I love yakitori and a lot of other foods we used to eat every couple of days when we lived in Guam and I am so happy for this time. Todd already has rumblings of being a stick in the mud on this trip. I could see him wandering off to McD's or Pizza Hut. He has had us doing that in Asia before. I know he would love the yakitori. I usually do stuff like that or tempura or something with him. I'd love to just find some little snacks and sake and chat and soak in the culture and then walk around some.

I know before, I did several of the touristy things and even 3 days with skiing, Mt. Fuji, etc. with the mats on the floor, the baths and the whole bit, and I guess what I remember so much about the non-English, definitely was the cab situation.

Marc, I saw a 5 hour walking-tour that interested me, and Todd said not to even think about it. I am going to either just wander around like I did in Hong Kong and Japan before or plan something up for us.

Freddie, I have read on Trip Advisor of the Imperial Club and some saying they joined at the hotel and then others saying that they could not because they did not bring a business card. After your advice, I will try to join sooner.

What is everyone's advice on converting money? I assume the cheap, adventurous places to eat need cash.

We will get there around the same time as the Silversea pre-cruise group that will be coming in from Kyoto. I am hoping to latch onto their 1 day tour that incorporates a lot of sites and a local lunch even though SS won't sell it to us in advance. At least I know where they are going. I have been to almost all those places, but every single picture I had was lost in a flood some time back.

This cruise also goes to Kagoshima. I went ahead and booked a ship's tour there. They only had two choices, and I picked the one that does the volcano and a couple of other things.

After that, it goes to Taiwan. I did not plan anything there yet.

We stayed almost a week in Hong Kong before and are staying two nights there, but I have not decided where to stay. We were in Causeway Bay before but went all over, even up into the Northwest Territories. We did organized tours and self touring. That has been 11 years ago, so a long time away from there, too. The new airport was still under construction at that time.

I know I am going to want to bring stuff back, so I think I will bring some collapsible bags.

I had not really let myself look forward to this trip in case we could not go. We had to cancel the Vietnam part, but that was necessary in order to keep the other trip we have planned for later this year.