Mark Parton

A first trip to the Land of the Rising Sun is an eye-opening experience for millions every year.

Mark Parton is no exception. When we last met my old high school buddy on Travel Tales, he was in the wine business and living in the hills outside San Francisco. Not surprisingly, much of his international travel was to wine-producing regions.

Now living in Scottsdale, AZ and recent empty nesters, Mark and his wife Nancy have the opportunity to stretch their wings even more.

The couple recently returned from two weeks in Japan, visiting Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, and more. Like many, they returned with a profound appreciation of Japanese people, culture, cuisine, technology, and infrastructure.

And while was there wasn’t as much wine being tasted on this trip as his previous travels, there was plenty of sushi and sake!

And the toilets- can’t forget a shout out to the high-tech toilets!

Let’s head back to the Far East for a reunion!