141220 Welcome Marta and BJ to Japan The 2nd Day: Sight-seeing in Tokyo, KEC Christmas Party

Sightseeing Date: Saturday, December 20, 2014

Guests: Marta (Ukrainian), BJ (Korean) and Eric (China)

Sightseeing Place: Imperial Palace, Shinjuku (Metropolitan Government Building, Asakusa (Sensoji Temple), Ueno (Ameyoko)

Event: KEC Christmas Party (at Ofuna)

Course: Ofuna – Tokyo – Imperial Palace – Shinjuku (Metropolitan Government Building) – Asakusa (Sensoji Temple) – Ueno (Ameya Yokocho) – Ofuna. (Attending KEC Christmas party)

We were to meet at Ofuna Station Entrance Gate at 9 am. BJ and Marta came 9:10 and Eric came at 9:15 (due to railway trouble.)

So, we took a 9:20 train to go to Tokyo Station. We went out to the South Exit of Marunouchi Side. There were many people there due to JR 100 Anniversary event.

[At Tokyo Station Marunouchi Exit, 東京駅丸の内南口にて、도쿄역 마루노우치 남쪽 출구에서]

There were the “Head-Mark” of each limited express trains displayed in the hall. They were also selling special “Suica Card”commemorating this event, that’s why there were so many people.

[At Tokyo Station Marunouchi Hall, 東京駅丸の内ホールにて、도쿄역 마루노우치 홀에서]

We managed to get out of the crowd and entered KITTE Building in front of the station. KITTE Building (JP Tower) is Central Post Office, so they were selling many postal service related goods including post cards. We wanted to buy some, but there were long ques of people at cashers, so we had to give up buying them.

[In front of Tokyo Station, 東京駅駅前にて、도쿄역 앞에서]

[JP Tower Building, JPタワー・ビル、JP 타워 빌딩]

Imperial Palace is only 10 minute walking distance from the station. But when we arrived at the Imperial Palace, it began to rain.

[At the Imperial Palace, 皇居にて、황궁에서]

[At the Imperial Palace, 皇居にて、황궁에서]

There were swans in the moat. They look nice in the Imperial Palace moats.

[At the Imperial Palace, 皇居にて、황궁에서]

We walked toward the North Exit of Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station. There was a cherry tree in front of the station. To our surprise, it was already in full bloom and there were Japanese white-eyes sucking blossom nectar.

[Cherry blossoms in front of Tokyo Station, 東京駅前の桜、도쿄역 앞 벚꽃]

We took Chuo Line trains from Tokyo to Shinjuku. After getting off at Shinjuku Station, we were heading for Metropolitan Government Buildings.

While I was guiding them through the underground street they found many shops along the street interesting. They bought some souvenirs and it was already past noon.

[At Shinjuku underground shopping street,新宿地下街にて、신주쿠 지하 상가에서]

[At Shinjuku underground shopping street,新宿地下街にて、신주쿠 지하 상가에서]

When we arrived at the Metropolitan Government Building, we decided to have lunch at a Chinese restaurant within the building.

[Lunch at a Chinese restaurant, 中華料理店で昼食、중국집에서 점심]

We ordered set menu for lunch and they tasted good. Then finally we took the elevator and went to the observation floor (45th floor). Unlike other commercial high building (like Landmark Tower in Yokohama) it is free of charge. It took only 55 seconds to reach the floor.

[At the Observatory of Tokyo Government Building、都庁ビルの展望台にて、도청 빌딩의 전망대에서]

There are two observation rooms since the Metropolitan Government Buildings are twine buildings. We went to the South Building that day.

[At the Observatory of Tokyo Government Building、都庁ビルの展望台にて、도청 빌딩의 전망대에서]

[At the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building、都庁ビルにて、도청 빌딩에서]

It was a rainy day, so we could not enyoy the best views from the floor, yet we could see autumn color down on the ground.

After visiting the Metropolitan Government Building, we took Chuo Line again, and changed trains to Subway at Kanda and headed for Asakusa.

[In front of Kaminari Gate, 浅草の雷門の前にて、아사쿠사의 카미나리몬 앞에서]

[In front of Kaminari Gate, 浅草の雷門の前にて、아사쿠사의 카미나리몬 앞에서]

Marta and BJ liked the shops of “Nakamise” very much. So, Eric and I had to wait for them a bit long time.

