The morning began with adjustments for time zone differences and a lesson on how to use Tokyo’s extensive rail system. We headed to Ueno Park for its Cherry Blossoms, ponds, temples and museums. All were outstanding except limited Blossoms – extreme cold weather and snow a few days before we arrived are pushing the season out. Some of the park’s highlights included The Statue of Saigo Takamori and his dog, Shinobazu Pond and its Bentendo Temple and grounds, the Five Storied Pagoda, Bells of Time memorial, Toshougu Shrine, The Tokyo Museum of Art, and the Blake Gate.

From here our walking adventure kicked into high gear (we walked about 12 miles today). We headed to the Yanesen area comprising three neighborhoods – Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi). One thing I learned quickly be selective in taking pictures of temples and shrines -they are on just about every block. Two of the best along the way were: Keneiji Temple and Nezu-jinga Shrine.

Walking through Yanaka we saw an old public bathhouse which is now an art gallery, the Runner’s Temple, a peaceful stroll through Yanaka-reien a cemetery, the Asakura Museum of Sculpture and on to Sunset Steps which is the start of Yanaka Ginza a Nostalgic shopping street.

To close out our day we took a cross-town subway to the Shinjuku district to view the city from the 44th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Looking out over the city the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower caught my eye.