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Filshie’s in Japan
  • Peter Filshie
  • Sharon Filshie

Filshie’s in Japan

Traveling with Sharon, Leandra, Marty, Chippa and Jenben Leer más
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  • Inicio del viaje
    2 de abril de 2024
    Filshie’s in Japan
    1

    Melbourne to Tokyo via Manila

    2 de abril de 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Here we go. Japan for a few weeks. Very excited.

    Our Ubermate Neil picked us up 4:15am dressed in driver attire.

    Found our buddies near Gate 6 and had breakie.

    The flight to Manila is about 8.5 hours with a short stopover before we fly north to Tokyo.

    We landed in Manila and saw slums from our windows. Not a good first impression. It is hot here and just after midday. At least we can now say we added another country to our bucket list.

    As we exited the plane Sharon was asked by the airport staff if she required assistance in the form of a wheelchair. We laughed, but she was unimpressed.

    On to Tokyo Narita airport. Hopefully our transport booking will work and we will successfully navigate our way to the hotel by late evening.    Leer más

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  • Filshie’s in Japan

    Tokyo you are amazing

    3 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Our first impression of Japan were really long queues at the airport with only a few customs staff working. Our patient driver was waiting for us. We think he is used to customs taking so long. Finally after 3.5 hours we were at our hotel.

    Our hotel was supposed to be where the tour started in the original itinerary but that changed so now we have to head to another starting point. The good news is that it looks really flash.

    Once we worked out how to navigate the train system there was no holding back. We found a cheap and cheerful breakie place and then made our way to the local station.

    It took us longer than it should to move hotels as we made a few platform errors but in the end we transitioned from the surface rail to the subway in downtown Tokyo and then down to the port area.

    This place is unreal. The size of Tokyo station defies belief. It is so big and spread out you can’t help but get lost. Shouldn’t be a surprised considering 38 million live here!

    We are all delighted with our tour “starting” hotel. Definitely 5 star and rooms are lovely. Our rooms were ready early so that gave us time to head back into Tokyo with newfound confidence.

    Under Tokyo station there are lots of local eateries so we tried our luck and it was awesome. The food is cheap and the portions ample and good eating. This was our first experience of cash only!

    The rain has now arrived so we parked our butts in an Irish pub because all the other local bars are closed until late afternoon.

    The girls left us after a few rounds and headed off in search of a shopping epiphany while us menfolk stayed to solve the world’s problems.

    The trip home included buying more food to eat back in our room. The locals seem to cook at home. Our sushi & shrimp salad were fantastic, but I have to confess my best purchase was a bottle JB for just $A15.

    Our trip home on the train was fun. Tokyo station is a zoo of people finishing their day and heading home. The train travel rules are no speaking, phones on silent but sleeping is acceptable. We cannot work out how they know which stop to get off.

    In the morning we will meet all the others who are on this tour. Our visit so far has been superb.    Leer más

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    Let the tour begin

    4 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We joined our group of 36 and as expected there are mainly Aussies and Kiwis. This will be our group for the next 12 days.

    First stop was a visit to the Tsukiji Fish Market which is an enormous spectacle of all types of local and imported seafood. It’s a dream for foodies but we had just had breakie so didn’t indulge. The crowds were overwhelming.

    It is now spring so the local and international tourists alike flock to Japan to see the renowned cherry trees bloom and join in the sakura (cherry blossom) festivities. The blossom lasts 10 - 14 days and has just come out. People here are just as excited as we are.

    Our next stop was a beautiful public park that has served many purposes over the centuries. It was originally built as a feudal lord’s Tokyo residence and duck hunting grounds during the Edo period, but later served as a strolling garden and an imperial detached palace, before eventually being opened to the public. The 300 year giant bonsai pine tree was impressive.

    Last stop for the day was Chiyoda ward where the cherry blossoms line the waterway beside the Emperor’s Imperial Palace. The blossom is so beautiful and at night this lights up for an hour but we mistimed coming back for that.
    Rookie error.

