Introduction To Japan - 2022
Classic Sites and Unusual Experiences
Related links
Taking off
Itinerary: our travel plans
Below is a table with the broad picture of our itinerary. Below that is a more detailed day-by-day description of the plan as of the date at the bottom of the page. At this point, the details are not filled in; this is because we will fill in the details based on our recommendations and your requests / interests.
An itinerary is a plan as of a particular point in time of where to go, when, and how. But plans change, sometimes even from moment to moment. So our plans may change based on weather, surprise opportunities, changing interests, and factors beyond our control.
Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto, Hiroshima
| Day | Date | Itinerary |
| Tue | 11 October | Leave Denver in A.M. to your gateway city then to Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) |
| Wed | 12 October | Arrive in Tokyo, Narita Express to hotel Shinagawa Prince Hotel |
| Thu | 13 October | Tokyo, Shinagawa Prince Hotel |
| Fri | 14 October | Tokyo, Shinagawa Prince Hotel |
| Sat | 15 October | To Takayama, check in to Wat Hotel |
| Sun | 16 October | Takayama, Wat Hotel |
| Mon | 17 October | Takayama, Wat Hotel |
| Tue | 18 October | Takayama, check in to Ryokan Asunaro |
| Wed | 19 October | To Kyoto, check in to Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo |
| Thu | 20 October | Kyoto, Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo |
| Fri | 21 October | Kyoto, Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo |
| Sat | 22 October | To Hiroshima, staying at Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima |
| Sun | 23 October | Hiroshima, Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima |
| Mon | 24 October | Hiroshima, Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima |
| Tue | 25 October |
Homeward bound departing from NRT Depart for Denver, arrive evening of same day(!) |
We're taking off
* To Tokyo
Official trip flights:
UA 1077, leave Denver 8:12 a.m., arrive Seattle 10:13 a.m.
UA 8001, leave Seattle 1:05 p.m., arrive Tokyo Narita 3:25 p.m. Oct. 12
Arrival in Japan at Tokyo Narita airport (NRT)
* Quarantine, Immigration (passport)
* Pick up bags, Customs
* Exchange currency
* Activate JR (Japan Rail) Pass
* Narita Express to Shinagawa Prince Hotel, tel: 3-3440-1111
* Check in, explore hotel
* Dinner on your own, in hotel or wherever you wish to explore (or just crash!)
Tokyo
* Breakfast at hotel
* Harajuku (youth culture, fashion)
* Meiji Jingu shrine
* Shibuya - famous intersection
* Shinjuku explore, perhaps visit the Metropolitan Building observatories
* Included dinner along omoide-yokocho
Tokyo
* Breakfast at hotel
* Half day trip to Kamakura an anciet samurai capital
* Free time or expedition to the Ginza shopping district
* Included dinner TBA
To Takayama
* Breakfast at hotel
* Trains to Takayma:
+ Shinkansen Hakari 505 to Nagoya,
depart at 9:10, arrive Nagoya at 11:01
+ Hida Express 9 to Takayama,
depart at 11:43, arrive Takayama 14:12
* Walk to Wat Hotel, tel: 57-757-5570
* Free time
* Included dinner TBA
Takayama:
* Breakfast in hotel
* The kimono experience
* Sight seeing arranged by TDFA (Takayama Denver Friendship Association)
* Welcome dinner hosted by TDFA
Takayama:
* Breakfast in hotel
* Check out of hotel and transfer to Ryokan Asunaro, tel: 577 33 5551
* Meeting with Mayor Tanaka at 5:30
* Sight seeing arranged by TDFA
* Dinner TBA
To Kyoto:
* Breakfast in ryokan; check out; taxi to train station
* Trains to Kyoto:
+ Hida Limited Express #6 to Nagoya, depart 09:38;
arrive Nagoya 12:04
+ Shinkansen Hikari 639 to shin-Osaka, depart 12:19 from
track 11; arrive Kyoto 13:12
* Walk to Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo, tel: 75-661-7111
* Sight seeing
* Dinner on own
Kyoto:
* Breakfast in hotel
* Morning trip to Nara an ancient capital
* Sight seeing using the Kyoto hop-on-hop-off bus
* Dinner TBA
Kyoto:
* Breakfast in hotel
* Morning trip to Arishiyama and Sagano to see the bamboo groves
* Sight seeing using the Kyoto hop-on-hop-off bus
* Dinner TBA
To Hiroshima:
* Breakfast in hotel
* Trains to Hiroshima
+ Shinkansen Hikari 505 depart 11:43 a.m., arrive shin-Kobe 12:11
+ Shinkansen Sakura 555 to Hiroshima, depart 12:19
arrive Hiroshima 13:32
* Check in to the Rihga Royal Hotel
Hiroshima, tel: 82-502-1121
* Maybe a Hiroshima Carp playoff game
* Dinner TBA
Hiroshima:
* Breakfast in hotel
* Visit A-bomb related sights
* Visit Hiroshima Castle
* Maybe a Hiroshima Carp playoff game
* Dinner TBA
Last night in Japan:
* Breakfast in hotel
* Morning trip to Miyajima
* Free time
* Included dinner TBA
Homeward bound:
* Breakfast in hotel
* Return home:
* Trains to Narita:
+ Shinkansen Sakura 540 to Shin-Kobe depart 8:11 a.m., arrive shi-Kobe 9:24 a.m.
+ Shinkansen Hikari 502 to Shinagawa, depart 9:34 a.m., arrive Shinagawa 12:35 p.m.
+ Narita Express 27 to Narita airport terminal 1, depart Shinagawa 12:49 p.m.,
arrive terminal 1 at 1:57 p.m.
Official trip flights:
UA 8000, leave Narita 6:00 p.m., arrive Seattle 11:10 a.m.
UA 2240, leave Seattle 12:48 p.m., arrive Denver 4:30 p.m.
Note: arrive on same day we depart due to crossing the International Date Line.