Japan Trip Highlights: Akihabara

Long before I knew its name, I knew I wanted to visit Akihabara. One of the premier destinations in downtown Tokyo, the Akihabara district mixes video games, comics and animation to offer one of the world's most bombastic shopping experiences.

And it's awesome.

The district, often referred to as Akiba by locals, was so impressive that Annie and I visited it twice during our brief stay in Japan. What made it such a draw for us? Here's some of the many reasons it was such a highlight for us:

1. There were so many unique products for sale that it was simply fun to keep browsing the district's numerous shops. From cheap nicknacks to expensive collectibles, intriguing wares were everywhere in Akihabara. So many fascinating products — like the Mega Man Energy Tank pillow — lined the seemingly endless walls. It's a testament to my self-restraint that my wallet wasn't emptied in the district.

2. But it wasn't just the items for sale that were fascinating. The stores were so varied in layout and presentation that Annie and I had great fun exploring them. My personal favorites were the seemingly small shops that offered patrons one-way escalators up to the next floor. And then the next. And then the next. Before you knew it, you were on the sixth floor. To exit, you can try waiting for the single elevator, but you're usually better off using the stairs. Because we were in no rush, we simply enjoyed wandering through these shops.

3. It was rather interesting to glimpse the world of maid cafes, a staple of the district's culture. Although we never ate at one in Akihabara, we often saw the adorable employees distributing flyers and waving to shoppers. Although somewhat odd in concept, the industry is harmless and thankfully enforces very strict rules on patrons — such as "no touching the maid" and "no asking for her phone number." These and other solid protection measures ensure that the cafes remain safe places that allow customers to briefly indulge in some kooky entertainment. But if you think such silliness is limited to Tokyo, think again. The industry is on its way to America. I can't wait to see how our culture responds to this import.

4. Although they didn't figure into the equation quite as heavily as I expected, arcades remain an Akihabara staple and offer some premier gaming experiences. Annie and I wandered through a Club Sega and some other arcades, including a pachinko parlor. The immersive and networked games on display were similar to the offerings you'd find at higher-end arcades in America. We never played any of the games, but enjoyed looking over a few shoulders.

5. With so many unique stores and cool merchandise for sale, we had a blast treasure hunting our way through Akihabara. I found the one video game I wanted to buy (and used, to boot, with all the content unlocked) and Annie found a cute keychain featuring the lead character from her favorite video game. If you ever visit Tokyo and have any interest in video games or anime, you absolutely must visit the district's many stores that offered preowned collectibles for sale at very reasonable prices.

6. Because our Japanese language skills were so limited, we never knew what was just around the corner. Sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse, that ignorance left us curious to enter stores that we might not have otherwise heeded. As such, we found ourselves sometimes navigating the narrow aisles of tightly packed bookstores, sometimes sharing laughs at some of the crazy items on display — and sometimes racing for the nearest exit. Meandering our way through Akihabara was a wildly varied experience. And that was great. That was what we wanted in Tokyo.

7. Perhaps the most memorable part of our trip to Akihabara, though, was our time in the misleadingly named Yodobashi Camera. Two parts Best Buy, one part Toys R Us and three parts discombobulation, the multi-level superstore that is Yodobashi is truly a destination onto itself. Loaded with an unceasing assault of advertisements and announcements, Yodobashi can overwhelm. But two key factors make it worth your time: There are bilingual clerks who speak English and it's the perfect spot to find the latest and greatest in Japanese toys and media. I consider myself lucky to have escaped its clutches as cheaply as I did.

I'd happily return to Akihabara given the chance — and I truly hope to so someday. But should I not, the fun that Annie and I had wandering its streets and stores during this trip is something I'll always treasure.

Japan Trip Highlights: Luida's Bar

In honor of my birthday today, we wanted to tell you about our number one highlight of the trip, where I had my first birthday celebration this year: Luida's Bar.

This story requires a bit of context. First, Josh has been playing "Dragon Quest IX" like crazy lately. Once we decided we were going to Tokyo, he mentioned he'd read about a Dragon Quest-themed bar there, and we decided to check it out.

