Five Days in Tokyo (the Beginning)

We spent our first five days in Tokyo before traveling to Kyoto. The week was spent taking language courses in Japanese. Our teachers were kind and patient. I now can say, fluently, complicated phrases such as, "where is the bathroom", "thank you", and "I don't speak Japanese."

On Thursday we were given a bit more time to explore Tokyo. In a group, I traveled to Asakusa Temple. The area was incredibly chaotic. We arrived mid-afternoon, perhaps at the time that most people visit the site. There was a plaza full of shops outside the temple, and we took a half hour just to look around.

The temple itself was beautiful. There were fires burning outside with lots of smoke billowing out. People would gather around these smokestacks before entering the temple.

After the temple we ventured to a big park where cherry blossoms were in bloom. The park had a number of groups sitting out on tarps, having picnics and drinking.
 
 A bit about the cherry blossoms: they really are as beautiful and widespread as people say. In Japan, the cherry blossoms are celebrated. The park was full of people, of all ages, enjoying the season, laughing together.

Here we stopped for a snack. Aaron ordered something rolled in bacon, I ordered a crepe. We stayed near one of the lakes and people watched for a while, taking photographs, appreciating the fashion.

After going to the park we visited a bustling part of the city, Jimbocho. Many young people hang out in the area and this was where we had our first Japanese conveyor belt sushi experience. It was awesome.