I just got around to post my photo journal from my japan trip(went to Tokyo and hakone). Only go to spend 4days 3 nights there. Regardless, here it is:

http://www.triponward.com/travels/20...kyo-and-hakone

Very nice pics!!! Thanks for sharing.

Yes, very nice pics and thanks for the link to your report

Aloha!

Loved your trip report! I like the way you included your impressions. We went to Japan for the first time last month and were impressed with how different it was, in so many ways, from the US or other countries we have been to. We are hoping to go back and your trip report gives me some good ideas. Did you find the food very different? We were surprised how different it was. We love to go to Japanese restaurants in our community, but the experience is not the same.

Yes, the food is definitely different than ones you would get here in US! Unless you are lucky enough to live close to a large city and know where to look THEN you might get something close to the real thing. Oh and thanks for the kind comments!

I appreciated your excellent photos and, even more, your honesty in reporting the typical mistakes and misunderstandings committed by you and by countless other first-time travellers to Japan: the hesitation of Japanese people in speaking English; the inability of some establishments to accept a credit card; segregation by gender in daily activities and recreation (like drinking and shopping); not wearing shoes indoors; no tipping; onsen etiquette. All classic "textbook" instances well covered in most guide books.

Thank you Will, I appreciate your comments. Technically, I am not a first time traveler to Japan as I lived there as an infant and visited again as a schoolboy, and my wife had made numerous trips there in the past. For a whirlwind 4 days/3 nights trip in Japan, there sure were a lot of customs to be rehashed/learned in a short time, even if you had prepared ahead of time, you'd still miss something. I will return there again when given the chance and time.

Four times now I have lived in Japan for extended periods of at least five months. I reconcile myself to doing something stupid at least once every day. The nice thing is, most times you don't even know you've done it <g>.

Haha, but isn't that what's so great about traveling/living outside of your own culture/comfort zone?

thanks a lot for sharing this great information with us. ok, now that makes sense to me. Thanks, I really appreciate the clarification.
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Great pictures and report. Just wondering if you felt Hakone worthy or a day trip? You mentioned the $50 price you paid that was the transportation correct? Just that all the hotels there are pretty pricey. Just wondering if it would be worthwhile as a day trip? Thanks for your time. Barb

Great story and photographs !

Bm