Home ---- TRIP: Japan 2007

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A Great trip through Japan. This trip begins with a few days in and around Tokyo (Hakone, Mt. Fuji, Odawara etc.), then off by train to Kyoto for a few days, bullet train to Hiroshima, then off by train to Nagasaki, train to port and boat trip around the "99 Islands" (actually there are 170 islands), a couple of days home stay on Hirado island and finally off to Fukuoka via Sesebo.

2 After an 11 hour plane ride we get our first glimpse of Japan.

3 My $40 per night room in Tokyo turns out to be a real buy. Everything is clean and tidy and includes breakfast.

4 I was expecting much worse. This is great.

5 Even the bathroom facilities are modern with "scrub a butt" toilet.

6 After one full day enduring typhoon number 9 I get out of the hotel and start meandering down the streets of Tokyo.

7 I notice all streets are very clean but telephone and electrical wires are all above ground. Some things are very modern in Japan and other things are anchored in the past.

8 Parking spaces in Japan lock your car in place until you pay.

9 Vending machines are everywhere and sell everything including beer.

10 I stop by a local market to pick up some dinner and munchies.

11 This is my first day here so I don't recognize most of the foods in the store.

12 People here do their own grocery bagging after check out. The checkers see me and bag it for me - Thank you!

13 I bought sushi for dinner, bananas, eggs, lunch meat, bread and of course beer. If you can stop by a store every few days you can save money.

14 Out for lunch the next day I stop in the local diner and order a pork and noodle bowl. I love this and it is so Asian.

15 My chef turns out to be a retired soccer referee.

16 I take in a museum.

17 One of the displays in the museum was of traditional dress.

18 Wait, movie loading. From the top of the museum I get a view of the Tokyo skyline.

19 Tokyo skyline.

20 It's time to start getting used to the Tokyo transit system.