Friday, March 25th, 2005

Geographic Trip Plan

Itinerary:

  • Friday, March 18th:
  • Saturday, March 19th:
      06:35 Leave hotel and go to SFO Airport, terminal 3
      09:05 United flight 0788 (SFO-SEA) seats 21D and 21C (B757-200)
      11:06 Arrive SEA, customs (?) and lunch
      12:40 United 0875 (SEA-NRT) seats 37G, 37F, and 37E (B777)

  • Sunday, March 20:
      Tokyo Time and Weather
      16:05 Arrive NRT (terminal 1)
      1. human quarantine
      2. passport/immigration
      3. check display for carousel then collect bags
      4. plant and animal quarantine
      5. customs (green counter)
      6. mobile phone rental, pick up PuPuRu phone at ABC Delivery Counter (to the Left from Customs - get it before 18:00)
      7. Citi ATM to get lots of cash in Yen (all the way to the right from Customs)
      8. exchange JRPass voucher for JRPass, but delay activation (Railway Counters right at Customs Exit)
      9. buy Railway tickets and reserve seats (NEX to Shinjuku ¥3110)
      10. Walk to terminal 2 to catch Narita Limited Express Train (34 or 36)
      17:13 Narita terminal 2 (NEX) to Shinjuku on Limited Express Narita Express 34 (88 minutes)
        18:13 Narita (NEX) to Shinjuku on Limited Express Narita Express 38
        There are other trains, but they require more transfers.
      19:00 or 20:00 Check-In Nishi Shinjuku Hotel (Sun, March 20th - Wed, March 23rd)
        7-14-14 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023
        check in anytime between 14:00 and 18:00 (we will need extension), check out by 11:00
        Telephone: 81-3-5389-1010
        Email: info@nshotel.com
        Web: http://www.nshotel.com/english/
        Directions: Go out West exit from JR Shinjuku, turn right. Walk past Oume Avenue (2nd traffic light) to the third light, turn left and see hotel.

        Rates: ¥13600 (Sun), ¥10500 (Mon), ¥12600 (Tue)
        Erci booked through Rakuten Travel (mytrip.net) and has reserved with credit card, but we pay by card in person at hotel.
        "Double, Non-Smoking, Sun, March 20th - Wed, March 23rd"

  • Monday, March 21st (National Holiday "Shunbun no Hi" - pay respect to ancesters):
      Staying at Nishi Shinjuku Hotel
      Tokyo Time and Weather
      Get tickets from Shinjuku to Mitaka on JR Chuo Line ¥210
      09:11 Shinjuku to Mitaka on JR Chuo Line (15 minutes) arrives 09:26
      Museum Ghibli (10:00 - 18:00)

        09:35 Ghibli Museum Bus picks up at Mitaka Station
        Museum Ghibli (10:00 - 18:00)
        12:53 Ghibli Museum Bus picks up at museum
        Get tickets from Mitaka to Shinanomachi on JR Sobu Chuo Line (Y290) - 26 minutes 13:23 Mitaka to Shinanomachi on JR Sobu Chuo line
          (same run starts at every 5 or 10 minutes through the afternoon)
        Meet friends by ticket exit from Shinanomachi station
        tour SGI headquarters, chant, go to a meeting
        Dinner with friends in Tokyo

  • Tuesday, March 22nd:
      Staying at Nishi Shinjuku Hotel
      Tokyo National Museum
      Ota Memorial Art Mueum (daily 10:30 - 5:30) - large collection of Ukiyo-e
      Asakusa and Senso-ji (temple)
      Akihabara for electronics and camera goodies

