We got to the dining room and they sat us at the same table. We sat up the night before. They had a couple of the Cook fires, pots, whatever they are, and I noticed something. The fuel cells, while they looked like a cross of tea candles and rock, there were different colors. And like last night, the breakfast came out in several courses. It was during those courses that I noticed the “blue” fuel cells seem to go out about the same time and the “red” one was still burning. I mean in the US, I just put a burner under it. Here in Japan, they seem to time it with each color lasting different periods.

Our breakfast was only three courses, including a lot of seafood for me. We got up and checked outside. The sky was clear and blue, and there was a bit of a chill in air as it’s still mid spring. I was not sure if it was tides or if the water level was just low yesterday, but it was still as low. Teresa and I wanted to see if we could get to the island and still keep our feet dry. 

We set off to the park we explored yesterday and it look so much better in the sunshine. We walked to the edge of the lake and made our way out. We learned the temple was called Kawakubo Terayashiki. It is very picturesque, not just the lake, but the mountains and Mount Fuji as well.  

We spent easily an hour shooting and climbing about looking for a better shot than the last. I played with different setting, including some “portrait” settings, some refection shots, and other little tricks I’ve been wanting to try.   

 Time flew and we had to get the car returned and catch our train to Tokyo. Of course, “bring it back full” is a rule in Japan just like the US. The GPS in the car was not easy to follow and I missed an exit. The next exit talked of an amusement part and was we turned the corner, the hill of a roller coaster came into view. It looked like fun, but (a) we knew we had Disney coming up, and (b) I wanted to get out of there before we came the parking lot attendant. I did not feel like explaining I could not read a map. 

I found out later (on the train) that it was called Fuji-Q Highland, small park with big rides. The advertisement say admission was free and you just paid for the rides you wanted. But as I was researching for this post, I also saw tickets for the rides. However, it is recommended that if you are going to be there for a day, but an all access ticket for about $40 US and save money. They tout some monster coasters that break records again and again (and you can see Mount Fuji while riding, if you can keep your eyes open. 

We got on the train and made our way to Tokyo. We only had one transfer, if I recall and the trip was pretty nice. Again, the Japanese railways are smooth and convenient. 

For those who don’t know, Tokyo is HUGE. It is the largest metropolitan area in the world. Like other major cities such as New York, Chicago, or LA, it is divided up into smaller boroughs, townships, or cities. Our first night was in Shibuya at the Excel Hotel Tokyu. 

This hotel towered over the streets. The lobby was on the fifth floor, with shops and restaurants on the four below it. We checked in and we on the 11th floor. We dropped out bags and made it to the window. Teresa told me to look down, to the cross walk.Yep, it was the famous Shibuya crossing, the busiest crossing in the world with an estimated 1 million people crossing it daily. Add 4 more to that number,  our friends were here too.

Mike and Megan’s itinerary here differed slightly from ours, but we had time for lunch with them. We ate in the shopping area at a nice restaurant, sharing wine and plates. We left quite full, parting ways as Teresa wanted to go to Ueno Park.   

Ueno Park is a city park, with lakes, swan boats, museums a zoo, and more. Today, though, it was the Cherry Blossom festival. The trees were colorful and it was drawing quiet a crowd. People gathered around muscians, playing in the grass, took photos, stood patiently in line for the boats, and ate and drank. There were food booths and more food booths, selling snacks like skewers and such, full meals, and drinks. It smelled SO good, but we had just gotten up from the table. A year ago, that might not have mattered to me much, but today I am watching what and how much I eat. So, I enjoyed the smells. 

There were several small stages and a large amphitheater going with a variety of music from many genres. We made our way through the crowds. I knew Teresa did not like large crowds, we kept skirting the edges where we could. 

We had tickets to teamLab*Planets, an interactive art museum and decided to catch a cab there. It was much father than we though and I was grateful for the cab. We got there early. They admit only a certain number of guests (who bought tickets) for a given time. Our’s was for 8:30pm and they had just let in the 1900 (7pm) group.  So, we found a place to wait before it was our turn to get into line.

TeamLab Planets (TLP) in Tokyo is an immersive art experience that blends technology, art, and nature to create a captivating environment. Opened in 2018, TLP invites visitors to walk through a series of interconnected, interactive exhibits that challenge traditional boundaries between the viewer and the artwork. Each room features stunning digital projections, vibrant colors, and responsive elements that change based on movement and interaction. The experience is designed to evoke a sense of wonder and connection to the surrounding environment, encouraging guests to engage with the art in a personal and meaningful way.

One of the highlights of TeamLab Planets is the “Waterfall” exhibit, where visitors walk through a shallow pool of water, creating an ethereal atmosphere as the digital projections reflect off the surface. The installation also includes breathtaking displays of flowering fields, starry skies, and mesmerizing light displays that transform with each visitor’s presence. By merging art with technology, TeamLab Planets offers a unique exploration of the relationship between humans and nature.

Our time came and we entered. Instructions were given and we made our way in. We could choose which gallery we wanted to enter first. We choose water. We walked into a room where we were asked to remove out shoes and socks, put them in a locker, and pull up our pants to our knees (or as close as we could). The pants I wore were a little tight and I needed Teresa’s help. We got them up as high as we could and the young lady smiled and let us in. We walked up a waterfall and into a room where fish and shapes were projected into the water. Most projections I’ve seen in the past tended to stay only on the surface. Here, they seemed to go much deeper. 

We made our way to other exhibits before exiting back in the locker room. We got our shoes and made out way to the next gallery. Here, we were asked to lay on the floor and look up. Was the room moving? The floor? It was hard to tell as the flowers grew and the butterflies landed only to take off and fly to the next. Raise you hand and a butterfly might fly towards it. Wave your hand and it flies away.  There were rooms to jump on mushrooms to get from one side to the other without falling off, trying to follow a path a path made by the mushrooms matching the same color and pattern of the one you jumped on to start. 

There was a room with desks and crayons for you to color, adding shapes and patterns to birds, planes lizards and more. When done, take it to the scanner and your art shows up on the wall with all the other artists. The shapes are interactive, the lizards moving on the ground and the plans flying. You could take your hand and scoot your lizard, or move it through the air like it is flying and fly your art around the room just be making gestures. 

There were walls covered in designs. Touch one part and that touch might reflect out, changing the entire wall. Sweep you hand and it might clear the portion under your hand.  

There were room with giant balls, taller than me. A hangin maze which Teresa did and I bowed out of. I was afraid I was still too heavy for it. As we passed it again, I saw someone larger than me on it. He was struggling, but it (the maze) was not. 

There were hanging gardens, mirror floors and walls, and so much more. Oh, and I want to say this too since I mentions the mirrored floors. Several times throughout entering the different exhibits and galleries, the staff would offer modesty wraps for those wearing skirts or dresses. The people in Japan are very modest and very polite. 

We spent a few hours in here, making sure we experienced it all.  This was a totally interactive experience, one that we both would highly recommend.  We cannot tell you everything. Not because we don’t want to spoil it for you, though, it’s because their exhibits change. 

We grabbed a cab again back to our hotel and I want to say the ride was under $10 US total for the two of us.

We made our way up to our room and I looked out over the Tokyo sky and down on the crossing. It was late, but still busy. 

Tomorrow, Tokyo DisneyLand.