Author Archives: harshmanvgmailcom

Friday, August 4, 2017 – Kyoto, Japan A new city and a new run for me. I got up early and found a running trail along the Kamo River. A nice mix of running the city streets to get to the trail, then a bit of nature and even a fisherman as I ran besideContinue reading “Castle and Golden Temple”

Thursday, August 3, 2017 – Hakone to Kyoto, Japan Chrissy and I were married on August 3, 1991. There was no better place to spend our 26th anniversary than in Japan, starting in the beautiful setting of Hakone and ending in the bustling city of Kyoto. We started the day with Aaron taking pictures ofContinue reading “The Bamboo Forest”

Wednesday, August 2, 2017 – Hakone, Japan The day started with the Ryokan breakfast. We sat at the same table for all of our meals, overlooking a lovely garden with a waterfall. For breakfast we had our choice of Japanese or Western. Aaron and I got Japanese, Chrissy got Western, and both were excellent. TheContinue reading “Ten-Course Meal”

Tuesday, August 1, 2017 – Tokyo to Hakone, Japan It was time to leave Tokyo behind and embark on the next leg of our journey. I have visited two countries and only experienced the principal city – in France I have only been to Paris and in South Korea I have only been to Seoul.Continue reading “Black Eggs”

Monday, July 31, Tokyo, Japan We started our day at the Tsukiji Fish Market. For several blocks around the market there are narrow streets and alleys with vendors and small restaurants. That itself is a wonderful place to wander about, taking in the sights and smells. There are fish vendors for sure, but lots ofContinue reading “The Sushi That Ruined All Other Sushi”

Sunday, July 30, 2017 – Tokyo, Japan I love going for an early morning run in a new city. I love seeing, hearing, smelling, and feeling a city come alive as I pound my sneakers through her streets. And to be in a city surrounded by people but isolated by language is both uncomfortable andContinue reading “Taiyaki, Takoyaki, Yakitori and Karaoke”

Saturday, July 29, 2017 – Tokyo, Japan I have trouble sleeping once it is light out, especially when I am in a new city on the threshold of adventure. Our bedroom had traditional paper screens over sliding doors onto our balcony, so when the early summer sun started pouring in at 4:30 am I wasContinue reading “7-11, Shrine, and Baseball”

Friday, July 28, 2017 – Tokyo, Japan The flight from the US to Tokyo was long but uneventful, so I will start with arrival in Tokyo. We arrived on Friday afternoon and took an airport bus to Shinjuku. Shinjuku is an area of Tokyo that is home to the busiest railway station in the world,Continue reading “Big City. Really Big City.”

Aaron has been fascinated with Japan ever since elementary school. He taught himself Japanese in middle and high schools and majored in Japanese in college. He traveled to Japan twice in high school – once on a People to People Ambassador trip and once with a friend’s family on a trip Tokyo, Hong Kong, andContinue reading “2017 Japan”