Tyler, the Tour Guide

Once we got the covers off Ellie's head, we began our day with a hearty breakfast buffet downstairs. Little did we know how much energy we would expend throughout the day.








We met up with Tyler Walker, son of Jeff Walker, an attorney at Butler Snow. Woody had been at a meeting with Jeff and mentioned that we'd be going to Japan this summer. Jeff hooked us up via e-mail with Tyler, who has spent a year here in Tokyo going to school. He is majoring in Japanese studies at Middlebury in Vermont, and they have an exchange program with the university here that allows them to totally immerse in the Japanese language and culture. Tyler was an absolute delight to spend the day with.

He planned a day-long outing to Kamakura, a quaint little town with many shrines, temples and home of the big buddha.

We'd then get on another train and go to Enoshima, an island off the coast. It is open only to foot traffic. The views were beautiful. It was here that we learned that Tyler is training for a 31-mile run with his father this fall. He almost killed us hiking up all the steps. We had to stop many times to rest. Tyler never lost his breath. Maybe it has something also to do with the fact of being 21.








Tyler getting our train tickets.















Close-up of Japan's greatest tour guide, Tyler Walker. Everyone say, "Hi, Tyler."



View from the train.



Entrance to the big shrine at Kamakura. I finally learned to recognize a shrine from a temple. Shrines belong to the Shinto religion and always have a torii gate in front.

Temples are where the people go to worship Buddha.







Many vats of sake left for the Shinto gods. Hope they are not sneaking out at night taking a sip. That could be bad.




They open all the vats once a year during a festival.








Steps leading up to the shrine at Kamakura.

















Most 3 year olds go to Chuck E. Cheese for their birthday. Shinto children celebrate in their finest clothes at the nearest shrine.










Sometimes they take the gods out for a ride through the streets. Not sure how they get them in there and who decides that they can close the door.









The equivalent of Phil Bryant's old red truck. It is election time in Japan and candidates ride around in vans shouting through PA systems.






One the streets of Kamakura. I have yet to figure out why in the world this lady is smiling.














Postman delivering the mail on a back street in Kamakura.















I could has sworn that this was Miss Ann.














Next destination was to see the Big Buddha. Emma, Ellie and I prevailed on the men to let us ride the local bus. What is just around the corner, not too far from here for Tyler means something totally different to us!!




Big Buddha, cast in 1252 A.D. For 20Y each you could walk up a flight of stairs inside.










Little tourist children






Buddha's sandals. Now if I ever saw that guy get up, much less walk down the street, I'd think he'd been over drinking the wine at the Shinto shrine.















Train driver to Enoshima.




By the time we got to the entrance to the island, we were starving. Tyler suggested a local noodle shop. Check out the ordering vending machine. You put your money in, punch your selection and a ticket prints out. You then hand the ticket to the cook behind the counter and he makes your noodles. Quite interesting. Cuts down on the wait staff!!




Ramen noddles.





The mainland of Enoshima. Considered Tokyo's Miami Beach. The locals can be there in one hour by train.













Crossing the footbridge.












Torri gate to island.















View of the mainland from the island.



Tyler at the bottom of the first set of steps of the day!!











Emma pulling the bell to let the spirit know she'd just dropped 50y in the coin box. Wonder how they spend all that money.












The inside of one of the shrines. Only the "higher" ups are allowed inside.




Views from the top!!









Two little girls playing rock, paper, scissors. It's a common way to make climbing stairs fun. Whoever wins each hand gets to go up a stair. First one to the top wins. It's amazing how you can just watch and figure out what they are doing without being able to understand a word they are saying.








One of the many kitties on the island.









Local ladies taking in the day.





























They were very happy to have their picture
taken with us.





Another shrine.











What is this guy doing here? Tyler translated one couple's comment: "This looks a bit out of place, don't you think?"

Woody and Tyler San













Group Shot













Not sure what his purpose is, but looks like he could be in the next Spiderman movie.






Another shot looking back from the island.










Yet another shrine.






















A local ordering her ice crean



Emma and Ellie having theirs while waiting for the train to arrive in the station.



We headed back to Tokyo on the 5:05 train. We got off at Shibuya, one of the largest stations. There we had dinner and walked around for a bit to experience a little of Tokyo's nightlife. We were certainly glad to have Tyler with us. Ellie could not wait to get back to the calmness of our hotel.

103,000Y worth of sushi. A great way to end a long day!!





Shibuya neighborhood





The world's busiest pedestrian interchange. All the cars take a turn and then when the light turns green they go in all directions covering the intersection.






Times Square on Steroids




World's busiest Starbucks