  • Wednesday, March 23rd:
      08:00 or 10:00 Checkout Nishi Shinjuku Hotel and head for Shinjuku station
      Get tickets from Shinjuku to Hakata ¥22520 (¥13440 + ¥9080 reserved)
        Ask for Nozomi 9, 11, 15, or 19 - they are really fast as they skip Shin-Yamaguchi
        RIGHT side of train (migi-gawa onegai-shimasu!)
      08:27 Shinjuku to Shinagawa on JR Yamanote Line
        10:27 Shinjuku to Shinagawa on JR Yamanote Line
        11:30 Shinjuku to Shinagawa on JR Yamanote Line
      08:58 Shinagawa to Hakata on Nozomi 09 (must get reserved seat on RIGHT side of train)
        10:58 Shinagawa to Hakata on Nozomi 11
        12:21 Shinagawa to Hakata on Nozomi 15
      • Pay attention to Fuji between Odawara and Hamamatsu for awesome views
      • Pay attention between Hiroshima and Hakata, Nozomi can reach 300kph!
      13:55 Arrive Hakata Station
        15:57 Arrive Hakata Station
        16:55 Arrive Hakata Station
      14:00 - 17:00 check in at Hakata Miyako Hotel Fukuoka
        2-1-1 Hakataeki-Higashi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, 812-0013
        check in anytime between 14:00 and midnight (chose 16:00)
        Telephone: 81-92-441-3111
        Email: info@hakata.miyakohotels.ne.jp
        Web: http://www.hakatamiyako.co.jp/index_e.htm
        Directions: come straight out Chikushi Exit, past Nishinihon bank, to hotel.

        Scott booked through Rakuten Travel (mytrip.net) and has reserved with credit card, but we pay in person at hotel.
        Sandard Twin Room (¥13,000)
      16:00 - 18:00 Go check out Canal City mall
      Check out Nakasu and Hakata Riverain
      Party in Tenjin

  • Thursday, March 24th:
      Get tickets from Hakata to Hiroshima on Hikari Rail Star (¥8900) or Nozomi (¥9100)
      13:59 Hakata to Shin-Yamaguchi on Hikari Railstar or Nozomi (40 minutes)
        Get off train at Shin-Yamaguchi, but hold on to tickets to complete trip to Hiroshima
      Stow luggage in locker at Shin-Yamaguchi station if possible, or hotel nearby if possible
      Get tickets from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi on JR Yamaguchi Line ¥230 (round trip?)
      XX:XX Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi on JR Yamaguchi Line (13-22 minutes)
      XX:XX Rent bicycles at train station to get to Joeiji Temple (with Sesshu garden) and Rurikoji Temple (4 hours)
      shop for Ouchi Lacquerwork in town
      XX:XX Yamaguchi to Shin-Yamaguchi on JR Yamaguchi Line (13-22 minutes)
      XX:XX Shin-Yamaguchi to Hiroshima on Hikari Railstar with reserved seats (35 minutes)
      Snag a one day card for Hiroshima's tram network for ¥600 (good the 25th)
      XX:XX check into Hotel Granvia Hiroshima (in Hiroshima station)
        1-5 Matsubara-cho, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 732-0822
        check in any time after 13:00, check out by 12:00
        Telephone: 81-82-262-1111
        Email: hp-info@hgh.co.jp
        Web: http://www.hgh.co.jp/english.htm or http://www.hotels.westjr.co.jp/hiroshima/index_e.html
        Rates: ¥31,100 (¥15,500 per nigh before taxes
        Scott booked though Yahoo (888-924-6687), paid in full
        Standard Double Room, hair dryer, pay parking, cards accepted, through March 26th (2 nights)

  • Friday, March 25th:
      Staying at Hotel Granvia Hiroshima
      Hiroshima Time and Weather
      Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Trams
      Hiroshima Tram line #2 ¥270 - connects Hiroshima City to MiyajimaGuchi and HishimaStation
      Ferry to Miyajima is ¥170/10 minutes (JR pass works on JR ferries)
      13:30 pick up rental car at Mazda Rent-a-Car, Hiroshima Shinkansen Exit
        1-1-13 Futaba-no-Sato Higashi-ku Hiroshima-shi
        Telephone: (082)261-2560
        Hours: 08:00 - 20:00
        Map: http://www2.tocoo.jp/english/rc/maps/hiroshima-shinkansen-guchi.html
        SA Class (Mazda Demia 1500)
        Rate (2 days) ¥10100 (¥5448 rental, + ¥2000 JCI, + ¥1600 ToCoo + ¥452 tax + ¥600 Navigation)
        Drop off charge ¥10,000 (¥20,100 total)
        Cancel: http://www2.tocoo.jp/english/submenu/customercontact.html
        Change: http://www2.tocoo.jp/english/submenu/howtouse/rc-change.html
          Club Tocoo Customer Support
          rc-cs@coo.ne.jp
          Tel: (03) 5333-0246; Fax: (03) 5333-0221 (within Japan)
          Tel: +81-3-5333-0246; Fax: +81-3-5333-0221 (international)
          Mon-Fri: 9:30AM-6:30PM Japan Time
          Closed on Sat, Sun & Public Holidays
          http://www2.tocoo.jp/english
      Optional trip to Iwakuni by car (40 minutes each way) to see Kintaikyo Bridge, have sushi and see Momijidani park

