Itinerary

Day one (11-19) - Flight to LAX

(This page is definitely some practice for me before I'm actually on the trip)

Our first leg our journey is flying Delta from New Orleans to LAX has changed since I first posted this.  We are now flying up in the morning and spending the day in LA before catching our midnight flight to Tokyo.  This will be a good chance to break up the flight and not be anxious about flight delays interfering with our international flight.  Also we are getting a hotel near the airport to take showers and prepare ourselves for sleeping on the plane.

What to do in LA with only a half day?  We will probably go to Santa Monica and spend our time looking around.  And then grab a bite to eat before heading to the hotel.  I hope I can enjoy my time in LA despite being excited about going to Japan.

Day two/three (11-20,11-21) - Arrival in Fukuoka

 Our flight from LAX to Tokyo is over 12 hours long but will seem to take longer since we actually land in Tokyo on Friday morning despite leaving at 12:10 am Thursday morning.  For practical purposes Day 2 really doesn't exist, but we make up for it on our last day when we get an almost 48 hour day.  We then take a Japanese domestic flight to Fukuoka.  Of course, at the airport I'll need to exchange some dollars for some yen.  Also, I have to pick up my pocket wifi so I can keep in touch and most importantly use Google maps and Google translate (when Hayden isn't around).

Starting city

After getting the essentials, we will head to Hakata station to grab some lunch (there is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant there).  Then off to check-in to our hotel and start seeing some sights.  Hopefully after we can head to the famous food stalls in Fukuoka for a late night snack.

Canal City

Food stalls

Day four/five (11-22,11-23) - Touring Fukuoka

Ramen Noodles

Our first full day starts with seeing more of Fukuoka and meeting up with a friend we met at the International Convention.  We are both very excited about this.  Our second day he will pick us up and bring us to his home area.  Our plan is some time in the Japanese ministry and going to a Japanese meeting.  Also Fukuoka is known for its ramen dishes, so that is something we plan on eating at least once while here.

Fukuoka

Day six (11-24) - Hiroshima/Travel to Matsue

We begin our day with our first trip on Shinkansen (bullet train).  Our destination is Matsue, but we will stop for a few hours in Hiroshima to visit the Atomic Bomb Peace Park and to try our Hiroshima's famous Japanese pancakes (okonomiyaki).

Okonomiyaki

Day seven (11-25) - Matsue

Then we arrive in Matsue and will spend two nights at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), complete with futons, tatami mats, and mineral baths.

We have one complete day to explore Matsue.  Top of the list is Matsue castle and of course sampling the local cuisine.  The ryokan we staying at provides breakfast and dinner which we plan on taking advantage of.  Matsue has a lot to offer but is mostly visited by Japanese, which is exactly the kind of places I want to see.  Matsue has incredible sunset views of Lake Shinji and numerous canals running through the city.

Samurai Alley

Matsue Castle

Shinji Lake

Day eight (11/26) - Matsue to Kobe to Osaka

We leave Matsue early in the day to travel to Osaka with a quick stop over in Kobe for some sightseeing and lunch.  Our plan may possibly include hiking to Nunobiki Falls which is very close to the train station.  Also grabbing some lunch nearby before continuing to Osaka.

Nunobiki Falls

We arrive in Osaka later in the afternoon and we plan to attend an English congregation not far from our hotel that night.

Day nine (11/27) - Osaka

We have one full day in Osaka and lots of sights to see.  The Osaka aquarium is a must and so is eating some takoyaki.  We could possibly go to Umeda Sky Building, Dotonbori, and America Mura (American Village).

Aquarium and takoyaki

Dotonbori

Umeda Sky Building

Day ten (11/28) - Kyoto

We also have one full day in Kyoto.  There are far more sights to see in Kyoto than I have time, but we will have a few things in mind and see what we can accomplish.  Our highlight will be seeing our friends Kouhei and Masame again. We had the pleasure of meeting them at the International Convention in Atlanta and having dinner with them.  That will be far better than any sights we may see.  Our hope was to stay at a capsule hotel in Kyoto, but the one we wanted to stay at booked up before I could make a reservation.

Day eleven and twelve (11/29-11/30) - Nagoya

We arrive in Nagoya around noon.  We are meeting another couple we had met at the Convention here.  Our plans include either visiting the castle or to the zoo there.  On Sunday, I will be giving the public talk at the English Nagoya Congregation.  What an honor!  I'm very excited and nervous about that experience.

Day thirteen (12/1) - Ebina/Atsugi

Day fourteen - eightteen (12/2-12/6) - Tokyo/Shibuya