So on Nov. 8, after a full day of sightseeing (as they all were), we dressed up and went to the Roppongi district of Tokyo, to Luida's Bar, a theme restaurant based on the Dragon Quest series of video games.

The bar is tiny. There are no chairs, and to keep the crowds from overwhelming them, they do 75-minute "seatings" and are fairly quick to shoo you out when your time is up. But what a time we had in those 75 minutes!

Playing songs from the games and boasting decor to impress new and old Dragon Quest fans alike, Luida's Bar also features staff who were extremely attentive (and proficient in English). One girl was dressed as Luida and the others as maids. Since it was a Monday, only three other patrons were there besides us, so we got lots of personal attention from Luida. She helped us with the menu and chatted with us about Japan, local culture and, of course, Dragon Quest. I told her about where we were from, and how the trip was a birthday gift from Josh. We chatted about the katakana I'd been learning and she asked how I wrote my name in English and in katakana, so I showed her, pleased to show off my skills.

In addition to the attentive staff, the food and drinks were quite good. Josh had pork on sword skewers and some mini pizzas, and I had a pork bao shaped like game's trademark Slime enemy; a ball of mashed potatoes rolled in nuts and deep fried, then topped with butter and set on fire at the table (which resembles the bomb rock monster in the game); and then I ordered a dessert plate that included ice cream frosted with chocolate mousse, pound cake, chocolate walnut cake and fruit. It's meant to look like a hammer-wielding villain in the game (the hammer was made of the chocolate cake and a stick of Pocky).

But when the dessert arrived, I was in for a surprise. First, Luida got on the microphone and started speaking Japanese, and the next thing I knew, they were all singing "Happy Birthday" in English and brought out my dessert with a sparkler on it (glee!) and "Happy birthday Annie!" written in chocolate.

Even though my birthday was weeks away, it was so fun to have an early, impromptu celebration. And Lord knows I'm a sucker for a bright, shiny sparkler, so that alone made my day.

We took lots of pictures of the bar, so rather than post them individually, we made them into a fun, short video below. Enjoy!

UPDATE: And thank you to GoNintendo.com for their interest in this video!

Why this year's Black Friday is particularly important

If my relationship with Black Friday were represented on Facebook, my status would be perpetually set to "It's complicated." Because it is. As much as I love the incredible markdowns, the insane traffic and unruly shoppers make it difficult to truly enjoy.

That's why I'm glad Black Friday is evolving this year into something more meaningful. With economic recovery experts rightly noting that a lot is riding on this year's holiday shopping season, there's new emphasis on patronizing smaller businesses and internet shops in the days ahead. And that's a good thing. Small Business Saturday has been organized to support the many operations that collectively form America's economic backbone. These shops can't afford the massive advertising campaigns or loss leaders that Walmart and its ilk use to entice shoppers. But small businesses most benefit from our patronage, as the profits stay local and help our neighbors. So as fun as it might be today to brave the crowds at Best Buy this morning and grab that Xbox 360 with three free games for $200, know the same $200 spent at your local main street's restaurants and specialty shops might better help keep those economic recovery gears turning.

In tandem with the economic benefits of Black Friday and Small Business Saturday is Cyber Monday, the day when internet shops see an uptick in orders as people do some holiday shopping on their work computers. While not as directly beneficial as Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday plays the important role of increasing postal activity. Economists and investors closely watch numbers reported by FedEx, UPS and the Post Office to track boosts in commercial activity. Good numbers on those fronts can help sustain a recovery.

There aren't many times when one lowly consumer can truly feel like their dollars are making a difference, but that's what could happen this weekend. It's why this year's Black Friday is particularly important. If you decide to join the fun, I thank you in advance for helping jumpstart our economy.

Japan Trip Highlights: Vending machines

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we gather together to eat and drink today, I find myself thinking of the vending machines in Japan. Every time we saw a bank of them, I had to stop and check them out, as I'd heard wild tales of the things you could get in vending machines there. I was a bit disappointed that I never saw anything super wacky, but I did find a couple of fun things you won't see in the States.

First off, soup.

Josh's new favorite drink, Pocari Sweat. We giggled over a drink being named for a bodily fluid, but when we tried it out of curiosity we found it was basically lemon Gatorade, and pretty good!

