Japan 2013 - Tokyo.

This is the touristy bit at the end of the 2013 Japan trip. If you want to see the koi bit, click on the 'Japan 2013 - Niigata' link.

Monday 18th February.
Caught the bullet train back to Tokyo and took the short trip by tube to the hotel. Got all sorted out and enjoyed a really nice American meal last night!
This morning the plan was to take myself off the usual tourist track and see what else I could find in Tokyo. The benefit of having a 4-day Flexible Pass for JREast means you can travel on the train as much as you want. I started at Akihabara and then on to Shibuya. It's a nice walk to the Meiji Jingu shrine, passing through two of Japan's tallest wooden Tori gates at 1mm high.

The shrine was built in 1920 and is quite large. The surrounding gardens are beautiful, even at this time of year, but must be amazing when the cherry are in blossom or the Iris beds are in full flower.

This is a lovely teahouse in the garden park and the next picture is of a shelter looking over the Iris gardens.

Next I took a walk around the Yoyogi Park, but the fountains weren't running and they were doing a lot of maintenance. The National Yoyogi stadium (below) is an impressive building, but as there wasn't much more to see I travelled on to Ueno.

The main shrine is the Toshogu Shrine, built in 1627, but unfortunately presently undergoing repairs. There are so many stone lanterns, one of which is one of the 3 largest in Japan.

Right next to it is a stunning display of dahlias (which I decided not to pay to go and see as I was able to have a peek over the wall). There is also this 5-storied pagoda - really nice!

Ueno Park is really big - even has a zoo in it - and has a large lake. One side of the lake is for boating and the other is for wildlife. In the middle is the Bentendo Temple.

This lovely waterfall is a feature along the lakeside walk.

A short walk out at the South side of the park and you will find Ameyoko market. The streets are crowded with stores selling clothes, general produce, fresh fish and dried food.

There is so much to see and do around Ueno, but I eventually made my way back up to the central boulevard of the park where there is a large Starbucks - great place to rest the weary legs, enjoy a coffee and read a book!

Before leaving Ueno I took myself right off the track up to the Ken-eiji Temple, a Buddhist temple originally built to defend the Edo Castle. It later became the Tokugawa family temple. Although closed, it was very interesting and well worth the visit.

So, a short trip back on the train to Akihabara, a quick visit to the hotel before going out for dinner with a friend and the 2013 trip draws to a close, already!
The final day sees me leaving the hotel at 8am. Tube to Tokyo station and Narita express to the airport. The flights all went well and I landed in Dublin at 5.30pm. My parents met me at the airport and by the time we collected the cases, got to the car park and got up the road it was time for a coffee and snack. We still got home to Portrush for 9pm so the journey from the hotel in Tokyo to home took just 22 hours - down to a fine art!

Japan Trip 2013. - Niigata.

This is the first part of the 2013 buying trip, covering the purchase of koi in and around Ojiya. Follow the trip here or get the feed on facebook by adding "causewaykoi". You can contact us if there's anything special you would like brought home.

Wednesday 13th February. 
Well, it feels good to be back! The trip doesn't feel as long as it used to and I've arrived feeling fresh as a daisy. Settled in to the hotel and got a nice view out over the front door. A lot of the snow has melted away so it will be easy enough to get around.

As usual, first dinner is in the Yakiniku restaurant out the front of the hotel.

Thursday 14th February.
It was a beautiful day today as you can see from these pics taken up at Hosokai fish farm.

Here are 3 boxes of nissai I selected from Hosokai.

After fish selection Hosokai took us to a Soba noodle restaurant - my first time at this lovely place.

After lunch we sorted out some of the tosai and then headed over to Shinoda. There weren't many nissai doitsu left, but I picked up this box of koi.

Friday 15th February.
Right up to Yamakoshi this morning. Took a few pictures outside Yagenji and by the time we came out it was snowing quite heavily. This is a good one of a snowblower at work.

Here are the Yagenji tosai.

Next we visited Kanno where there were no 2yrs old fish left for sale, but I bought a selection of Goshiki and Go-sanke tosai.The 2nd pic is of some of the bigger fish in his koi house.

We also visited Maruju before lunch - at the ramen noodle bar.
After lunch we called at Marusho - you need good balance in these koi houses!

Next was Miyatora. I bought a box of tosai from this pond.

And I think you'll like these koi - really cracking good nissai - all about 45-50cm.

Saturday 16th February.
A cold start this morning after the snow last night, but the roads were clear enough and we started at Marusei. I've got a few pics of nissai today, but a lot of work was done on arranging tosai orders.
Here are some pics of Marusei koi. The first pic is of cheaper and smaller nissai (about 28-35cm). The second pic is much bigger GR Kigoi and Yamabuki (about 45-48cm)

With the man himself.

Took a few more scenery pictures while waiting for Yamazaki san. Picked out these two for you.

Picked up these koi - not too expensive and some a little different.

Called with Sakai Matsunosuke for green tea & snacks and ordered High Quality tosai.

Sunday 17th February.
With all the buying over, today was a chance to spend some time with friends. Tadashi Hosokai, who came to our Open Day in 2010, has left the koi farm to his older brother and is serving his time learning arts associated with Japanese culture. He was so glad we were able to come and see him on his day off. The journey would have been impossible in Ireland after last night's snow, but it's fine for Japan!

I hadn't seen his daughter since 2011. Now she is nissai! A wee beauty. ;)

Kids everywhere love playing with water - not every kid plays with a pond full of 1m + very valuable nishikigoi!!