The day was spent shopping for personal items and gifts for family and friends in the United States.  Keiko navigates us to shops well-off the tourist paths where we can purchase high quality goods at a great price despite the extremely high value of the Yen exchange rate.

We also purchased some gear for the Mt. Fuji expedition – oxygen canisters and other supplies we did not bring with us.  The district that we shopped for these items was new to me and fascinating.  Near some local universities, it is populated by numerous shops selling musical instruments and outdoor gear shops – trekking, climbing, golf, ski, etc. I could have spent a day just roaming the area.

Certainly no trip is complete without a visit to the famed Tokyo “electric town,” Akihabara. Keilo tolerates my passion for this special landmark and I took advantage of the visit to make an extraordinary purchase.  As many of you know, one of my prize possessions is my 1973 Toyota LandCruiser. Tamiya produces a 1/10 scale remote control kit version of the vehicle.  Usually priced at over US$500.00, I found a kit on sale at TamTam Hobbies at 50% off!  Ah, a man and his toys. I could not resist and it will be returning with us.

Of course, meals were another feature of the day.  A small local noodle shop for lunch.  For dinner, Keiko’s parents treated us at a wonderful shabu-shabu restaurant.  A favorite meal Keiko makes ofter at home, this traditional Japanese hot pot meal tastes so much better in Tokyo due to the availability and quality of the ingredients she cannot find in the United States.

Today we headed for Miyajima, the island site of the famous Itsukushima Shrine.  You will likely recognize the shrine from the photos (and it was recently featured in an episode of the Great Race).

The shrine is a marvel of Japanese architecture and construction techniques. At high tide the structures appear to be floating on the waters surface.

As you might expect, a meal figured into our plans.  I can only report that the fresh oysters and eel, Miyajima specialties, were unbelievable in quality and quantity!

After a full day of touring and shopping we had a fast, quiet and restful return to Tokyo on the shinkansen.

I have finally found the time to post some thoughts and photos on our very busy trip to Japan.  This day we boarded a Nozomi 700 bullet train for a four hour ride to Hiroshima.

Keiko and I were met at the station by Miyata, a former member of the Avaya World Cup team, who escorted us on a quick orientation tour and then selected a place for lunch.  Our selection was the local meal of choice – okonomi-yaki, two very thin Japanese crepes filled with cabbage, noodles and other ingredients prepared on a griddle as you sit at the counter.  Unique, filling and delicious. I subsequently learned there are over 900 such small restaurants in Hiroshima but that was clearly the local favorite.

After checking into our hotel we visited theHiroshima Peace Memorial and Museum. One cannot be profoundly impacted by the horror and pain inflicted by the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. I encourage anyone who visits Japan to make the journey to Hiroshima.

The Atomic Bomb Dome, one of the few buildings that partially survived total destruction, now serves to symbolize both the horror of atomic weapons and appeal for world peace.

The Atomic Bomb Dome