Today we disembarked for the last time, leaving the Resolution and boarding trains for Tokyo. In the Kanazawa train station we boarded the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train), which left the station spot on time (Japanese bullet trains are never more than a few seconds late, and in 60 years have never experienced a single accident). Speeding at up to 260 km/h (162 mph) – and even faster between Omiya and Takasaki Stations, running at 275 km/h (171 mph) – we reached Tokyo in two and a half hours. Read on!
We only had a couple of hours, so the guides described a few Tokyo highlights as we drove to a restaurant (JOJOen) for a Japanese BBQ-style meal (a table for four, with a hot grill at center, allowing us each to grill meat and vegetables). We reached Tokyo at an auspicious time, on the first day of a three-day holiday weekend – so the traffic was light and many streets were closed off to allow pedestrians to enjoy the opportunity for shopping. With 9 million people in central Tokyo, and 35 million in greater Tokyo, we saw large crowds out to enjoy the weekend. Later, when we had some free time, I walked the streets myself, and dove into one of the biggest downtown department stores (Ginza). With ten stories of merchandise, including delectable foods on the basement levels, it was crowded with weekend shoppers. I found what I sought – Japanese green tea – and headed back to our hotel, the Conrad Tokyo, for dinner. I had arranged to meet one of my former PhD students, and his wife, who joined my family in an incredible eight-course dinner at the hotel’s fine Japanese restaurant, Kazahana.
Be sure to check out the gallery for more photos!
This post is part of a series about our Japan trip; the series starts here.
David Kotz 
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