SNOWBIRDS TAKE ON THE BIG THREE: CHINA, KOREA & JAPAN!

We woke up to Mt. Fuji smack dab, front and center, right outside our window!  What a breathtaking sight to behold! While our Captain oh Captain docked the ship at the Tokyo port, we finalized our packing and left our room for the very LAST time.  Soooo sad, as it had been such a comfortable room!  Our first views of Tokyo were beautiful!  (The blue skies and bright sunshine added to the beauty!) We had our LAST breakfast and enjoyed coffee and lots of sunshine while we waited for Dave and Michelle’s number to be called, signaling that it was time to pick up their luggage.  The entire process was easy peasy.  We bid farewell to The Explorer, grabbed an Uber to the Inter Continental, home for the next three nights. While John and Dave checked in, Michelle and I checked out the bathrooms!  They were over-the-top unbelievable!  After automatically flushing (yes, the seats were heated), a light came on for a final cleansing spray. Will you just look a...

 UH OH!  Brisk temps and NO SUNSHINE was the forecast this morning, so I guess the Sports Deck will have to wait until next time!  John enjoyed his last room service breakfast and guess what?  The “Morning Mystery” did not happen!  He got everything he ordered and the coffee was nice and hot!  (Good job, boys!) We boarded a bus for our very last tour with Regent Seven Seas Explorer.  (This time!)  And, we couldn’t believe it, but the sun had come out and was shining brightly!  (We have been soooo lucky!)  Our first stop was to the ATSUTA JINGU SHRINE Branches with white paper streams were everywhere on the grounds.  Our tour guide, Kay, told us they were used to ward off evil spirits.  (If true, we were in a very safe space!) Upon entering the grounds, there was a place where you could get a scoop of water to pour over rocks.  It signified a deep, personal act of prayer, purification and respect.  (Notice who did it. ...