Author: Peg

Been spending way too much time trying to find a place to stay in Tokyo. Not an easy job. I set a budget max of $2000 for 9 nights. And, I didn’t want to be too far out, I wanted to be close to the subway and train stations. And I wanted twin beds. And non-smoking.

To make things worse – one of the days we are going to be in Tokyo is Summer Fireworks Night. So, some places  had rooms for 8 nights but not all 9.

SO, when I found a room for $150 per night in a good location. I kept shopping around looking for other options. Eventually, I sprung for the room and paid for it. I had to pay in advance. Well, now I have buyer’s remorse. Why is the room so cheap? What is wrong with the hotel?

Are they going to charge me for sheets, towels, toilet paper? I am pretty sure they will charge me for internet. And, they tried to get me prepay for breakfast – at $46 per day – I passed. The hotel is on top of a subway station. And there is a McD’s in the subway station.

The less I take – the more I have to think about it. First cut, too much stuff.

• Five short sleeved shirts
• One  brown dress – a black pencil skirt might be better.
• One brown linen skirt
• One jeans skirt – maybe too short for an old woman.
• One black cotton cardigan
• One black linen shirt, with long sleeves. Sort of an over shirt.
• 2 camis
• 2 bras
• handful of pantie
• swim suit
• pareu
• sandals
• belt
• one pair of sox.

The stuff barely fits in my backpack. It fits in my tote bag. I think I have too much stuff.  Of course, in the real world – I’ll have some of that stuff on my person.

I could always take Carlton’s “barely legal” rollaboard. But, I don’t do rolling luggage very well. Especially in subways.

Japan is expensive. And, it doesn’t seem to be credit/debit card friendly.

I am trying to be sure I have access to my money – especially since the affordable dining options, cheap hotels, and admission fees all need cash – yen-kind cash.

I was told that I could not use my US ATM/Debit Card at most ATM machines in Japan.

I read that I could use my US ATM/Debit Card at the post office, the 7 Eleven, and Citi Banks. I was happy enough. But, I just now discovered that as of December 1, 2009 7 Eleven stopped taking MasterCard.

I am not happy anymore. My ATM/Debit Card is MasterCard. Fortunately I have a month to come up with a Plan B. And, I can hope that my card will work at the post office. And, at Citi.

Just in case I need it — link to 7 Eleven link to Visa

Just now watching a BP executive saying “We have launched the biggest environment cleanup effort in this country’s history…” Well dude – you made the biggest environment mess in our country.

I told my traveling companion for this summer’s Japanese adventures that there would be a few serious rules. It is time to start letting the rules out.

Rule one – Japanese Corollary to “Shit Happens”.

First – to me Shit Happens is not an expression to be used with a shrug to excuse one’s own carelessness or lack of planning. As in BP is not allowed to say “Shit Happens”.  If I miss a plane because I am having a bad hair day – “Shit Happens” doesn’t let me off the hook.

To me “Shit Happens” is a part of the human condition.

Hence – Rule one – Japanese Corollary to “Shit Happens”.

Japan is the earthquake capital of the the planet. The chance of us getting caught in a minor quake is major. The chance of getting caught by a major quake is minor. Nevertheless –

Rule One: Every time we return to our hotel room – we will place our shoes, passports, credit cards, money and jackets (if we have jackets) in bags by the door. In my case it will be my purse and shoes. That way, if we are shaken out of our beds in the middle of the night – and run out of our hotel room – at least we’ll have shoes! Which seems like a good plan to me. And, we will agree that if leaving seems like a good idea – we will leave immediately … no stopping to pick up the iP0d, camera, computer, or underdrawers.

And, this is for me – if there is  a tsunami warning we will follow orders. In Hawai’i, I am willing to decide to ignore tsunami warnings. But, not where I don’t know the ocean bottom, general tsunami history, etc. Not to mention not knowing Japanese.

So, there it is – Travel Rule One.

Getting on time to get serious about the trip to Japan. Of course, 6K has already been spent on trains and planes. So, I guess I am already serious.

Agenda so far:

1. July 5 – fly away to Japan
2. July 6 – finally get to Japan – spend night in Narita. Because you have to stay somewhere.
3. July 7 – figure out how the train works and go to Sendai.  Because it is just a little town well off the American Tourist Route.
4. July 8 – Stay in Sendai another day.
5. July 9 – Spend all day on the train going to Kanazawa. Another place way off the US Tourist track.
6. July 10 and July 11 – Stay in Kanazawa. Sendai was completely flattened during WWII. Kanazawa was spared not on purpose – it just wasn’t worth bombing. Sort of like Brugge. It will be interesting to see if the towns are any different.
7. July 12 – head to Kyoto. On the US Tourist track big time. But, by now, Sam and I should be old asia hands. We have reservations in Kyoto thru July 18. We can hop down to Osaka if we need something not historically significant. Kyoto was not bombed during WWII – out of respect for it’s historical significance. And, a cynic would note that there was no military reason to bomb a city full of kimono makers.
8. July 19 – Head to Nagoya. This is a sporting stopover. Sumo and Baseball is the reason for going. They also have a fine aquarium. And some castles, temples, gardens. But, after a week in Kyoto – I might be all cultured out.
9. July 20 – another day in Nagoya.
10. July 21 – time to hit the rails again…for where ever…