    We told Ken we would leave the bus group and make our own way home. Nearby we found the Yasukuni Shrine. Locals pay their respects and of course there was more Sakura. So much to see here.

    Tokyo is so nice. We have much to learn from their culture. No litter, clean cars, no smoking in public, calm and polite crowds. You feel safe here.

    Our late afternoon was spent trying to find a bar but we eventually gave up. They are not a thing here in the areas we were walking. We had a big day and were all exhausted.    Leer más

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    Last day in Tokyo

    5 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    We leave Tokyo tomorrow morning so after today we will not be back until after the tour ends.

    We witnessed the serenity of Ueno Park, the city’s largest green space and home to numerous temples and museums. Picnics here are called banquets and you reserve your spot with large tarps.

    There’s even a zoo here which Sharon went to see the baby Pandas. I went to the museum for the Samurai swords and artifacts.

    More than 800 cherry blossom trees line the wide central path. The first cherry trees were planted here by legendary shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, whose reign began the Edo Period (1603-1868). It’s said to be one of the oldest Hanami.

    Hanami, usually with a picnic, is a chance to celebrate the arrival of spring but today there were mostly university students celebrating their acceptances.

    We stopped next at Yoyogi Park. It has around 600 cherry trees, it’s another lively spot for hanami parties. We did some great selfie group shots in the forest and of course saw more sakura.

    Next stop nearby Meiji Shrine
    (Meiji Jingu), located within a 170-acre forest in the centre of Tokyo. The shrine commemorates Emperor Meiji, who presided over Japan’s industrial revolution in the second half of the 19th century. It was built in 1920 and was rebuilt in 1958 after it was damaged in WW2.

    The current emperor of Japan is the 126th. Born in 1960 he took over in 2019. What a responsibility.    Leer más

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    Tokyo to Kawaguchiko

    6 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    We are heading to Kawaguchiko today, about a two hour drive on the expressway. The terrain is mountainous with random cherry blossoms sitting in amongst the pine forests.

    It is nice to get away from the congestion of Tokyo for a while.

    Arrived at Lake Kawaguchiko, known for recreational boating, fishing and water sports. More importantly this is where we got our first view of the iconic Mount Fuji. The picnickers were out in force again! More cherry blossoms of course.

    The bus then drove us up Mount Fuji as far as the 3rd station carpark which is where the roadblock is before the snow and avalanches stop the traffic. We got some great pics of the peak. Some wild deer were startled by our bus.

    Our overnight resort hotel is quite new and very traditional. They have a public bath and there is a long list on the do’s and don’ts on bathing etiquette. Our room has two futon beds which will be a challenge to sleep on comfortably tonight. Upside is the view to Mount Fuji. Early morning is the best time for a view.

    We were told that there is a local bar restaurant called New York so we gave that a try. Didn’t feel like a great choice so we stayed for one round and headed back to a family restaurant outside our hotel.

    Food here is really reasonably priced but ordering is a nightmare. Our waitress was the owner's daughter. She looked about 10 years old. The orders got mucked up and the drinks were slow to arrive. It cost about A$110 to feed six of us. We all had a full belly and headed off to bed.

    Up early tomorrow as we leave at 8am.    Leer más

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    Mt Fuji to Takayama

    7 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Woke up to the most breathtaking views of Mt Fuji. We slept rough but it was worth it. Our rooms had traditional Japanese dressing gowns which they encouraged us to wear to breakfast. Um nah.

    Today is a drive to Matsumoto Castle, also known as ‘Crow Castle’ due to its dramatic black exterior. It proved to be more of a physical challenge than expected. You must remove your shoes and carry them in a plastic bag at the same time as climbing 8 flights of wooden stairs. The steps were very steep so you hang on to the bamboo rails and off you go. The 5th story was worth it for the vistas of the surrounding town. The donjon (keep) is Japan’s oldest remaining wooden keep, completed around 1593 – is listed as a National Treasure.

    The pictures show the surreal snow capped mountains. Truly Japan at its best.

