April 15 Tokyo/Musashi-Itsukaichi


I think that maybe I'm stressed out about the PCR covid test (ya think?)and that's probably why I'm having extra sleep issues. My eyes were super puffy all day yesterday, and only a little better today. So I've bought some over the counter sleeping 💊 and will give that a try tonight. I can't remember ever staying in such a quiet hotel (it IS packed). But there's no carousing or loud drunks wandering the hotel hallways to keep me awake. I did sleep for a couple of hours or so and then solidly awake from 1:30 on. Just not good enough.
We DID get the test done today and now need to wait for the report which is promised by midnight  tomorrow.
🙏🤞🙏🤞🙏🤞🙏🤞
We arrived at the test center early, so had time for another breakfast.
So today's the day we went to visit the artist that we had met on our previous trip to Japan. Michael had stayed in touch with her on Facebook. She gave us the choice of having her come into the city (she lives about 50 km out )  or us going to her neck of the woods, in the country. So, always up for adventure, away we went. And of course, we did screw up. But not our fault. Or at least, that's what Minori said. At one point, I queried a young woman on the train for guidance as I felt things go wrong, and she led us off at the next station for a course correction, getting off the train just to help us.
(travelled an extra little loop, destination just west of Tokyo)
The place that we went to, was comparable to driving in the lower Laurentians. We had a nice bento box
lunch in a park where the restaurant was in a 300 year old home (authentic working waterwheel in front)
Then dessert later in a stately café. 
The air was SO fresh. There are hot springs in the area but I wasn't in the mood for communal bathing. So Minori took us to another park.
She had rented a car to take us around and we spent a very pleasant afternoon with her.
Then she assured us that going home was going to be easier. And it was, just as soon as I found someone else to help us . 
Michael's Canadian hat prods strangers into talking to us. It almost seems out of character because people on the trains are so quiet, even when traveling with others. They may be engrossed in a book, or glued to their phone, or talking quietly with their neighbor, but NOBODY talks on a cell, or yells to somebody on the other side of the car.
So the train ride was long
but gave us a chance to recuperate from the walking we were doing around the city. You have to go into a restaurant if you want to sit down. Outside of parks, we have yet to see any benches where you could have a little rest. At least, bathrooms are available everywhere. And CLEAN. Imagine being not afraid to use a bathroom in a subway station.
Speaking of clean, a notice slipped under our door.
I think that we'll have to pack up completely. This room cannot handle our suitcases and someone coming in to clean. I'd love to be the fly on the wall to see how anyone can move in this room with all of our stuff.

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