  • Saturday, March 26th:
      Early Drive Hiroshima to Onomichi (~80km, 2 hours gross over estimate)
      Matsuyama Time and Weather
      Tour Onomichi
      11:00 Drive from Onomichi to Omishima (30km? or 30 minutes)
      Allow ¥4700 in tolls on the bridges from Onomichi/Honshu to Imabari/Shikoku
      11:30 Lunch in Omishima
      12:30 visit the Oyamazumi Shrine (3 hours)
      Stop at Oyamazumi Shrine (0897-82-0002 or 0897-82-0032) and for lunch
      15:30 Drive from Omishima to Imabari (30km? or 30 minutes)
      Drive from Imabari to Matsuyama Castle (50km or 50 minutes)
      17:00 Tour Matsuyama castle (1 hour)
      Drive from Matsuyama Castle to return car and catch train
      Buy tickets from Matsuyama (Ehime) to Okayama ¥6830 (fare ¥3810 charge ¥3020)
      18:44 Matsuyama to Okayma on Limited Express Shiokaze 28 (156 minutes)
      This is the last express train out of Matsuyama
      21:27 arrive Okayama station
      21:35 check into Hotel Granvia Okayama (connected to JR Okayama Station)
        1-5 Ekimoto-machi, Okayama, Okayama, 700-8515
        check in anytime from 13:00 to 23:00, check out by 12:00
        Telephone: 086/234-7000 or (+81)86-234-7000
        Email: front-dp@granvia-oka.co.jp
        Web: http://www.hotels.westjr.co.jp/okayama/index_e.html
        Rates: 1,075.00 USD (5 nights)
        Scott booking through octopustravel.com (1-866-462-8678)
        double room, hair dryer, indoor pool, non-smoking requested and late arrival noted
        Directions: find connecting walkway, or step outside central exit, look for Granvia on right

  • Sunday, March 27th:
  • Monday, March 28th:
  • Tuesday, March 29th:
  • Wednesday, March 30th:
  • Thursday, March 31st:
      Get tickets from Okayama to ShinOsaka on Hikari RailStar ¥606
        Can we get off the train at Shin-Kobe and go into Kobe for dinner, then continue to ShinOsaka?
        From shinKobe we can use Seishin-Yamate Line and Kaigan Line of Kobe Subway to get around Kobe
        Kobe Subway
        Kobe Orientation
      Continue from ShinKobe to ShinOsaka on same tickets (Hikari RailStar)
      XX:XX ShinOsaka to Namba on Midosuji (RED) Subway line
      exit Subway and walk South to Swissotel Nankai 16:35 Dan, Jeff, and Jonathan arrive at Kansai (KIX) from SFO on United 0885
      http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/english/route/intarr.htm
      Tourist Desk at Kansai open until 9pm
      Dan, Jeff, and Jonathan take either Nankai "Rap:t" (¥1390, 30 minutes) or Nankai Airport Express (¥890, 45 minutesfrom Kansai Airport to Nankai's Namba Station, the hotel is in the north end of the station
      XX:XX check in at Swissotel Nankai for 5 nights (Dan, Jeff, and Jonathan in a second room)
        1-60 Namba, 5 Chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 542-0076
        check in anytime between 14:00 and 23:00, checkout at noon
        Telephone: 81-6-6646-1111
        Email: ask-us.osaka@swissotel.com
        Web: http://osaka.swissotel.com/

        Directions: NNNNN Namba Station Complex
        Rates: $174.96/night (except for April 2nd which is $237.45) - taxes $32.87 per night, total for 5 nights $1,101.65
        Erci booked through Expedia and has already paid in full.
        Two Queen sized beds, Non-smoking room, Thursday, March 31st until Tuesday, April 5th
        (formerly known as Nankai South Tower Hotel)
        Erci & Scott fancy dinner in Kobe?

