One of the special attractions about Japan is their animal restaurants.  For example, we never saw a capybara when we visited the San Diego Zoo last month, but heard about the   Yokohama Capabara Cafe and Petting Zoo .  Has an admission fee of 4800 Yen.  The exchange rate today is 157Y to the $, so the actual cost is $21 just to enter.  Checked and learned that this attraction is has permanently closed.  Owner Shiramizu passed away and the capybaras were re-homed. Here is a  video featuring all kinds of animal cafes in Tokyo .  Some of them reported by Google AI: Hedgehog cafes :   Cafes like the   Chiku Chiku Cafe   allow visitors to hold and feed hedgehogs. Other locations, like the   HARRY cafes , have expanded to include hedgehogs and other small animals. Owl cafes:   In some Tokyo cafes, visitors can interact with and pet owls, including large and small varieties. The experience often involves gentle touching and hold...

  Well, the day for our next adventure has arrived.  We leave on ANA for Tokyo, spend a few days in Yokohama, then board the Diamond Princess. From  Conde Nast : Once again, Japan tops the list of the   world's best countries , according to our   Readers' Choice Awards , which means our readers believe that the best time to visit Japan is simply “always.” It makes sense: With an abundance of trailblazing restaurants, mouthwatering street food spots, unique shopping experiences, rich craft and heritage histories, hikes out in nature, and   hotels   that represent the pinnacle of hospitality, there's a curated escape to Japan for every type of traveler. After all, there are   over 14,000 islands   in this archipelagic country, so you're bound to find one strip of land that will fulfill your travel needs. We do return for our final three days in January to stay at the Tokyo Westin Hotel, which keeps  my bottle of Nikka Yoichi 20 year old ....

The population of Japan was 60 million in 1925, 73 million in 1940, 72 million after the war in 1945, 128 million in 2010, then dropped to 126 million in 2020, and further declined to 123 million in 2025. The falling birth rate has been the primary reason for the decline, but the economy, earthquake / tsunami / Fukushima nuclear disaster and COVID Pandemic also contributed.   In 2024, 60 countries/sites, yes, 60, had a drop in population.   Spain  -0.02% Thailand  -.06% South Korea  -0.08% Greenland -0.16% China  -0.22% Italy  -0.31% Germany  -.0.34% Cuba  -0.38% Taiwan  -0.43% Japan  -0.51% Russia  -.053% Greece  -1.77% Saint Martin -4.92% The U.S. population is projected to increase from 342 million in 2024 to a peak of 370 million in 2080, then drop to 366 million in 2100. The two main population centers in Japan are Kanto (Tokyo, Yokohama, etc.) Province with 43.7 million and Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, etc.) Provi...

Before mostly basketball and some baseball, a couple of news items of the day: Donald Trump will talk on the phone to Vladimir Putin tomorrow, and probably announce some sort of  cease fire regarding the Ukraine-Russia War .  Whatever eventually occurs, it will not be particularly favorable for Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine. Donald Trump's popularity is below 50% , but  only 27% of voters have a positive view of the Democratic Part y. I unabashedly brag about how great Hawaii is.  Well, from station KHON,  Hawaii is the #10 least desirable state in the USA . Skyrocketing cost of living. Poor employment prospects. People here don't like outsiders.  Not only newcomers, but  visitors, too .  Those who work in the tourist industry appear to be nice, but are told to do so. West Virginia was the most undesirable, Mississippi second worst, then Louisiana and Alaska. NCAA basketball March Madness begins tomorrow, March 18, for men and 19 for women....