We had read somewhere that the cherry blossom season was early this year, so we were prepared to miss them. Turns out in Tokyo (and later in Osaka) it was peak bloom and what a show. Happily our plan to spend our first, hardest, most jet-lagged day wandering museums in Ueno Park, a short walk from our hotel the Dormy Inn Uneno, sent us wandering through gardens and tourists taking hundreds of photos of the gorgeous cherry blossoms. It was beautiful.

We wandered the park people watching, bird watching, and marveling we were smack in the middle of Tokyo. We couldn’t have asked for a more gentle and peaceful day to recover from the long flight.

There were many, many Japanese families, seeming a holiday atmosphere, with food stands lining several of the walkways. Pizza. Kebabs. Karaage (fried chicken). French fries in varies forms…we finally settled on sharing a skewer of grilled beef tongue (delicious) and a potato and meat croquette. It was enough to sustain us and given our jet lag our bodies had no idea what time it was or what it wanted as sustenance.

We knew a no-stress way to spend our first day included a museum or two and Ueno Park has many, from the zoological gardens to the Museum of Western Art. We headed there. It was fantastic.

We finished with the National Museum, overwhelming with the crafts and history of Japan, even including a large archeological building that we were too tired to appreciate. Of the three large buildings around a huge plaza we chose the Japan building.  I had flashbacks of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  SO MUCH STUFF.  We wandered and tried to take in the kimonos, the laquerware, the ceramics, a video showing Kabuki and Noh, an entire separate building of archeological displays.  Phew.  At last we wandered out to the lovely gardens behind the main buildings and enjoyed more cherry blossoms.

David found a little sushi place a few blocks from the hotel.  Narrow, maybe 18 seats all told, with good natured hustle between the waitress, two older sushi chefs and a young cook/helper.  Sushi was scrumptious, we finished the meal with a round of vegetable tempura (you order by the veg—we had shiso, eggplant and sweet potato).  We walked back happy.  A perfect day for the beginning of our three weeks.