    The next few hours caught us by surprise. We drove straight up and over the alps. The snow from winter is still plentiful so we just sat back and had a most beautiful drive. In a few weeks it will all have melted away.

    Our Takayama hotel is in a city that
    still retains a traditional feel, especially in its beautifully preserved old town (Sanmachi Suji).

    We visited the Takayama Jin’ya, the former government headquarters under the Tokugawa Shogunate from 1692-1871. Shoes off again.

    Loving the old latticed wooden buildings and Sannomachi Street, with pretty homes, restaurants and sake breweries.

    Dinner in town tonight.    Leer más

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    Takayama to Kyoto

    8 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Breakfast was different this morning. It was a set tray and the variety was interesting. A bit of a taste and eat exercise.

    Our driver changeover happens today. After 6 days they must rest. Yoshi-san did a great job. Our bus is immaculate and his driving over the alps yesterday was excellent.

    We are at Shirakawa-gō Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has more than 100 'Gassho-style' houses which feature steeply-pitched thatched roofs. They must be a fire hazard. Built many hundreds of years ago, these historic houses stand together in a
    beautiful natural setting. In winter the village is blocked in by deep snow falls. The water runs off the mountain throughout the village. They use the icy cold flow to chill drinks! The houses all have rice paddy’s as the main crop.

    The mountain road trip continues. There are over 10,000 tunnels in Japan. It is the only way you could get around in this country. Clever engineering.

    Heaps of bus and roadhouse time today. The blossom we are seeing now is in full bloom so we are looking forward to more exploring.

    Soon we are arriving in Kyoto where we will stay 3 nights. It gets a bit challenging when you only do overnight stays. Our tour guide Ken is excited because this is his home town.

    The hotel is our first hiccup on the tour. Rooms are squeezy Japaneezy so we asked them to remove the table and chair so we can open our suitcases. Oh well we have been spoilt up until now.    Leer más

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    Koyoto Night Outing

    9 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Having spent a very full day out in the bus it was decided tonight we will go and find the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine on our own.

    Before we could do that I had to catch a bus with the tour leader to go and pick up our prepaid VFT tickets to get us from Osaka to Tokyo at the end of the itinerary. Ken is such a great support to his guests. I also then had time to plan with Ken our movements tomorrow which is a free day on the trip.

    By the time I got back it was dinner time so we ate across the road at a Japanese teppanyaki pancake restaurant that Ken recommended . It was squeezey in the booth but the food was great.

    Next we had planned to master the train system which we had mixed success at after we caught an express and missed our stop. All part of the fun.

    Eventually at about 9pm we hiked up to the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine. The entry is through 10000 brightly painted orange gates. It was quite hilly and hard to see the paths at night but we managed and achieved our objective. Weird doing this shrine at night.    Leer más

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    Kyoto Day Tour

    9 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Our first night here was really wet. We walked a long way to see the blooms by the river but unfortunately we got caught in the downpour.

    In the canal they cleverly put a piece of wood across the water to build up the falling blossom so it looks pink. Magnificent.

    This is a thriving city and crowd looks young and more affluent. The main street has all the big brand stores. We also spotted our first genuine Geishas getting out of a taxi and shuffling into a restaurant.

    I noticed a Pokémon machine that costs 200 yen to knock a card into your tray. We watched kid have a few goes and Sharon stepped up and got two! The kid was not impressed.

    This morning we walked along the Philosopher’s Path, running alongside the Lake Biwa Canal. It’s perfect for a slow stroll under the fragrant blossoms. Nearby we entered Ginkakuji temple and has been one of the highlights of our trip. The Japanese gardens were immaculate and tranquil. Just how you would imagine. The girl's stamp books were hand done much to their delight.

    Lunchtime was at a temple which also had excellent gardens and buildings. You learn the difference between temples and shrines. You worship your god at temples but at shrine you hope for life goals and good life.

    Kinkaku-ji temple is a UNESCO site and the busiest one in Kyoto. We were warned about massive crowds but it wasn’t that unbearable. The temple is famous for being gold plated so no wonder it is popular.    Leer más

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    Kyoto Free Day

    10 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    The tour company left us to our own arrangements today so anything could happen.

