21 November 2025
Sauntering around the dead lilies
Ueno and Ginza
Just arrived at Tokyo Haneda airport. Apparently my flight has a 20 minute delay.
Before coming here, I did my traditional as necessitated by hotel location walk around the dead lilies at Ueno, then continued on down to Ginza, back via the Tokyo station, had 2 coffees and killed enough time before I went back to my hotel to collect my bag. Fascinating.
Weather is blue sky and hot, again, this trip has had the best weather of any trip I have ever taken, which therefore resulted in some of the best hikes I have done. In fact I would say that all 4 on Tokushima and one of the 2 from Okayama are in the top ten hikes I have done in Japan. They were not particularly long but the scenery was excellent, they probably would not have been as memorable if it was grey and cloudy.
As for getting to Haneda and getting through customs, very fast and easy on the monorail, and they have no dramas letting you out of the country, it is only when you arrive that they decide to set a horrible first impression by making you wait in line for hours.
A number of other people were taking a photo here due to the yellow leaves, so I did the same.
Familiar pagoda, I think I have taken this photo at least 3 times previously.
The traditional dead lilies departure photo. Not as dead as some years.
After Ueno, it was time to head south, through Akihabara as this street becomes Ginza soon after.
This huge new building is still under construction, but nearing completion, there are cranes on the top.
Approaching Ginza, photo 1 of 2. Hazey today.
And the last pre airport photo of Japan, also Ginza.
I will probably find time to add airport photos of Haneda and Singapore from Singapore in about 9 hours time.