Tokyo burbs

Today we took a break from organised or deep scheduled touristing and took a train ride out of town. The idea being to see if we could find the burbs. 

Walked to the main station and took a train.  We had to change at Wakoshi so figured we'd get out and have a walk. 

It being morning tea time we went in search of coffee. Found a quaint little coffee shop.  Some hand waving and a lot of nodding and we managed to order coffee and cake and later added a plate of mince and rice with another coffee. 

While Phoebe gushed over the decor, I admired the wiring. 

walking further up the street, we came to a large park. Lots of families had set up tents like we do at the beach. There were kids and dogs and a lot of dads. 

Walking back and we found a supermarket. 

Brocoli was AU$1.69

I note woolies Oxley has it at $6.90/kg. I'll have to weigh a piece when I get home. 

Off the train at Kayagoe.

Walked up this road

And back at night. 

Dinner at a Japanese Cafe that looked like Korean BBQ. The table had a BBQ plate and the staff cooked in front of us. 

Walking home from the railway.  This is our street

Tokyo Drift

IMPRESSIONS OF TOKYO

People are nice, quiet, polite, helpful. 

Cars are really quiet. Petrol cars must have good mufflers.  No beeping.

We heard one angry horn blast. 

A couple of ambulances.

One would assume Tokyo drift would be a silent game. 

At the lights pedestrians stand with space.  There's no crowding together. Certainly no pushing. 

There's more people in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area than all of Australia. Yet it's calm. 

SATURDAY 14 Feb 2026

We are staying at:

Remm Tokyo Kyobashi

Breakfast at the hotel. A mix of Japanese and western. 

Train to Shinkuku railway station. This is somewhat large. Apparently 3 million passengers per day and a gazillion concorses, hallways, platforms. Although previously we'd unduerstood 200 exits, getting out proved to be a challenge. In the end we figured any stairs that went up were to be taken. Finally through random chance we saw daylight. 

Upon reflection, I suspect only one exit.

Walked through Golden Gai Area

Hanazona Shrine.

Shinjuku Gyoen Garden.

The government building was closed so no viewing.

Tonight Shinjuku food tour.

HARDWARE

A couple of hundred years ago a traveller would face the challenge of going forth to unknown worlds with partially completed maps, sails beholden to the winds, the threat of ship wreck, scurvy and kidnapping. 50 years ago paper maps and a wad of travellers cheques hidden through ones luggage. 

With such challenges de-risked, we have modern challenges born of poor decisions back home. Mine being the purchase of a power adapter that included 3 pins on the plug yet all the sockets only had two.

So, as a side gig yesterday, between resting in a Japanese garden and a evening food tour, we went in search of a hack saw.

Leaning on the expertise of Google maps incidentally the very device needing to be charged and causing the challenge in the first place, we set about finding a Japanese bunnings. This turned out to be the 7th floor of a department store with Gucci on the ground floor and every conceivable convience on the intervening floors. It seemed weird to find such variety all neatly arranged in the one building.  

After a lovely Japanese food tour, returned to home base to solve the power compatibility issue.

Sat 7 Feb

Park Run

Swim

Breakfast club

PARK RUN

Phoebe and I just did a walk and talk for the first 2/3.  Only toward the end did we run.  My stride is longer than hers so I ended up in front.  Feeling a bit heavy and weak meant I broke into a walk run walk rhythm.   

Rocks Riverside parkrun results for event #605. Your time was 00:49:54.

Phoebe is more consistent and once she starts running, she keeps going. 

The weather was warm but not stinking hot. 

after park run,  we stopped in at Tim & Ro's and jumped in the pool. 

Then onto breakfast club at Elspeth's (Tim's sister) place in Graceville. It was nice to see Derek & Naomi. Haven't seen Naomi for years. 

Also there were:

Elspeth's husband Steve.

Trupp family, Jenny, Mark, Chris, Robyn.