Christmas 2024 in Japan

I had a great time in Japan, but I'm so bad at taking pictures. All I took were food and cute animals.

Karuizawa is a popular ski resort two hours outside of Tokyo. Due to global warming, it was very little snow this year. It was actually quite warm if not for the wind from the mountains. Since we didn't get to play in the snow, it was quite disappointing. So I wouldn't recommend going to Karuizawa for skiing.

Ueno Park had great museums.  Unfortunately they were closed for the new year.  Ueno Zoo was still open.  We waited more than an hour in line to see the two giant pandas for two minutes.  Not worth it.

Daimaru Tokyo was so busy with tourists and locals trying to buy fancy gifts for the new year.  Every restaurant and every cafe were full with long waiting lines.

カフェ 英國屋 大丸東京店 1

カフェ 英國屋 大丸東京店 2

カフェ 英國屋 大丸東京店 3

This tiny rice ball shop inside Ueno JR Station was so good! And for $15 total!  I love rice balls in Japan!

Fancy cars in Ginza were probably for publicity stunt because we didn't see drivers with the cars.

Hotel Chocolat does not sell coffee and chocolate drinks in Tokyo metropolitan shops anymore. Outside Tokyo, such as Yokohama and Kichijoji locations, still sell coffee and chocolate drinks. Delicious! So flavorful. I'll miss it terribly.

Hotel Chocolat MARK IS みなとみらい店

By the way, this department store called "Mark Is" really bothers Math Teacher.  He literally couldn't even with the grammar.  Funny thing is, one of his favorite stores in Japan is called "Niko And..." 🤣🤣

Afternoon Tea TEAROOM MARK IS みなとみらい店 1

Afternoon Tea TEAROOM MARK IS みなとみらい店 2

Yokohama is a great city. Huge, open space. Great malls. Chinatown. Good food. Beautiful harbor with so many museums and attractions. Easy access into Tokyo. One week is not enough to explore Yokohama.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2024!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

ANA Crowne Plaza Narita 1

ANA Crowne Plaza Narita 2

Mark Is Minato Mirai

Queens Square Yokohama

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

We were in the library deciding what movie to get.  I saw this and said out loud, "Let's get this movie just because of Henry Cavill's muscles."

This was based on a real story.  It was very fictionalized.  It was so ridiculous that I loved it.  The British planned everything meticulously.  The Nazis could not plan out of their asses.  Everyone on the British team was a dead shot.  All Nazis could not aim.  I've been told that's a trope now.  😂

Yup, lots of muscles to look at, but not Henry Cavill's.  I'm surprised he was so different in this movie.  Overall, an enjoyable movie for a quiet Thanksgiving night.

True Lies (1994)

My gosh, after 30 years, True Lies was still a fun movie!  The characters had small gestures and winks that played off each other.  Even the sleaze ball and the villains had funny parts.

The dance Jamie Lee Curtis did in the hotel was so hot that made me and Arnold blush.  Arnold's line delivery was a bit rigid, but that's just Arnold.

The ending where Arnold shot a missile carrying the big bad villain through a hollow skyscraper into another villain's helicopter was simply ridiculous.  That about summed up the whole movie.  Don't take it seriously.