    Ken gave me notes and I photographed timetables for us to go by suburban train to the bamboo forests but Chippa convinced us the bus was a better option and he was right. The bus went out through suburban Kyoto and you get to see more that way.

    It is our warmest day so far in Japan and great for playing tourists. The Bamboo forest and nearby Kimono poles were really busy. Rickshaws are a novelty if you want to take it easy.

    Further out of suburbia is a Buddhist temple in the Arashiyama neighborhood. Empress Shōtoku founded this order in the middle of the eighth century. It has been flooded by the Kamo River a few times but in the last 50 years it has been restored as an offshoot of the Enryaku-ji temple. There are 1000 Buddha carvings that gather moss and look great.

    For something different we caught a tram back to the hotel. We had time to do some shopping and then we caught up at a boutique brewery for pre-dinner beers. My beer was stout and 10% proof!

    Dinner was back to the same place as last night but different meals on the teppanyaki tables.

    We move on tomorrow to Osaka    Leer más

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    Kyoto to Nara then Osaka

    11 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Kyoto turned out to be a very busy and exciting city that we all enjoyed. Now we move on to Nara. It is not too far in the bus today.

    We are at Nara visiting the Todai-ji (Great Eastern Temple), famed for its Great Buddha Hall, which remains one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. This impressive UNESCO building houses a 15m-tall bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana.

    Afterwards we wandered past monks residences and then through out the gorgeous Nara Park, where more than 1200 tame sika deer roam freely. It’s smelly and you have to look down to miss the droppings. If you carry anything paper they will come up and grab it. They seem content with their lives, but they really aren’t wild at all.

    We lunched at Happy Kitchen which had nice burgers and fresh fruit smoothies. Some western food was a welcome change.

    Last of the day was Osaka Castle. It is a historical site situated at Osaka-Jō in Chūō-ku, Osaka. It lies on the south of the Ōkawa and occupies a large area in the center of the city of Osaka. This park is the second largest park in the city. The crowds here were huge but it was great to see this marvelous structure.

    Can you spot the deer in the tree picture?    Leer más

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    Osaka to Hirashima

    12 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    We left behind our big luggage which will remain at the hotel in Osaka. We will only need our overnight bags for next two evenings in Hiroshima.

    Our next stop was one of the tour highlights. Himeji Castle is a hilltop Japanese castle complex situated in Himeji which is on route to Hiroshima. It is UNESCO World Heritage listed too. The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture. There are 83 rooms with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period although this castle was never actually attacked.

    The castle is also known as the 'White Heron Castle', Himeji. The design is predominantly white and it would look incredible at night under lights.

    Today is a beautiful blue sky day and with grounds full of cherry blossom it was the perfect visit.

    Now we will continue on to Kurashiki, a city on Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. We had a casual walk around the Bikan Historical Quarter, known for its centuries-old buildings and lovely local shops.

    Two more hours of bus time before we get to our hotel in Hiroshima. A long but very enjoyable day.    Leer más

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    Miyajima Is. & Hiroshima Peace Memorial

    13 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    After an hour on the bus we arrived at the harbour where we boarded a ferry for the short trip to Miyajima, an island known for its forests and ancient temples.

    We all sat on the starboard side to get a good picture of a 'floating' torii, which becomes partially submerged at high tide. It marks the entrance to the Itsukushima Shrine, which was first built in the 12th century.

    We got our bearings and made our way up into the hillside to the Daishoin temple. It was well worth finding the Buddha statues with all their cute knitted caps. The gardens were amazing too.

    To get back to the ferry you must transverse Omotesando Street which is brim full of local foods and souvenir shops. I tried the grilled oysters which are cultivated here. They are triple the size of our ones back home. The girls found a cocktail stand so they indulged in a $A7 drink only to find a refill opportunity 50 meters further on and they only charge $A2! All good fun.

    Now we are back in Hiroshima where we will pay our respects to the Atomic Bomb Dome, otherwise in Japan known as the Genbaku Dome, or the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.

