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Play Day
We had a day off to just enjoy some playing with some toys at a local library.

END OF DAY 31 - OCT 5, 2023

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DAY 32 - (Page 22)
Friday - October 6, 2023 - (Thur Oct 5 Home Time)
 SUMMARY OF MY CRAZIEST DAY!

[  ] At IKEGO - Another Sunny, clear, low humidity day
  [  ] Papa got Up Very Early - On A Mission.
  [  ] GO GET BETTER PHOTOS OF MT FUJI!
        My attempt on Day 29 - Tues Oct 3, 2023 (PAGE 21) wasn't bad - COULD Do Better.

  [  ] PLAN A - Take a TRAIN, to a BUS, to near MT FUJI, for PHOTOS.
        It Looked easy - on Google Maps
  [  ] We set out early - Train to Zushi - Train to Ofuno - Train to Tsujido - Looking Good!
  [  ] Arrived at Train Station - Walked to Bus Station - On a Tight Schedule - In A Hurry.
        There were Several Buses to Choose from - NONE HAD ANY ENGLISH SIGNS!
  [  ] I Boarded a Bus Based on Time - GOT ON THE WRONG BUS!
        I Rode the Wrong Bus long enough to know it was the wrong bus - A Local
  [  ] I GOT OFF THE WRONG BUS! At the Next Bus Stop - A Neighborhood.
  [  ] Walked a Long Distance - Past the Fujisawa Fire Station - Back to the Bus Station.
        Lost a Lot of the Time I had Gained by Getting up early. Still Unable to Figure Out Buses.
  [  ] Gave Up on Bus Plan. CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE!... Discouraging.

  [  ] PLAN B - Take a TRAIN, back to TOKYO, then BUS TO MT FUJI, for PHOTOS.
        This was again, based on Google Maps - Mt Fuji is Very Popular - Go For It!
  [  ] Went Back into Train Station - JUMPED ON A TRAIN - Towards Tokyo - I Thought.
        It was a Very Nice Train - Comfortable - Quiet - Nice Seating. (Thought it was Mine)
  [  ] After a Couple Stops - A Nice Older Woman Boarded - She Suggested I Was In HER SEAT.
        SHE WAS RIGHT! Not Only Was I In The Wrong Seat - I WAS ON THE WRONG TRAIN!
  [  ] After an Interesting Discussion with the CONDUCTOR - Attempting Translator -
        I Learned I Had Boarded a LIMITED EXPRESS Known as the ROMANCE CAR!
  [  ] Essentially - A RESERVED SEAT ONLY TRAIN - I Owed MORE YEN!  Paid!
        He Confirmed We were headed To Tokyo - I Could STAND THE REST OF THE WAY!
        No Problem! It was still a Very Nice Train!
  [  ] We Arrived at the SHINJUKI Station (in Tokyo) - I Did It! Its Almost Noon.
  [  ] We walked Across the Street - The Bus Terminal - To GET BUS TICKETS.
        SOLD OUT! Really? CRAP!  Now what?
  [  ] My Phone Battery was Running Low - I was Hungry - I Needed a Break.
        Found a place to Charge Phone - Get a little to eat and drink - And think.
  [  ] Mt Fuji Tends to Cloud Up in the Afternoon - I am Running Out of Time

  [  ] PLAN C - TOKYO METRO OBSERVATORY
        Maybe - If I can get Up High Enough, I Might See Mt Fuji from Tokyo!     
  [  ] Walked to the Tokyo Metro Building - Waited in Line - Its FREE -
  [  ] OBSERVATION FLOOR - 45th Floor - 202m (602 Ft) - Amazing Views of Tokyo!
        MT FUJI! From 62 Miles Away! Not Too Bad!
  [  ] Went for Lunch - Pizza & Oyster Bar - Charged Phone some more. Now what?
  [  ] GO TO TOKYO TOWER!  Caught the Subway.
        The 2nd Tallest in Japan - 332m (1,092 Ft) Tall. Looks like Red & White Eiffel Tower.
  [  ] There are a Couple Observation Decks - Great Views - Worth Doing!
  [  ] Got the T-Shirts - Gifts - Some Dinner - A Beer - Charged Phone.

  [  ] MY CRAZIEST DAY!  Turned a Potentially Disastrous Day - Into a GREAT DAY!
        Took the Train Back to Ikego.
  [  ] We All LAUGHED HARD about This Adventure!
  [  ] NIGHT - IKEGO
 

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PLAN A - Get Better Photos of Mt Fuji!
Papa woke very early, with a Mission in Mind. To go get some better photos of Mt Fuji!
It is a nice clear, low humidity day, which would hopefully make it easy to see Mt Fuji.

