Tokyo and Yokohama....

Plastic Food Shop!

The Asahi Brewing Company Building

With Liz, Hale and Emi

With Emi, Yumiko, and Liz

In the evening, Emi's friend Hale met us at a local traditional Japanese restaurant, and we were joined by two other recent RC alums--Liz, who is doing graduate work in Japan, and Yumiko, who lives and works in Yokohama.  Thanks to Mrs. Sakae, after dinner we were able to have drinks at the Roppongi Hills Club, an exclusive club atop one of the tallest buildings in Tokyo.  The next day, we took a walking tour with Emi, Hale and Liz around one of the older sections of Tokyo and saw the Asahi Brewing Company headquarters building (shaped like a beer glass) and the oldest temple in Tokyo, built around 900 AD.  The neighborhood around the temple was fascinating, with many small shops and restaurants, including one that only sold the plastic replicas of food.  After a tiramisu latte at a local cafe, we all took the train back to Yokohama, where we met up with Yumiko again.  Tina and I are so grateful to Emi, Hale, Liz and Yumiko for sharing so much of their time on a holiday weekend with us!  It really made our trip to Japan memorable!... Finally, I had to board the ship again and Tina, Emi, Hale and Liz headed back to Tokyo.  Tina flew out of Tokyo the next morning....