After waking up at the Conrad Tokyo and having breakfast, we checked out and took the Shinkansen to Odawara. From there, we took two local trains to Gora in the Hakone region. We checked into the Indigo and took a funicular along with two gondolas to reach Lake Ashi. We boarded a pirate ship to cruise the lake and landed at Hakonemachi. We walked through the Onshi-Hakone Park, with views of Mount Fuji, and ended up at Motohakone, still on the shores of Lake Ashi. From there, we took two busses to complete our loop, returning to Gora to enjoy our in room onsen!
Continue reading “Hakone Golden Route”Shinjuku Gyoen
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”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”The Key Bridge and Cherry Blossoms from Fort McHenry
We visited Fort McHenry this morning to see the cherry blossoms as well as to take a look at the remains of the Key Bridge, which was destroyed a few days ago after being hit by a ship.
Continue reading “The Key Bridge and Cherry Blossoms from Fort McHenry”