KYODO NEWS - Nov 7, 2017 - 11:47 | All

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Japan on Nov. 5 for his first visit since taking office in January, beginning the first leg of his Asian tour that would also take him to South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Here are some highlights of his stay in Japan:

Day 1 -- Nov. 5

President Trump and first lady Melania arrived at U.S. Yokota Air Base in the suburbs of Tokyo for the three-day visit.

After disembarking from Air Force One, the president and his wife appeared before a crowd of U.S. and Japanese troops at the air base. Trump gave a speech hailing the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance and refrained from mentioning North Korea by name.

Soon afterwards, Trump headed off by helicopter for a round of golf with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, in the afternoon.

The two leaders posed for photos with signed hats that read "Donald & Shinzo/Make Alliance Even Greater." The round of golf came as a prelude to their formal talks in Tokyo the following day.

After the game, Abe said he and the president "had the kind of great conversations one can only have during golf." Trump tweeted a short video from the golf club, calling Abe and Matsuyama "two wonderful people."

(Cabinet Public Relations Office)

(Cabinet Public Relations Office)

While their husbands went about their golf diplomacy, Akie Abe and Melania Trump spent time learning about Japanese pearl cultivation at the flagship store of accessories firm Mikimoto in Tokyo's posh Ginza shopping district.

Elsewhere in Tokyo, however, people critical of Trump staged a protest rally in Shibuya district.

Day 2 -- Nov. 6

As Trump began his second day in Japan, the president's motorcade was met with crowds along the way.

In the morning, Trump and Melania met Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace.

Later in the day, Abe and Trump arrived at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo for a working lunch and formal summit.

Ahead of the talks, Trump joined Abe in feeding the koi carp at the palace.

(Pool photo)

On bilateral trade, a sticking point in relations between the allies, Trump said he is committed to achieving a "fair, free and reciprocal trading relationship" with Japan.

(Pool photo)

Trump also met relatives of some of the Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s and vowed to work with Abe to try to bring the abductees back to Japan.

(Pool photo)

Meanwhile, Akie and Melania visited an elementary school in Tokyo and tried calligraphy with the pupils.

(Pool photo)

(Pool photo)

The day concluded with a dinner party hosted by Abe for the president.

"PPAP" sensation Piko Taro, who was invited to perform at the dinner, tweeted photos with the two leaders, saying, "It is an honor!"

(@pikotaro_ppap)

Day 3 -- Nov. 7

Wrapping up their visit, the president and first lady boarded Air Force One and took off from the U.S. Yokota Air Base to continue onto the second leg of the trip -- South Korea.

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