Tokyo

Feb 17-21, 2011
AC1 YYZ-NRT, AC4 NRT-YVR, AC64 YVR-YYZ

At the end of February each year Air Canada upgrade certificates that allow us to upgrade from cheap economy tickets to business class expire.  As I like to get the best value from those certificates it is beneficial to take an overseas flight.  As Air Canada has very good service and fares to Tokyo and Tom had some free Hilton nights that were great value in the Conrad Tokyo, it was a good opportunity for a nice extra long weekend in February at a city I’ve always enjoyed.  To minimize the vacation requirements, we lined up with the Family Day weekend.  Although this was my fourth trip, we were staying in a different area of Tokyo, and we explored different neighbourhoods of the city without pressure to see everything.  We also took advantage of the opportunity to check out the very good permanent Cirque du Soleil show (Zed).  Although the weather wasn't tropical, it was certainly more pleasant than February in Toronto and was a relaxing admittedly short break. 

Feb 17-18
Flight to Tokyo, evening arrival at hotel

Feb 19
Full day in Tokyo

Skyscrapers near our hotel in the Shiodome Area

Otsutaibashi Bridge in Hama-rikyu Garden

Slots used for duck hunting in man made streams designed to trap ducks

Rift gates control the salt water entry into the garden pools

Our hotel (The Conrad) above the gardens

Posing in front of Nakajima-no-ochaya Teahouse with automated audio tour device

Despite the cool weather there are some very early blossoms  

A field of canola also in bloom

Massive 300-year-old pine

Tokyo’s Statue of Liberty and Rainbow Bridge from Odaiba

Feral Cats living under a wooden boardwalk along the bay  

Colourful Palette Town ferris wheel

Tokyo Big Sight- international exhibition center

Tokyo Port Seaside bridge, nearing completion

A nighttime walk in Ginza shopping area

Feb 20
Full day in Tokyo, including Cirque du Soleil show Zed

Statues in a cemetery in Nippori Area

Ojizo-sama (protectors of small children) in bib and hat overlook the cemetery

Cirque du Soleil theatre at Disneyland Park

While we were there we took a spin around the park in the monorail

Waterfall in Roppongi Hills

Feb 21
Day in Tokyo and evening flight home to Toronto

Pre-dawn tuna auction at Tsukiji Fish Market

Frozen tuna at the auction (with cutouts for inspection)

Assorted seafood in the wholesale area of the market

Tasty octopus

Thawed tuna at the market

Tokyo Metropolitan Government building (city hall)

Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower in Shinjuku is 50 stories and home to 3 schools

Shinjuku area, east of the JR station

Hachiko, an Akita famous for loyalty to dead owner, outside Shibuya station

Busy scramble crosswalk in Shibuya at lunch time

Niju-bashi bridge in front of Imperial Palace

Tokyo city encroaches the Imperial Palace moat

Feb 22
Evening flight to Vancouver and on to Toronto