The plan was to take some trains, to a place where we could get on a bus, that would take us to a place near Mt Fuji for some photos.  It looked simple and easy on Google Maps.

When we got to the Bus Station, NONE OF THE BUS SIGNS WERE IN ENGLISH. 
In somewhat of a hurry, we were trying to catch the right bus. Time was critical to the plan.

There were several buses to pick from. Based on the time, we jumped on a bus. After a few stops, we realized we WERE ON THE WRONG BUS! A local bus, headed the opposite direction.

We GOT OFF THE BUS at the next stop, and then walked a long distance back towards the Bus Station.

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Fujisawa Fire Station
While walking back towards the train station, we passed the Fujisawa Fire Station. One of the interesting apparatus, was a large Ventilation Truck.

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Plan B - Train to Tokyo
The story is long and complex. Essentially, I was unable to figure out how to get a Bus from where I was to Mt Fuji. I figured, maybe it would be easier to do it from the Tokyo area.

I boarded this train. It was very comfortable, quiet, smooth. A Very Nice Train. Ultimately, a nice older woman boarded the train and pointed out to me that I was in HER SEAT! She was right.

It turned out, I had boarded the WRONG TRAIN!  I paid the conductor a little extra and continued into Tokyo. The train was a Limited Express known as the ROMANCE CAR! Too Funny!

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Tokyo Bus Station
After arriving at the Shinjuki Train Station, and walking to the Bus Station across the street to get a Bus Ticket to Mt Fuji, it turned out to be SOLD OUT! I could not get to Fuji today in time to see it.

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Plan C - Go to Tokyo Metro Observatory
Having decided that getting close to Mt Fuji today was Not Going to Happen.

The best choice was to get Up High in a building in Tokyo and maybe see Mt Fuji in the distance.
The Tokyo Metro Building had a FREE OBSERVATORY so lets try that.

The walk from the Bus Station to the Metro Building was enjoyable, with many interesting buildings and things to see from the ground level.

A small Police Station.

A Tokyo Mail Carrier.

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Tokyo Metro Building
There are several buildings in the Tokyo Metro Complex. One has an Observatory on the 45th Floor.

After about a 30 minute wait in line, I was able to see Tokyo from above.

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Tokyo From Above
There are so many interesting buildings and things to see. The base of that building has a tilted glass roof.

We would have lunch there later today.

Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower

Tokyo Dome and Skytree from Tokyo Metro.

Tokyo Dome

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Mount Fuji - 62 Miles Away
It wasn't exactly what we set out to do this morning, but we did in fact get decent photos of Mount Fuji not covered by clouds. It was 62 miles away. It looks like a little snow up there over night.

Mt Fuji in the distance.

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Tokyo Metro Building - From Below
That was definitely a worthwhile experience. The Tokyo Metro Building is a very interesting building to look at from below.

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Subtle Meaning
There are many reasons why buildings and other things are designed as they are. Many are simply beautiful and unique. They require we look at them. Many are functional.

We have no idea if this is the case, but this building, when taking a moment, shares a look we have seen over and over almost every day we have been here....

Maybe yes. Maybe no. See it?

Looks Like?

Maybe? You think?

Could be!

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Lunch
The Pizza & Oyster Bar was not far from the Tokyo Metro Building. Not exactly in the spirit of the Japan experience, but they offered the ability to charge my phone. So it worked.

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Tokyo Tower
We took the subway to see Tokyo Tower. It wasn't part of the morning plan, but it is the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

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Going Up
Tokyo Tower.

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View From Tokyo Tower
The Tokyo Tower is the 2nd Tallest in Japan. It is 332 m (1,092 Ft) Tall.

There are two levels of observation decks. One about half way up and one closer to the top.

Skytree

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Top of the Tokyo Tower
Late afternoon shadow from the top of the Tokyo Tower.

The Observatory at the top is full of mirrors and windows. It also has this carpeting, which is a total optical illusion. It is perfectly flat.

A large Shrine complex below. The Rainbow Bridge over the harbor way off in the distance.

Tokyo Tower. DONE! CHECK!

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Dinner at the Tokyo Tower
An early dinner at the Tokyo Tower, before heading home. Also, had an opportunity to charge my poor phone again.

Reflections

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Cemetery
An interesting shrine in a cemetery a short distance from the Tokyo Tower.

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Temple Gate
A Buddhist Temple Gate leading to a large Temple near the Tokyo Tower.
 

GOOD NIGHT TOKYO!
 

GREAT DAY!

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