Although it has just been a month, it already feels like our river cruise was ages ago. The hands on the clock seem to move so fast that we may use them as a fan. With that said, it won’t be long before we are heading off to Japan.

I spoke with our travel consultant Deborah, from Inside Japan Tours, this week to ensure that the plans are intact and that there isn’t anything that we need to do before the trip arrives. I received a “yes” and a “no”, which is just what I was hoping to hear.

Yes, the plans are intact. All the arrangements have been taken care of. Nothing for us to worry about.

And No, nothing to do until we get closer to the date.

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So while I’m ‘sort of’ patiently waiting, I thought I would share some of the trip details with you. It will serve as a reminder to us and give you a glimpse of what’s to come.

We will be spending a total of nineteen days on this adventure. We’ll be flying out of Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Since our flight will depart around noon, we decided to stay overnight in Toronto. We booked a room at the Best Western Premier Toronto Airport Carlingview Hotel. It looks nice and they have a shuttle to the airport. No rushing and worrying about morning traffic.

The next morning we’ll head over to the airport for our flight to Tokyo. We’ll be flying on Air Canada and we have a non-stop flight. The flight is fourteen hours and ten minutes and we will be landing at Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND). We’ll arrive in the late afternoon. After collecting our luggage and clearing passport control and customs, there will be a driver waiting to take us to our hotel.

Our hotel, the Gate Hotel Ryogoku, is located in the Asakusa area of Tokyo. From what I understand, this is the more traditional section of Tokyo. We’ll have two days to explore on our own before the tour officially begins. We already have a reservation for one afternoon outing that we’re looking forward to seeing.

The following day, we will meet up with the tour director and the rest of our tour group. This is a small group tour, so there will only be 16 of us traveling together. We’re curious to meet our cohorts on this adventure.

The itinerary is a mix of sight-seeing, cultural activities, shrine and temple visits and other fun activities. The following is a quick look at the planned tour itinerary:

Day 1 Tokyo – Get to know the group leader, the group and the area before enjoying a welcoming dinner together.


Day 2 Tokyo – We’ll start the day with an exhilarating taiko drumming lesson, where we’ll be introduced to the energetic, choreographed movements of Japan’s traditional drumming. Afterwards, we’ll set off on a walking tour of Omotesando, Aoyama, and Harajuku, admiring the district’s striking architecture and vibrant atmosphere. Our stroll will lead us to Meiji Shrine, one of Tokyo’s most important spiritual sites, where we’ll learn about Shinto traditions and the fascinating contrasts between old and new Japan. That afternoon, we’ll take a private coach across town to Asakusa, the most traditional area in the city. Here, we’ll wander the historic streets, explore lively market stalls, and visit Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest and most iconic temple.

Day 3 Hiroshima – In the morning, we’ll hop on the Shinkansen, Japan’s world-famous bullet train, for a speedy journey westward to Hiroshima. For lunch, we’ll sample the typical fare of the Japanese traveller – an ekiben “station lunchbox” – complete with included origami set to keep us entertained.
On arrival in Hiroshima, we’ll travel by private coach from the station to our hotel and have
a chance to freshen up before we head to the Peace Memorial Park and Museum to learn a little
more about the events of 6th August 1945. That evening, we’ll lighten the mood with a bit
of cookery: learning how to make okonomiyaki, the cabbage or noodle-based pancake typical of this
part of Japan.

Day 4 Hiroshima – On day four, we’ll jump on a boat at the Peace Park for the 45-minute journey across Hiroshima Bay to the island of Miyajima, a beautiful island on the Seto Inland Sea. Though Miyajima is most famous for its World Heritage Shrine and “floating” torii gate, we’ll enjoy the traditional town centre and its friendly local deer.

Day 5 Kyoto – That morning, we’ll leave Hiroshima behind and head east toward Kyoto, Japan’s former capital and cultural heart. Traveling once again by Shinkansen, we’ll stop off along the way in Himeji for a visit to one of Japan’s finest castles. Himeji is one of just a handful of original feudal castles left in
Japan, and it’s the biggest of all. After a five-year facelift, it’s never looked so impressive!

