O'Hare waiting to board

Dan & Midori's wedding

What a beautiful day and great mix of traditional Japanese, Jewish, modern, and casual celebrations that had amazing food and dessert... And spanned, eventually, four parties - over 12+ hours(!) (itLeia mais
Exploring Saporro University

We went on a nice walk through the beautiful campus.
Exploring Saporro a bit

We had some time after breakfast, before going it to sushi, so we walked around The Red Brick (Govt) Building. (We didn't really have time to warrant the, only ¥420, to go into the botanical gardenLeia mais
Saporro Sushi

This was an truly amazing and yummy experience and he treated us very well!
First JR trip - Saporro to Hakodate

Neat little angled houses with Japanese gardens, metal roofs (with ladder access and centered drainage), and often glass covered entrance ways. Beautiful seashore route with many tunnels (some of withLeia mais
Food on first JR trip

Four Points by Sheraton

Heated toilet seat, that is not easy to turn off if can be at all?!?
Very nice... With nice views
Views of Hakodate from Sheraton

Blue local train

Beautiful... Where I messaged family.
Nara - Todai-ji Temple - 1

Why go to deer park when they are and you everywhere?!?
Also this place was amazing, with many temples and shrubs, including Todai-ji (with huge Buddhas); the largest wooden structure in theLeia mais
Tenryuji Temple - Shigetsu

Great Zen food! (Shojin ryori - all vegetarian in a very specific balance, based on Zen Buddhist ritual and practice)...Thanks to the suggestion Huw gave.
Himeji Castle - 1

I have no idea what the person whose blog we read which mentioned "about an hour" for this castle was thinking.
It is gorgeous and immense and we only went through the main keep (all 5 stories) andLeia mais
Himeji Castle - 2

Mini doors!.... Inside fairly small doors in the interior gates.
Himeji Castle - 3

The main keep was crazy huge!!!! With gigantic support beams, etc.
Himeji Castle - 4

The diorama and model of interior structure where awesome!
Tanpopo Restaurant - Hiroshima

Okonomiyaki Hiroshima style and at a great little "ma & pop" place that not only showed us how to eat it but treated us very well (& I believe talked with us and put up with us until 27 mins afterLeia mais
Drinks at the hotel - Hiroshima

Yummy!
The momijimanjyu flavor worked well and even as a martini was chocolatey.
Danielle's with pine juice was subtle but tasty as well.
Teri RobinHow exciting.