Day 1, FF Western Tokyo Homestay, WTRD 46-49, October 19, 2017

We said goodbye to Kyoto this morning, boarded the bullet train at 10:35 am, and arrived in Tokyo just before 1:00 pm.  Friendship Force Western Tokyo were on the platform to meet us as we stepped off the train.

The original plan for the day was to take a city bus tour upon our arrival, but the bus tour was on the sky bus (open air), and due to the heavy rain, the bus company canceled the tour.  Our hosts were excited to greet us, but our arrival seemed a bit confusing as we tried to find our hosts and understand the change of plans. 

It was noisy and crowded on the station platform, and our hosts wanted to take us somewhere for a few minutes to talk with us before everyone departed and went their separate ways.  For many of the hosts, the last minute change in plans, left them scrambling as to how to entertain us for the afternoon in the pouring rain.

We couldn't just leave with our individual hosts, as our whole Sacramento group had arrived on a single group ticket which  meant we had to thread our way through the crowded station with our original group of 18 plus our hosts.

Finally, after some confusing twists and turns, we met up for a few minutes after we exited the ticket gates to confirm host/ambassador assignments. 

FFSac members bid each other good-bye as we all exited with our hosts, knowing that we might not see each other again until we all returned to California.  Our host Takashi-san, and Judy's host Misora, and another member Ken led the three of us FFSAC members through large underground hallways under the old Tokyo railroad station to the Kitte Shopping center, a large multi-story, indoor atrium, surrounded by retail shops.

Our hosts took us to pub for snacks, drinks, and conversation

and then to the rooftop garden for a city view of the old and new train stations,

and to a museum of collected works from University of Tokyo. 

By 4:00 pm it was time to get on the trains and start our 1 hour journey to their homes on the outskirts of the the city.  Judy and her host went in one direction, Takashi took us in another direction.  After 4 train changes and increasingly crowded platforms and stations, we boarded our 5th and last train to find that Judy and her host had converged with us on train 5.  Wow!  Old friends and new friends reconnecting in such a short time in city of millions.

Takashi's wife Yukiko arrived at the train station to transport us to their home.  We were surprised to find to young boys, their grandchildren, also in the car.  We arrived at their lovely home about 5:00 pm and spent an enjoyable evening with all of them discussing plans for the next few days,

eating a wonderful American style meal of beef stew and French bread, and introducing and playing Left, Center, Right with the family.  Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun and the boys want to come back and play the game again Saturday night when our hosts will be having a dinner party at their home for a few other FFSAC members.

Yukiko drove the boys to their home around 8:00 pm, and I spent a few minutes preparing to teach three classes of English tomorrow at the local middle school.  We are basically going to play spelling baseball, with a little geography.  Should be fun.  But for now, it's lights out.

All is well with the Worrall Travel R's in Machida City

Day 7 FFSAC Tour, WTRD 45 of 49, October 18, 2017

Last Day in Kyoto 

We have seen and experienced so many beautiful gardens and shrines, it would be difficult to top what we have already seen.  Would we something more wonderful?

This morning we joined our tour guide for the last time.  We made two stops, one to the Heian Shrine and Gardens, and to the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts before being let loose on the city by ourselves.

Heian Shrine and Gardens

The Shrine was quite striking and what made it more appealing was that a ceremony was in progress of a graduating Ikebana Flower Arranging Class.  On the 18th of every month at this particular shrine, donations are honored in a high ritual.  This month Ikebana flower arrangements are being donated and the donors are being honored.  Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photos, but it was quite a respectful ceremony.  The audience comprised of flower arranging graduates, and their families may have been about 75-80 people on the central floor of the shirne.  All were dressed in suits for men and subdued hues of kimonos for the women.  The priests came out and waved their wands and do the same sort of things a Catholic priest does at high mass.  Here are some photos of he Shrine.

Friendship Force of Sacramento in Front of the Gate to Heian Shrine

Russ purifying himself before entering the shrine.

Mom bring sons to shrine - Ikebana Service?

After visiting the shrine, we entered the garden for a stroll.  It was lovely, but not as lovely as yesterday's garden.

Japanese Gardeners picking off the dead needles of the Red Pine and shaping the tree.

Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts

 

 This museum was extremely interesting.  There were live and video demonstrations of how block printing, caligraphy, string art, tatami bamboo mats, weaving, brocade, jewelry etc. were produced.  Unfortunately, no photographs were allowed.  But here are some images from the Internet of the museum if you are interested.

After we said goodbye to our guide, we divided ourselves into slow, medium, and super stride walkers to get back to our hotel, about 2.5 miles away.  Joanna, Russ, and I were in the super striders, although I think we got back later than the rest because of the interesting route we took that wound through the city,

Young ladies in rental kimonos near the Geisha district

back through the Geisha district along the streams, seeing some maiko (Geisha's in training),

finding an interesting place for lunch, and finally going up into the Kyoto Tower.

Bullet Train Leaves the Kyoto Station.

These young boys were playing football in our hotel lobby and having a great time while we sipped our beer and wine.

All is Well with the Worrall Travel R's, our last night in Kyoto.