March 15, 2025. Jim, Mary and I are at LAX waiting for our JL flight to Tokyo. Jim and I drove to Tampa yesterday and flew to LA. Mary met us here last night after a flight from Phoenix. Francie took the train to Washington DC from Richmond and is already in the air to Tokyo. She will meet us at the Hotel Bellastar!

Off to a good start except for an extra 2 hours on the Delta flight from TPA last night when the “tow” broke down and could not move the departing plane from our gate. Not good overall, but it proves I can still stay up til 3 AM if necessary!! And we have no idea what time it is or what meal to eat… already! So dazed and confused described us even in advance of our arrival in Japan tomorrow (Sunday 3.16) at around 530 local time.

Update. It’s 6 AM here in Tokyo; we have been up for a while drinking tea and coffee in our room since breakfast opens at 7 . There is Starbucks adjacent to our hotel, but while it stays open until 10 pm, it does not reopen until 7AM. Hmmm…

Flight was fine. Customs and immigration could have been smoother. Both require you to scan a QR code to attest you are not bringing any contraband into the country. This is problematic if you can’t maintain a connection to the airport wifi and when you resort to roaming, that doesn’t work either. But an old fashioned paper form was found, filled in and entry allowed.

We wandered out in the rain to a noodle shop for dinner. It looks like a nicer day weather wise. Off for a day of sight-seeing.