    A shell of a building that was one of very few left standing after the USA
    bombed Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945. The bomb detonated 600 metres off the ground and destroyed everything for over 5 kilometers. Unlike the other majors cities in Japan Hiroshima had not been bombed up until that day.

    In Hiroshima today, locals have mixed feelings about the UNESCO World Heritage-listed structure. Some see it as a reminder of war, whilst others consider it a tribute to remind the rest of the world that this kind of carnage should never happen again.

    The most daunting part of the day was walking through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. As you would expect there are the images, artifacts and exhibits that are confronting and shocking.

    There is a flame outside the museum in the cenotaph which is intended to burn until the last nuclear weapon on our planet has been destroyed.

    Hiroshima should be very proud of what their city has become today.    Leer más

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    Goodbye Hiroshima hello Osaka again

    14 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    This morning we depart Hiroshima via the bullet train to Shin-Osaka Station. This station has fantastic shops and the bento packs to eat in transit seem popular.

    We will fly along at about 300 km per hour. Meanwhile our bus will take the slow route back with our bags and catch us with up later in the day.

    Osaka will be more free time to shop and check out the station precinct until the bus gets here.

    We enjoyed a walking tour of the Dōtonbori area. One of Osaka's most popular tourist destinations, this street runs parallel to the Dōtonbori canal and it was packed today being a Sunday. The shopping was good although we didn’t really try the street food after eating on the train.

    This evening is our last together on tour so we will enjoy a dinner as a group at a local restaurant. It was a set menu with drinks provided. The hot sake was a favourite. The tables were low with a foot well. No shoes allowed.    Leer más

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    VFT back to Tokyo

    15 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Our tour ended with our dinner last night and now we are on our own again. Inspiring Vacations did a great job. Our two weeks was at the absolute prime time of the year so getting around and doing tours must be a challenge. We got good value for our money.

    We prepaid tickets on the VFT to Tokyo which will scoot along flat out getting us there in 2.5 hours. We are all in different carriages because we have our big bags and only a few seats have storage behind them.

    Eating of trains is a popular pastime. The people beside us had a bento box and beer. What a feast.

    About halfway to Tokyo I realized I left my house keys back in Osaka in the side zip of a carry on bag that broke so I left it for the housekeeper to throw out. We texted Ken for help and as always he stepped up. My keys are on their way to Tokyo! Fingers crossed it arrives before Thursday.

    As we approached the outskirts of Tokyo there was a flurry of activity in the carriage as travelers clambered for a picture of Mount Fuji. Quite stunning today in the warmth of Spring.

    Tokyo station is just a giant of a place. Train lines everywhere and shops on multiple levels. It is a massive people mover. Our hotel was a 800 metre walk so here we are for the next three days.

    Time for a drink at the local Celts bar and we decided to go into town to a place called Scramble Crossing. We zig zagged on the subway and found it. The best view was from a rooftop bar. So many people crossing in all directions.

    Tokyo at night was buzzing. Time to hit the sack.    Leer más

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    Tokyo Shopping Day

    16 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    We all slept in and hit the road mid morning. The boys requested a trip to Tokyo Dome which is the home ground of the Tokyo Giants baseball team. They have a huge following in Japan.

    I wanted to buy an authentic team cap so we needed to get to the shops at the stadium. Right beside the dome is a rollercoaster ride that looks scary. It hadn’t started to operate by the time we left the area. The girls found a shopping centre to keep themselves occupied (surprise surprise).

    Next stop was further down the subway line to fine a place called “A Happy Pancake”. Not easy to find but the food was great. Savoury and sweet was on offer. Light and fluffy.

    We all went our own way so Sharon and I explored the Sunshine City shopping precinct which was popular with young people.

    At one point we noticed a “Piglet + Cafe” and before you know it we were inside nursing piglets for 30 minutes. It was hilarious. Sharon was very popular and had 8 on her lap all jockeying for prime spot to take a nap. Every so often another piglet would walk up and bite the others. They squeal and protest and then it all settles down again. What a funny experience.

