Evening views of Asakusa in Tokyo Japan

Moved over to the Hotel Sunroute Asakasua - considerable upgrade

 

Very nice property in a fantastic location. The APA hotels make great use of space and are very new properties (the few I have stayed in) but the Hotel Sunroute Asakusa is truly in a fantastic location and offers more room for the same price or less (depending on how you book). 

Play with the days of your stay and you will be shocked at how large the price differences can be, I most certainly was.

As I mentioned in the video these shirts are saving me in this Japanese heat. The body hugging design and the moisture holding material in these cool dry compression shirts is letting me be able to stay outside longer without soaking through my shirts in the 97 degree heat.  It is saving me a bundle in time and money in hotel laundry service too as I can simply wash the shirt in the bathroom sink and then let it dry in the bathroom. My outer shirts never suffer any of the wetness which is great. If you’re anything like me when it comes to sweet these shirts are a game changer. 

Back in Tokyo - APA Asakusa - Travel decisions and tips

 

This trip from Mongolia to Tokyo started at 2:00 am. I had alarms set for 3:am but inadvertent calls from the US changed that lol.  It’s an early start to trip and a flight that leaves at 7:00 am getting to Tokyo’s Narita airport at just before 1:00pm.  Thank goodness I had purchased the business class seat because I had a great and relaxing sleep on this flight. 

The carriers in Mongolia are very strict about carry on luggage. I found this out the hard way on my flight from Tokyo to Mongolia when my carryon was forced to be checked. My SwissGear bag meets all the international carryon size requirements but the weight was their issue   I had purchased locks for the bag (and I recommend you do too Incase you face something like this) but this had not been forced on the previous flights and the difference was cabin class.  In coach the weight limit is much less than first and the level of enforcement is much higher.  

This along with the lounge, the additional leg room and seat width and the abundance of service and food and ease of bathroom access has driven me to conclude that from now on if the price difference from economy to business is $500 or less I am upgrading.  

Next tip is for peace of mind.  That carry-on has all the clothes and shoes and other important items I don’t want to deal with trying to replace on this venture.  With that being the case I had purchased the locks mentioned above to deter any lazy thieves … hoping they might go for the unprotected bags first lol.  But the other safety measure I took was getting a tracking device for my bags and keys.  For this task I went with the Apple Air Tags and I’m very pleased with their performance.  They are useless (my experience) once the bag has been taken to be checked but when on the bus and when leaving them in the hotel rooms they worked fantastic and do provide added peace of mind. 

A great insider tip.  That bus in the video is the ticket for getting to Tokyo from Narita airport.  The bus runs every 10 minutes (check the schedule) and the price is amazing at 1,300 yen - under $9.00.   The ticket counter at Narita is fast and friendly and the kiosks in Tokyo station couldn’t easier and more convenient to use, if I can do it you can do it.   The ticket office in Tokyo station is outside the main station by the Shinkansen tickets area, close to where the buses pick you up.  The bus brings you right to Tokyo station next to Shinkansen ticket offices and also next to the taxi stops.  Very convenient and if your are a Go app user like me, just walk a few feet away from the main taxi area and you can use your app (credit card payment so you can keep your cash and the app shows the driver exactly where your going so no communication issues) or you can just grab the next cab and pay cash.  If you go the cash option show the driver where you want to go in Google maps if your japanese is as weak as mine (improving every day). 

Last looks from Ulaanbaatar Monolia

 

The condo has been a wonderful rest opportunity and, thanks to the high speed internet, has allowed me to find both properties and realtors to work with in Japan. That being said, it's time to get back to the main goal.  

As some of you may know, I’m doing this to move some capital out of US markets where corruption and uncertainty rule.  I also want to take advantage of the current Yen situation and property values in Japan but I also really want to get time to explore that culture (why I’m studying their language) and the amazing history and architecture of the nation and it’s wonderful people.

Mongolia has been amazing and it to has wonderful kind people.  I will be back.

Fantastic power supply for the traveler - INIU portable charger

This power station is the slim profile leader in its class which is something I really appreciate when packing for extended or really any travel. It slips into one of the handy pockets in the backpack and doesn’t ever get in the way.
I had left it in the backpack for days (maybe weeks at this point …) and when I took it out to add power to my iPad where I was downloading a movie it was still full. That’s another aspect of this little travel aid I really appreciate it. It got me through the download and only dropped about 25% of its capacity while adding another 10% to the iPad battery as it downloaded.
I’m very happy with this device and it really is a big plus when you need to keep your hotspot running a few more hours in unconnected locations. Two thumbs up from this traveler.