On Sunday morning we packed up our bags (there is story here that I will write tonight) and prepared to move to our host city. Our host city is technically Chiba City in the Chiba prefecture, but because there is a convention in Chiba City we are staying at the Goi Grand Hotel in Ichihara, just south of Chiba City. But rather than driving directly to Chiba City along the same route we would travel many times (as it is the way to the airport and the ryokan, our guide Keiko suggested we visit Odaiba (a very popular shopping area) and travel across the Tokyo Bay Bridge. We of course agreed because, well who is going to argue with Keiko? She is wonderful and very patient with us.
Odaiba was very similiar to an upscale shopping mall in the United States. There were American stores, a movie theater, restaurants, and an very cool aracade. The best part was the view it offered of the Tokyo skyline. After spending maybe a little too long shopping we boarded the bus and took the Tokyo Bay Bridge to another little shopping plaza, this time in the middle of Tokyo Bay. The Tokyo Bay Bridge is part tunnel/part bridge. For part of the trip you are actually under Tokyo Bay. Finally the tunnel surfaces at on the man-made island where there is a museum, parking lot, look-our area, and of course shops. The picture you will see here is a picture of an arial view of the bridge. It was very cool. Both of the places seemed to be a hotspot for many Japanese families and tourists as well, which was a nice change after being among so many American and European travelers in Kyoto. 
Back on the bus once again, this time bound for Chiba (or technically Ichihara). As we neared the hotel Keiko told us that our luggage would not arrive until tomorrow morning -- around 7 a.m. and asked if this was going to cause a problem for any of us. Well, it did. Knowing that Ichihara was only 1-2 hours from Tokyo, most of us expected our luggage to beat us to the hotel. It had been collected at 10 a.m. that morning as was being taken by truck. Those of you who know me well know that I always come/go prepared. If I am going on a "day trip," I bring a bag. If I am going to be gone overnight, I bring at least 3 pairs of undies per day. I am a planner. This threw me into a panic. All I had with me was my reading materials, my laptop and cords, and my toiletries. No extra clothes, no pjs, not much of anything. After a minor freak-out a a delicious dinner of udon noodles, I was able to purchase some pjs at the D2 (think Ben Franklin). Of course they sold only men's clothes so we had to figure out in centimeters which shorts and t-shirt would fit me. Japanese sizes are much smaller than US sizes -- so I ended up with XL shorts and a t-shirt. The t-shirt was kind of small. But I learned my lesson. Always, always, always bring extra clothes.
Aside from the luggage troubles, I must admit that I had other "issues" that evening. Despite a reputation for being very health conscious, many Japanese people smoke and there are not laws against smoking in public places like there are in the United States. In fact the only request of the hotel was not to smoke in bed. My room was very, very smokey. And I still haven't figured out how to use the phone to call home. And (here's the worse of it) no more heated toilet seat. Just a regular potty. At least it wasn't a squat right?
But the luggage arrived by 7 a.m. the next morning and I was able to quickly iron and dress before heading to Chiba University. The room doesn't smell as bad, but I still can't use the phone. Two out of three ain't bad.
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