  • Friday, April 1st:
  • Saturday, April 2nd:
  • Sunday, April 3rd:
      Staying at Swissotel Nankai
      Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
      Osaka Castle and Toyotomi Hideyoshi Museum
      Ceramics Museum

  • Monday, April 4th:
  • Tuesday, April 5th:
      XX:XX check out of Swissotel Nankai
      XX:XX train to Kanazawa
      XX:XX check into Kanazawa Excel Hotel Tokyu for 2 nights
        2-1-1 Korinbo, Kanazawa, Ishikawa-ken, 920-0961
        check in anytime after 13:00
        Telephone: 81-76-231-2411
        Email: N/A
        Web: http://www.tokyuhotels.co.jp/en/TE/TE_KANAZ/
        Rates: ¥10,500/night
        Erci booked through Rakuten Travel (mytrip.net) and has reserved with credit card, but we pay in person at hotel.
        Standard two bed room, April 7th until April 9th

  • Wednesday, April 6th:
  • Thursday, April 7th:
      Limited Express Thunderbird from Kanazawa to Kyoto (133 minutes) ¥6710
      buy Kyoto City Subway cards (or tickets to Kyoto Shiyakusho Mae Y230)
      Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line from Kyoto Station North (towards Kokusaikaikan) to Karasumaoike (6 minutes, 3 stops)
      Kyoto City Subway Tozai Line from Karasumaoike East (towards Rokujizou) to Shiyakusho-mae (2 minutes, 1 stop)
      1 minute walk to hotel - one block south along Kawaramachi Street

      XX:XX check into Kyoto Royal Hotel for 2 or 5 nights
        Sanjo-Agaru Kawaramachi, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, 604-8005
        check in anytime between 14:00 and 23:00, checkout by 11:00
        Telephone: 81-075-223-1234
        Email: yoyaku@kyoto-royal.co.jp
        Web: http://www.ishinhotels.com/kyoto-royal/en/index.html
        Rates: $179/night with $128.21 in taxes for $848.00 total
        Erci booked through Hotels.com and has already paid in full.
        "Superior Twin" style room (two double beds, smallish rooms - pictures on their website)

  • Friday, April 8th (Buddha's birthday):
  • Saturday, April 9th:
      Staying at Kyoto Royal Hotel
      XX:XX renew rooms at Kyoto Royal Hotel for 3 more nights
        >same place - this weekend was a TOUGH to book time (Cherry Blossom Peak)
        check in anytime between X and 23:00
        Rates: $179.95/night (except April 9th which is $309.95) with $232.50 in taxes for $1,572.20 total
        Erci booked through Hotels.com and has already paid in full.
      Kyoto

  • Sunday, April 10th:
  • Monday, April 11th:
  • Tuesday, April 12th:
      Dan, Jeff, and Jonathan:
      10:45 check out of Kyoto Royal Hotel
        Use Hyperdia to plan trip from hotel in Kyoto to Kansai Airport
        Enter Kyotoshiyakushomae as starting point (that is the Subway station one minute walk from hotel)
        Enter Kansai Airport as destination
        Enter Apr 12 as date
        Enter 11:15 as a departing time
        Click search
        You might get the following:
        Tozai Line Subway from Kyoto Shiyakusho Mae West (towards Nijo) to Karasumaoike (2 minutes)
        wait 11 minutes at the Karasumaoike station
        Karasuma Line Subway South (towards Takeda) to Kyoto Station (6 minutes)
        wait 14 minutes at Kyoto Station
        Take the 11:48 Haruka Limited Express #25 to Kansai Airport and get there at 13:02 (74 minute ride)
      15:25 Dan, Jeff, and Jonathan catch United flight 0886 from Kansai (KIX) to San Francisco (SFO)

      Erci and Scott:
      11:00 check out of Kyoto Royal Hotel
      Grab lunch
      Kyoto Subway Tozai Line from Kyotoshiyakushomae to Karasumaoike (2 minutes)
      Kyoto Subway Karasuma Line from Karasumaoike to Kyoto Station (6 minutes)
      Buy tickets to Matsumoto
      Shinkansen Nozomi or Hikari to Nagoya (36-40 minutes)
      Shinano Limited Express (Wideview) from Nagoya to Matsumoto (120 minutes)
      16:00 - 18:00 Check into Matsumoto Tokyu Inn
        1-3-21, Fukashi, Matsumoto-shi, Nagano 390-0815
        Check in after 15:00, check out 10:00
        Telephone: 0263-36-0109

