Bromptoneering in Japan…

On Sunday we had a Brompton cycling day planned by one of our Japanese Brompton friends. There was going to be no rain… once everyone got to the station around 10ish it was agreed by consensus we would have a coffee while waiting for the shower to pass. Yes even we can go to McDonald’s – here is proof.

Then we set off – first up the obligatory photo

Then we set off… it is amazing how much space there is in Japan. We stopped at a flood gate… here is where it began to rain and we then lost one of the group because he was so wet!

As luck would have it.. eventually it cleared up…

The route was great as there were very few cars. Only had to watch for joggers and other cyclists. We cycle between baseball pitches, golf courses, rice paddies and houses. Around 1:30 we stopped for lunch at Via cycling cafe which is certainly set up for cyclists – and they have great food options. Here was my lunch – oishii!

After an hour of sitting around eating and talking we set off again and went to a working farm which sells fabulous ice cream!

From here we went to Kawagoe.. which is famous for old Edo style street and historical shrine and bell tower. Certainly worth the visit if you have time. We eventually got to the train station and said goodbye until the Brompton in Palace ride in November!

Mori Arts Museum…

A visit to Tokyo usually involves a visit to the Mori Arts Museum in Roppongi Hills. Apart from having fabulous views across the city (although not on this occasion due to a press event) there is usually something interesting on display.

The exhibition was a retrospective of Shiota Chiharu, who is Japanese but lives in Europe. We had seen her work earlier in the year at the Art Gallery of SA – and I was really pleased to discover it was on during our visit.

Suspended suitcases

…my photos do not to it justice.

Remind me its humid in October…

It is warm in Tokyo. No, its humid. Originally today it looked like it was going to be raining – something to do with a typhoon… but the rain soon passed and the sun came out. Given the weather report we decided to go to Yokohama. Eventually the train emptied out.

We had decided to catch the hop-on-hop off bus (yes so unlike us) to the Aka-Renga Soko (Red brick warehouse). As it hadn’t quite opened we walked around the port area, and came across the Japan Coast Guard Museum. Surprisingly it was air conditioned and inside it contained a North Korean spy ship, retrieved after sinking from an interaction off the coast of Japan. There was a good mix of Japanese and English translation, and they had retrieved a number of personal items which were on display. Pretty good for a free exhibition!

Bar hopping in Kichijoji

First night in Tokyo and we met up with our Brompton friends in Kichijoji. It was great to catch up have some great food (it’s Tokyo it’s all good) and alcohol.

Plates are empty- they did contain goyza, rice and beer. Yes we were cramped into the booth at the end – most enjoyable!

… then we moved to a four story bar

Then a Scottish themed bar… where we talked about gin

… and now on the second to last train home. Here is to sleeping in!

Lunch sorted

Short walk from hotel to glitch for our caffeine fix. Then short walk via Halloween ice cream macaron you Hitachino Nest for lunch! Yummy lager for a humid day.

Hitachino Nest Lager
Waiting to be roasted @ glitch

Landed…

Happy to be on the ground… uneventful but the breakfast was good.

Landing took awhile due to low cloud… nothing like extra time where you don’t want to be… but on the positive side the landing was smooth.