Japan 1998

J-98 - Japan trip Date of travel: Sep 26 - Oct 7, 1998 ITINERARY: Early on Sep 26 I drive in a rented car to San Diego airport. From there I fly via San Francisco to Tokyo, JAPAN where on Sep 27. Here I join a TBI Tours group. The following day there is sightseeing of the Japanese capital (visiting among others the Meiji Shrine and the Asakusa Kannon Temple). Day after an optional trip to Nikko north of Tokyo (to see the Toshogu Shrine, Lake Chuzenji-ko and waterfalls). On Sep 30 we drove by bus to Mt. Fuji getting to about its mid section, we sailed on Lake Hakone and had an overnight in City of Hakone. From there we continued by bus to Mishima to board a Bullet Train bound for Kyoto. Next morning we took a sightseeing tour of this former Japanese capital (visiting the Imperial Palace, the Golden Pavilion, the beautiful gardens and the major temples; by myself I saw the steal and glass 1997 futuristic railway station worth noticing). In the afternoon an optional tour to Nara, another former capital. On Oct 3 from Kyoto by Bullet Train to Hiroshima known as the place, where the first atomic bomb was exploded in ager. While sightseeing the city we spent time in the Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park built on the explosion site. In its museum the Japanese question the need for this act saying that Japan was on verge of surrender. The following day by train and ferry to Miyajima Island to visit the attractive Itsukushima Jingu Shrine and the Torii Gate rising from the sea. Next morning by coach to see the Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden while driving to Kurashiki for overnight. On Oct 6 by bus and Bullet Train to Osaka (here I visited its Castle by myself). On Oct 7 in the morning I went to Osaka zoo. In the afternoon I took a bus to the new Osaka airport built on an artificial island in the ocean. From there I flew via San Francisco to San Diego and in a rented car drove home to Vista. Travel office: TBI Tours part of General Tours Who took part: There were 34 participants, Japanese group leader from TBI, bus drivers and a Japanese hostess on the bus