The food on the flight was extra special this year as we had the option of not just any old bento Box, but a SHOKA-DO Style Box.

I mean who could turn down a starter of Fried fish, Teriyaki flavoured squid, fishcake with grilled egg, pink lotus root and fried shumai dumpling? The braised dish was harusame salad with sweet vinegar gyoza dumpling and the noodle dish was Asahi soba noodles?

I’ll tell you who could turn it down. Me, that's who! Yep, I went for Roast Chicken with sage and onion stuffing and roast potatoes.

I was up bright and early (5:15am local time) for my first trip to the city of Hamamatsu. I had a bit of trouble finding the right platform at Tokyo Station but managed to work things out.

I was quite excited as I would be taking the bullet train for the first time. Unfortunately, as the train was quite full, I didn’t have a window seat as the train, and didn't get to see much of the countryside. I had been warned this when I bought the tickets yesterday and the reason seemed to be that someone was shipping all women over 60 out of Tokyo as my carriage was full of them. It could have been worse as the next carriage along was full of school children.

Let me tell you... you do not want to be standing on a platform when a non-stopping bullet train goes though. It scared the life out of me. Hamamatsu station is very civilised however...they have a McDonalds so I could get an evening meal

On the train back we passed some fields which made me think there would be a bad rice crop this year...they were all flooded!