Today’s plan was a grand outing to Tokyo’s famous temples and shrines. My personal plan, however, was unexpectedly revised by what I shall politely call an enthusiastic digestive uprising. While Alan headed off to Tokyo, I remained aboard ship in close strategic partnership with our bathroom.
So this blog post comes to you secondhand – straight from Alan’s field report.
The day began with the drive from Yokohama into Tokyo, where apparently half of humanity had also decided to go sightseeing. On the way out of Yokohama there was a stunning view of Mt. Fuji from the bus. On a highway – on a bridge. Unprepared for this, Alan missed the shot.
First stop was Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Visitors enter through a massive torii gate and walk into a peaceful forested park containing around 120,000 trees. Alan said the shrine itself was beautiful and serene… once you mentally edited out the crowds of tourists moving through it like a slow river.
He did his best to capture tranquil photos for me, carefully angling shots to avoid showing the hundreds of other people doing exactly the same thing.
Next came Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest temple, founded in 628. It is famous for the Kaminarimon Gate with its enormous red lantern, and from there visitors pass onto Nakamise Shopping Street, lined with stalls selling snacks, souvenirs, and handmade goods.
Alan’s summary of this portion was concise:
“Packed.” And as someone who is very much an introvert – he was not in his element at all.
He said it was shoulder-to-shoulder in places, with people everywhere, and moving through the area required patience, determination, and possibly minor evasive maneuvers.
To add to the adventure, the guide – pleasant enough by all accounts – was difficult to understand, a fact apparently shared by much of the group. So portions of the day were spent smiling politely, nodding supportively, and hoping context clues would handle the rest.
Still, Alan was very thoughtful and kept trying to get photos he knew I’d like. Blossoms. Temple roofs. Lanterns. A tucked-away detail here and there. Evidence that even in a sea of people, he was still scouting for my kind of moments.
He returned sweetly determined to tell me everything and armed with “Karen-style” photos taken on his phone. By this he means pictures of details, textures, odd corners, flowers, people doing interesting things, and the occasional accidental thumb.
His final verdict when he got back?
“You were okay missing this one.”
And honestly, from the sound of it, I think he might have been right.
So while Alan braved the crowds of Tokyo, I stayed behind and survived my own separate excursion: The Battle of Cabin C503.
We both had memorable days in our own way.