22 Jan 2013 - Japan day 5 - Tokyo Imperial Palace, Ningyocho, Ameyoko

winter + rain - it was the worst weather to visit the Tokyo Imperial Palace.
to visit, one must apply via the official government website.

running through the rain, we got to Kikyo-mon gate by 10am.  
it was actually going to be a 1.5 hour walk outdoors... omg.........

the visitor holding hall.

 after the presentation about the palace and the various rules (stick to the group, don't dilly-dally, there won't be any toilets during the tour, etc), the guards made us form 2 lines, and we started the tour. at different points, the guard would shout corresponding number of track of the audio guide for the English speakers.
above is one of the few historic structures still remaining, called Fujimi-yagura (Mt. Fuji-view Keep).
 the view from Seimon-tetsubashi Bridge (Main Gate Bridge; Nijubashi).
 at Kyuden Totei Plaza. that 2-storey building is part of the huge Palace structure itself, which was constructed in 1968.

 Kikyo-mon gate.

 my hands were about to fall off from the cold!
after the tour, we headed for Ginza where we were going to find the buffet restaurant i read about on the internet.

 the place is called Hibiki, and some English bloggers raved about the fantastic buffet of veggies available for 1000 yen lunch at this restaurant.
it was amazing how i managed to find the restaurant without making a wrong turn.


the place was nice - dim lighting, various unique wood pieces to mark sitting areas and giant stones embedded in the black flooring.
 
after choosing your main dish - each costing about 1100+ yen - you are free to grab the appetizers, drinks and desserts from the buffet counter.
the above is mom's creamy salmon stew, aunt got udon with stewed beef, i got the daily special, which was various fish/cream coquette.
the buffet spread was nice and fresh - it was all modern Japanese food. the tempura sweet potato was really yummy. there were some slender carrots and greens in a basket but i didn't know if they were decoration or food.
i loved the green jelly in the small dessert section.

 we walked around Ginza for a bit as we were surrounded for Chanel, Bulgari and LV.

 our next stop was Ningyocho (人形町).
i really liked it there because there were many alleys with traditional houses still standing, and indeed, there is an relaxed air of sophistication. the main street was lined with charming store-fronts selling all sorts of traditional / interesting Japanese goods like pickles or senbei or fans.
  
a small shrine near the subway exit.

 traditional looking houses.
 a display of fans.
 we saw this huge lantern.

i decided we should drop by Ueno's Ameyoko as mom needed new shoes.

the Ameyoko.

we walked down the street and a box of heaped shoes caught my mom's eye. the staff was yelling himself hoarse to promote the shop.
from there, my mom decided to get the gold-colored velcro-strapped shoes.

and this was an old man dressed as if he stepped out of a WWII movie.

Posted on 2.19.2013 by nya

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