Our last day in Tokyo and we just had to go back to Harajuku to buy some gifts for people and some sneakers. At the entrance to Harajuku under the Teakeshita(!) sign I managed to flatter a lady by asking if I could take a picture of her in her cosplay outfit. On the weekend the… Continue reading Day 9 – Tokyo
Category: Travel
Day 8 – Tokyo
Since we missed our chance to get up high the day before at the Tokyo Skytree we thought we would try the free view from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (aka Tokyo City Hall). But before we did that, I needed a coffee and an egg slut. The coffee was in the hotel room and brewed in… Continue reading Day 8 – Tokyo
Day 7 – Tokyo
Started the day around the corner from our hotel with some Segafredo coffee and croissants, which was ok, but the thing that sucks about Japanese cafes is also what makes them authentic – it’s still ok to smoke in them. Given that eating and smelling smoke is a totally unheard of concept now in Australia,… Continue reading Day 7 – Tokyo
Day 6 – Hakone to Tokyo
Woke up to a beautiful sunrise out the window, we ate breakfast in our private dining room and then squeezed every last moment we could of the spa in the room before checking out. Instead of taking the van back to Gora station, we decided to take the cable car down. We thought it was… Continue reading Day 6 – Hakone to Tokyo
Day 5 – Osaka to Hakone
A nice breakfast in the Swissotel Club lounge, which included sausages and tomatoes. Then we were back on the Shinkansen heading for Odawara, which was a transfer station to get us to Hakone. On the train we encountered some other tourists just as we were getting off, they were asking if we were heading… Continue reading Day 5 – Osaka to Hakone
Day 4 – Kyoto to Osaka
Knowing that we were leaving Kyoto for Osaka later in the day, we got up early, had breakfast, checked out but left our bags at the hotel and headed for the train station. We weren’t heading for a bullet train, we were making our way to the local JR train to take us to Arashiyama which is… Continue reading Day 4 – Kyoto to Osaka
Day 3 – Kyoto
Today we had decided to attempt Japan Guide’s Eastern Kyoto’s Full Day Itinerary. But before heading out we went down for our free breakfast at the Ibis which was our first look at the types of items on offer at a Japanese hotel. There was congee, curry, miso soup, eggs, fruit, sausages and most importantly… Continue reading Day 3 – Kyoto
Day 2 – Tokyo to Kyoto
Sleep came easily at the Courtyard by Marriott near Tokyo Station, but we knew it had only been a short stay when the guy who checked us in also checked us out. It takes about three and a half hours to get to Kyoto from Tokyo by Shinkansen (Bullet Train), so we wanted to get… Continue reading Day 2 – Tokyo to Kyoto
Day 1 – Sydney to Tokyo via Brisbane
I have flown a lot of flights in my lifetime (especially in the past four years) and nearly every time in has been in economy. Walking past the business seats seems to emphasise how tiny the cramped seats and you can’t help but wish you were the person who had shelled out obscene amounts of… Continue reading Day 1 – Sydney to Tokyo via Brisbane
Day 6 – Montreal to Ottawa
Another awesome continental breakfast at Le Petit Montreal and then we checked out of the hotel, making use of the valet option given that it is so expensive in Australia and a real treat for us. Claire and I don’t really travel well together in cars, primarily because we are both backseat drivers to each… Continue reading Day 6 – Montreal to Ottawa