Japan: Day #9 (September 29 continued)

Monday began with a webcam call to my daughter and granddaughter in Illinois. It was early morning Monday here in Japan but afternoon, Sunday in Illinois. It seemed as though we were talking through a time warp.

After a hearty breakfast, my uncle, aunt and cousin, Tomoko drove us to the Sendai train station.

We were suprised to be met at the bullet platform by my cousin, Masako who came to say goodbye. We were very touched by her kindness.


We caught the 9:18 AM train and after several transfers arrived in Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido at 5:20 PM. It was a long trip passing more rice fields and through mountain tunnels. We then went through Japan’s longest undersea tunnel to Hokkaido aboard the bullet train. That was pretty darn exciting although I dozed through some of it.



We’re now in Sapporo at an economical businessman’s hotel and it’s wonderful. I’ve never seen a room like it. It’s got two twin beds separated by the bathroom, a tea maker, hair dryer, two TVs (one for each bed, a refrigerator, pajamas, house slippers, toilet with bidet and butt wash, a huge face mirror, eco-bags, etc. and Internet hook-up. Unfortunately, even with my mother reading the Japanese instructions we weren’t able to figure out how to connect the modem.

Ah well…