Trip Report: Tokyo, Japan

We're publishing a few more pictures from last month's trip to Tokyo. Hopefully you'll find them interesting. The above is a sign at Haneda Airport for the bus service to various destinations in Tokyo. We took the bus to TCAT which is the Tokyo City Air Terminal. It's in Central Tokyo and under the TCAT building is a Tokyo Metro station where you can connect to pretty much anywhere.

There are Gocha machines which are everywhere in Japan. For a set amount, each machine dispenses a plastic capsule with a toy in it. These particular machines at a Metro station cost just ¥200-500 ($1.38-$3.50) but some locations have Gocha machines that cost up to ¥5,000 (about $34) that dispense keys to lockers. The locker might contain a plastic watch (gotcha, so sorry) or could contain a Louis Vuitton purse. The luck of the draw and the mystery of what you'll get is part of the appeal of these machines.

My favorite ride at Tokyo DisneySea.

Goth girls at Disney.

Vending machines are also everywhere in Japan. They sell merchandise, drinks, food, candy, ice cream, even beer. Cash and credit cards accepted.

There's no gambling in Japan but they get around it with Pachinko parlors. Played with small metal balls, you can turn-in your winning balls to the parlor at the end of your visit for a prize token. You then go to another establishment nearby to sell your prize token for cash.

Speaking of balls, you can have yours and other down under parts sprayed with warm water right in the comfort of your hotel bathroom, all while sitting on a heated seat. No balls? It can do similar things to other parts.

Japanese clothing store Uniqlo has been slowing making its way in the United States. They have 68 stores in the U.S. including two stores in the Orlando area at Florida Mall and Disney Springs. It sells mostly casual apparel at lower prices. Pictured above is their Ginza store.

Nearby is competitor GU. It seems they're a bit cheaper than Uniqlo and trendier. Both stores above are vertical; very narrow width but then 10-12 floors above connected via escalators.

You may not know it but 7-Eleven is a Japanese company. (Circle K is Canadian). 7-Eleven stores are all over the place in Japan, competing with Lawson and Family Mart stores. Most are open 24/7. They carry far more ready-to-eat food items than American stores do.

Typical Japanese restaurant. We'll have more (non-Japan) pics from the trip next week.