Japan -- IFAJ Congress

I am in Japan along with 10 other British Guild members for the International Federation of the Agricultural Journalists congress.
Today is the first day and it has already been a lot of fun.
I with 17 other delegates went on a walking tour of Tokyo. We visited the Imperial Palace and its east garden. I expected a lot of flowers, but the Japanese Emperor appears more into trees and wild grasses – weeds by any other name – in his garden. Yes it is an oasis in the middle of the hussle in Tokyo but unless you like trees and grass, and wild grasses, then it is a all bit disappointing.
Still the area that houses the Imperial Palace is impressive, and particularly appealing on a warm day like today when the trees provide some welcome shade.
From the Imperial Palace we then headed down to Ginza, a shoppers' paradise. We had lunch in a wonderful little restaurant housed on seven floors. Two Irish, one Dutch, two Canadians and a Scot had a most enjoyable meal of fish, miso soup, rice and a strange green pudding made with flour; it ate just as you would image a rubber tyre, expect with some taste and made all th better with the helping of treacle that came with it.
Tonight sees the official opening party. More of that later though.
I've put up some pictures of the Imperial Palace, its gardens and lunch.