Misuteriasu Tsua-

Last spring I took my first trip with my LOLs. We were heading for Kyoto but accidentally ended up on the train platform for Tokyo. (For those of you who aren't completely polished up in your Japan city geography, let's just say the two places are in two completely different directions!) Anyway, from then on, it became an inside joke that wherever we were, whenever we got lost, we were "heading for the Tokyo Tower." It wasn't until this Fall, though, that my LOLs realized that I had never actually seen the Tokyo Tower. After that, they made it their mission to plan a "Misuteriasu Tsua-" (say it really, really slowly and then gradually speed up!! Did you figure it out? And no, the last word is not sewer.) Anyway, Thursday was a holiday, so on Wednesday evening my LOLs "kidnapped" me (alright, I over exaggerate, I had a little pre-warning!)

My fearless leaders on the right train platform holding our bento box dinners
the Tokyo Tower at night!

the city that never sleeps -- from the Tower

Me in front of the Tower (sort of)

It was a huge picture of the Tower

Emily, we are not in Hamamatsu anymore!

It was a rainy, snowy day

Guess who had fun taking pictures!!!!

The entrance to the Emperor's Palace

You can't actually go in!

Some scary looking guy who jammed up my camera's "smile setting"

Asasuka's famous gate

(Dieter, remember your Christmas present?)

Chinese pagoda in Asasuka

As always, we have to eat ice cream!!!

They went for vanilla/green tea swirl (blech!) I had Japanese plum (yum!!)

Hello Kitty Bus