We dodge the weather - the rain of yesterday threatens, but save for a spit here and there, stays away.  A slightly later start, so we can wait outside the Mitsukoshi department store in Ginza to see the "performance" at opening time.  But, things have changed - no longer a hatted and gloved platoon of shop "radies" lined up to greet honourable shoppers, just two young ladies who I must say bowed beautifully, and did a wonderful job of the welcome, but there were only two.   Then, yet another train trip to Nippori Station which is the commencement point for our walking tour of the old village of Yanaka.    Here we are in central Tokyo - think Malvern, or Essendon perhaps, yet we are in a place where tradition is everything, and modernity plays little part.  We walk through the cemetery

at the top of the hill - from where you can see Mt Fuji on a good day, but today is not one of those!, and then down the hill through the village.  We stop, look and buy at the various little food shops, and enjoy sharing our purchases - always delicious.  We stop at the coffee roaster and the coffee addicts take a fix.  Mercifully the shop which sells delicious home made fruit pies is closed, and the jeweller which I have previously patronized has disappeared.  We leave the village, and meander through the side streets, spotting a little "French Quarter" with a couple of restaurants and also a wine bar.  We walk on the street, because there is no room for footpaths in these parts!  Eventually, we arrive at the massive Ueno gardens (which also houses the zoo), and these become our short cut to the station.   Along the way we stop to watch a clever busker who among other things, played the bagpipes!   Our impeccable timing (entirely accidental!) had us at the Park Hyatt in time for our 1330 lunch date.   Superb meal.   Rain stays away and we enjoy the views, before catching the train for the long journey home.

Today was very "train intensive" as we criss-crossed the city several times.   It was all the way back to Shinjuku to meet Tomoko for dinner of tonkatsu pork at our favourite Katsakura restaurant.