Link to photos at Waseda

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=a51235e01e4e512d&id=A51235E01E4E512D%217912&authkey=!AJPx_tIBq1njANU Please use the above link to look at some photos from the Waseda stay. I am pleased to report that the home stay has ended well, although more than one mother had tears in their eyes as the Xavier students said goodbye. More to come shortly.

Studying the form guide. Sumo

First report.

Monday: After a long flight and a bumpy landing (due to a typhoon that struck Kyoto), we had finally reached our first destination and our home for the next few days, Tokyo. We made our way from Haneda Airport to our Ryokan Daimachi Bekkan via monorail and a series of trains. Once we had reached the local train station, Zac, our leader for the day, called for our bags to be collected and we then walked the streets of Tokyo to our residence.

Once we had settled in to our traditional accommodation, we decided to make our way to the Ginza district for a long awaited meal. We dined at a Japanese buffet with almost anything you could imagine, as well as BBQ's in the middle of the tables to cook our various meats. After filling our bellies with as much food as possible we wondered the Streets of the Ginza, admiring the many tall and bright buildings that surrounded us. We then made our way back home and got what we had all been longing for, sleep.


Tuesday: we woke up in traditional Ryokan and walked down to the tatami room with our kimonos on. Here, we ate a traditional Japanese breakfast with an assortment of different food. After breakfast we went to Asakusa to the Sensouji temple, where there was a long street of tourist shops that lead to a huge temple. After visiting Asakusa we caught the train to Akihabara. This is the major entertainment shop precinct in Tokyo, where there were jbhifi like stores that were at least 8 stories tall. We all had the lunch of our choice and then caught the train to Harajuku.

At Harajuku we visited the Meiji shrine which was at the end of the most tranquil tree lined path. Here, we were so close to the city and yet it was so peaceful and quiet. From here we walked to Takashita st. This was a lane way buzzing with youth and had so much energy. We then walked to Shibuya which had one of those intersections where people walk every direction at the same time. Seeing the chaos of the 'scramble' at peak hour was amazing. We walked around this area in small groups before going to a pork restaurant for dinner.

On way to ghibli

Lap tuatara

All in good spirits

Just to let you know we arrived in Japan well and in good spirits. We went out for yakiniku on the first night. Zac will write up in more detail shortly.

Gwyn McClelland

Sursum Corda for performing at Waseda