Many of the temples in Vietnam and Thailand require to to wear shorts or pants that cover your knees. My shorts normally are right above my knees.
But if I pull them down a bit, they cover my knees, and my shirt still covers the top of the shorts, so my butt or back isn't showing. I wonder if this will work.
It's annoying they won't have wifi on the flight, but at least they let you know a few hours in advance.
The magnetic hooks we use on cruises always cause a problem at the airport x-ray machine.
This kid in the waiting area for our flight was screaming. I hope he gets it all out before the flight.
You can do immigration for Japan on your phone. When its done, it will display a QR code you can scan at arrival.
The app lets us know our bags are on board.
Leaving Hawaii.
We couldn't figure out how to turn off this overhead light.
The flight attendant showed us that we need to press this buttom button on the screen, then the light bulb up at the top. We saw the people in front of us also not be able to figure it out a bit later, so we showed them.
Watching a movie.
Napping a bit, working on the computer a bit, and we're there.
It says Mount Fuji is there.
Although it's too dark to see.
Always nice to know you've landed at the correct airport.
T-Mobile still giving us free internet internationally.
You're supposed to walk over these mats to disinfect your shoes.
A long line at immigration, but it went fast. I did the app for Ogii and me (I clicked she was in my travel group), but it only gave us one QR code for me, so Ogii had to fill out the paper form. Then at the next stop, we could both use the one QR code. So for next time, we should both fill it out ourselves.
Welcome to Tokyo!
First stop: get the Pasmo cards for public transportation.
They only take cash, and recommend the card with 3,000 yen on it.
We bought four of them, which was 12,000 yen total.
I had only brought $100 worth of yen, so that used up almost all of our cash.
We were left with only 2000 yen, about $12.
Good thing there was an ATM right there.
So we got another $200 in yen. Remember for next time: bring more than $100 cash. More like at least $300.
Then we had to find the taxi line.
Here it is.
It's a very short ride to our hotel.
Which I think the taxi driver was annoyed about as he accelerated and drove extremely fast. I think he wasn't happy about having to wait in the long taxi line to only make a little money and then have to go back and wait in the long line again.
No people to check you in; it's all automated.
Although Oyunaa and Ajaa had already checked in.
The bathroom.
Bidet with a heated seat.
Ogii giving them purses.
Another one.
And a laptop for her son.
They gave us a ton of gifts.
Cashmere scarves.
Nice alcohol.
A coat for Ogii.
Ajaa showed us some of her medals.
She just received a new one for many years of being an elementary school teacher.
Another one's certificate.
We snacked on some chocolates and went to bed.
The next morning, our car tour messaged us and said since we were far away from the tour area around downtown Hong Kong, they'd charge us another 10,000 yen to pick us up.
Which is around $65. If the four of us went there and back by train, that would be around $30 and take longer, so we decided to pay for the car pick up.
Some rain in the early morning.
But clearning up in the afternoon.
I noticed my laptop fans are pretty full of dust. I don't want to just spray the dust deeper into the computer with the canned air, so I'll see if I can buy a laptop screwdriver somewhere.
It looks like the screw has six points.
We walked to breakfast.
There are 7-Elevens here.
A woman stopping traffic for some reason. I would have guessed it's kids going to school, but no kids nor even adults were at the crosswalk, so I don't know.
There are vending machines seemingly randomly scattered around on the sidewalk.
They still have ones for cigarettes.
It must be trash day around here. There were many groups of multiples trash bags sitting on the sidewalks.
That will get tourists: free wifi, cold beer, and English menus.
We went to this place for breakfast. It was part of a hotel, but anyone could eat there.
They had a buffet.
Some of the food.
More over here.
One plate had six depressions, perfect for keeping your food separated.
Ready to eat.
The black car is regular-sized. The white van is very short, which makes it easier to drive and park.
Directly across from our hotel is a FamilyMart convenience store. That's helpful if we want a snack late at night.
Our private car tour driver picked us up.
Our plan for the day.
The train going by.
Some very tall buildings.
This freight company's logo is a squirrel with a package.
Someone had license plate 777.
Stylized drawing of Mount Fuji.
Driving along a river.
Buildings of a few different colors.
Why does this building have a sculpture of poop on top of it?
Ah, it's not poop. It's foam on top of a dark beer, and the building behind it is a light beer with foam as well. These are the headquarters of Asahi, which makes beer.
The Tokyo Skytree.
Driving across the river.
To our first stop: the Senso-ji temple. There are multiple entrances you pass through before you reach the temple.
There are statues on each side of a lantern in the middle.
Us with the lantern.
The bottom of the lantern has a neat carving.
Then there are tons of vendors lining the walkway.
Even more down the side streets.
Candy.
A statue on top of a building.
Another on the other side.
Us with the Skytree.
A wall with many lanterns.
Ajaa with them and another entrance behind her.
Us with the second-highest pagoda in Japan and the entrance.
Them under the entrance lantern.
Ogii and me with the pagoda.
Looking back at the last entrance.
The main temple.
There are various buildings along the side.
This one has fortunes.
With instructions in English. If you get a bad fortune, you tie it onto the hanger.
Incense.
Washing our hands.
At this fountain.
Oyunaa's turn.
Now to the main temple.
The entrance.
The central shrine.
The ceiling.
Looking back out.
Ogii getting her fortune. You put 100 yen in the slot.
Then shake the container.
Pull out a stick.
Find your drawer.
And pull out your fortune.
Uh oh, hers is bad.
Quick, tie it onto the hanger to leave it behind.
To the side.
Bronze seated Amida Nyorai statue.
My turn for a fortune at another location.
I got a good one.
Giant straw sandals called "O-Waraji" made by 800 people of Murayama City as a charm against evil.
