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Washington D.C.
“My husband Ron and I visited Washington, D.C. and saw many landmarks in the area. The White House was one as well as the Lincoln Memorial, where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, and the Washington Monument. My Facebook friends can see me reciting part of his amazing speech. It was a wonderful trip!”
— Jean Sarfay, Retired, LAPD/Communications
Letter From Japan
Cherry Blossoms and Pocket Wi-Fi
Japan is where the sun rises over an archipelago of some 6,800 islands. All are mountainous, including the four main islands of Honshu, which is the largest and most populous island and home to Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka and Kyoto, and the impressive 12,388-foot volcano, Mount Fuji; Hokkaido, the northernmost island, with its milder summers and much colder winters (snowfall is widespread, and there are many ski resorts); Kyushu, the southernmost island, near the Korean Peninsula and is its beautiful beaches, volcanoes and hot springs; and last is Shikoku, the smallest of the four main islands, with its temperate climate, separated from the rest of Japan by the Inland Sea. Each island is proud of its culture and traditions, which date back thousands of years. These include arts including kabuki theatre, sumo wrestling and tea ceremonies.
If you visit Japan for the first time or for only one week, don’t waste time on aircraft changes. Fly direct to Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka to enjoy maximin time there. It is one of the world’s safest and most politically stable countries to visit; its crime rate is very low, and the people are very courteous. Costs of food, drink and local travel are 50 percent lower than in the United States at the time of this writing. Getting online is easy in Japan, and this can be done by renting a portable pocket Wi-Fi. I suggest pre-booking with Japan Wireless directly and pick up the unit when you arrive at the airport ($77 for two weeks). This gives you access to WhatsApp and Google Translate for your Japanese-speaking and reading challenges. Also, if you are not on an organized tour, buy a Suica tap card at the East Japan Railway counter at the airport and add $20, suitable for buses and local trains. If you run out of credit while travelling, it can be topped up inside train stations.
The Japanese currency is yen, written as 円, with the symbol ¥. U.S. dollars can be changed at the airport, but the best place is at 7-Eleven 24-hour ATMs (much larger than in the United States). They also sell fresh ham and cheese sandwiches for non-fish eaters. Japanese cuisine seems to be fish-oriented, except for the odd beef dish, and even the noodles have a suspicion of the sea. Electrical outlets are 100 volts, different from the U.S. standard of 110 volts, and sockets are two-flat-pin, similar to North America.
If traveling on an organized tour, you will be shown stunning rural scenery and visit many fascinating places, like the popular cherry blossom spots from March to late April at Ueno Park, Meguro River and Shinjuku Gyoen in Tokyo; Maruyama Park in Kyoto; Osaka Castle; or Mt. Fuji. But stay with your tour bus group and do not wander off or leave your hotel after ten at night. Take lots of photos, and you will have wonderful memories to take home!
For the more independent traveler who dislikes organized tours, bullet trains run between major cities every 15 minutes, and tickets can be purchased easily at the station. For a more interesting journey, use a long-distance coach, and ladies take the usual precautions (i.e., don’t hitchhike alone or walk at night in an area that seems dodgy). Try out a Capsule Hotel for those on a budget; the sleep pods are cozy and surprisingly comfortable. Unlike the United States, tip only for exceptional service; otherwise, it’s considered rude.
The U.S. Embassy in Japan is in Tokyo (phone: 03-3224-5000). E-mail https://jp.usembassy.gov/
“It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you go.”
— The Captain
