Have fun in Tokyo. Before going to Tokyo, I didn't think that I'd like it, but ended up really liking it. But, I'm glad I started my Japan trip in Kyoto as that was a great first impression.

Glad that Bangkok went well for you. I'm counting down the remaining days before I get back.

What other restaurants did you end up eating at in Bangkok? I can't wait to hopefully try the Indian one.

Happy Travels!

Spent 4 nights in Bangkok and since we landed past midnight on our first night we only eat out 4 times. The problem with the hotel breakfasts in Asia is that it keeps us full until dinner. This can be exacerbated if the Hotel also has a club option. Thankfully the Sheraton Grande has no club. We really liked the Punjab grill and Basil. Normally eat Indian when visiting London but have also found Indian to be good in places like Singapore and Bangkok . Also ate at a local Thai restaurant recommended by the Concierge on Soi 8 that was ok and had some Birds Nest Soup for a light dinner at a Chinese restaurant at the Siam Paragon whose name escapes me.
Eating more high end in Tokyo for the moment but will probably eat more like a local for the next few days to get back towards normal life. Should have never booked the breakfast option here at the Westin. Made the same mistake many years ago at the Four Seasons in Maui. Unfortunately here the room rate is now more than the special rate I got with breakfast. Guess I can just not go but I can’t help myself because there are lots of options that are actually pretty good on the breakfast menu.��

Just had a fab Thai meal at Harmonique for $15/person--4 of us.



Larb Gai (chicken)
Pomelo salad
Fried rice in a 1/2 of a pineapple with shrimp
4 beers
Large bottle of water
Crab meat yellow curry
Lemon chicken-no spice
Fried morning glory with garlic
Pad see ew with shrimp

Large mango and sticky rice

Stuffed

You are making me hungry, Bob!

You can keep the Mango and sticky rice but the rest sounds delicious! Stuffed! I’m not surprised :-)

mjs: Thanks. I hope you post your Tokyo restaurants as I'll be back to Tokyo in the summer.

Happy Travels!

Having soba noodles at Haneda on way back to SFO. Am not sure I would be of much help for restaurants in Tokyo as I usually eat locally, many times at mom and Pop local restaurants. Have been taken out to some high end restaurants but don’t remember where that they are or what they cost except a lot. Did have someone this time take me out to a sushi lunch at the Hotel Okura that was quite good. Recognized very little of what I was eating which is a reflection of season and locality that is Japanese cuisine. Don’t think it was of the highest order in terms of cost. Did take a friend and is wife out to Tempura Yamanoue restaurant in Roppongi that I would recommend. BTW Summer not the best time to visit Japan unless it is Hokkaido.

Why is summer time not the best time to visit Japan? I was there in August 2017 and found it fine.

Happy Travels!

"Tempura Yamanoue"

Thanks, I'll try to get to that one when I return to Japan in July/August 2018. I didn't have time to get to Roppongi on the August 2017 trip. I'll try for it in 2018.

Happy Travels!

Summer is not the best time to visit Japan because it is so hot and humid. Of course, you are accustomed to the neat, so it isn't a problem for you.

Driving home in a rental Jeep. What a piece of junk!!!
The summer in Japan for the most part is very humid and hot and uncomfortable. Typhoon possibilities too. Travel in March to April or late October to early December and the weather will likely be much more pleasant

mjs: OK. Now, I understand that you were referring to the weather. I thought that there might have been some other reason, like maybe some restaurants being closed, due to vacation, or something to that extent.

As for the weather, I was fine with it in August and have booked the 2018 trip for July/August. I'm not all that heat sensitive. Plus, I can't just up and leave work in late October-early December or March and part of April to go to Japan or anywhere else. I go when I can and the only weather that I won't travel in is cold weather.

I didn't find Japan, in August, any hotter than S.E. Asia in Dec/Jan/Feb/March/ August and I have been fine in S.E. Asia in those months. Plus, as for April, I had considered Japan for a week then, but the prices were through the roof. I saved a lot, by going in August, for my personal, travel itinerary.

Happy Travels!

We had a fab meal at Issaya Siamese Club this week.

Japan in the summer is no hotter than SE Asia but SE Asia is always hot and the rainy seasons are probably more of an issue in SE Asia. The weather in Northern Asia however does change dramatically during the seasons and can be quite pleasant in the spring or fall in comparison to the summer or deep winter. Cherry blossom time in Japan is April and one does see hotel prices go up but weather tends not to be bad in March and the prices have not risen yet. Early December weather in Tokyo is also not too bad if you go between Thanksgiving and the first week or maybe two of December. Need to watch airfares as they tend to go up near Christmas time but otherwise fares tend to be low. Weather tends to be in the low 60's and high 50's with lows around 40 to high 30's and clear.