And...um...well, I'm not sure what this is:

We stared at it in the vending machine for a long time. Josh's guess was that it was a can filled with tiny pancakes, like the ones they served at our hotel for breakfast. I guessed it was pancake-flavored soda or juice, but other people have suggested it could be pancake batter. I tend to doubt it's something that requires preparation because the whole point of a vending machine is to offer grab-and-go snacks. At any rate, we did buy a can, so now when people come to our house and we run through the beverages available, we can throw in "liquid pancake" to see what kind of reaction it gets.

Update: As it turns out, I was right. And apparently, it was just released this fall!

Japan Trip Highlights: Emperor's Motorcade

It's not realistic for United States tourists to think they'll see President Obama during their stay. Similarly, it's not realistic for Japan tourists to think they'll see Emperor Akihoto during their stay.

But see him I did.

This all happened very much by accident — and I very nearly missed the significance of the situation. It was around noon in Tokyo and I was waiting outside a souvenir shop Annie was browsing. On the opposite side of the street, a line of people had gathered holding small Japanese flags. Seeing that they were lining the street outside what appeared to be a department store, I didn't initially think much of it. Perhaps some celebrity was en route to cut a ribbon or some such.

But as time passed, my curiosity grew. Maybe there was something to it all. I looked around for someone to ask, but most people on my side of the street were walking determinedly to their destination. It didn't seem like anyone was in the mood to take a question, let alone engage in conversation with someone who didn't speak the native tongue. I spotted one younger man lingering nearby, though, and thought I'd give conversation with him a try.

"Eggo…" I began to ask him if he spoke English, leading with the word. When he nodded, I quickly switched languages.

"Do you know what is happening?" I said, motioning to the line of people.

"I'm not sure, but I think the Emperor is coming."

"Oh! Thank you!"

I quickly got my phone out of my pocket and started up the video recording functionality. I briefly considered running into the store to get Annie, but before I could do so, the young man spoke again.

"Here they come!"

Emperor Akihoto was in the second car — the one immediately followed by police motorcycles. Amazingly, he was on my side of the vehicle and his window was open, granting me an unobstructed view of his smiling face and waving hand. As his vehicle passed us, I smiled and waved back at him. This unexpected treat was quite a joy for me.

After the motorcade had passed us, the young man to me spoke again.

"You're very lucky," he said with wide eyes and great earnestness.

I wasn't quite sure what to say in response. I could only think to express my gratitude for his help in explaining the situation and making sure I didn't miss such a special event.

"Thank you!"

And then I promptly ran off to catch up with Annie.

Japan Trip Highlights: Gion District of Kyoto

We started our day in Kyoto with a guided tour, which included the aforementioned Golden Pavillion as well as some other sights we'll talk about in future posts. But after the guided tour ended at lunchtime, we were free to do as we pleased until our bullet train left at around 9 p.m.

Neither of us had much of an itinerary in mind, so we decided to wander down to Gion, the old geisha district of Kyoto (where there are still actual geisha living and working).

Gion was full of surprises. The windy, narrow streets with old buildings we expected; the marching band and the badger shrine we did not.

Shijo Dori, the main street running through Gion, is a modern, wide street with fantastic souvenir shopping (and some of the first reasonably-priced souvenirs we saw in Japan). Lots of candy shops and knickknack shops, all with very helpful and attentive shopkeepers, made for a fun time poking around before we got into the older parts of the district, where we discovered a few things.

1. Josh is way too tall for old-world Japan:

2. Yes, there really are geisha there (this was the best photo I could get):

3. They like them some badgers.

This is the Tanuki (Badger) Shine near Pontocho Alley in Kyoto. According to our guidebook, "In 1978 a fire broke out in Pontocho, taking the life of a geisha. Where it stopped, a ceramic tanuki was found shattered by the heat. Believing that Mr. Tanuki had sacrificed himself on their behalf, the residents built this little shrine to house his remains."

4. They knew we were coming.

I mean, seriously. A pirate bar? (Too bad they weren't open.)

