I learned much about the history of Nihombashi and the meaning of the kylin and lion statues. It was fun to walk around and see the sights in the center of Tokyo.

There was a large number of menu items, and while the sashimi, tempura, and pickles were good, the rice was especially delicious. I was also able to try sake.

My guide led me on a walk around Ginza. We stopped by several shrines and shops where very Japanese items were sold. These are specialty shops selling wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets), knives, and katsuobushi bonito fish flakes used for broths in Japanese cooking. I worshiped the iconic Inari deity at Fukutoku Shrine. I learned how to pay my respects and about the different kinds of omamori amulets.

Meiji Jingu Shrine was impressive. I was able to participate in a bit of a ritual as well. I walked with the guide from Harajuku Station and learned about the torii and the history of the shrine. If you visit Tokyo, you have to go to this shrine.

I visited Nezu Museum for the first time and it was one of the most impressive places of my trip. The beauty of the 1.7 hectare garden and 4 tea houses left me speechless. The colors woven by the autumn leaves were magnificent. The museum exhibition was also interesting. According to the guide, only part of the museum's collection was on display and the fact that it is changed regularly was food for thought. I would like to visit again and again. It is a place where you can concentrate on and appreciate the works on display.

I went to an izakaya pub in the evening and enjoyed Japanese food such as tofu dishes and soup with gyoza dumplings, grilled chicken, and spicy mentaiko cod roe. This place was comfortable and I would like to visit again. It was an ideal place for those new to Japanese izakayas, and I was able to enjoy a special atmosphere.

The room was spacious and very clean. Breakfast was very good, as I was able to enjoy a buffet of food from around the world.

The flight was on time and there were no problems at the boarding gate. There is not much else to say as the staff will guide you in English.

The path to Kotohira-gu Shrine involves a long climb up more than 700 stairs, but there are several sightseeing points along the way and the beautiful scenery along the way made for an enjoyable time. On the way back, I stopped at an art museum exhibiting Japanese art. I then visited the Kanamaru-za Theater, home to Konpira Kabuki, and visited backstage, the dressing room, and other parts of the theater.

This was the first time I made udon. It took me about 20 minutes to make, and then I tasted my creation. It was an interesting experience to knead the udon dough with my feet and cut the stretched udon.

This museum of sake was converted from an old factory. The tools, sake barrels, and everything used in the process of traditional brewing are on display, and you can see each step of the sake-making process.

Of the parks I have been to in Japan, this one was the most beautiful (over 75 hectares in size). The garden is dotted with ponds, hills, bridges, and gazebos, and has a rich variety of scenery. The south garden is a Japanese-style garden with the north garden a Western-style garden. While taking in the scenery, I enjoyed some Japanese tea and sweets. I also fed the carp.

Dinner was at a restaurant specializing in chicken. I also enjoyed edamame and rice. After dinner, I visited a sake bar and enjoyed different sakes, oysters, cheeses, and so on.

The room was very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was also very good and served different dishes from around the world. The staff members were also wonderful.

I was happy to visit Naoshima as I've always wanted to see Yayoi Kusama's "pumpkins." Niki de Saint Phalle's colorful sculptures also had a very spectacular presence in Naoshima's nature.

The Chichu Art Museum was unique, and I liked it a lot. Works by architect Tadao Ando and three other artists (Claude Monet, Walter de Maria, and James Turrell) are on display. Although there is a limited number of exhibits to look at, it means that you can concentrate on a work and give it its due appreciation.

Tadanori Yokoo's house (a collaboration with architect Yuko Nagayama) is my favorite. It was the first time I saw this painter's work, and I felt that this house would be widely enjoyed by tourists and not just by art lovers. I really liked Go-Oh Shrine and its glass staircase built by Hiroshi Sugimoto.

The food was good here. It was very comfortable and I felt like I was at home. The food is simple and delicious. I had fish and rice, and sat in a Japanese-style zashiki tatami room for dinner.

It was the first time for me to visit a museum where the exhibits didn't look like they were on display. That is the concept of the museum. There was nothing inside the huge concrete dome except for some small objects like dishes in the center. Everyone remained silent, with their every movement echoing in the dome.

"Les Archives du Cœur (The archive of heartbeats)" comes from Christian Bolatanski. It is a concept where people agree to have their heartbeats recorded and "displayed" so that anyone can hear them. The sounds reminded me more of death and disease than of birth, but it was very persuasive and interesting as a work of art.

The summit of Danyama has a beautiful view that overlooks the Seto Inland Sea and a flower garden. I had ice cream and tangerines. This would be an ideal place to take a walk with family and friends when the weather is nice.

The hotel was very spacious, but the room was too large. There were several beds and a large table. The hot spring on the rooftop was fantastic. It can be enjoyed not only in the evening, but also in the morning where I was able to have a soak before leaving.