We arrive in Japan at Narita International Airport in the early evening. We will have to go through immigration and customs before we reach the actual terminal. In the terminal you will have a chance to exchange currency and we will get our Japan Rail (JR) passes and PASMO IC cards validated.

After taking care of the arrival business, we will take a limousine bus to our hotel. This may take a while, depending on traffic and such, but the bus will take us right to our hotel door. May be close to midnight.

Hotel:

We will be staying at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. Visit the hotel website and check out the amenities:

• An indoor heated swimming pool
• An aquarium including a dolphin show (¥1800, around $20)
• A block from Shinagawa station, one of the most important train stations in Tokyo
• A movie theater (not sure what one might see)
• A convenience store (although there are also neighborhood stores)
• A wide variety of restaurants and bars
• Limited Internet WiFi hotspot locations (¥500 per day, around $6)

Things to do in Tokyo

Here is a list of suggested sites to see / things to do in Tokyo. Feel free to suggest additions. When we are in Tokyo, this will be our first source in deciding what we'd like to do next. Item marked with an asterisk (*) is a tentative World Heritage Site in Japan.

• Go [window] Shopping on the Ginza
• Shop for electronics in Akihabara
• Experience Tsukiji fish market
• Stroll in the Hama-rikyu Gardens
• Float down the Sumida River on a Water Bus
• Visit Asakusa - old town
• Enjoy Jazz in Tokyo at Vagabonds also see here and here
• * Take a day trip to Kamakura - ancient capital
• Visit the imperial palace (actually not much to see: we won't be able to go inside, but can wander around the area)
• Note: the Kabuki-za theater is closed for restoration for three years
• Take the elevator up the Tokyo Tower
• Visit Harajuku to see the youth counter culture
• Make the UUA Connection: Unitarians, Universalists, and Buddhists