From my journal this morning: "It's been a trying couple days. First night I stayed in Ueno First City Hotel. Somehow, it was both nicer and shadier than I expected. The logic of the $90 night price tag was that I'd be so jetlagged and tired after the long trip, I'd appreciate the comforts of a real hotel for one night, before downgrading to the dirtier hostels. The place was easy enough to find, the hotel staff, friendly and helpful. While it was nice to have my own shower, my own room, the abundance of serious looking low to mid-level Japanese businessmen and the complete lack of English-speaking tourists made me feel alone. The room was (perhaps typically) small with an efficient use of space. The TV had ten Japanese channels, plus 3 or 4 "pay-tv" ... read more