Impressions
I had forgotten how peaceful and relaxing it is at the Meji Shrine.  The temple feels like a “real” temple.   It was pretty empty there when we went so that probably added to the feeling there.   Unlike the Senso-Ji Temple in Asakusa, the Meji Shrine area feels a lot less commercial.

The nicer weather convinced us to visit Harajiku again.  Well more because it’s right next to the Meji Shrine.  I’ve never seen so many combination of fashionable outfits.  Every single person there was expressing their own fashion statement, although some made me question their tastes.  One thing I didn’t notice last time was people coloring their faces in the name of fashion.  My favorite outfit was a combination of a french maid and Little Bo Peep outfit.

Itinerary
Train to Kawagoe Ichibangai but was canceled cbecause of train problem due to hurricane
Train to Ikebukuro
Pasta and pizza lunch at Ikebukuro
Food market at Seibu Department Store
Train to Meji Shrine
Walkthrough Harajuku
Train to Ginza
Walk through Sony Building, Mitsukoshi, Matsuya, Matsuzakaya
Train to Ikebukuro
Walk to Tokyu Hands
Walk to Sunshrine City and Namja Town
Train to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku

Impressions
The Ghibli Museum is amazing.  The museum takes a lot of the scenes from several Ghibli films and recreates them to give you a nice “maze” of tunnels, stairs and bridges.  Another big plus about the museum is that you get to see one of the Miyazaki short films exclusive to the Ghibli Museum. We saw Monmon the Water Spider, and it was brilliant and “kawaii” (cute).

Itinerary
Breakfast (Café)
Train to Mitaka
Bus to Ghibli Museum and Cafe
Bus to Mitaka
Train to Suwayama Kichijoji
Lunch at Satou Steak Shop
Train to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku
Train to Meji Shrine but closed
Walk through Harajiku
walk to Shibuya
Dinner at Sushi Nomidori at Shibuya
Train to Roppongi Hills
Train to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku

Impressions
We went to the Tsujiki Fish Market, something I did not do in my previous visits to Tokyo.  That was an incredible experience.   I’ve never seen so many people selling and buying fish.  They even had an auction for tuna.

Afterward, we went to Sushidai for lunch.  It’s a popular place according to the guide book, and the line to get in is suppose to be extremely long.   Luckily for us, the line not terribly bad because of the rain.  Was it worth the 30 minute wait?  In a word, YES.  I normally don’t like uni (sea urchin) and giant clam, but it tasted so good and fresh there.  Very different from the good sushi places i’ve eaten in NYC.  My giant clam was still alive and moving when the chef served it to me.   I never thought i would like giant clams this much.

Itinerary
Train to Tsukiji Fish Market
Walk to Sushidai for sushi
Walk through Tsujiki Outer Market
Train to Asakusa
Walk through Nakamise-dori Asakusa to Senso-Ji Temple
Tempura lunch at Asakusa
Train to Ueno Station
walk through Uenokoen Park to Tokyo National Museum
Walk to Ueno Area
Train to Akihabara Electronics Town
Walk through area and check out electronics and anime stuff
Train to Tsukishima for Kobe Beef but was Closed
Train to Daiba Aqua Mall and Ramen dinner
Walk over to Odaiba Little Hong Kong (Food Theme Park) & Ichiban shopping street
Train to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku

Impressions
We landed in Tokyo today.  Unfortunately, we landed while there is a hurricane nearby so it rained a lot.  At least the great food semi makes up for it.   We went to a local restaurant for breakfast where you by tickets from a vending machine before getting the food.  I didn’t know what to expect from the food, but it was delicious.   We also had a wonderful crab dinner with crab prepared in several different ways.  The hardest part of our trip will be having enough stomach space to eat all the different foods here.

Itinerary
Land in Haneda Airport
Trains to Shinjuku Station
Walk to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku and drop of bags
Breakfast at Ticket machine meal set
Walk to Shinjuku station
Train to Chiyoda
Walk to Imperial Palace
Walk to Hibiya Park
Walk to Tokyo Station
Snacks at Red Bean Place
Walk through Ichiban Cartoon Street
Walk through market in Daimaru Dept Store
Train to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku and check in
Dinner at Shibuya Crab Meal Shinjuku
Walk through Kabukicho Red Light District
Crepes Snack
See Games and Pachinko
Walk to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku

Impressions
I had forgotten the one thing I liked about Hong Kong:  all the good food here.  We spent the whole day walking around Hong Kong eating and snacking on different types of food.  I still like the fish balls in curry sauce on a stick the best here but everything tastes so good.

Itinerary
Breakfast at Mei Sun & McDonald
Shopping
Swing by Hong Thai for tour group info
Get guide books for Tokyo & Taiwan
Shopping
Try fish balls, satay, soup & drinks
Lunch at Fairwood
Shopping
Street food dinner
Bus to HK Chek Lap Kok airport

Impressions
We landed in Hong Kong today to start our vacation.  Kathy and I went to her old hometown in Tsuen Wan.  As we walked through the area, I realized that a lot of Hong Kong really does look the same.  Even though we’re at the New Territories location, I keep thinking this place looks like TST.

Itinerary
Land in HK Chek Lap Kok airport
Bus to Tusen Wan
Rest and late night snack
Walk back to Tsuen King