Our Japan Itinerary, and a guide to the Pictures
In the interests of getting these photos out quickly, I've
done minimal editing. I've separated them out by days, and
rotated them so they're all right side up, but I've done
hardly anything else. I hope you enjoy them.
The links all go to thumbnail views. If you look at the images one
at a time, I've put in a little more commentary (very little). Each
link will open in a new window. Let me know if you find this annoying.
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Day 1 Sun 6 08: Osaka.
The Aquarium;
Lunch: Okonomiyaki (Cabbage latke w/ mix-ins). Karaoke!
- Day 2 Mon 6 09: Kyoto.
Chion-In (Big temple w/ chanting monks);
Maruyama Park;
Nearby shrine;
Ryozen Kannon Temple (big buddha);
Pontocho (famous Restaurant street);
Parfaits.
- Day 3 Tue 6 10: Kyoto.
Kiyomizu Temple;
Gardens;
Subway Entrance (I loved the ticket machines; they seemed like
slot machines to me).
More Gardens;
Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion, #1147).
- Day 4 Wed 6 11: Kobe.
Harborside Mall;
Himeji Castle;
Dinner at Sushi joint.
- Day 5 Thu 6 12: Nara.
Kasuga Taisha: many stone lanterns;
Todaiji Temple: largest indoor Buddha in Japan ;
Shinkansen to Tokyo.
- Day 6 Fri 6 13: Tokyo.
Dango: rice balls on a stick;
Asakusa: temple where Jen called us on New
Year's Eve;
Lunch: Okonomiyaki;
Kappabshidori: Street full of restaurant supply stores;
Tokyo office of Bingham McCutchen.
- Day 7: Sat 6 14: Tokyo.
Akihabara: Electronics District;
Ginza, Department Store;
Harajuko: twentysomethings hanging out;
Shinjuko: Neon! Karaoke!
- Day 8: Sun 6 15: Nikko.
Toshogu Shrine;
Fish-on-a-stick: Ayu (small river trout, grilled on a stick
with salt).
Local festival w/ men carrying portable shrine;
Back to Tokyo: Shibuya: neon, pachinko, games.
- Day 9 Monday 6 16: Kaga-Onsen and Komatsu.
Shinkansen (bullet train) across Japan to Kaga;
Lunch: Bento boxes on the train;
Rice Fields, Mountains;
Met by Limousine at Station;
Greeted at Ryukan (Traditional Japanese Inn)
by Fukuko-san and Geshi-san (Jen's student
who arranged our visit);
Our Fabulous Room: Tatami mats and rock garden;
Visited Jen's school;
Traditional Kaiseki Dinner (by prearrangement, all
stuff we could eat!).
- Day 10 Tue 6 17: Kanazawa.
Breakfast in Ryukan;
Kenrokuen Garden (one of the finest in Japan);
Kanazawa Castle;
Karaoke with Mai, Jen's friend from her school;
Kaiseki dinner (again!)
- Day 11 Wed 6 18: Matto/Nagoya.
Breakfast in Ryukan;
The staff waves good-bye;
Jen's apartment and roommates;
Traditional Crafts Museum:
more gardens,
traditional crafts,
hydrangeas.
Shinkansen to Nagoya.
Supper: Kaiten-zushi: sushi on a conveyor belt!
Jen interprets for some Indian tourists,
earning us free dessert.
- Day 12 Thu 6 19: Nagoya.
Our hotel room, overlooking Nagoya castle;
Nagoya castle and its moat;
Museum Meiji Mura: a park filled with buildings and
exhibits from the Meiji era (1869-1912), most moved from
their original sites and reassembled here. Great artifacts
of Japan's first assimilation of Western culture.
Period furniture, great tile roofs!
Afternoon tea at Frank Lloyd Wright's Imperial
Hotel, w/ fantastic detail inside and out.
Back to Nagoya for more Neon.
- Day 13 Fri 6 20: Nagoya/Tokyo.
View from the bathroom (!) in our hotel room.
When the Shinkansen arrives at the end of the line,
it is cleaned by a squadron of pink-uniformed ladies.
Last visit to Kappabashidori: a shrine store, a
china shop, and cases of fish and sushi.
- Day 14 Sat 6 21: Tokyo/Home.
2-hr bus ride to the Tokyo airport. Yet another
Ferris wheel.