Kaoru was awake around 5.00 this morning with wedding things on her mind.  So we were up quite early.  Michael and Leila were doing a Mt Fuji / Hakone tour today so we weren’t seeing them until this evening.  We went for breakfast at a cafe across the road and started getting our bearings.  Then Kaoru went to see whether she could use the washing machine at a nearby hotel (as our one doesn’t have washing facilities), and I went back to the room to practice writing my name in Katakana, and organise some other things.

We went to the Luxe Lounge on the 34th level of the hotel – this is something that comes with the room we are staying in, and has snacks, tea, etc.  So it was just working from a different environment.  Then at 11.00 we left and started the days activities.  We walked around Shinjuku and found a wedding book (for people to write their names and messages in), and then caught a train to Harajuku.  We went to the Daiso and bought an umbrella (as it was raining today), a clothes hanger and pegs, a couple of bowls and spoons (so we could have breakfast in the room).  Then we went for lunch at a nearby restaurant.

After lunch, it was off to the wedding venue for a 1.00 meeting.  The afternoon was spent seeing a number of people – the co-ordinater, photographer, florist, reception planner, room planner, music….with 5 minutes or so between each person.  So it took until after 5.00.  Kaoru told me that this was the same process that has happened each time she has been there.  They obviously want to spend lots of your time so it makes the cost more justified!  I’d rather just pay somebody and let them do what they do best!  At least I managed to work on my speach and other things while we were there, and Kaoru just translated relevant parts to me.  We also had to sign our vows, which meant I had to write my name in Katakana.  I had been practicing this for a while – it even had to be done with a brush pen!  Hopefully it came out OK.

We finally got back to the hotel and went to the Luxe Lounge for a drink and some food.  Michael and Leila were on their way home from Hakone, and came to the hotel once they were ready.  They came up to our room where we had a beer and admired the view, and they told us about their day.  Then it was out to Korean BBQ for dinner – something I always enjoy, so we had to share it with them.

There was a 45 minute wait so we left our name and number at the door, and went to the “Kirin Club” (a bar chain) for a drink.  They called us about 20 minutes later, so we finished up and went back to the restaurant and enjoyed another fantastic meal.  After paying we walked around Shinjuku for a while and then to a convenience store for dessert, and said good night.