[At Sensoji Temple, 浅草、浅草寺にて、아사쿠사 센소지에서]

http://asakusa-nakamise.jp/e-index.html

We visited the Main Hall of Sensoji Temple, then walked around the Japanese garden next to the Main Hall.

[At Nakamise, 浅草、仲見世にて、아사쿠사, 나카미세에서]

After seeing the Sensoji Temple, we also browse around the shops and went back to the subway station.

[At Nakamise, 浅草、仲見世にて、아사쿠사, 나카미세에서]

The next destination was Ueno. I wanted to guide them to Ameya-yokocho street.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ameya-Yokoch%C5%8D

Unfortunately it began to rain hard when we arrived at Ueno. So, we ran through the street and went under the roof within Ameya Yokocho.

[At a coffee shop in Ueno, 上野のコーヒーショップにて、우에노의 커피 숍에서]

We looked for a nice coffee shop and found one near the station. They were selling a set menu of a cake and a coffee with 500 yen.

[At a coffee shop in Ueno, 上野のコーヒーショップにて、우에노의 커피 숍에서]

There were many people waiting for their turn. So we had to wait for our turn to get seats for about 15 minutes.

The tastes of cake and coffee were not too bad, so we could take a rest and went to the JR station.

Eric went back to his apartment from Ueno. So, I guided Marta and BJ to Ofuna from Ueno.

We went back to Ofuna, then we went to join KEC (Kamakura English Club) Christmas Party.

「At KEC Christmas Party in Ofuna, KECのクリスマス会にて、KEC의 크리스마스 파티에서」

KEC is a short for Kamakura English Club which I started 40 some years ago in Ofuna.

「At KEC Christmas Party in Ofuna, KECのクリスマス会にて、KEC의 크리스마스 파티에서」

While I was away from Japan (2003 to 2014), Mr. Yamamoto took care of the weekly operation.

「At KEC Christmas Party in Ofuna, KECのクリスマス会にて、KEC의 크리스마스 파티에서」

He was the MC of the party, and about a dozen of members were holding the party that night.

「At KEC Christmas Party in Ofuna, KECのクリスマス会にて、KEC의 크리스마스 파티에서」

Each member introduced themselves, and lastly Marta and BJ introduced themselves.

They were excellent English speaking guests, and we had Q & A session during the party.

The part was over at 9 pm and Marta and BJ went back to their hotel after a long day sightseeing schedule.

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分類：観光案内(Sightseeing Guide)、イベント

観光案内日：2014年12月20日(土)

同行者：BJ(韓国)、マルタ(ウクライナ), エリック(中国)

観光地：皇居、新宿都庁ビル、浅草、上野、

イベント：KECクリスマス会(大船にて)

コース：大船～東京駅～皇居～新宿～浅草～上野～大船

9時に大船駅改札前で待ち合わせ。私は8:50には大船駅に着いたが、BJとマルタは10分遅れ、エリックは東海道線の上り電車が異音がするとかで点検に手間取り、15分遅れで大船に来た。したがって、9:20ごろの電車で東京駅に向かった。

東京駅丸の内側南口のホールに出た。ここの天井はいつみても幾何学模様がユニークだ。

[Ceiling of Tokyo Station Marunouchi Hall,東京駅丸の内ホールの天井、도쿄역 마루노우치 홀 천장]

ここでは開業１００周年ということで東京発特急のヘッドマークの展示、および特別スイカカードの発売でごったがえしていた。

[At Tokyo Station Marunouchi Hall, 東京駅丸の内ホールにて、도쿄역 마루노우치 홀에서]

我々は混雑を避け、そうそうに東京駅を出てまずKITTE(JPタワー)ビルに入ってみた。気に入った絵葉書などを買おうとしたが、ここも大変な混雑で４０人待ちだというのであきらめて出た。

[In front of Tokyo Station, 東京駅駅前にて、도쿄역 앞에서]

[Inside of JP Tower Building, JPタワー・ビル内部にて、JP 타워 빌딩 내부에서]

皇居に着いた頃からあいにく雨が降り出し、傘をさしての見学となった。お濠にはハクチョウがいて風情があった。

[At the Imperial Palace, 皇居にて、황궁에서]

[At the Imperial Palace, 皇居にて、황궁에서]

[At the Imperial Palace, 皇居にて、황궁에서]