        Directions: Right accross street from JR Matsumoto Station.
        Rates: Y12,000 per day
        Scott made reservation through Tokyu's own reservation system, though it does not do double rooms
        Pay by credit card onsite
        Twin Room (trying to switch to Double), fridge, internet, hair dryer, trouser press
      Time and Weather in Matsumoto

  • Wednesday, April 13th:
      Morning tour of Matsumoto (Time and Weather in Matsumoto)
      10:00 Check out of Matsumoto Tokyo Inn
      Get tickets from Matsumoto to Hida-Furukawa Hida and Shinano Wideview Limited Express ¥11520
      10:42 or 11:42 Catch Shinano Limited Express to Nagoya (125 minutes)
      13:03 or 14:03 Catch Hida Limited Express to Hida-Furukawa or Takayama (152 or 137 minutes)
      16:41 if in Takayama, catch JR Takayama Line to Hida-Furukawa (17 minutes)
      15:35 or 16:58 arrive at Hida-Furukawa Station
      16:00 or 17:20 check into Yatsusan Ryokan
        1-8-27 Mukaimachi Furukawa Chou, Yoshiki-gun, Gifu-ken
        check in anytime between 15:00 and 17:30
        Telephone: 0577-73-2121
        Email:
        Web: http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/takayama/yatsusan.htm
        Rates: ¥17,850 (Wed) ¥25,200 (Thur), and ¥22,050 (Fri)) ¥131,100 (total)
        Scott booked through japaneseguesthouses.com, reserved with credit card, but expected to pay in cash on site
        Room style and diet? April 13th until April 16th
          Directions: It is a 3 minute taxi ride from JR Hida Furukawa train station to Yatsusan Ryokan. JR Hida Furukawa train station is a 20 minute train ride north of JR Takayama train station. It is a 7 minute walk from JR Hida Furukawa train station to Yatsusan Ryokan. A pick-up service is also available upon request .
      Takayama Time and Weather

  • Thursday, April 14th:
  • Friday, April 15:
  • Saturday, April 16th:
      check out of Yatsusan Ryokan
      train to Nagoya
      train to Tokyo Station
      check into Palace Hotel
        1-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 100-0005
        check in anytime after noon
        Telephone: 81-3-3211-5211
        http://www.palacehotel.co.jp/english/
        Executive superior room, 1 king bed (41sq meters) through April 18th
        Rates: ¥59000 before taxes
        Scott booked though Yahoo (888-924-6687)

  • Sunday, April 17th:
  • Monday, April 18th:
      XX:XX check out of Palace Hotel
      XX:XX train to Narita
      16:15 United flight 0852 (NRT-SFO) seats 48K, 48J, and 48H (B747)
      09:25 Arrive SFO, immigration, collect bags, customs
      check into Courtyard San Francisco Airport
        1050 Bayhill Drive, San Bruno, CA 94066
        check in any time after XXXX
        Telephone: 650-952-3333
        Email:
        Web: http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/SFOSB
        Rates: $149.00
        Non-smoking room, king bed
      Meet Dad and Beth
      San Francisco Time and Weather

  • Tuesday, April 19th:
      09:00 United flight 0198 (SFO-IAD) seats 14D and 14C (B737-300)
      17:12 Arrive IAD, collect bags, get car, get home
      Dulles Weather

  • Wednesday, April 20th:
      Day at home recovering from jet lag
Calendar Events and Festivals:
  • February 20 - March 31st: Ume-matsuri (Plum Festival) in Kairakuen in Mito, Ibaraki-ken (peak is typically early-March).
  • March 1st - March 31st: Ume-matsuri (Plum Festival) in Atami Baien, Shizuoka-ken (peak is typically mid-March).
  • March 1st - April 3rd: Takayama Doll Festival
  • April 17th: Yabusame Archery at Tsurugaoka Hachimanguu in Kamakura
  • May 17-18th: Yabusame Archery and thousands of reenactors at Grand Festival of Toshogu Shrine in Nikko

posted by Scott at 7:15 AM | 0 comments