Saturday began with this breakfast for me ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150569 and Suzanne ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150570 and this sign in the elevator ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150571 which amused Suzanne ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150572 though this was the one I wanted (like us on facebook). ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150573 Masatoshi took us around the city this day and we began at a cruise ship location ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150574 where this photo was being taken ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150575 before we went to our boat location as Suzanne studied the schedule ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150576 and then posed with Masatoshi in front of the boat we wouldn't be taking ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150577 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150578 with this backdrop ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150579 and then we boarded our boat for Asakusa and observed this scenery along the way as we passed under many bridges ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150580 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150581 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150582 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150583 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150584 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150585 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150586 until we landed and saw this decoration on top of a brewery ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150587 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150588 and made our way past these possible desserts ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150589 towards the shrine at Asakusa ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150590 where crowds were gathering ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150591 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150592 as we approached the Kaminarimon Gate ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150593 with this large decoration ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150594 in front of which we posed ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150595 and proceeded ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150596 through the many street shops ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150597 past a variety of crackers ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150598 and a geisha sitting on a rooftop ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150599 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150600 towards the shrine ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150601 stopping to see these fruits which undoubtedly were the source of the vermilion for the temples and shrines we've seen ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150602 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150603 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150604 before I purchased a tweeting bird from this woman with Pikachu on it ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150605 though there were rules about what could be tried before buying. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150606 The final shrine was the largest ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150607 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150608 and we posed in front of it ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150609 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150610 as the crowd was burning incense ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150611 and so Masatoshi gave instruction ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150612 and Suzanne lit her incense ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150613 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150614 sniffed it ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150615 added it to the flame ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150616 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150617 and inhaled the smoke ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150618 before we made our way to the core of the shrine ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150619 with pagoda on top ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150620 and golden interior ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150621 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150622 and remarkable painting on the ceiling ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150623 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150624 and many opportunities for fortunes. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150625 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150626 We moved on to a less crowded neighborhood where I recorded this sign ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150627 as we crossed the outer moat that defined the city at one time ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150628 and now has railroad tracks below ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150629 at the Iidabashi station where we were also to have dinner ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150630 and we entered a noddle house ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150631 where tea and crackers were served ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150632 along with beer ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150633 and fish ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150634 as Masatoshi captured Suzanne and me ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150635 and I captured him ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150636 as my vegetarian (lotus) was served ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150637 along with edamame ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150638 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150639 and various condiments ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150640 that went with the noodles without ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150641 or with seaweed ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150642 and so this was the table at which we ate. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150643 For the first time, I found collection signs in the bathroom ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150644 which are clearer here ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150645 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150646 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150647 along with the fresh flowers I'd come to expect. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150648 Walking on through the shopping area, we came to the Dental location ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150649 and plants that yield the vermilion fruits ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150650 complete with the fruits ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150651 and then walked by a pachinko parlor ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150652 where there was lots of action ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150653 and went into this pastry shop where many options were offered ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150654 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150655 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150656 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150657 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150658 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150659 and Suzanne chose this one. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150660 We then went past a restaurant using real food for samples ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150661 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150662 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150663 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150664 and decided to beat the heat at a cafe with iced coffee ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150665 and espresso ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150666 green tea gelatto ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150667 and corn gelatto. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150668 We paused at the shrine which was located where Meredith and Masutoshi's children had gone to kindergarten ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150669 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150670 and then stopped to visit Masutoshi's offices ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150671 where Suzanne played the visitor ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150672 and Masatoshi as the executive ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150673 posing in front of their sign and brick facade. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150674 We walked down his street and Suzanne and I posed ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150675 before admiring these pieces of art and calling it a delightful afternoon. For some unknown reason, I forgot to take photos at our dinner that night with Masutoshi, Dave and Satsuki. ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150676 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150677 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150678 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150679 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150680 ../../../Sabbat/2012/06.29-07.16.12Japan//P1150681