Finally, arriving in Kyoto, we’ll check in to our hotel and have time to relax and freshen up before
an evening that is sure to be one of the trip highlights. We’ll be joined at dinner this evening by a Maiko (trainee geisha) who will give a dance performance followed by time for photos and questions, giving us a rare insight into this secretive world.

Day 6 Kyoto – On day six we’ll have a full day of sightseeing in Kyoto, giving us an in-depth introduction to this historic city. Traveling by private coach, we’ll stop at the Golden Pavilion at Kinkaku-ji, the Zen rock garden at Ryoan-ji Temple, and some other of the city’s hidden sites.

Day 7 Kyoto – On day seven, we’ll have another day to explore Kyoto and its impressive cultural heritage. The day’s sightseeing will include visits to Gion, the old geisha quarter and Kennin-ji Temple, one of the five most important Zen temples in Kyoto. Finally, to round off our first busy day in Kyoto, we’ll head out that evening to GEAR – an exciting, non-verbal theatre show that will provide an interesting modern counterpoint to Kyoto’s more traditional arts.

Day 8 Awara Onsen – We’ll travel by private coach to Awara Onsen, stopping along the way to explore the partially reconstructed ruins of Ichijodani Castle Town. We’ll also visit the beautiful Daianzen-ji Temple, where we will enjoy a lesson in zazen meditation under the tutelage of a temple priest – all the better to appreciate the quiet beauty of our surroundings.

That evening we’ll spend the night at a traditional Japanese inn, or ryokan, with an included dinner of
fine kaiseki cuisine. We also might try out the hot-spring baths – an integral part of any
ryokan stay!

Day 9 Kanazawa – We will be taking our private coach on to our next destination: Kanazawa. Kanazawa retains some of Japan’s best-preserved old-town districts, has one of the top 3 Japanese gardens in the country and is known for its rich artistic traditions.

On arrival in Kanazawa, we’ll begin with a visit to Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s top three gardens,
renowned for its seasonal beauty and meticulously designed landscapes. We’ll then explore the 21st Century Museum, known for its striking contemporary art and interactive exhibits.

Day 10 Kanazawa – We will begin the day sightseeing in the old-town districts of Higashi chaya and Nagamachi, to see these beautifully preserved areas and pay a visit to the Nomura Samurai House as well. That afternoon, we will get the chance to make delicate Japanese confectionery with a local expert, before heading back to the hotel.

Day 11 Tokyo – On day 11 it’s time to jump back on the bullet train for the return journey to Tokyo, where we’ll spend our final two nights of the group tour in Japan. Arriving around lunchtime, we’ll have plenty of time for an afternoon of sightseeing by public transport and on foot – including the lovely East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, and Zozo-ji Temple.

Day 12 Tokyo – With a final full day of the group tour in Tokyo, we’ll have the ability to see the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation on Odaiba Island, a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. In the afternoon, we will be taking in the upmarket Ginza district before our final farewell group dinner.

Day 13 Tokyo – Alas, after breakfast, our tour will come to an end. Though the tour will be over, Sue and I will have two more days to explore Tokyo before we fly home. We have a few places that we want to see in case we don’t visit them on the official tour.

We’ll be staying at the same hotel, Hyatt House Shibuya, that we stayed with the tour.

When it is time to leave the “Land of the Rising Sun”, transportation will be provided for us back to Haneda Airport. We will once again be flying home direct to Toronto on Air Canada. It will be a long flight, but hopefully one filled with marvelous memories of our time in Japan.

Upon arrival, we’ll have travel arrangements in place to get us from Toronto Pearson Airport back home to Buffalo.

So that’s it. Sound interesting?

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So for now, we’ll continue to watch YouTube videos to learn more about what awaits us in Japan, and to try and learn just a little bit of Japanese. We’ll exchange some dollars for Yen and make sure our walking shoes are broken in.

There is a Japanese restaurant close to our house, so we’ll also be trying out some different dishes to learn a bit more about the cuisine and how to properly use chopsticks. Currently, my attempts at using them have left me glad that we use forks!

That’s the update. We’re excited and a little anxious, but we’re all in for the adventure. And with that: Hitomazu, sayōnara!