A day trip out of the city to Lake Hakone for our last day around Tokyo.

First standard trains, well after the morning rush.

Then onto a funicular – the second steepest in the world, it climbs over 200 m in 1.2 kilometres and at times there is three metres difference in height between the ends of the train.

Watching point-and-call in action, as well as the rails.

Three stations between the termini give somewhere for trains to pass.

There were three switchbacks to help the train zig-zag up, and down, the steep hill – the train stops and the driver and conductor walk to the other end of the train.

After all that excitement, it was time for lunch at an excellent gyoza restaurant – which had a large mobile collection.

Replenished,  some pleasant strolling around the edge of Lake Hakone. Some curious oldish boats, interesting trees, no views of Mt Fuji due to cloud and an old customs checkpoint.

Flashbacks to Paparoa Track rides and its goblin forest.

Back home (did finally catch glimpses of Fuji, at dusk from a train), grabbing far too many meals from the supermarket on the way, for dinner and preparing to leave the following day.

Goodbye and thanks to Thomas, Keiko and Leila for the stay in their home, and the many outings.

Excellent little introduction to Tokyo, despite fighting off whatever virus I’d picked up – thankfully I was on the mend and didn’t pass it on to our hosts. Time to head back to Mastumoto and our bikes!

I was unreasonably pleased to get a tea bag coaster.

Another big walking day out – this time more central Tokyo. Hot again, 25,000+ steps, count-lost trains and so many people. I was on the mend by now, so no naps in parks; we seemed to be on the go all day – riding loaded bikes a hundred kilometres is possibly easier. Excellent day seeing some Tokyo sights, people watching, some interesting architecture and even some peaceful parks.

Quiet in the suburbs mid Sunday morning.

Into Shinjuku Park after the busyness outside.

Restorative ramen and broth for lunch, watched it made in front of us.

Into Akihabara – famous for electronics and manga.

Streets closed to traffic on a Sunday, very pleasant.

Huge lotus pond in Ueno Park, nice to walk beside.

Seems I still had a thing for finding old pillar boxes.

Heading into Akakusa to see the staggeringly popular Sensoji Temple, things got a little crowded.

Trying to sneak down the back of a long alley of stalls.

Bemused by these guys hanging around on roofs. Not quite the strange women lying in ponds handing out swords that we’d not seen earlier.

Loved this patterning and the texture.

Into Ginza District – the heart of corporate Japan.

As Oji headquarters was just around the corner I had to pay a brief visit, having heard of it off and on for the last ten years through various stints of employment at one of their NZ companies.

Just as well it was Sunday, I was hardly dressed appropriately.

We headed for Tokyo Tower to meet Keiko and Leila, finding more interesting buildings on the way.

Going to the black ring of the observation deck, on an elevator thankfully.

Tiring a bit by now, I didn’t have high expectations – but the fascinating views of bits of the city, and the city as a whole topped the day’s sightseeing off wonderfully; certainly a highlight of the day, as it gave way to night.

With the sky dark, an animated Halloween (still a month away) film played all around the deck’s windows. Dancing pumpkins anyone? More impressive, and entertaining, than expected.

Off to Shibuya to meet Amelia, Rachel’s elder niece, for a family (plus-me) dinner.

Not fitting in, in many ways (Rachel’s photo).

We just had to go through Shibuya Scramble Crossing on our way, purported to be the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world. I’d believe that.

Surprised to hear, and then see, a convoy of go-karts. All a bit Mario Bros, unsure how they are legal or if we’d slipped into another world.

Another exceptional dinner out to top off a long, fascinating and worthwhile day.

Bit of a fever dream haze of a hot day as whatever bug I’d picked up laid me pretty low; thinking too much of travelling to Tokyo with my cold and passing it on to Rachel’s brother’s family. Lazy morning in hostel before venturing out a bit in the heat. I liked the old electrical components dotted around the hostel building, thankfully no longer in use.

Managed to get out for second breakfast (therefore wasn’t too sick, still had an appetite), an interesting western-Japanese mix.

There was a great bike shop next door, so we organised to leave our bikes there to have some work done while we were in Tokyo . Finally found some 29″ tyres to replace my very bald ones, the first time we’d found any in Japan – 29″ mountain-bikes not very popular, understandably.

Having checked out of the hostel, we had time to wander the streets before our train departed for Kofu. Nice to see the castle in daylight, as well as a few other places.

In one old building I marvelled both at the craftsmanship of the building itself and the more recent woodworking and furniture-making – including some demonstrations.

Back out into the heat for a bit before walking to the station.

I did appreciate a number of fonts around town, lovely cool, clear water.

At the station Rachel did a stellar job of dealing with lines and the intricacies of getting the right tickets while I was exhausted from the heat and illness, sitting down somewhere cool and quiet. Unfortunately my desire to ride on the shinkansen was not possible for this trip (probably would have been wasted in my current state), but two trains took us to an overnight stay in Kofu – just past halfway to Tokyo. Our first experience of a Japanese hotel in which we saw no staff at all, bit strange but all worked fine.

I don’t remember much of our brief stay in Kofu, we were soon on our way to meet Rachel’s brother in Kawasaki.

Finally a chance to get some snaps of a local ambulance out and about – bit smaller than our one in Ranfurly, but I suspect more comfortable in the back.