The next day was Sunday. Our plan was morning church in Suzaka and evening church in Nakano. In the morning we got a picture on the way
After a church service, Japanese churches often have a potluck meal together. This morning was no different. It was a good time for meeting people and talking
Then the Suzaka afternoon church meeting: We played music for them. I borrowed a guitar, but wished I had my cello instead.
Again, there was a potluck meal afterward that was all very good. This time a straw mat carpet was put down and we ate at low tables.
There were a number of good English speakers in the church including this gal.
This was our last night in Japan.
There is a good road system in Japan. Roads that are equivalent to freeways in North America are toll-ways. It cost about $80 in tolls for the trip back to Tokyo.
The posted speed limit is 80 kph. However, it is not speed-policed and cars routinely drive at 120 kph (about 75 mph).
Japan is very mountainous. We passed through an area with some cool rock formations.
To keep traffic moving, there are lots of bridges and tunnels in the mountains. We passed through some tunnels that were 4 kilometers long.
When we got to Tokyo, we changed to surface streets because in rush hour you can actually make better time that way. Also Art wanted to show us some of the sites of the city. This was the main entrance of the imperial palace grounds (map). In the crowded center of Tokyo, this expanse is an incredible extravagance of space.
This building across the street from the imperial palace is now the Mutual Life Insurance building. However, it was the place from which General Douglas Macarthur ruled Japan during the occupation after WWII. He was a fair man and for that, the Japanese loved him.
We flew back to the States on a 777.
The weather was beautiful coming over Seattle back to Sea-Tac airport.
I would have liked to stay longer in Japan, but it also felt good to be home.