What is the perfect gift for turning 90? In this case, it was a first-ever trip to Asia. February 16th marked my father’s 90th birthday. He and one of my three brothers, Dave, made the journey to Tokyo during Golden Week (a Japanese national holiday) to celebrate. The goal was to “see it all in 8 days.”
We started at Meiji Shrine.
We were fortunate to see a spring celebration…
… and several wedding processions.
When we spotted volunteers sweeping up leaves, look who jumped in to help.
Harajuku is always fun for people-watching.
This is the famous “Scramble” in Shibuya.
Can you spot the travelers?
Shibuya is also known for Hachiko, the world’s most loyal dog. Hachiko would greet his owner every day at the train station, which continued for 10 years after his owner’s death.
We had sushi for lunch, which is ordered via tablet, and rail-delivered to the precise tables.
Hmmm… this is a new experience. Let’s give it a try.
Learning new dexterity skills at age 90 is not ideal (we asked for a fork moving forward).
Farther out in Setagaya, we explored the pitch-dark cave under the Tamagawa Daishi Temple, representing the bowels of Buddha, thus bringing us closer to enlightenment.
The world-famous Tsukiji fish market is a seafood-lover’s paradise…
… with endless choice…
… and all parts available for sale.
From there, it was off for haircuts…
… and a straight-razor shave. At age 90, it was a delightful, first-ever experience.
Akiharbara is home to Tokyo’s famous “Electric city,” a game-lover’s mecca…
… where “maids” troll the streets in search of patrons for the Maid Café (theme restaurants are common in Tokyo).
It’s all family-friendly. We had the hamburger lunch…
… which comes with required accessories…
… and a souvenir photo.
That evening, we celebrated the 90th milestone.
The next morning, a 2-hour drive brought us to Mt. Fuji at sunrise.
At 3776 meters (12,389 feet), Fuji is the highest point in Japan.
Fuji is an active volcano which has been dormant for 300 years.
We were fortunate to catch the Shibazakura Festival with fields of purple and white phlox.
Later that evening, we enjoyed a ballgame at Meiji Jingu Stadium, home of the Yakult Tokyo Swallows…
… where the fans cheer “Go Go Swallows…”
… “and dance with umbrellas upon every score (the Swallows defeated the cross-town Giants 11-2).
The next part of our journey took us to west Japan. Near Hiroshima, we visited the world heritage site, Miyajima Shrine…
… and had front-row seats at lunch for the famous Okonomiyaki pancakes.
Also in Hiroshima, we saw the iconic Atomic Bomb Dome, where August 6, 1945 is etched in the minds of everyone.
This is Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (Hiroshima and Honolulu are sister cities).
We also toured Nagasaki. This is ground zero.
At the nearby Peace Park, “… a symbol of the aspiration for world harmony…”
… we met this 85 year old man, a survivor from that fateful date on August 9, 1945.
He was very warm and friendly, and shared his story openly.
Both Hiroshima and Nagasaki are beautiful, thriving cities.
Using the Shinkansen (bullet train)…
… we visited Kyoto…
… and strolled through several hundred of the 8,000 Shinto gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha.
Family names are etched on the gates.
Many people requested photos with the youthful 90 year old. They were captivated by his bright blue eyes.
Back in Tokyo, we were fortunate to visit a sumo stable.
A dozen sumo wrestlers live and train here.
We watched for two hours as man against man tried to push each other out of the ring.
There was a high school student (on the ground) training with the professionals. He hopes to join the stable next year.
This was a unique experience, and a true highlight.
Tokyo is also known for interactive art. Who do you see?
This is art (not “Whack a Mole”).
The Sensoji Temple is a popular spot…
…showcasing the dichotomy of Tokyo, with both architecture…
… and people.
No, we did not jump to New York City… that’s Tokyo Bay in the background.
Another popular theme dining experience is the Robot Restaurant…
… where battling robots entertain the audience.
After a 2-hour flight the next day, we landed in Seoul, South Korea, and traveled north to the border…
… and stepped into the DMZ (demilitarized zone at the 38th parallel) separating North and South Korea.
We toured tunnel #3 which was discovered in 1978. Four known tunnels have been found drilled by the North, headed toward Seoul (many more are suspected).
Security was tight throughout the DMZ.
Yes, this is North Korea. As we were there, the first congress of the Workers’ Party in 36 years was convening in Pyongyang to officially coronate Kim Jong-un as supreme leader.
What a trip. We covered a lot of ground in 8 days. Happy 90th birthday!
(see bonus photos below)
A true highlight was this group who joined our table in Hiroshima. They were very warm, friendly, and highly curious about American politics.
On Friday, May 27, President Obama was the first sitting American President to visit Hiroshima. This was huge news throughout Japan and seen very positively.
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Ukrainian Tom 