Nakasendo 2024

Back to Tokyo

After a lovely sleep in a real bed with real pillows, we made our way to the Mitsokoshi Department store, the first Department store in Japan.

The history of Mitsokoshi began in 1673 when Takatoshi Mitsui, a kimono fabric merchant, opened a store and introduced the concept of sales at labelled prices. The store we visited had Japan’s first escalator.

The store opens at 10 am with an announcement from a staff member, welcoming shoppers to the store. And as you enter, staff members bow to you.

The store has a beautiful attic and a roof garden for lunch

Then we went to Daimaru department store to check out the food hall. There was a long queue of people waiting for something, so we had to investigate… they were queuing to purchase chicken shaped biscuits !?!

By this time we needed something to eat (to go with the coffee we intended to have)

On our way to finding a coffee shop, we found the historic entrance to Tokyo station

And we also came across this cute little boy who was having his photo taken professionally.

Lesley and I went to visit the Imperial Palace and gardens.

While we were there, an orchestra and opera singer were performing on the lawns, so we stopped and listened.

Then a visit to the National Museum of Modern Art before walking back to our hotel for an afternoon rest.

You can’t visit Tokyo without marvelling at the food packaging.

I bought a yummy strawberry shortcake which was packaged in a small box. In the lid of the box was a small ice pack, to keep the cake cool. Amazing.