Kyoto to Tokyo on Shinkansen and Conrad Tokyo

After a few days in Kyoto it was time to head to Tokyo. We took the Nozomi Shinkansen, which has the shortest duration because it makes only 3 stops between Kyoto and Tokyo. Other Shinkansen trains make more stops which takes longer. The Nozomi only took like 2 hrs and 15 minutes to get to Tokyo. We also booked green car seats, which are like business class seats. The extra space is worth it. The cars are located in the center of the train, which makes them easily accessible at the stations with very short walks. 

Nozomi 226, Kyoto to Tokyo

My first time on Shinkansen green car

Once we arrived at Tokyo Station we found the taxi stand and headed to the Conrad hotel, which was only like 3km away but takes like 15+ minutes by car.

Outdoor smokers lounge with blurry screens

The Conrad is interesting in that it is located on the top 10 floors of an office building. I think there are many other hotels in Tokyo that are set up like this. There is a valet area at the ground floor and elevators that take you up to the lobby on something like the 28th floor. Once you are there it feels just like a regular hotel except that the views from the lobby are nice. We were given an executive floor room on the top floor, 37. The room is so modern and nice and is probably the nicest room of any of the Conrads I've been to, certainly of the urban locations. It was also one of the most spacious regular category rooms I've been to in Japan. 

view from the executive lounge at the Conrad

king executive room

view from the executive lounge

the moody hallway to our room

nighttime view from our room

fireplace in the very cool lobby

After we relaxed a bit, we walked to Ginza which is a healthy walk, but totally doable. It's a probably 2km if that. In the summer muggy heat, it felt worse than it was. We headed to the 12 story Uniqlo to go shopping. That's the only store we went to in Ginza. We went across the street to the department store, Ginza 6, and had dinner in the food court. You can choose from about 6 or 7 different restaurants' menus, which is convenient if everyone you are with doesn't want the same type of food. 

across the street from the 12 story Uniqlo in Ginza

space people crossing?

The next day we went to the Odaiba area to go to teamLab Planets, which is an immersive digital art experience. You have to buy tickets for a certain time. We went just after they opened around 10am. It was already really hot and you have to wait under a tent. Thankfully we didn't wait long. You have to take your shoes off and put them in a locker because there are 2 different times where you walk through water. 

This is the first ramp with water coming down

The infinity light room was incredible with music and lights going in patterns

There is a room with water that is almost knee high and there are projections of koi throughout the room. The fish swim around the people and it's amazing.

This will most likely be the site of the bmx-cross for the Tokyo olympics next year. Odaiba is definitely going to be the site for many of the events. 

We took the NHK studio tour, which is geared to a much younger demographic than us. And it's very small.

This is the NHK mascot, Domo.

The famous Shibuya crossing

Doggies at Shibuya station

Robotech in Odaiba