Today started dark and early. I picked Mom up at 5:45 am and we were all picked up at our house at 6:15 am for a drive to LAX. After getting through TSA we made our way to Delta Lounge and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before boarding the plane for our estimated 11 hour flight to Tokyo.
The flight was smooth and uneventful. I watched 4 movies, 3 I hadn't seen before. We got through Immigration & Customs with only minor hiccups and got to an ATM and got cash and found the Suica card machine and purchased 3 Welcome Suica (pronounced swee-ka) cards (Kenji will be using his on his phone). A Suica card will get us around Japan on the local trains, the subways and can even be used at convenience stores like 7-11 (a totally different and MUCH better store than in the US), Family Mart and Lawson.
Kenji found our driver and we loaded into his van for the approx. 30 minute ride to our hotel. After checking in leaving luggage in our rooms, we departed for a walk-about in our Akasaka neighborhood. We found a Family Mart next door and all purchased cold drinks. In Japan it is considered rude and walk and drink at the same time so we sat outside the Family Mart and drank then walked to a 9 story Bic Camera store for Leo to look for film for his camera. Yes, actual film! He bought a film camera specifically for this trip. Mom was amazed that there were soooo many floors of electronics and so many other items all for ONE store! Yes, we explored all 9 floors.
We continued exploring the main street in Akasaka on foot after we left Bic Camera. Mom and I wandered into a Daily convenience store and found they have a more extensive selection of freshly prepared, ready-to-eat foods. We all selected some items and went back to our rooms. We have 2 rooms the whole trip, with each room having 2 twin beds. We are bunking girls with girls and boys with boys. Mom and I watched some Japanese TV while eating our dinner, which cost about $5 each.
It is very humid here. My new battery-operated neck fan doesn't seem to be able to keep up with the humidity unless it's on the top speed. Yikes!
Everyone seems to be winding down early, with none of us sleeping on the plane (well, Kenji cat-napped a couple of times, and I closed my eyes but never fell asleep).
Hopefully we'll all get a full night's rest and be on local time and ready to go in the morning!
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