Photos I have set up a Japan 24 group for photos on my Facebook page. If you are not currently a friend, please send a friend's request. Tokyo (Park Hotel) Day 1 : Visit Asakusa district: Senso-ji (Tokyo’s oldest temple), 5 storey pagoda, shopping street, Asakusa Shrine, boat trip on Samida River to Hamarikya Gardens, Tea ceremony. Lunch in Tsukiji outer market around area, Shinjuka Nishiguchi: viewpoint from 42 nd floor Government building. Dinner at Shiodome Cassata restaurant on 46 th floor. Day 2: Imperial Palace Gardens, Shibuya (scramble crossing), Yakitori meal, bar, coffee/cake parlour, view of Mt Fuji. JR Train to Kamakura & Hasa. Kamakura & Hasa Great Kannon Kamakua Hasedera, Giant Buddha, Hasa Kannon Temple, view of coastline/beach from observatory. Day 3: Shinkansen Train to Kanazawa. Kanazawa (Tokyu Hotel) Kenrocku-en Gardens, Sushi dinner at Cho Hachi. Day 4: Higashi Chaya district, gold leaf decorating, Geisha area, tea ceremony, cre

This is our 3rd full day in Japan and we've now reached Kanazawa in the north, following a fascinating 150 mins Shinkansen (Bullet train) journey from Tokyo through Japan's Alps. We even got clear views of Mount Fiji on the way due to cloudless skies today, having also seen this iconic mountain from our hotel before we left. Days one and two in Tokyo were hectic but we made the most of the time to see and experience as much as possible. However, it is proving too time consuming whilst travelling to write a Japan trip blog in the level of detail I intended. I aim to write a more considered piece after we return on 24th May. Mary is posting short descriptions of our travels with photos, so if you're interested in following our adventures, please go to her Facebook page. Best regards, Pete & Mary

 The summary of our first full day in the city might sound relatively standard for international tourists. We met our temporary guide, Shin, at our hotel after breakfast. He accompanied us on the Tokyo subway from our local station, Shiodome, to Asakusa on the Oedo line, having topped up our contactless travel cards. First stop was the Information Centre viewing gallery on the 8th floor for a view of Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, Sensi-ji, and a beautiful five story pagoda in great condition and yet also built centuries ago. The viewpoint overlooks a long street leading to the Temple with 90 small shops and stalls selling a wide range of goodies. There's also an early 20th century Shinto Shrine adjacent to the Temple. The following 2 hours went quickly with explanations and history lessons from Shin about what we were witnessing, as the tourist crowds grew large, plus many hundreds of school students. Asakusa is a fascinating area mixing modern, ancient and religious life tha

We fly on Turkish Airlines from Manchester to Istanbul on 7th May, then on to Tokyo to arrive in the evening of Wednesday 8th May.  Our first 3 nights are at the Park Hotel, Shimbashi, Tokyo.