After waking up at the Conrad, we had breakfast and ventured out to Shinjuku Gyoen. We were hoping to see some sakura but it was well past peak in the park. We spent the remainder of the day with cousins here and there in Tokyo.
Continue reading “Shinjuku Gyoen”Sakura and Temples at Kamakura
After breakfast at the Mesm, we checked out and dropped off our bags at our next hotel, the nearby Conrad. We then took the train down to Kamakura where we spent the day enjoying three different temples while looking out for sakura.
Continue reading “Sakura and Temples at Kamakura”Tokyo Hanami
Our first full day of the trip! After an excellent breakfast at the Mesm, we headed out to the Meguro River to see the riverside sakura. We then went to the Sumida River around Tokyo Skytree for more sakura before having a late kaiten sushi lunch. We ended the day at Chidorigafuchi where we saw yet more sakura!
Continue reading “Tokyo Hanami”Sakura Illumination
After arriving at Haneda, we checked in at the Mesm, near the JR Hamamatsucho Station. We then had dinner nearby, which turned out to be the most disappointing meal we’ve ever had in Japan. After that fiasco, we went to see nighttime sakura illuminations at Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi before returning, getting some 7-Eleven onigiri on the way back.
Continue reading “Sakura Illumination”Hawaii’s Byodo-In
After breakfast at the Sheraton Waikiki, we went out to have lunch and picked up a rental car at the International Market Place. We then drove to visit Byodo-in, a replica Japanese temple at the Valley of the Temples. After walking through the grounds, we drove around area a bit before heading to get poke from Tamura’s. We spent some time at Kailua Beach Park before attending a wedding in the evening.
Continue reading “Hawaii’s Byodo-In”