We took some video of the Yasaka Shrine and the random student parade we ran into while we were roaming around Shoji Dori. Check it out:

Larry Hama: A real American hero

It's no secret that I admire Larry Hama. As creator of the G.I. Joe franchise's current mythos, Larry had a truly positive impact on my childhood. Not only did he create memorable characters and stories, but he helped me begin to understand my dad's time in the military. Larry provided a common reference my dad could use to explain his role and activities. That was important and invaluable to me when I was young.

So I was excited Saturday when I finally had the chance to meet Larry at VA Comicon in Richmond. I thanked him for the role he and his work played in my life, got his signatures on two of his earliest G.I. Joe comics and asked him to sketch a character for me. He happily obliged — although he politely declined to repeat original G.I. Joe artist Herb Trimpe's work and draw Cobra Commander unmasked. Larry explained that he prefers to maintain a certain amount of mystery surrounding the franchise's main villain. I told him that's completely understandable. Perhaps he could instead draw Snake Eyes, my favorite character on the G.I. Joe team? Sure. Larry asked whether I wanted an old-school Snake Eyes or the new Snake Eyes. I replied that it was completely up to him. He went old-school.

As he worked on the drawing, Larry chatted a bit about his life and career. He told me that Snake Eyes, like many of his G.I. Joe characters, was based on someone he knew in the military. Sgt. Bob Light, a door gunner in the 1st Air Calvary, was Larry's inspiration for the character. But as I made of note of the name, Larry told me he wasn't entirely sure how to spell "Light" or whether "Bob" was the man's proper first name. Larry's not even sure whatever happened to the man.

Larry was sure, though, what happened to the man who inspired Joe team helicopter pilot Wild Bill. He said that man, 1st Air Calvary pilot Bart Wulf, had returned to his family's massive ranch in Texas and recently invited Larry to go hunting with him. As proof that Bart had changed little through the years, Larry showed me a photo of the two of them together on his iPhone. Sure enough, Bart still possessed Wild Bill's trademark mustache and weathered looks. Larry told me during the visit, he asked Bart whether he was aware there were action figures of him. The notion apparently boggled Bart's mind.

At one point, Larry broke from drawing my Snake Eyes to sign some comics and other materials from fans in line. One person had brought an obscure D.C. Comics issue that represented Larry's first paid comics work, plus a comic starring Iron First that Larry described as having changed his life. It was the issue, Larry said, that made him to decide to start writing comics in addition to drawing them. Why? Because as the artist for that issue, Larry said the only script he received was a brief summary that took the author "15 seconds" to write. Larry said if that writer could get his full payment for such little effort, well, it was time for Larry to start writing, too. It wasn't until later, though, that he realized how difficult even those brief summaries are to create.

As I neared the end of my time sitting with Larry, I couldn't resist an urge to touch on the current controversy surrounding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." I asked him whether he'd ever considered touching on the topic in any way in G.I. Joe. He responded that because the franchise is the property of Hasbro, he couldn't imagine the company wanting to touch the topic "with a 10-foot pole." But on the topic itself, Larry said he considered it "ridiculous" that gays couldn't openly serve in the armed forces. He recalled working during the Vietnam era with an army intelligence officer that was widely known to be gay. The officer did a good job, Larry said, and wasn't subject to harassment. Of course, Larry said it didn't hurt that the man's last name was Patton and he was rumored to be related to the famous World War II general. But it showed that people who want to serve their country should be allowed to do so.

I had great fun spending some time with Larry, being able to look over his shoulder as he drew my sketch and learning more about him and his experiences. I was happy to pass along the message my dad, a fellow Vietnam vet, had for Larry: "Welcome home." And it was a pleasure to return the same message from Larry to my dad. But perhaps the most interesting aspect to the entire day for me was the way Larry chose to draw Snake Eyes. Without knowing that my dad did Long Range Patrol work in Vietnam that entailed him parachuting into action, Larry drew Snake Eyes parachuting from above. This amazing and very happy coincidence marked a wonderful way for me to remember my meeting Larry. It also seemed to put a smile on my dad's face when I shared the drawing with him late Saturday by e-mail.

"That looks just like me," my dad replied. "Scared shitless."

