Days 1-3 Tokyo

wednesday

4:45am alarm for 6:30m pickup

Still dark but road to airport very busy seemed to be a lot pf traffic going out if Sydney

Ontime takeoff by JAL on Dreamliner B487

Compact business class seats on 2-2-2 configuration.

The window seat had their own access so not necessary to disturb the aisle seat. An excellent system which I haven’t seen before. The aisle seat (next to the window) had a nifty little storage space big enough to take my shoulder bag.

I was surprised to see “Can you ever forgive me” a film which I started to watch on the Qantas flight to Hobart earlier this month. An excellent little film which the critics liked but the public did not. I am looking forward to catching up with the end.

Being JAL naturally it had Japanese subtitles which I had to ignore.

Lunch Japanese style at 10:15am

After the excellent lunch I caught up with “Crazy Rich Asians” Not bad even if it is bit over the top. I have just seen it goes for three hours. Can I last the distance? Actually I finished the film love - triumphs in the end. Timings were a bit out I am sure it wasn’t three hours

On looking around I saw an older Japanese lady watching the “Kings Speech” subtitled of course.

Windows dimmed about 12:30pm no blinds as the glass is tinted.

Shinkansen coming

JAL had a very odd way of selecting the audio visual a small touch screen to control the larger screen, however the controls were not user friendly. I worked it out in the end but certainly different to Emirates.

Met at the airport by Owen & Takako and three others who had been on the same plane. About a 50 min train ride to Shinagawa one suburb past Tokyo.

Found we were in the same hotel we had been the last time with Owen. Very close to the station.

Dinner at the hotel – sort of Japanese pizza

Thursday

Somewhat sunny but only 14C we decided to do a mini cherry blossom. Meeting at 8:30am at the station. A reasonable time for our first day

Escorted through Tokyo subway to National Theatre where a number of trees were in full bloom.

Then in a taxi along a couple of Avenues. Lined both sides with trees in full bloom.

Coffee stop about 11am

We walked to a Shinto shrine which had many trees and also many people.

Weather overcast with sun poking through very occasionally. Temperature about 14C

Two subway rides to go to the Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens which was our lunch stop (12:46).

Cherry blossom in the park Note mature trees

Lots of mature trees in a park like setting and lots of people.

Dinner was a lovely Japanese meal organised by Takako San with her parents whom we know. He supplied us with saki which was very kind.

About 8 courses including three different sushi finishing with a sort omelette on a pizza base. Only a short walk back to the hotel.

Tomorrow our first Shinkansen experience (for the trip) Alarm set for 6:00 am

Friday

Left hotel at 7:15am to catch the 8:10am Shinkansen to Kobe. We have a lunch break then continue by Shinkansen to Kagashima arriving at 4:09pm precisely.

Overcast day with no view of Mt Fuji

About an hour at Kobe Brian and I minded the baggage had a lovely time checking out the stopwatch feature of the iPhone. Trains came through every 6 minutes or so with the doors open for around 59 secs!

One train I could see the train manager start to get very agitated when the doors were open more than 60 seconds.

Our train to Kagoshima only had small green car that is half a carriage. Reasonably comfortable.

Tokyo Street

Very well equipped loo, wheelchair accessible child changing all in the one. Even a button to raise and lower the toilet seat.

Arrived to overcast but 20c to a hotel right near the Station – which we had been to before. We stay here for three nights. Plenty of restaurants nearby