二重橋前まで歩いてから、大手門の方向へ戻り、東京駅北口に向かった。

[Cherry blossoms in front of Tokyo Station, 東京駅前の桜、도쿄역 앞 벚꽃]

丸の内北口の前には桜の木が１本あり、これは早生の玉縄桜であり、12月だというのに、すでに花が咲いていて、メジロが２羽花の蜜を吸っていた。

我々は北口から再度、東京駅に入り、中央線に乗って新宿へ向かった。中央線は本数も多く、座って新宿へ向かった。

新宿で下車して都庁へ向かったが、途中の地下の店が面白く、彼らはちょっと立ち食いした。

[At Shinjuku underground shopping street,新宿地下街にて、신주쿠 지하 상가에서]

[At Shinjuku underground shopping street,新宿地下街にて、신주쿠 지하 상가에서]

都庁に着くころ１２時近くなったので都庁ビル地下のレストラン街で食事にした。中華レストランに入り、ランチ定食を食べた。

[Lunch at a Chinese restaurant, 中華料理店で昼食、중국집에서 점심]

その後、南ビルの展望室に向かった。あいにくの天気で展望はさほど良くはなかったが、それでも無料で楽しめるので正解だろう。

[At the Observatory of Tokyo Government Building、都庁ビルの展望台にて、도청 빌딩의 전망대에서]

[At the Observatory of Tokyo Government Building、都庁ビルの展望台にて、도청 빌딩의 전망대에서]

[At the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building、都庁ビルにて、도청 빌딩에서]

新宿の都庁ビルの見学後は再び中央線に乗り、神田で地下鉄銀座線に乗り換えて浅草に向かった。

[In front of Kaminari Gate, 浅草の雷門の前にて、아사쿠사의 카미나리몬 앞에서]

[In front of Kaminari Gate, 浅草の雷門の前にて、아사쿠사의 카미나리몬 앞에서]

[At Sensoji Temple, 浅草、浅草寺にて、아사쿠사 센소지에서]

浅草の仲見世はBJとマルタの興味を強く引いたようで、私とエリックは仲見世の端で長く待たされた。

本堂の見学はさほど時間がかからないが、その後、浅草寺の庭園を見学してから地下鉄の駅に戻るまでも裏通りの店に入ったりして時間がかかった。

[At Nakamise, 浅草、仲見世にて、아사쿠사, 나카미세에서]

[At Nakamise, 浅草、仲見世にて、아사쿠사, 나카미세에서]

浅草から上野へ向かい、アメ横見学をしようとしたがこのころ、雨の降り方が激しくなり、見学はそこそこにして雨宿りを兼ねて喫茶店を探した。

[At a coffee shop in Ueno, 上野のコーヒーショップにて、우에노의 커피 숍에서]

上野駅近くのアメ横入口近くの喫茶店でケーキとコーヒーで５００円という店に入ったが満席だったため１５分ほど待たされた。

[At a coffee shop in Ueno, 上野のコーヒーショップにて、우에노의 커피 숍에서]

それでも待ったかいがあって、２Fの禁煙席で４人分の空き席ができ、ケーキもまずまずで休むことができた。

エリックは上野からなら１時間で自分の駅に戻れるというのでここで別れた。彼はスマホを使いこなし、交通の便もすぐわかるので大したものだ。

BJとマルタはいったんホテルへ戻り、その後、私の属する英語会のクリスマス会に出かけた。

７:３０からというのを多少遅刻して到着したがちょうど準備が終わり、始まる場面だったのでちょうどよかった。

「At KEC Christmas Party in Ofuna, KECのクリスマス会にて、KEC의 크리스마스 파티에서」

一人１０００円の会費を３人分払ったので財布には厳しかったが、９時までの１時間半を楽しめた。

参加者はKEC12人ほどで、BJとマルタは貴重なゲストとして迎えられた。MCは事実上の会長である山本徹さんで、全員が自己紹介をして、最後がゲストでちょうどよかった。

「At KEC Christmas Party in Ofuna, KECのクリスマス会にて、KEC의 크리스마스 파티에서」

飲み物は缶ビールと揚げ物と、田中さんの手製の五穀米おにぎりという簡単なもので、後片付けも手早くすまし、かつ会計も剰余金がでたようでよかったようだ。

欲を言えば、もっと女性の参加が多ければよかっただろう。彼らはそのままホテルへ戻り、長い一日が終わった。