Tokyo Disembarkation & Japanese Dance Cabaret Theater Asakusa

March 16

Just like the embarkation their debarkation was flawless. Unfortunately, it was cold and raining sideways outside. We grabbed a cab to the Groove Hotel in the Shinjuku area. Hotels in Shinjuku | HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU, A PARKROYAL Hotel

I had a plan for our day which we decided to scrap as there was no point in trying to go anywhere in that weather. (Tsukiji Market, Nezu Shrine, Tokyo Tower, checking out some of the neighborhoods like Kagurazaka and Golden Gai with public transportation)  

"lovely" view from the balcony

The Groove Hotel was interesting. It was close to the train station we needed for the trip to Fuji, so it was a good choice. The two Aussie couples were staying there so we decided to stay there as well. When we first walked in there was no lobby. A line of people was waiting for the airport bus saw us looking confused and they asked if we were staying at the hotel, and they said the lobby was on the 18^th floor. 

in the area with the elevators to the hotel

So, we went and got checked in and they held our luggage for us until we could check in later. We grabbed their complimentary umbrellas and went to check out the train station since we had vouchers that needed to be turned into tickets. We had pre-purchased our tickets on Klook since the tickets needed to be bought 30 days prior to the date of travel which fell when some were already on the ship and some of us in Hong Kong. Klook allowed us to buy them 60 days in advance and then on the 30 day mark they bought the for us and sent vouchers. Since we noticed they sold out quickly, right on the 60 day mark we bought on Klook, as they get tickets on a first come first served basis. We all were successful!

Shinjuku Station in Tokyo is the world's busiest train station, handling an average of over 3.6 million passengers daily, and is registered as such with Guinness World Records. It's a sprawling complex with over 200 exits, 36 platforms, and numerous hallways, making it a "city within a city". So, we went into the first exit we came to and wandered for days trying to find an office to turn our vouchers into tickets. We finally found one and they said you are in the wrong terminal. It actually was across the street (possibly without the construction that was going on you can access it underground).

So, we searched for an exit and found our way across the street and entered that side. It took another eternity to find an office to ask if they can change the vouchers into tickets for the JR trains. Finally found one and we waited in line, and they said we were in the right place, and we could use the machines along the wall. There was a helpful guy there assisting everyone with the machines and then he told us the meaning of the 3 sets of tickets we got for going and the 3 for the return. One for the train, the other for the express to Kawaguchiko Station (no change of trains) and the other was the receipt that had the assigned seats on it. Phew! It was now lunch time, and we looked a bit in the station but wasn’t finding any regular dining there so we decided with the rain we would just go back to the hotel and have lunch there. We said after lunch we wanted to go back and see if we could go directly to the platform without the “tour of the station” that we took earlier. (and see how much time would be needed in the morning)

We got settled into the room (actually one big room). By Japanese standards it was roomy. Had a huge bed that was as wide as it was long. I think it could have slept 6. No drawers and a rack with 6 hangers. Nice toilet room and the shower had its own cubicle. The sink was out with everything else and there was a desk at the head of the bed.

our room

cute signs for privacy or make up your room

the walls are full of album covers

sweet potato soup

salad came in a huge bowl, and we filled our plates at least twice

Greg's fish

my "hamburger" was really a meatball 

dessert was Sakura Shortcake - a strawberry shortcake was under the meringue shell and the cherry blossom tree was made of dark chocolate for the trunk and pink cotton candy was the blossoms

While we were at lunch, we got a text from Desiree and Paul asking if we could meet (we hadn’t met on the ship) before tomorrow morning. We shared the “getting our vouchers story” and they asked if they could come with us to get their vouchers turned into tickets. We agreed to meet at the Starbucks that was on the ground floor of the building the hotel was in. (Tokyu Kabukicho Tower)

They were both very nice and we chatted as we followed Greg who was trying to remember all the twists and turns we made. We found it and the same nice guy was there and they helped Paul get their tickets. We agreed to meet about an hour early the next morning in front of Starbucks since it wouldn’t be open at the hour)

We had a reservation for a Japanese Cabaret show and it was about an hour away by train, so we got ready and tackled the train station to get there. The closest station still left us quite a few blocks to walk and yes, it was still raining. We were checking out restaurants and we weren’t finding much. We stopped into a small place (about 6 tables) and they didn’t speak English but had pictures and got chicken & rice and noodles and soup for next to nothing. It was tasty.

the restaurant for dinner

Greg in the small dining room (probably their house)

pork & rice, noodles (we both got the same thing)

walking to the theater

We continued to the show and all of a sudden, an entire street of restaurants lined the way. (should have Google mapped it first) We were quite early as the time they gave was the opening time not the show time and we were there an hour before that. So, we walked the shops and restaurants to kill some time.

The show was at Asakusa Kaguwa theater. It was a small and intimate setting and despite what seemed like a small stage put on a tremendous show. Before the show you could get your photo in costume (again too many layers for me to want to) and the performers came around and introduced themselves and found out where you were from. They handed out their colorful business cards. Japanese Dance Cabaret Theater Asakusa-Kaguwa - Tokyo Japanese Dance Cabaret Theater Asakusa-Kaguwa 2025

It was a mix of traditional and modern dance. They had elegant Geishas in elaborate kimonos, a samurai sword fight, some vignettes, lion dances and many costume changes. We sat next to a single guy from Oklahoma who was visiting on business for 3 weeks and then touring for 3 weeks. He was also an engineer, so he and Greg had something in common. He asked Greg what programs he had worked on “that he could talk about”.

They did a photo shoot afterwards so everyone could get photos.

dressing the warrior for battle

light sabers

each lady handed us each their card, the 2 guys didn't come by

When we left it was raining even harder (despite the forecast that said it should have been done hours ago). We started to walk to the train station when we came across a closer one. We ducked in and using Google Maps Greg said we could get a train there but would need to change trains at least 3 more times. (the one we took was direct) to get back to the hotel. With the weather we decided it made sense to take the more round about way to get back instead of walking further in the rain.

the tower that our hotel was in

Tokyu Kabukicho Tower (base of tower the hotel is in)

view from the hotel window

We were going to have a short night as we needed to get ready for the day trip to Mt Fuji early tomorrow.

Tokyo Disembark & Dance Show https://photos.app.goo.gl/k9DL3hnVu2N7Z8PJA