Tokyo Cruise, Japanese Gardens, and Buddist Temple

We enjoyed a beautiful sunny day in Tokyo and joined a tour group in the afternoon. Japan is a very interesting country - so very modern and so very expensive. We wanted to see the country side but not on this trip. We will have to watch a documentary on Japan.

A beautiful sunny day in Tokyo.  Japanese garden by our hotel.

We started the day with lunch at Outback - a treat for us! 
 No baked potatoes or coconut shrimp in Japan.

This picture is for Beth Weatherford - she loves street covers - this is
 the national flower of Japan,  the chrysanthemum.

Beautiful blue skies and sharp sided buildings in Tokyo.

A perfect day to tour Tokyo

We visited a 300  year old Japanese Garden on our afternoon tour of the city.

The pine trees are shaped and manicured to take this look.

Inside of a Japanese home - very simple.  The mats for used 
to eat , sleep  and have tea on.

Shoes are always taken off before entering your home.

What a view with a 300 year old garden nestled among the tall,
 modern buildings - what a contrast.

These rope cages are placed over the trees to help them grow a certain way.

These grass mats are placed around the trees to prevent the pine beetles
 from entering into the trunk of the tree.  Tight at the 
bottom and loose for air to circulate at the top.

Cool looking tree against the modern building.

Papa is the best part of the garden!

Pictures from our Tokyo River Cruise

Beautiful buildings along the water.

Japanese are very clever architects

Can you guess what these buildings represent?  The gold thing is a flame of fire.

Pagoda where the ashes of the Buddha are buried in the gold ring at the top

Buddha Temple built in 16th century.

Another Ninja having a little sword fight with Papa.