Wednesday, 31 October 2012

Japan Trip - Part 7

Our Japan trip was drawing towards its end, but there was still one promise that we had to fulfill, a visit to Miraikan, The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.

 In the same way that Thomas had been looking forward to the visit to the ninja museum, Henry had been looking forward to this trip. And sure enough, he wasn't disappointed.

Highlights of the visit included figures that reacted to the human voice, the geo-cosmos globe, the robot baby seal, an exhibition about underwater exploration, and a show by Asimo.



Asimo the Honda robot.


The geo-cosmos globe, which is used to illustrate global weather patterns.


The globe's size is clearer on this photo.


From Miraikan, we continued the technological theme by going to Akihabara, the electronics centre of Tokyo.  There, we met another Mount Holyoke College alumna, Yumiko for a meal and did a little shopping.



 A street in Akihabara.


 Henry, Yumiko, Yuko, H-M and Thomas.


 And then to the final part of our stay in Japan. It started with a visit to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. This is a museum dedicated to the animated films made by Studio Ghibli. I didn't really know much about the films but the character of The Catbus was fun.

In the Ghibli Museum.


 By this time, Thomas was starting to feel at home in Japan, as the picture below shows.


 Thomas in Tokyo.

Henry, of course, had long since become a Japan fan. For a gadget-freak like Henry, a country where the toilets need multi-button control panels like in the photo below is just the place to be.


Control panel of the famous Japanese "Washlet".


After some final shopping, we had our evening meal in a Thai restaurant, where the food was excellent.


 Yuko and H-M.



Yuko, H-M, Henry, Thomas, and Peter











No comments: