Off to Japan

Having been on the bucket list for some time it was - thanks Jetstar - when we snagged return flights to Narita for $500 ea.

Did I mention it was via the Gold Coast! And after being up at 4:30 am for our TNT transfer to the airport (that's courtesy of our courier friend John Pattinson) we arrived at Narita at 8pm Sydney time, with Mt Fuji giving us a special welcome.

Our debit cards weren't working at the airport, but we had prepaid tickets for the train and some cash so weren't too worried.

We had booked Japanese inn style accommodation at Ryokan Sawanoya, in the Yanaka district just north of Ueno Park.

It was in to Ueno station on the Keisei Skyliner, then a 20 minute walk to the Ryokan - with a quick stop for some lovely supersize gyozas. We had avoided the Jetstar food and were quite hungry.

Very traditional, run by a lovely family. Tatami mats and thin mattresses awaited!

We were exhausted, but weren't able to go straight to bed as a check showed someone had taken out $2000 from my debit card in Bali - the reason it didn't work - plus Citibank had put a stop on Julie's because of a Qatar Airlines fare charge - go figure! Anyway thank goodness for good internet and Skype. We finally settled down after 10 pm local time - 18 1/2 hours on the go.