Back in Tokyo

I'm back in Tokyo now!  Took the early train from Hida-Takayama this morning.  It was two and a half hours on a regional mountain train to get to Nagoya, where I transfered to the Shinkansen (which is probably 5 times as fast) and zoomed back into Tokyo.  It was a pleasant train ride.  Listened to plenty of great tunes - Tom Waits, Justin Townes Earle, Ford Pier - and had plenty of time to ponder.  To quote Tom Waits:  "Some men are searching for the holy grail, but there's nothing sweeter than riding the rails".

The sakura (cherry blossoms) have peaked in the cities around Japan but are still blooming strong in the mountains.  Every now and then a lone cherry tree would come into view from my train window, then pass a few seconds later. 

I must say it feels great to be back in Tokyo in the Asakusa neighbourhood where I stayed a few weeks ago.  I'm staying in the same hostel, so there are some familiar faces!  Two days in Tokyo then back to Canada...