Thanks, Larry, for everything.

Japan Trip Highlights: Okonomiyaki

Our last night in Tokyo, we were completely exhausted after an intense day of sightseeing through a few different neighborhoods, which followed three other intense days of sightseeing, mostly on foot. We came back to the hotel and plopped on the bed. Our legs and feet were begging us not to move, ever again.

Unfortunately, the room service at our hotel was exorbitantly expensive.

So I reluctantly began poking through our travel guide to find something to eat. I browsed by neighborhood to find something nearby; nothing inspiring. But then I browsed by cuisine type.

"Hey, okonomiyaki! Nathan and Erin say it's really good," I said.

"What is it?" mumbled a sleepy Josh.

"Basically a pancake with meat and vegetables in it, I think," I said. I read the description from the travel guide, which concurred. Reading a bit further, I saw there was an okonomiyaki place with English menus not three blocks from our hotel. Sold.

We rolled off the nice, comfy bed that required no leg or foot motion to operate and slowly put on our coats.

We walked/hobbled to where it was supposed to be. The guide didn't say the sign would be in English, so I prepared for a bit of trouble finding the place. We knew it was on the second floor of a building, and our concierge at the hotel had circled the approximate place where it would be on a map.

When we got there...no dice. Nothing that looked like it served okonomiyaki on the second floor.

I saw a middle-aged man standing around, as if waiting for something. "Sumimasen," I said. (Excuse me.) "Restoran Botejyu doku desu ka?" (Where is the Botejyu restaurant?)

The gentleman smiled and said, "Botejyu? What kind of food do they serve?" (Switching mercifully to excellent English.)

"Okonomiyaki," I replied.

"Hmm, I don't know of an okonomiyaki place around here, but let me ask somebody." He went into a nearby convenience store, then came out shaking his head. "Let me look." He began walking up the street, then came back, smiling. He pointed at a building. "There it is."

There, in HUGE Romanized letters, was "Botejyu" on the side of a building. (Facepalm.)

"Domo arigatou guziamasu," I said (Thank you very much).

"It's no problem. I have to wait here anyway," he said with a smile.

Thanks to our new favorite person EVER we made our way to the restaurant.

Once we got there, we found it had a very nice, relaxed vibe to it. LED screens along one wall simulated a huge fireplace while wood paneling and dim lighting made it a very comfortable, quiet place for a post-work drink or late meal. A few couples and coworkers were there, unwinding after a long day.

We looked over the menu, and decided to each order "Recommended" items. I had the "Osaka-Style Negi Okonomiyaki," which had primarily beef and green onions, while Josh got rice, miso soup (his throat was a bit sore) and the "Osaka-Style Negi Modern-yaki," which was very similar to my dish but kind of a pancake sandwich, rather than having all the ingredients baked in.

Feeling extra adventurous, I even ordered a drink that was an Osaka-region specialty, Hiyashiame, basically a juice with ginger flavor. It was pretty good, though surprisingly sweet.

I mainly ordered it because the menu description was rather charming.

The food arrived within a few minutes and was served to us on a hot griddle that was built into the middle of our table. We were given little spatulas to slice off chunks and put them on the little plates they had given us.

And it was both delicious and exactly the comfort food we were seeking after a long day. Salty, savory, warm and doughy, the feeling of eating okonomiyaki can be best compared to that of eating chicken and dumplings. Yum.

So it was definitely worth the journey, giving us newfound energy. Our weary legs felt a bit lighter when we left.

Japan Trip Highlights: Improvised communication

Annie wrote yesterday about her very successful efforts at learning and speaking Japanese. I really applaud what she achieved and appreciate how her language skills improved our trip.

I realize, though, that many people will not learn any Japanese before traveling to Tokyo. Whether it's for lack of time or interest, these travelers simply hope for the best as they become a stranger in a strange land. And I get that. Because that was my approach. Call it what you will — arrogance, bravery, naivety — but it worked fairly well for me. Here's why.

1. Tokyo is fairly English friendly. Many important public signs are in English and most street signs include the romanization of the proper Japanese location or name. The many efforts the city's government have made to ease the way for English-speaking visitors were very encouraging.

