Where was your last overseas trip?
My last trip overseas was to Japan. I spent most of my time in Tokyo, as well as a few days in Kyoto and a few days in Hakone. My brother was living in Tokyo at the time and I have always been fascinated with Japan. The culture there is so different to ours.

Tell us a little about your itinerary?
I spent most of my time in Tokyo. I also went by bullet train to Kyoto, where I saw the famous 500 year old wooden houses. I did a trip to Hakone to do some sightseeing of Mount Fuji.

Any great culinary discoveries?
My favourite Japanese meal was one of deep fried prawns, rice and shredded cabbage ? a typical Japanese meal. They also serve deep fried pork with the same side dishes. This meal was also served with pickles which are a favourite in Japan. Every meal in Japan is served with green tea and whenever you sit down in a restuarant you are handed wet wipes for cleaning your hands. I loved this!

Did you find any 'hidden secrets' during your travels...?
Harajuku is a fascinating place to visit on Sundays. The teenagers come out in their dozens wearing the strangest fashions. Anything goes and this outing is an opportunity for them to show off their creativity and individuality.

Very close by is a shrine with the most beautiful gardens ? perfect to wander around for a few hours.

Something that really struck me about Japan was the neatness and cleanliness. You never see litter lying anywhere. Tokyo felt futuristic ... almost like I was on a different planet with its huge buildings, many people and cleanliness.

Your best travel tip for others planning a visit to Japan?
Buy a Japanese rail pass ? you will be able to use it for trips outside of Tokyo ? and take comfortable walking shoes as you will be doing plenty of walking! Also, remember that tipping isn't customary in Japan and in fact can be seen as an insult.

Meet any interesting locals?
The locals keep very much to themselves, but we did have a fantastic taxi driver who took us from the hotel to the train station in Hakone. All the taxis have lace antimacassars and the drivers wear white gloves. On the way, our driver stopped at a museum that we literally ran through due to our time constraints. He ensured that we were on time for our train and escorted us right into our compartment. Wonderful!

What's the best way to get around?
By bus and train.

Where's next on your travel 'to-do list'?
Zanzibar!