- [[October 2023]]! - [[23]]: We arrived in [[Tokyo]] as the sun was setting after a long but pleasant journey; we had a short layover in [[Hong Kong]]. We stayed in [[Shinjuku]], had sushi around midnight in a place that closes at 5am (!) and is also good. - [[24]]: Shibuya, then Ginza. Had curry in [[Shinjuku]]. - [[25]]: Asakusa, Akihabara, then went up to a very tall building. Had sub-par ramen in Asakusa as our first choice was full. - [[26]]: Took the train to Hakone. We stayed in a beautiful old school hotel, [[Fujiya]]. We went to the [[Onsen]] both days. - [[27]]: Took the bus to the lake and walked alongside it. We visited a [[Shinto]] shrine and had dinner next to the train station. - [[28]]: Travelled to Kyoto in the [[Shinkansen]]. We went to the park at night. Had conveyor belt sushi. - [[29]]: Went to the Shinto shrine up at the top of a local mountain. Had [[Okonomiyaki]]. - [[30]]: Bought tea, visited the gardens of the emperor's palace. Then wandered in a relatively dead neighborhood. Then went to a Buddhist temple that was opened by night and visited its bamboo grove. - [[31]]: Museum day -- visited three museums in Kyoto. Then took the metro to Osaka. Had [[Takoyaki]], then ended the day (night) in a very packed (due to Halloween) [[Dotonbori]]. - [[November 2023]]! - [[1]]: Walked in Osaka. Had a very nice pastry. Then an interesting experience in a grilling place. - [[2]]: Took the [[Shinkansen]] to Tokyo. Went to [[Mori Museum]] and the [[Google]] office in [[Roppongi]]. - [[3]]: Tokyo museum day on culture day (so they were all free). Went to the national museum(s) in [[Ueno]]. [[Ueno park]] with its beautiful lotus-filled lake. - [[4]]: Last day in Tokyo and Japan. [[Meguro]], then [[Hajuku]] (check spelling?). Had vegetarian ramen and gyoza. - [[5]]: Woke up early for our flight to [[Colombo]].