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After a difficult nights sleep - jet lag is a pain (if anyone knows of a real remedy, let me know ) we had to be up early to get across town to the Skytree.
We hadn’t reckoned when booking the tickets that getting out of bed at 7 am would be such a challenge, it was hard - but we managed it.
We were greeted by rain - so grabbing a hotel see-through brolly, we joined the masses to Shinjuku Station. There was just a sea of brollys all the way - as it’s so warm and humid, the locals use umbrellas rather than wearing raincoats - very sensible!

After the usual challenge of trying to find the right train line, right level and platform, we eventually made it over to the Skytree - Japan's tallest building (634m) - the Shard - Western Europe’s tallest building is a mere 310m by comparison.
We had tickets to be the first up - so we joined a reasonably small queue and before long, we were rocketing skywards to the first deck at 350m. Being up so early allowed us to view Tokyo without the masses - which was rather nice.
Sadly, the visibility wasn’t great but it was still impressive. After the first deck, we took another elevator to the top deck - at 450m.
Having viewed all around we rode the lift to the bottom, I was quite happy to get back to terra firma.

We had also booked another couple of tickets to “TeamLabs Planets”.
This is a permanent art installation using digital technology, which gives you a fully “immersive” experience.
Once again, we rode those trains right across Tokyo to TeamLabs and queued up for our time slot.

Upon entering, the first thing you must do is take off your shoes and socks. Storing them in lockers with bags etc before heading off up a slope through running water.
Once your feet are suitably wet (and cleaned) you are given towels to dry off before heading into each room - each one different sensory wise to the last.
You either walked into large cavernous spaces with mirrored floors, walls and ceilings, illuminated by either projections, hanging LED strips or flowers or dark soft floors you sank into.
Plus a room filled with water you wade through or a garden that you walk into which has what can best be described as pods growing and glowing.

It was quite an experience!

Returning back to Shinjuku, we ate at a popular, noisy restaurant opposite our hotel.
We were allocated a table and rather than a QR code to order, we had a iPad.
Selected English - and then scrolled through the menu offerings, selecting whatever took our fancy while we went.
Again, after a few minutes the bowls and beers would start arriving.
If you needed more, you just ordered more - simples!

The following day was a Saturday - Park Run day.
As it started at 8am - we were up so early, we just had time to nip into breakfast at 6.30, grab a pastry, before going to the trains and a 50 minute journey to a suburb.
Despite it being a Saturday and so early, there were quite a number of school children on their way to school, none of them had being accompanied to the station by their parents.
The park run was at Futakotamagawa, on a small island in a park. Apparently it was the original Park Run in Tokyo and this was its 225th occasion.
Claire was warmly greeted and at 8am they set off to run around for 5km.
Before long the runners came in.
Claire managed a very respectable 23 min. 15 seconds, first lady overall & first in age grade % for the year!

Afterwards, as our return train went through Shibuya, we decided to get out and spend some time having a look around the area.
I grabbed a rather nice sandwich from the local 7-11 store

Claire returned to Nike to try on some carbon running shoes (which worked out £60 cheaper than the UK) but decided they just weren’t the right fit.
I however, managed to pick up a few T shirts which worked out even cheaper once tourist tax is given back.
Good thing we carried our passports allowing the tax to be given back. (It’s a requirement in Japan to always carry ID - including tourists)

We then returned back to Shinjuku and our hotel for a shower and change, before heading out into the red light district again!

This featured blog entry was written by Norfolk Boy from the blog Japan.
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