After travelling +11,000km and too many sleepless hours on a plane I arrived in Tokyo 7:30AM Sunday 1st May. The flight to Singapore was packed however the following flight into Narita was very empty. A plus for me trying to stretch out and sleep but not a good sign for Japanese tourism. Taking the N'EX from the airport was nice and easy, heaps of space for each seat and info to let you know where you are.

Since my check-in time was not until 3PM I dropped off my luggage and headed to Harajuku and the Meiji Jingu shrine.

Me in front of a Tori at the entrance to Meiji Jinju (yes this is me smilling)

Sake Casks

Traditional Shinto Wedding Procession

Day two was just getting my bearings and exploring Ikebukuro (where I am staying) and Ueno.

View from Sunshine60 building, a large shopping mall

Day three was spent at Kamakura which is only about 1hr away from Tokyo and is the location of a number of important Buddhist and Shinto shrines.

Great Buddha (yes I am smilling)

Zeniarai Benten Shrine
It is said your money will double if you wash it in the water found in this cave.

To get to this shrine from the Great Buddha I trekked through a trail to get there.

This is a photo after climbing this particular hill (one of many on the trail). It is steeper than it looks. 

Here is a link of the path I followed. I got a bit lost at the beginning and the last bit is me leaving by train.
http://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?snapid=S1893159tcT

While reading some review of a hotel in Osaka I came across the following:

Regardless of last minute booking so lucky last Sun January 5 GW Ai Yet they - did. If we just found a place to set up a car navigation. 3 - eating place in the neighborhood convenience store may be lit: the four short walk (less than 5 minutes walk) Takoyaki Calle - La pubs shop - shop the other members there. The hotel looks really fly? This hotel? Naka Naka is a great feeling around, but just a business hotel. This child (age 5), semi-double bed had planned to sleep in how parents and children huddled in two single beds priced without the child could stay with his two single beds - there! I'm quite surprised about the price of two adult children breakfast too! Support really - I think it was good service! Naka Naka is good but just keep getting one hour of sex in the bath in the basement too. I was happy to enter children. I'll be there three types of business hotel in the bath! There is also room for toilet and bath unit. This support at this price - It is recommended that service. But with little room for the new facility could say. It is not recommended. 2000 yen per night in the parking lot must be able to go walking every neighborhood is a great deal. May be the next to go. It is recommended for families. 

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowOneUserReview-g298566-d1083635-r63205347&sl=ja&tl=en_AU&hl=en_AU&ie=UTF-8