Japan, Continued

Mmm.. tempura

Yoshio and Yasue met us in the hotel lobby this morning and we went to Ginza Street for an early lunch at a fantastic tempura restaurant. This restaurant has been in the same family for three hundred years. There was a line queued up at 11:30 for lunch.  
After lunch, we strolled down Ginza for an hour. I came this close to buying a Prada bag.

On Ginza Street

Ginza was full of Japanese and foreign tourists. It was fun people watching and listening to all of the different languages.

After Ginza we walked to a park very close to our hotel, Hamarikyu Gardens. This was some kind of Shogun park back in the Edo days. There were saltwater ponds and tea houses. Very relaxing and enjoyable. Before the Takanishis went home had coffee at a little place near our hotel.

Hamarikyu Gardens

After a time-out, we went out for dinner at a little Japanese restaurant. We were  just ordering some food when a western couple sat down at the bar-type table next to us.  We were soon engaged in lively conversation with them. Angela and Boudewijn were visiting from Belgium. We talked for 2 or 3 beers, they were smart, funny, and easy company.  When it came time to pay and part ways we realized we were 3000 yen short! Angela and Boudewijn graciously offered to make up the difference. We exchanged email addresses and will see them when they visit Portland.