Japan, it isn't really set up for tourists, but we managed to find our way around without getting into too much trouble!

On the Romance car to Hakone.

Visiting the Chirijii falls.

That's Mt. Fuji in the background.

Cruising on Lake Ashi

Smoke from the side of the volcano in Hakone

Riding the Hakone-Tonzun Railway

At the Hakone Open-Air Museum

Ryokan Fukuzumiro

Part of the Japan experience has to be a stay in a traditional Japanese inn or ryokan.  Fukuzumiro is definitely the most traditional one that I have stayed in (even though it has wifi which as Wesley noted, is not very traditional) and it has been a delightful stay.  These rooms have none of the western style creature comforts (although there is TV).  Floors are covered in tatami mats, yukata cotton robes to wear in your room and around the ryokan, no shoes anywhere in the ryokan, sleeping on mats on the floor (comfortable enough but it does make me appreciate the water bed).

 The hot springs are very relaxing once you get over the fact that you're sitting in a pool with total strangers and no clothes on.  The experience reminds of going to the hammam in Tunisia.  I would go in tired and dirty, and leave feeling incredibly clean and refreshed.  The tubs of the hot springs (separate ones for men and women) are carved out of a cypress tree.  One is designed as a rock grotto.  The other is more pedestrian, but still very relaxing. (As an aside, the men get to use the nicer one for a longer period of time than the women do!).  It's great to be able enjoy the hot springs in the hotel.

L.D. on the hot springs:  Hot springs were nice. Very soothing and relaxing.  I didn't think twice about the fact that I was in there with a group of strangers.  I was surprised that the Japanese were so self-conscious.  when we would come in, the Japanese would immediately cover up their private parts while Wesley and I were walking around with everything hanging out.

Wesley on the hot springs:  It was hot.  I started sweating.  I wish that you could turn down the temperature a bit then it would be okay.  I thought it was weird not to wear any clothes.  Shouldn't you put on a swimsuit?

This is also where you shower (not in the springs it before you enter) because there are no bathrooms or toilets in the room.  The toilet is unisex and quite charming, except for the fact that the urinals are out in the open.  I always make LD or Wesley go with me to act as my scout to make sure that I am not surprised in my way in or out. I'm pretty open-minded, but there are some things that I don't need to experience.

It's been a lovely stay.   The photos below will give you a taste of the experience.

The river that runs by Ryokan Fukuzimoro.  We could hear it in the room.

 I think that this was our fire escape!

Wesley is in there somewhere!

East meets west and traditional meets the wired world of iPads.

Japan was not made for people LD's size.  He's wearing a traditional wool jacket to get warm.

The unisex bathroom has its charms (the basin for washing your hands) and even boasts a western style toilet with a heated seat.

Ryokan version of a western breakfast.

Japanese breakfast at the ryokan.