This is probably one the shortest (and more high-maintenance) trips I've taken in a while -- quite a departure from basic backpack-and-hostel experience I ususally do. This time I'm trading in the solo backpacker experience for the family and group tourbus that my parents booked us on. This six day trip is more like 3.5 days discounting air trav...

Final stop of the day was the Ginza district and Shabu Shabu for dinner.

One day down, a whole bunch more to go. Dad & I arrived in Japan after a long day of travel. Up at 5:30 am, and across the street from the airport hotel to stand in line at the United Airlines counter. We were some of the lucky ones - the 7:40 flight to Chicago was delayed until 10. I can't imagine being up and at the airport that early to f...

After 14 hours spent sleeping in our Narita hotel room, Dad & I were raring to go. After a brief stop at the breakfast buffet, we hopped into a cab headed to the university dormitories. We had no idea where we were going, nor did we have any idea how far it was to Chiba University. As the cab driver maneuvered from one freeway to the next, w...