I spent over a year planning a trip with Marla and our granddaughters to Japan, Thailand, Bali, Singapore, and Hong Kong but it almost didn’t happen! A week before our departure Marla was in the hospital for 3 nights with a fracture in her foot that had not healed for a month. Even after consultations from 5 hospital physicians, we finally had an orthopedic surgeon who said,…”Yes, you have a small fracture and the foot is swollen due to the blood thinner you are on.” It was recommended she should cancel the trip, but Marla is a force of nature and said,…”I’m going!” I arranged wheelchairs everywhere we could and purchased a post-operative boot and a foldable travel cane. Off to Asia & Bali we go! I’m very happy to share that Marla improved each day and was even walking carefully without the cane after a couple of weeks.

We checked in to the elegant Hotel Chinzanso in the Bunkyo City area of Tokyo. 

The twins check out the view from the room. Tokyo is the 3rd largest city in the world with close to 35 million people. I chose this hotel for its’ relatively quiet location and for its’ reputation of refined service and decor.

The Girls took turns pushing the wheelchair that the hotel loaned us. They are looking outside the windows on the way to breakfast.

This is a view of the the hotel’s garden walking to breakfast. If you love Japanese gardens, this hotel is for you! I would rank it above the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco! During the day and early evening misters create an artificial cloud illusion which adds to the magic.

The Girls love breakfast as much as I do!

The Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo Gardens were built in 1877. Over 700 years earlier in the 14th century, the beautiful site was already a scenic attraction where wild camellias naturally flourished. People called the area “Tsubakiyama” (camellia mountain). Stay tuned for next weeks post where we explore this fantastic garden.

We booked an all day private tour of Tokyo with a guide and driver. We are at the Sensō-ji, an ancient Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. It is Tokyo’s oldest-established temple, and one of its most significant. It is dedicated to Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion.

Our intrepid travelers are under one of the giant lanterns at the temple.

Nakamise Shopping Street runs for over 750 feet in front of the temple and is one of Tokyo’s oldest shopping streets. It is full of young Japanese school kids, locals, and tourists checking out a vibrant array of traditional Japanese crafts and fresh street food.

Marla navigated the area slowly and very carefully with her cane and boot. She was simply an amazing trooper! Kate is using a hand-held cooling unit.

This stall sells traditional candies.

Dramatic “Okame & Hyottoko” paper- mache masks used in traditional Japanese folk dances. I love the ceramic Sumo wrestlers!

The Girls are expert shoppers. Their main interest is jewelry.

A busy day!

Young school girls in their uniforms and decorated back packs.

Mimi needed a little break!

The Girls take part in the traditional purification ritual at the temple fountain.

Marla sat on these stairs while we entered the temple.

Our guide tried to find a restaurant which could accomodate Marla’s no salt or soy cuisine needs. We are in front of a building that housed close to 30 small restaurants.

We finally settled on a great Ramen restaurant our guide had visited before.

We have some brand new Ramen fans!

We are in front of the “Statue of Liberty” replica in Odaiba, Tokyo, which was a gift from France.

The Girls help their “Mimi” get ready for dinner.

I booked a reservation at “Brasserie Machon” near our hotel. We could have easily walked to it but we took a taxi to help with Marla’s foot issue. Believe it or not, our taxi got impossibly lost but we eventually got to the restaurant. I was presented with the chalk board menu of the evening…in Japanese. No one spoke any English. I was so flustered I forgot any of my translation apps but finally tried “Google Lens” which helped a lot!

Our hotel is in an area called Kagurazaka. It is known as “Little Paris.” It is home to the Institut Francais de Tokyo and the Lycée Français international school. The area historically drew thousands of French expats, teachers, and diplomats to the immediate neighborhood. To serve this community, authentic bistros, Michelin-starred French restaurants, and creperies flooded the cobblestone streets.

We all loved this little spot and the owners could not have been nicer! The manager even came out to the curb to help with our taxi home!

For our last night in Tokyo we experienced an international buffet at the hotel. We were the only tourists! We enjoyed the cuisine and watching the animated crowd of diners!

We all loved the art-filled elegance and the amazing service at the Hotel Chinzanso in Tokyo and would love to return!

My post next week will feature an exploration of the hotel’s fabulous gardens. You will not want to miss it!

We’re at the Narita airport for our departure to Chiang Mai, Thailand, via Bangkok. Goodbye wonderful Tokyo!