Monday, January 18th. The first full day in Tokyo.

Breakfast at the Okura Hotel in Tokyo, with bassoonist Dennis Michel and his wife Peggy; contrabassoonist Miles Maner and his fiancée Caroline Slack; guest Principal Oboe Nathan Hughes; and English Hornist Scott Hostetler. Photo by David Taylor.

After the tropical weather in Taipei, the snow that greeted us Monday morning in Tokyo was a bit of a shock. Photo by David Sanders.

Great! Just great.

Before the first concert in Tokyo, trumpet player John Hagstrom shows physical therapist Stephanie Davies the proper way to hold the trumpet.

Associate Concertmaster Stephanie Jeong and cellist Katinka Kleijn warms up before the concert. Photo by Sando Shia.

After the setup is complete, stage technicians Joe Tucker and Dave Hartge relax before having to go back to work Photo by Sando Shia.

A crowded rush-hour train in Tokyo at about 6:30 p.m. Photo by David Sanders.

A dog posing in a shop in the Ueno district, adjacent to the Bunka Kaikan. concert hall. Photo by Stephanie Davies.

A little comfort food, in the Shibuya District. Photo by David Sanders.

Decisions, decisions. Photo by Stephanie Davies.