Day 1 - arrival in Tokyo, walk in the Imperial Palace East Gardens, short nap, manga and video games in Akihabara, and finally a sushi dinner in an ordinary sishi-go-round place.

Day 2 - an early morning attempt to see sumo warriors training, Sensoji temple, 40° water in a local onsen, stroll along the Ebisu channel (no sakura yet), ramen for lunch, Shibuya crossing, Harajuku freak show,

Day 3 - Tsukiji Market, single act performance at Kabuki-za, Rappongi hills, lunch at Gonpachi (Kill Bill restaurant scene), Cat house in Ikebukuro, Ueno park and Yanaka Cemetery

Day 4 - shinkansen to Nagoya and local train to Takayama, walk along the old-fashioned two story houses in Takayama

Day 5 - morning walk to see the local temples, trains to rainy Kyoto, Mayko dance and tea ceremony at Gyon corner, dinner at ... a pizza place :)

Day 6 - morning walk to Arashiama bamboo forest, train to Nara, traverse far and wide the Nara park, first sakura :), train to Fushimi-ku temple, sushi dinner!

Day 7 - the sun is back! morning visit to Kinkaku-ji and Ryōan-ji, ...-ji, Omen for lunch, the path of philosophy, early dinner

Day 8 - let's go biking! Nishiki market, biking along the Kamo river, Kyoto Imperial palace gardens, and SAKURA - yes!, south Higashiyama, packing the luggage :(