Denver to Japan - Itinerary

Our travel plan

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. This is our 'official' itinerary, but we may change things based on weather, surprise opportunities, changing interests, and so on.

Tokyo, Takayama, Hiroshima, and Kyoto

 

Days, Dates, Cities and Notes
  Day       Date     Itinerary
Wed 12 Oct Leave Denver in A.M. to LAX then to NRT
Thu 13 Oct Arrive Tokyo Narita (NRT); limousine bus to hotel
Fri 14 Oct Tokyo
Sat 15 Oct Tokyo
Sun 16 Oct Tokyo to Takayama by bus
Mon 17 Oct Takayama
Tue 18 Oct Takayama
Wed 19 Oct Takayama to Hiroshima: to Nagoya by regular train (JR pass)
visit Nagoya castle, then shinkansen to Hiroshima
Thu 20 Oct Hiroshima
Fri 21 Oct Hiroshima to Kyoto, by shinkansen (JR pass)
Sat 22 Oct Kyoto
Sun 23 Oct Kyoto
Mon 24 Oct Kyoto to Tokyo (Shinkansen); transfer to Narita Express
Depart for Denver; arrive evening of same day(!)

Flying Singapore Airlines (SQ)! Here is a promotional video

 


 Wed., Oct. 12

We're taking off
* Depart DIA on flight UA 227 at 11:54 a.m.
* Arrive Los Angeles at 1:16 p.m., terminal 7
* Transfer to international terminal (Terminal B)
* Depart Los Angeles on flight SQ 11 at 3:45 p.m.


 Thurs., Oct. 13

We arrive in Japan
* Arrive Narita International Airport, Terminal 1, at 7:15 p.m.
* Quarantine, Immigration (passport)
* Pick up bags, Customs
* Exchange currency
* Recieve PASMO cards
* Set JR passes to activate on Wednesday, October 19
* Limousine bus to Shinagawa Prince Hotel
* Check in, explore neighborhood
* Dinner in local restaurant (or just crash!)


Fri., Oct. 14

Up and at 'em for our first full day in Japan.
* Train / subway to Tsukiji market (PASMO card)
* Hour at Tsukiji, walk to Hama Rikyu Garden (money pool)
* Hour or two at Hama Rikyu Garden, board boat for trip up Sumida river (money pool)
* Get off boat at Asakusa (an old town area)
* Hour or two at Asakusa, to the Ginza (PASMO card)
* Hour or two at Ginza, train / subway back to hotel (PASMO card)
* Rest of day is free time
* Dinner un-planned
* More detail


Sat., Oct. 15

Busy day in Tokyo
* 7:30 gather in hotel lobby
* Train to Rissho Koseikai (PASMO card)
* Attend Buddhist service
* Train to Kamakura (PASMO card)
* Return to hotel
* Evening: birthday dinner for Kitty at Vagabonds (money pool)


Sun., Oct. 16

Transition to Takayama:
* Bus arrives at hotel to take us to Takayama 9:00 a.m.
* Stop for lunch enroute
* Stop to visit Matsumoto castle
* Arrive Takayama around 5:00 p.m.
* Begin ryokan stay
* Dinner in ryokan (included in package)


Mon., Oct. 17

At home in Takayama:
* 8:50 Morning laundry pickup
* 9:00~9:45 Visit Miyagawa morning market
* 9:50~10:20 Visit Kusakabe heritage house
* 10:30~11:30 Visit Yatai Kaikan (float exhibition hall)
* 12:00~13:30 Lunch
* 13:30~14:00 Return to ryokan, laundry deliver, pack in bags
* 14:00 Ship bags to Hiroshima for second day delivery at our hotel (money pool)
* 14:15~14:45 Trying Sake at Niki Sake brewery
* 14:45~15:30 Visit the old town area (free time)
* 15:30~16:30 Visit Takayama Jinya
* 16:45~18:15 Back to ryokan, free time
* 18:15~20:30 - welcome dinner / reception hosted by Takayama Denver Friendship Association
* Back at ryokan by 9:00 (-ish)


Tue., Oct. 18

Takayama touring:
* 8:30 Chartered bus leaves ryokan for Shirakawa-go
* 9:45 Arrive at Shirakawa-go; visit and lunch
* ~13:00 Depart Shirakawa-go
* 14:15 Arrive Takayama city hall
* 14:30~16:30 home visit with local people
* Return to ryokan
* Dinner on own


Wed., Oct. 19

On to Hiroshima:
* 7:20 Depart ryokan for train station
* 8:00 Regular train Hida 4 from Takayama to Nagoya (JR Pass)
* Arrive Nagoya 10:34, track 4; visit Nagoya castle (money pool)
* 13:47 Shinkansen Kodama 649 (track 16) to Shin-Osaka (14:53 at track 22) (JR Pass)
* 14:59 Shinkansen Sakura 565 (track 20) to Hiroshima (16:28 at track 12) (JR Pass)
* Dinner un-planned


Thu., Oct. 20

Hiroshima:
* Morning visit to A-bomb dome and Peace Museum (admission from money pool)
* Afternoon to Miyajima (JR Pass)
* Optional: Hiroshima Carp baseball game


Fri., Oct. 21

To Kyoto:
* Shinkansen to Kyoto (JR Pass)
* + Hikari Sakura 544 departing at 8:15 from track 14
* + Arrive Shin-Osaka at 9:44 on track 20
* + JR Special Rapid Service departing at 10:04 from track 13
* + Arrive Kyoto at 10:28 on track 2; get van to hotel
* Check in to hotel
* Afternoon / evening touring:
* + City bus to Kinkakuji (Golden Pavillion) (admission from money pool)
* + City bus or walk to Ryoanji (Stone garden) (admission from money pool)
* Group dinner, TBA (money pool)


Sat., Oct. 22

Kyoto - mid-morning to mid-afternoon:
* Bus to vicinity of Kiyomizudera - temple on the hillside (admission from money pool)
* Heian Jingu Shrine to see end of Jidai Matsuri (festival of ages)
* Walk or bus to Pontocho area to see Geisha and Meiko preparing for Suimeikai
* Gion corner
* Dinner un-planned


Sun., Oct. 23

Kyoto:
* Morning trip to Nara (JR Pass)
* Afternoon train to Sagano to visit the bamboo forest (JR Pass)
* Last night in Japan, celebrate Mary D's birthday (money pool)


Mon., Oct. 24

Homeward bound (JR Pass and airline ticket):
* Shinkansen Hikari 466 departing at 9:56 from track 12 to Tokyo / Shinagawa, arrive 12:33
* Narita express 29 departing 13:20, arrive Narita Terminal 1 at 14:27
* Depart at 19:15 (7:15 p.m.) on flight SQ 12 to Los Angeles, terminal B
* Arrive at 1:30 p.m.; transfer to domestic terminal 7
* Depart at 5:35 p.m. on flight UA 750 to Denver
* Arrive Denver at 8:46 p.m.