2. After an early misstep, I made an extra effort to heed signs intended for English-speaking visitors. (What was my blunder? Taking photos in a gift shop that specifically prohibited camera usage. Fortunately, the shopkeep let it slide.) I tried to keep an eye out for any English signage near attraction, store or public transit entrances to avoid any unintentional disrespect.

3. Many restaurants will, if possible, assign an English-speaking waiter to your table. It was common for one waiter to initially greet us in Japanese and try to engage us. If we stumbled through a response, we were apparently reassigned to an English-speaking waiter. Of course, the level of English fluency varied greatly, but I noticed and appreciated the efforts made to accommodate us.

4. After repeatedly hearing from international travelers that a little language knowledge goes a long way, I found that advice very true. I kept handy a piece of paper with the phonetic Japanese spelling of certain key phrases: "Do you understand English?" and "I don't understand Japanese." Not just helpful, the paper helped me present myself as something other than an arrogant American. I only wish I'd added the phrase for "pardon me."

5. When words failed us, we used non-verbal communication. The most complex request I expected to make during my trip was asking video game retailers if they stocked a certain game. So before we left, I found and printed a copy of the game's packaging. When we wandered through Akihabara, I handed the paper to store employees with a quizzical yet hopeful look in my eyes. Each clerk understood my request and promptly checked their stock. After a few misses and sincere apologies, I found a store selling the game. In another example, we used a guidebook's photo to seek directions to one landmark. We didn't fully understand the directions, but we were pointed in the right direction.

6. In a city as populous and cosmopolitan as Tokyo, it's not uncommon for bilingual speakers to be in the crowd. One travel guide generally steered me correctly when it suggested that I look for younger, approachable adults to find someone who speaks English. This advice served me particularly well in the moments before I saw Japanese Emperor Akihoto's motorcade. But that's another story.

7. The efforts Annie and I made at using our Japanese phrasebook were — quite literally — applauded. We didn't use it often, but our Lonely Planet Japanese Phrasebook did enhance our experience in Tokyo. Our invoking the phrase "It was a real feast!" after one particularly good meal elicited smiles, laughter and applause.

Our experience left me, like Annie, having wished I'd known more Japanese before landing in the country. But all things considered, we didn't do too bad with our occasionally improvised communication solutions.

Japan Trip Highlights: Learning the language

Before we went to Japan, I began studying conversational Japanese by listening to audio lessons during my commute, and I bought a workbook to learn katakana, one of three scripts used in Japan. Katakana is used to write foreign words, and is thus easier to translate than hiragana or kanji, the other scripts.

I was pleased that my preparation was not in vain; I was able to have some basic conversations to ask directions and read a few things, like some restaurant menus. My first big "yay!" moment was on our flight to Tokyo, where our menus were written in both English and Japanese, and I could understand a large chunk of the Japanese part. My katakana study also saved us when we tried to find lunch in Akihabara, the electronics district of Tokyo. We had trouble finding a restaurant with an English menu, but we did find a curry place with enough katakana on the menu where I understood what we were ordering. I was also able to ask where the elusive elevator was in Kyoto Station and solicited help from a passerby to find a restaurant near our hotel.

A friend once told me her motto was, "Speak the language of the person you're speaking to." It seemed to be our experience that if you at least made an attempt at speaking Japanese, even if it was just to say "excuse me," or "thank you," people tended to try to help you as best they could. By contrast, the rude Americans in Narita airport, who wouldn't even slow down their speech in English, much less attempt Japanese, dealt with frustrated store clerks.

I really like studying Japanese, though it's a daunting experience, with three different alphabets and different grammar from English. I'm seriously considering pursuing a Master's degree in Japanese so I can incorporate that into my work. I'd love any advice people have on the subject, especially on how web and social media work can combine with translation work.

Japan Trip Highlights: Shinkansen

I remember seeing a television segment years ago on the Shinkansen, the high-speed rail service in Japan also known as the "bullet train." It fascinated my young mind and made me long for the opportunity to ride it. I never thought I'd get the chance.

And then I did.

