Christmas is coming...

Japan is getting closer and closer. I can almost taste the conveyor-belt sushi. :) We have found a lot of good (and cheap) restaurants to seek out in Tokyo. Jon even found a tiki restaurant, of course. I got in touch with some Japan-based knitters and they gave me great resources for finding craft stores and yarn shops. We also want to buy some beautiful Japanese fabrics (or old kimonos at a flea market that we found) to make a quilt when we get home. We have figured out places we want to go on our "days at rest" in each city. We are almost ready.

Jon and I have been trying to make lists of things to do before we leave, things to buy, things to arrange, and the list just keeps getting looooonger. This weekend was a massive buying expedition, with only half the list getting checked off. We got the big stuff, now we just need smaller things.

This weekend's list (accomplished):

1. Confirm that Dura will feed the fish and bring in our mail.
2. Carry on luggage bag for Jon. (We are attempting to take only two carry on bags and two shoulder bags/day trip bags for the entire trip. I know I can cram all my stuff into one carry on--I did it for two weeks in Thailand--but I question Jon's capabilities. This man packs way too much. But we are forging ahead!) We found a very good sized duffel/backpack thing for Jon at REI.


3. New walking shoes with easy slip-off capability for me. While I fell in love with these shoes I ended up purchasing these much less expensive, but equally or more useful shoes. They are cuter on my feet than in the picture. And they are very comfortable and easy to get on and off. Perfect for a trip to Japan.
4. A day trip/shoulder bag for me. I could just take a purse, I realize, but when you go on a big trip you always end up carrying so much stuff. Your itinerary, your wallet, your passport, your camera, your maps, your phrasebook, a snack, a water bottle. It gets out of control. The day trip bag wasn't on my list, but we found something perfect. We can carry everything, maybe even our laptop, and not worry about snow or pickpockets.
5. First aid kit
6. Blister kit

This weekend's list (not accomplished):

1. Travel size toiletries, or small bottles to put our own toiletries in.
2. Travel hair dryer.
3. Tissues/handkerchiefs (a lot of public restrooms in Japan do not have hand towels)
4. Plastic zip-top bags in multiple sizes (for wet socks, carrying on liquids, trash, etc)
5. Really good map of Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe, if we can find them here.
6. Folder or binder to organize all travel itineraries, schedules, maps, hotels, etc.

Jon and I decided to take his iBook with us to Japan so we can upload photos and videos as we go. We'll use this blog as our travel blog.