Raining, cool, high humidity.
 

The ten hour flight means arrival in Tokyo (Narita NTR) on May 7, due to crossing the international date line. A chartered bus took us to the Tokyo Ginza area (approximately 1 ½ hours) for check-in at the Ginza Washington Hotel. 
          

    
Mr. Harata-san and the bus driver arrived to transport us to the hotel.  They are holding signs that read "Silk Study Tour."

As we leave Narita airport it begins to rain.   Except for the high humidity it feels just like being home in Seattle.

Still raining, warmer in the high 60's - low 70's, high humidity, very muggy.

The architecture in Japan is quite incredible and riding the monorail rather than taking a taxi allowed us to see some of these interesting buildings.  Many of the buildings in this area are built on landfill.

The Tokyo Hobby Show  is a wonderful opportunity to see Japanese marketing and many of the new products that retailers will be promoting.  Many of the booths offered hands-on (make and take) session so that visitors could try out the products.  Scrapbooking, beading, knitting and working with stencils seem to be the most popular.  The sign shows that this make and take class is 1050 yen or $10.50.

Sunny, 80's, very humid.


 

A day to be on the Ginza. The city closes the main avenue through the Ginza area for the day and the Japanese love to stroll through the shops, department stores and eateries.  We joined the festive atmosphere on the Ginza for a day of shopping.   You'll notice a variety of styles in both clothing, culture and buildings.  And, yes, even the Japanese love Prada and Starbucks!

           

After checking out early from the Ginza Washington, we board the chartered coach that took us to the famous silk region of Gunma Prefecture, north west of Tokyo city.  We were transported to the outskirts of Takasaki City for a day at the Nippon Silk Center.  In the beautiful classrooms within the Silk Center, we experienced natural dyeing, katazome and kumihimo classes with instructors from the Silk Center. 
                

In the afternoon,  we had a chance to roam the fascinating silk museum. This Silk Center, sponsored by the Gunma prefecture, is little known by westerners. It is a wonderful silk educational facility for the Japanese as well as the general public.
 

After the classes,  a scenic ride takes us west to the Isobe Garden, a Japanese style Ryokan in the picturesque village of Annaka.  At the Ryokan, we enjoyed the hot spring baths after our exciting silk experience at the Silk Center.  Annaka is a famous tourist destination for the Japanese because of the peaceful rural setting and the hot spring baths.  We did have bath tubs in our rooms for those not wishing to partake in the public baths but most of us were brave and took the plunge!

(If you would like to read more about the Japanese Ryokan, please visit the Japan Ryokan Association web site:  http://www.ryokan.or.jp/index_en.html  There are references to Ryokans all over Japan, the history and lots to feast your eyes upon.  It is a great reference to help you understand the unique services, food, and the public hot spring bath experience.)

Within a short distance from the hotel, we attended classes at the Metropolitan Research Institute. Our instructors were the Tama Silk Life 21 group, giving us hands-on classes in reeling ’floss silk’, preparing a silk hankie from boiled silk cocoons, and spinning with silk.  This was a very special day for all of us. 

We returned to the Hachioji hotel for the evening and enjoyed some additional shopping time.