To say I was thrilled at the chance to ride the rails at 180 mph would be an understatement. As you'll see in the video, I was downright wide-eyed with glee. We hope the video also gives you a sense of the train's speed as it covered the approximately 300 miles separating Tokyo and Kyoto in about two hours. Pictures simply do not do the Shinkansen justice. You absolutely must see it in action.

Japan Trip Highlights: Golden Pavillion

We're kicking off our Japan Trip Highlights series with the most beautiful thing we encountered in Japan: The Golden Pavillion, AKA Kinkaku, AKA Rokuon-ji Temple. Located in Kyoto, where we spent the second day of our trip, this picturesque Buddhist temple took our breath away.

Among the interesting facts about the place:

• It was originally built in 1397, then burned in 1950 and was rebuilt.
• In 1987, they used 20 Kg of gold, mixed with bronze and silver, to refurbish the building.
• It was originally built as a villa, but Shogun Yoshimitsu requested his son convert it into a Buddhist temple when Yoshimitsu died.

Photos below, followed by a short video.

Map of the grounds

Golden Pavillion

Golden Pavillion

Us in front of the Golden Pavillion

The phoenix atop the building

A bonsai the shogun began training 600 years ago to look like a ship...amazing 

Another view of the building

Smiles, memories and souvenirs

Annie and I have returned home from Japan — exhausted but incredibly rewarded to have visited such a beautiful and kind country.

We'll be blogging much more about our trip in the days and weeks ahead, sharing many pictures and memorable moments from our time in Tokyo and Kyoto. You'll learn how even our rudimentary Japanese language skills were greatly appreciated, hear all about our trip on the famous Shinkansen bullet train, and see photos from our most enjoyable trip to Luida's Bar, where the staff and patrons sang "Happy Birthday" to Annie. We might even be able to share the rough video I have of Japanese Emperor Akihito, whose motorcade unexpectedly drove past us while we were souvenir shopping.

While we recover form an exhausting trip home, though, I'll leave you with this quick rundown of some of the souvenirs I bought. Clockwise from the top are: a keychain of "Final Fantasy VII" hero Cloud; two chrome Nintendo DS styluses that have Dragon Quest slime symbols on the end; music game "Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2" for the Nintendo DS; a strategy guide for the "New Super Mario Bros." game; the latest issue of famous Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu; a CD of remixed Dragon Quest songs; and a promo flyer for "Xenoblade," an impressive Nintendo Wii game that I'm hoping makes the leap to America.

Have a great weekend and look for us to share much more about our trip very soon!

Smithsonian Highlights Tour #7: National Museum

Did you know there's no single Smithsonian museum? There are actually several. With so much to see, the options can be overwhelming for first time D.C. visitors. This guide offers a very brief highlights tour for the various museums to help your planning process. Also, feel free to ask any questions about the Smithsonian's National Museum Building in the comments and we'll do our best to get you an answer.

The shuttered National Museum Building, more recently known as the Arts and Industries Building, was closed to the public in 2004. An architectural jewel, the building had become a contentious topic within the Smithsonian family. Lacking the money to properly renovate the historic building, Smithsonian leaders considered leasing the space. But the idea of essentially abandoning the institution's second building was unpopular.

So it sat — unused and untouched — until last year. That's when the Smithsonian allocated $5 million it received from the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act to perform masonry repairs and begin interior renovations. The goal is to restore the building to how it appeared around the start of the 20th century. And in another step toward its eventual reopening, I'm told that work will soon begin to replace the building's roof and windows.

How the building will be used once the renovations are finished, though, remains unclear. I'm told there were suggestions it could be used to house the Smithsonian's exhibits on African American or Latino culture, but those proposals have fizzled. It's possible the building will simply revert to how it was most recently used: a showcase for changing exhibits, including displays from other museums, galleries and universities. Time will tell.

Given that work to restore the National Museum is ongoing, be aware that it might not be accessible or even visible to you during your time in Washington. But take solace in the fact that the building is on the road to recovery.

How to get there: Short walk from Smithsonian Metro.

Time to view: A few minutes.

When to go: After you see one of the nearby museums. Fans may linger to appreciate the modern Romanesque style, but a quick look will suffice for most.