    Long subway ride back to base and tonight we have booked to go up the world’s tallest view tower.

    Sky Tree tower is 450 metres tall and gives a 360 view of Tokyo. At night it is even more special. There were big crowds so you just have to be patient. So many picture opportunities. We were all very impressed.

    Another long day. Sleep well tonight.    Leer más

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    Last Day in Japan

    17 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    You know you are becoming confident tourists when you don’t even open google maps to show you the way to the station!

    If you need help for the trains just speak to the robotic station master and it will give you directions.

    Our entertainment today is to visit the harbour side area of Tokyo. There is a driverless train that takes you around shops and attractions. There was a replica Statue of Liberty, fancy ferries, Legoland and much more. Lunch was in an old town area near the seafood market. Good fun and as usual clean cheap food. Jen loved her garlic prawn burger!

    Nakamise Market was next for some more last minute shopping. Our feet are sore and we are running out of steam.

    Breaking news! My package from Osaka has arrived to my room. Cost me A$10 and my house keys are back with me. The whole problem I caused speaks volumes to the integrity in Japan. They happily solved the problem to my timeline. I can’t imagine getting this kind of service in many other countries.

    Dinner tonight we walked local and experienced our first bad behavior from a restaurant. We were refused entry “locals only”. We had heard about this but didn’t believe it was true.

    A few doors down we looked at the descending staircase and the no English menu and said “ let’s do it”.

    Turned out to be some kind of Japanese tapas experience. Cold beers, gin & tonics combined with some of the best dishes we have had to date. Hilarious watching each of us using google translate to order dishes. A really great meal for our last dinner in Tokyo.

    Off to the airport tomorrow.    Leer más

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    Homeward Bound - Japan Experience

    19 de abril de 2024, Japón ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    Breaky done. Western style this morning included minestrone and a Caesar salad. What the…..

    Bags are crammed full and ready to go. We decided we could handle the 800 metre walk to the train line that heads to Haneda Airport. The footpaths here are almost always smooth so dragging the bags is not a big issue.

    Our reliable train man is Martin. He has mastered the subway system so we take his lead and follow. He even ensures we do lifts and escalators to avoid the stairs. Thank you Marty.

    Travelling on public transport here is a breeze. You get a Suica card that you use on all forms of transport. In the past few weeks it worked on buses, trains and trams. You just top up from a credit card when it gets low. Suica card is also accepted at convenience stores so it really is clever.

    After about a dozen stops we arrive at the massive Haneda terminals. We needed terminal 3 for our flight home via Manila.

    The portable wifi we rented for the trip needed to be put in a mailbox before we enter customs. It worked ok but Esim is better for long holidays.

    Queuing is a sport in Japan and nobody seems to mind. Soon enough we are airside for a snack before boarding.

    Seemed appropriate to take advantage of the ridiculously cheap gin and tonics at the 7 Eleven. At $A1.60 each hard to resist.

    So reflections on Japan. Loved it and will be back for sure. Might do Autumn next time.

    The culture is so different to home. Their society is safe, clean and respectful. It was hard to find any poor behavior anywhere.

    The language is a barrier but that’s part of the fun of traveling. Google translate is your new best friend.

    If you thought Japan is expensive then you are wrong. Eating with a few drinks and getting out and about on the public transport is quite cheap. The rest of the shopping is probably expensive but we were there in the absolute peak season.

    The locals don’t litter although nightclub district get messy late at night (hearsay)! You are encouraged to take all your litter home to recycle. Cars are well kept and not many are damaged. It’s a pride thing.

    Vending is everywhere including hot drinks. Same prices as the convenience stores.

    Now in Manila. Super strict security. We had to even identify and open our checked through luggage before we could board. No movies on that leg - boo.

    This is a first. We were invited to board as seniors. At least we weren’t offered wheelchairs.

    Now on to Melbourne where Ubermates Neil & Sharyn will be waiting.

    Enjoyed this trip with our buddies. Lots of laughs and fun.    Leer más

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    Fin del viaje
    19 de abril de 2024