Almost Day 1

WOW!

Only 19 hours until we leave, the excitement is really starting to kick in. We have a furious day of errands including dumping our animals on other people's doorsteps. We managed to cajole Devon into picking us up at an ungodly hour to take us to the airport, so I thought I'd say thanks here before hand. I also thought I would update our Itinerary with the name of our Osaka Hotel.

Talk to you soon... from Japan!

Updated Itinerary

• July 4 - Arrive in Tokyo at 2.10PM Check into the Hotel Sunroute Asakusa


• July 5 - Tour Starts "Arrival Day" meet the tour leader and other tour group members


• July 6 - Morning Orientation tour of Tokyo and rail pass validation with a free afternoon


• July 7 - Tokyo - Takayama first Bullet train ride.


• July 8 - Full day in Takayama to explore with optional bike ride!


• July 9 - Early travel to Kyoto (2 hours or so) and a tour of the city


• July 10 - A full free day in Kyoto


• July 11 - Travel to Castle Himeji and then onto Nagasaki


• July 12 - A full free day in Nagasaki


• July 13 - Travel to the Kyushu hot springs with available Japanese mountain climbing!


• JUly 14 - Still in Kyushu


• July 15 - Travel to Hiroshima and then on to a beautiful Japanese island Miyajima


• July 16 - Travel from Miyajima to Fuji city at the base of Mt. Fuji! Ready for an ascent


• July 17 - Start the climb of Mt. Fuji, we spend the night on the mountain


• July 18 - SUNRISE ON THE TOP OF MT. FUJI! Then back to the Tokyo


• July 19 - Tour ends


• July 20 - Our first free day! TO THE ZOO!


• July 21 - The zoo is closed so if we need a second day it will have to be later - Travel to Osaka (3 hours) stay in Chisun Shinosaka Hotel (Only website I could find)


• July 22 - Free Day involving a trip to Kobe and sights in and around Osaka


• July 23- Another Free Day - Goto Nara (1 hour) see Todaiji Temple walk through Nara Park, go see Horyuji Temple oldest wooden building in the world


• July 24 - A 4th free day! - Travel to Tokyo (3 hours) finish up zoo if need be, check in to The Park Hotel in Tokyo for one night of Luxury.


• July 25 - Leave for Home :(

The one and only "honeymoon" hotel

It's not called that

Unfortunately. I booked the final night in Japan and decided to stay in a nicer hotel.

If what I'm told is correct this is the same hotel that is in "Lost in Translation" which I guess is cool, I will have to see that movie now however...

Updated Itinerary

• July 4 - Arrive in Tokyo at 2.10PM Check into the Hotel Sunroute Asakusa


• July 5 - Tour Starts "Arrival Day" meet the tour leader and other tour group members


• July 6 - Morning Orientation tour of Tokyo and rail pass validation with a free afternoon


• July 7 - Tokyo - Takayama first Bullet train ride.


• July 8 - Full day in Takayama to explore with optional bike ride!


• July 9 - Early travel to Kyoto (2 hours or so) and a tour of the city


• July 10 - A full free day in Kyoto


• July 11 - Travel to Castle Himeji and then onto Nagasaki


• July 12 - A full free day in Nagasaki


• July 13 - Travel to the Kyushu hot springs with available Japanese mountain climbing!


• JUly 14 - Still in Kyushu


• July 15 - Travel to Hiroshima and then on to a beautiful Japanese island Miyajima


• July 16 - Travel from Miyajima to Fuji city at the base of Mt. Fuji! Ready for an ascent


• July 17 - Start the climb of Mt. Fuji, we spend the night on the mountain


• July 18 - SUNRISE ON MT. FUJI! Then back to the Tokyo


• July 19 - Tour ends
• 
  
• July 20 - Our first free day! TO THE ZOO!


• July 21 - The zoo is closed so if we need a second day it will have to be later - Travel to Osaka (3 hours) - Universal Studios


• July 22 - Free Day -


• July 23- Another Free Day - Goto Nara (1 hour) see Todaiji Temple walk through Nara Park, go see Horyuji Temple oldest wooden building in the world


• July 24 - A 4th free day! - Travel to Tokyo (3 hours) finish up zoo if need be, check in to The Park Hotel in Tokyo for one night of Luxury.


• July 25 - Leave for Home :(

24 Days to go

Yikes!

24 days to go, in that time we will: get married, hold several parties, plan and organize the details of a wedding and get ready for our trip!

This is the first post, where I will divulge our itinerary.

Itinerary!

For Sirina's wedding gift ( we are horrible at keeping secrets) I bought her 3 more days in Japan! So this is the break down so far!

• July 4 - Arrive in Tokyo at 2.10PM Check into the Hotel Sunroute Asakusa


• July 5 - Tour Starts "Arrival Day" meet the tour leader and other tour group members


• July 6 - Morning Orientation tour of Tokyo and rail pass validation with a free afternoon


• July 7 - Tokyo - Takayama first Bullet train ride.


• July 8 - Full day in Takayama to explore with optional bike ride!


• July 9 - Early travel to Kyoto (2 hours or so) and a tour of the city


• July 10 - A full free day in Kyoto


• July 11 - Travel to Castle Himeji and then onto Nagasaki


• July 12 - A full free day in Nagasaki


• July 13 - Travel to the Kyushu hot springs with available Japanese mountain climbing!


• JUly 14 - Still in Kyushu


• July 15 - Travel to Hiroshima and then on to a beautiful Japanese island Miyajima


• July 16 - Travel from Miyajima to Fuji city at the base of Mt. Fuji! Ready for an ascent


• July 17 - Start the climb of Mt. Fuji, we spend the night on the mountain


• July 18 - SUNRISE ON MT. FUJI! Then back to the Tokyo


• July 19 - Tour ends
• 
  
• July 20 - Our first free day! TO THE ZOO!


• July 21 - The zoo is closed so if we need a second day it will have to be later - Travel to Osaka (3 hours) - Universal Studios


• July 22 - Free Day -


• July 23- Another Free Day - Goto Nara (1 hour) see Todaiji Temple walk through Nara Park, go see Horyuji Temple oldest wooden building


• July 24 - A 4th free day! - Travel to Tokyo (3 hours) finish up zoo if need be get awesome hotel and relax


• July 25 - Leave for Home :(

What we Have

Right now we have Plane tickets, a tour booked through Imaginative Traveler, travel insurance and reservations for hotels after the tour is over.





We also have 2 large backpacks which may very well be a pain, but will certainly be better than suitcases of the same size.

I think that will be all for now. Check out my flickr page for more photos of our preparations and for photos when we are in Japan!

-Shaun