Weather and some culture observations

The weather has been overcast and windy, but warm with average highs of 80s and lows of 70s. There have been a few showers, but no major thunderstorms like we're used to in the South. Beautiful ginko trees line the streets and parks, providing a refreshing greenery in the urban landscape.

Several cultural observations include a verbal greeting and thank you for cafes, restaurants, and stores, no public affection, clean and conservative clothing, black suits and white button down attire for businessmen, no eating or drinking on the streets, and smoking is permitted only in caged public areas. When people do buy drinks from the many vending machines (at least one for every 20 people or 5.5 million in Japan according to Frommer's Guide Book), they quickly gulp it down and throw it away in the recyling bin before walking on. The metro is extremely quiet with no talking and certainly no gypsies playing for money. All public restrooms have buttons on the right side of the seat for a flushing noise, water spray, and seat warmer. The flush handle is at the back of the toilet seat as normal. Littering is rare and Japanese seem to learn early on about separating trash for recycling.

Ginko Leaf

Ginko Trees lining the streets

 

More ginko trees! Another park- Meiji Garden

 

Ginko trees- look how tall they are!

 

Cream cakes formed like mushrooms

(The favorite dessert is sponge cakes or roll cakes,

and the abundance and variety of mushrooms is amazing.)

Tonkatsu (Japanese version of pork cutlets,

but also of shrimp and even sushi rolls), very popular!

Gyoza specialists forming gyozas, fried or steamed pork dumplings

Typical vending machines on countless streets

(selling anything from batteries, cameras, and stamps to

eggs, sandwiches, bottled waters and juice to beer and cigarettes)