Picking up a snack on the walk back.
It's cute.
These people had some huge cameras. That's too tiring to haul around for me.
Some rickshaws.
The Skytree and the beer buildings.
Our second stop was the Skytree.
On this level they had some Christmas decrations set up.
Along with a little Chrismas market.
And a Christmas tree.
We weren't planning on going up the Skytree because it was rainy and cloudy, but it looked like it was clearing up a bit, so we decided to go. The ticket machine wasn't in English.
But it wasn't too hard for me to figure out.
There are two levels, one at 350m and one at 450m.
We went to the 350m one first.
The elevator tracks your progress.
The rain had cleared up and the remaining clouds were high enough that we had a great view.
The four of us. It's hard to get the camera settings right; it wants to expose for us, which makes the background totally white. So Ogii changed the exposure slider on the phone screen for the background.
Although that makes us too dark.
But I can lighten the picture up a bit so it's not quite so bad.
The windows are angled, so you get a better picture if you lean way out.
By the height marker.
Many bridges to the north.
To the east.
A picture of what it looks like at night.
Ajaa and Ogii.
To the south.
To the right of the skyscrapers is Mount Fuji.
We got lucky the weather was clear enough to see it.
Some clouds around it.
We took an escalator down one level.
This area had a small section of glass floor.
Us standing on it.
From above.
We could also go up to the higher level, but we thought it'd basically be the same, so we skipped it.
Mount Fuji Kit Kats in the store.
Lemon ones.
And matcha.
There's an entire mall here, but we were on to our next stop.
Some people in onesies on gokarts.
This store is an official Pokemon Go partner. I wonder if that game is still big here?
A nice car.
Our third stop was the Tsukiji Outer Fish Market.
The four of us.
It was packed. When cars came down the street, everyone slowly got out of the way.
Their drawing of the eel makes it way too cute to eat.
Some places had rather long lines.
Seafood.
Fish.
Wagyu.
Spacious seating with air conditioning and heating.
We didn't have too much cash, so we had to find a place that takes credit cards.
So much stuff.
Nuts.
Knives.
I disagree; sea urchin does not go well with pizza.
This place had a giant shrimp statue.
Snacks.
There were multiple side streets which were also busy.
Ice cream and strawberries were a popular dessert.
This street is even busier.
Wagyu and sea urchin skewers.
So many types of seafood.
Ah, this place takes credit cards.
And has a seat area with an outlet to charge a phone.
While they cooked our meat...
... Oyunaa and Ogii went to grab some seafood.
Having a drink while waiting.
Our meat is done.
And they're back with the fish.
Our little corner.
Ready to eat.
Cooked in the shell.
Grilled squid in a package.
This guy has a statue of himself in front of the store.
Getting some ice cream.
While I got frozen strawberries.
Wagyu skewers again.
I wanted to try some, but the wait seemed pretty long.
Cute umbrellas.
The walk and don't walk symbols have dots beside them.
Which slowly count down the time until the light changes.
This looks like an old brick building.
Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue, liked with ginkgo trees.
License plate number 8. I wonder if someone paid a lot for that.
Our fourth stop was the Meiji Jingu shrine. It was a pretty walk to it.
Some toilets on the way had two different styles.
The shrine.
Us.
Paper to write prayers.
A beautiful tree.
Another one.
An entrance.
A gate.
Many booths with flowers.
A neat one.
A huge one.
Also some bonsai villages.
Another gate.
Meiji Jingu consecrated wine barrels.
And sake barrels.
Us with them.
There were a few of these huge spiders.
You could park much closer if you told this guard you were going to pray at the hall.
8888 license plate.
Neat building.
Funny cats.
Our next stop was Takeshita Street.
It was very busy.
Cat cafe.
Otters cafe.
Minipig cafe.
Santa Monica crepes.
Crazy outfits.
Many types of Kit Kats.
Colorful cotton candy.
Very long snacks on a stick.
Doner kebab.
Donuts.
Capsule toy shop.
McDonald's.
There were many vendors down some of the side streets, too.
Us at the other end.
You can see yourself on the screen.
Balloon sculpture.
A map of the street.
Capcom.
Dog cafe.
Cute shark shirt.
Lego monster on top of a building.
This was advertising a shop to play with animals.
Chinchillas.
Guinea pigs.
You could buy a little cup.
With snacks to feed the animals.
Feeding time.
Ogii's turn.
And mine.
You needed to wear a heavier pair of gloves for the hedgehogs.
And use a tweezers when you fed them.
Because they have very sharp teeth.
Me holding one.
Oyunaa with one.
Ogii.
A few more bits of food.
Almost gone.
Sleeping.
As is this one.
Another map of the street.
Back into the car. This is a cool glass and natural building.
More go-karters with onesies. They must rent them together.
Our next stop was Shibuya Scramble Crossing, a very busy crosswalk.
If you go into Starbucks and up this escalator...
... you get a great view.
You can walk over here for a different angle.
Everyone crossing.
It's packed.
Us down in front.
Crossing.
Interesting building.
Some more.
This one looks like it was clawed.
Optical since 1930.
Tokyo tower.
By the Yusho-in Reibyo Nitenmon gate.
Zojo-ji Sange Datsumon gate.
The Hamasite Gurume restaurant symbol looks like Target.
Crossing Rainbow Bridge.
Sun reflections on some buildings.
The Aqua City mall in Odaiba.
Fuji TV headquarters with a spherical observation room.
A Hawaiian cafe.
Observation area.
To the left.
And the right.
Oyunaa and Ajaa.
There is also a mini Statue of Liberty.
Us with it.
Then we drove by the airport on the way back to our hotel.