Ginza, the most expensive neighborhood in Tokyo

Ginza is the Park Avenue/Madison Avenue of Tokyo -fancy fancy fancy!


Our first stop in Ginza was Shima hair salon, where we had our hair cut and styled. The people at this salon were so kind, so precise, so professional, and so efficient. To exit the salon you step into an elevator, and they bow to you as the elevator doors close. The experience was pure luxury!


Dear Future Rich Husband,
Please stop worrying about how you will impress and woo me, as the answer is written in the photo above. All you need to know is one word: Mikimoto. Anything in this shop will do.
Love,
me



After drooling over pearls at Mikimoto we had a bite to eat at a charming little noodle place in the neighborhood.




After lunch we strolled the neighborhood.


This clock opens every hour and little mechanical characters play these chimes while tourists like me stand around and watch. Isn't it amazing!


This famous building (which displays the clock) houses two famous department stores called, Hankyu and Seibu, as well as a movie theater known as the Nichigeki Pikadeli Theaters.


Oh NO, not again!



The following photos are of the lobby at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1916 (demolished in 1968). Unfortunately very little of the original design still exists, but there are obvious traces of his genius scattered about the building...




...like this bar for instance, The Old Imperial Bar, which retains Wrights original wallpaper design, as well as framed blue prints, and furniture.



The cocktail presentation was very impressive, so was the price.


(Original Wright wallpaper selection is on the far wall.)


We met Noda Sensei at the Sony building and walked to a few galleries, and then to dinner...


...at this interesting local place known as Yatai which means "street stall." These types of places are located under the rail road and they are open all night long, closing at 8am. This place specializes in meat skewers, guts and giblets.


The people who worked here were very kind.



We had sake...


...especially since we were about to indulge in heart, liver, skin, intestine, and cartilage.



I am eating heart in this photo! It wasn't bad actually.


Noda Sensei insisted we try eating intestines! Rika-chan was brave, she tried it first.


Noda Sensei liked chatting with the other patrons. He was impressed this man finished his portion of intestines (note the empty bowl in front of him). I took so many photos that this man asked Noda Sensei if I worked for the newspaper.


After dinner we went to a place called Bic Camera, which is a 10 level camera shop -this place is packed with all kinds of camera geer.



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Later, we took the subway back to Kashiwa, and slept on the train.