Roving Sun – Here and there but not quite everywhere!

We visited Washington, DC in the morning today to see the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin. It was, unfortunately, well past peak bloom.

After another late start from the メルキュール東京羽田エアポート Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport, we had sushi for lunch in Meguro before visiting the 肥後細川庭園 Higo Hosokawa Garden to the north. Next, we walked over to the 椿山荘 Chinzanso Garden and enjoyed its fog display. After, we briefly visited the modern Roman Catholic カテドラル聖マリア大聖堂 St. Mary’s Cathedral before dinner at Yurakucho. We ended the day by walking through the rain to see the Christmas illuminated 東京タワー Tokyo Tower up close.

We had a late start this morning from the メルキュール東京羽田エアポート Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport. We left just before noon to get lunch near 東京駅 Tokyo Station. In the early evening, we went over to 東京ミッドタウン Tokyo Midtown to see their Christmas illuminations. After, we walked over to 六本木ヒルズ Roppongi Hills primarily for the extremely busy view over the beautiful illuminated けやき坂 Keyakizaka with the 東京タワー Tokyo Tower in the background. We then walked over to 麻布台ヒルズ Azabudai Hills to see what Christmas was like there before heading back to the Mercure.

After a final breakfast at the 長崎マリオット Nagasaki Marriott, we flew on ANA back to Tokyo and checked in to the メルキュール東京羽田エアポート Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport. After a very late sukiyaki lunch, we visited 東京ミッドタウン日比谷 Tokyo Midtown Hibiya to check out the winter illuminations there. We then walked north to the 丸の内 Marunouchi district for the annual Marunouchi Bright Holiday winter illumination event where we managed to actually visit all the venues!

Our last full day in Kyushu! After breakfast at the 長崎マリオット Nagasaki Marriott, we took the train over to 島原 Shimabara and visited 島原城 Shimabara Castle. After lunch, we visited the town’s historic 武家屋敷 samurai residences and its streets lined with natural spring water canals, which is a bit of an odd description! After a snack at the over 100 year old 銀水 Ginsui, we returned to Nagasaki for dinner.