The streets of Japan are eerily clean, almost as if it was cleaned for a obsessive recluse who they were trying to lure outside. There are bicycles putzing along, freshly washed Toyota’s, Honda’s and Mazda’s gleaming down the road and plenty of street food vendors. It has mountains visible from all angles. And, just like any big city, surprises around every corner.

Look at that street! Good lines, no trash, no illegal parking, well done Japan.

Look at that cat! So fluffy and cute, he ran away before we could touch him.

Look at those cheeks! Mom is so happy and proud of her munchkins.

These guys were rail-thin, and looked at their phones as they crossed the street.

Bikes and buildings everywhere.

Takoyaki–octopus fried with flour. I kept saying, “I’ll try it later, I’ll try it later.” And then I never tried it.

I taught Jordyn how to make a fist and she punched me very hard and accurately. Something about a boxing gym makes people want to fight.

The old guy bought us some sushi on the street and so we followed him back to his bar where we met his crazy wife who talked constantly and laughed loudly like a Japanese Fran Drescher. We drank several bottles of sake here.

I was impressed with the friendliness of the Japanese people. They didn’t bow as much as I thought they would, but they emphatically say “Hai” whenever you ask a question imparting such a sense of importance of your question, “Where is the bus stop?”