The morning of the first official tour day of Tokyo Anime Freedom 2008 started in the hotel lobby where the group was gathered. Poised and ready to storm over Japan, we anxiously waited the arrival of the charter bus that would take us through the city.
This day was Day 1 of a 2-day optional tour package that participants were able to take part in. Those that opted in joined the group for a full day of sightseeing around the city. Those that weren’t interested in doing any traditional sightseeing with the group had the freedom to spend their day however they wanted – just as if they were visiting Japan on their own.
When our bus did arrive, with it also came the wonderful and highly professional Rie Oka-san. After ushering the group onto the bus, Oka-san charmed the group with her pleasant manner and tales of Japan history and tradition.
The course we’d set for the day first took us to the famous Meiji Shrine next to Harajuku. You can’t visit Tokyo and miss the tranquil haven in which that temple resides – you just can’t.
Next, we were off to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which is known for the some 2.5 million people enshrined there who dedicated their lives to the service to the emperor of Japan. The shrine grounds were bustling with visitors not just because it’s a spectacular shrine, but also because just around that time the cherry blossom trees were just beginning to bloom. More on that later!
We of course couldn’t miss the awesome Asakusa area. The area is one of the most popular sites for visitors and Japanese locals alike.
Once we were done checking out the classic side of Japan, we turned around attention to more modern times and set out for Roppongi. There we stopped by Tokyo Midtown for a glimpse of contemporary architecture and design, and then headed to Roppongi Hills to check out the Tokyo cityscape from their Tokyo City View.
Roppongi Hills Mall
Tokyo City View
We made some friends along the way.
And that was that. After returning to the hotel, the Destination Japan group was set free upon the unsuspecting city for the rest of the night, only to return tomorrow for the next great tour day.