How to see a Supreme Court hearing

So you want to see a Supreme Court hearing, do you? Then set your alarm early and get ready to stand in line for a long time.

In addition to the tips available on the Supreme Court's website — such as the Visitor's Guide to Oral Argument and general info to Plan Your Visit — you should know that seeing a hearing entails a lot of waiting. It's not the kind of thing that can be approached casually. To see the court in action for even a few minutes requires a substantial time investment. But for people who are curious about the court and its style, the experience is incomparable.

Here are the things you should know that the court website doesn't tell you or make abundantly clear:

1. You should plan to reach the Supreme Court's front steps as soon as possible, but certainly no later than 7 a.m. Metro rail opens at 5 a.m. and the early birds will be on those first trains. Remember, it's not just other tourists who want to see a hearing. Students from the area's law schools must attend hearings. And certain cases draw large numbers of local spectators.

2. It's important to be in line when numbered tickets are distributed around 7:15 a.m. This ticket holds your spot in line, allowing you to leave and return around 8:45 a.m. when the line reforms.

3. If you arrive after all tickets have been distributed, you'll be at a significant disadvantage. Not only will you have many people in front of you when the line reforms, but you're not guaranteed to retain your spot in line should you need to step out to use the bathroom.

4. Although the courtroom holds 200 people, that doesn't mean 200 ticket holders will get to sit and watch the entire hearing. However many seats remain after the VIPs are seated are the number allocated to the public. That could be 100 seats or it could be two seats. All you can do is wait and hope for the best.

5. If you're not granted a seat for the full first hearing at 10 a.m., you'll have the choice to either (a) get into line to view about five minutes of the first case, or (b) get into line to possibly be seated for the full second hearing at 11 a.m. For casual observers, I strongly recommend the first option. Odds are slim that you'll get a seat to hear any full hearing — and leaving with a bite is better than leaving with an empty stomach.

6. Once it's your turn to enter the Supreme Court building, you'll go through a routine security screening, then get in line again for a brief speech about courtroom etiquette. You'll then have the opportunity to check your coat for free or pay to place banned items such as cell phones in lockers. Note these lockers are small and only accept quarters.

7. Next is another security screening and line outside the courtroom. Your wait here will be brief, though, and the next stop is your destination.

8. Once you've seen the show, you can collect any stowed items and then exit down the Supreme Court's front steps.

It's worth noting that you can walk through select parts of the building without a hearing ticket. You'll still have to pass through that first round of security, but doing so grants you access to some small exhibits, a gift shop, a cafeteria and bathrooms.

One last bit of advice: Hearing spectators should dress nicely. Even the crowd that amassed Nov. 2 to see the video game case had donned business casual clothing. Leave the t-shirts and jeans for another day.

Smithsonian Highlights Tour #6: Smithsonian Castle

Did you know there's no single Smithsonian museum? There are actually several. With so much to see, the options can be overwhelming for first time D.C. visitors. This guide offers a very brief highlights tour for the various museums to help your planning process. Also, feel free to ask any questions about the Smithsonian Castle in the comments and we'll do our best to get you an answer.

The impressive Smithsonian Castle, which was the institution's first building, now serves as an information center. It also harbors a café, gift shop and small theater that shows a brief introductory movie about the museums. Much of the castle has been converted to office space, though, so there's no public access to the upper floors.

Perhaps the best reason to visit the castle is to view its west wing, which offers a fine sampling of the institution's many treasures in one chamber. Drawing the most eyes during my visit were U.S. Olympic Hockey Team helmet and gloves from 1980, but a wide array of other pieces also were on display.

Finally, take note of the Smithsonian Crypt just inside the castle's National Mall entrance. Therein are the remains of James Smithson, the British scientist and investor who famously bequeathed his fortune "to the United States of America, to found at Washington, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men."

A rather generous decision for a man who never set foot in America, don't you think?

How to get there: Short walk from Smithsonian Metro.

Time to view: About 30 minutes.

When to go: After you see one of the nearby museums. The exterior is nice to photograph on your first trip, but the interior can wait for your return trip.

Best signs from the Rally to Restore Sanity

From here. Thanks to my many friends on Facebook who posted this. :-)