Made it back to Tokyo after a small adventure! Scheduled a flight and had a wonderful morning with Koji and family and Mariko Fukuoka and husband...going to a shrine for talismans (sp?) for a safe trip, for my technology person's pregnancy (which has been troublesome) and another for my son's business in China.

Had a lunch at the top of the highest building and the mists of Kushiro lifted for an hour..providing a spectacular scene. Koji explained all the sites and reviews all our journeys. We then hopped to a maritime museum which explained the former whaling business and all the many fish and seafoods of this port city.

Jumped on the plane and got to Narita, only to find the shuttle bus not running...I had missed the last trip due to a lag in getting my bags off the plane! There I was..computer, bag, two heavy suitcases! After fighting a bit of panic, I realized I did not even have the address of the Akasaka Sunroute! Oh, no.

But the Japanese people are a kind and generous folk. THey helped me get to a nearby bus station and then I hailed a taxi..of course the driver did not know the Sunroute but I did have the Sanno Grand address...and got there, safe and sound. Whew.

Yesterday Gail and her Japanese friends and I went to the famous Edo Museum and the Ginza district to buy gifts. The streets were so crowded...and oddly, it was strange to see Caucasian faces.

Today - we are repacking, doing more sightseeing and relaxing a bit.

Attached is, hopefully, a picture of the magnificent wetlands and the mountains of Hokkaido. We think of Japan as most people think of New York State...all city. Nope...Hokkaido is rural in many parts.

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WOW! What a beautiful picture of Hokkaido. I love the mountains. Sorry you had a tough time getting back to Tokyo. Jim, Cheyenne East HS