Monday, July 7, 2025 - Tokyo

 Well, this was a new experience - washing laundry in the hotel machine. The guys had washed their clothes and were drying  them when. Karin broughther laundry. Meanwhile we went to the local 7 Eleven, which has a great variety of food, to select items to eat for breakfast. Karin and had worked an acceptable way to eat on our beds. I washed my laundry and hung it and laid it on the bed to dry for the day. It worked,  By the time we packed for our departure for Osaka tomorrow morning the clothes were dry.

We four left together for Shibuya and the famous  scrsmble square which we had seen Friday evening. It was again a crowd that crossed  the street, this time with an emergency vehicle that made its way through the intersection. Leo and Kenji went to a Pac Man store, and Karin and I found d a nearby and quiet and cool coffee shop and watched people, lots of them, too,  passing by a d we stopped our iced lattes.o It was fun comparing facial affects and dress and hair styles  I am glad that we took time just to watch people.

We joined the guys in a local hamburger chain, MOS, mountains, ocean, sunshine. It appeared to be a popular place. After they finished eating Kenji walked us around the area. We walked into what looked like casino. Rows and rows and rows of machines were full of people playing on them. nKenji stated that gambline in Japan is illegal, and no one wins money there. nRather they take the remaining balls they have after playing and take them to a nearby location and exchange them for cash.  I inquired from where the cash comes, and Kenji's response was complicated. Something about the mob and money laundering, and who knows what else and the police have other major concerns such as sex and drug trafficking to concern them.

After more walking around and seeing an upscale fruit and vegetable market and very upscale food department store I thought we were in Berrlin, in the KaDeWe.  Packaging made the nuts and sweeets appear as if they were gold.  We only looked and admired.  Then we took the metroback to the hotel to cool down and manage sore limbs.

Karin had researched a really novel neighborhood place for supper.  Down narrow stairs weith wooden rails we were warmly greeted in the tiny place for Japanese food: dumplings, boiled and fried, edamame, vegetable tempura, fried chicken, and noodles with chicken and a wonderful sauce. it was a fun experience.  On our way back to the hotel we felt happy and checked out a local store which was loaded with office and cooking supplies, plus more, and this was just about the size of an aisle or two of our local CVS.

we said good night, began packing and looked on TV for any news of the emperor and his wife on their first trip to Mongolia, this time a week-long state visit for the observance of thoughsands of Japanese, soldiers and civilians, killed there 70 years ago by the Soviets. So far we have just found show which has lots of laughter. Oh well, it's a good sound by which to fall asleep.  Good Night.


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