Japan - August 2023

Flying from the East Coast of the US, my 14 hour direct flight landed just after 3:00 PM at Tokyo's Haneda International Airport. After claiming my luggage and getting through customs  I took the Tokyo Monorail into the city and checked into my hotel - the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyobashi.

I started my first full day in Tokyo early at Sensoji Temple, then headed to the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park.   I checked out a beer festival in Ueno Park, and took a walking tour of Yanaka - Tokyo's old town.

I walked around Tokyo Station to get oriented for my afternoon train to Kyoto, and took pictures  in the park near the Imperial Palace. I took the Shinkansen to Kyoto, checked into my hotel, the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Station, and visited 

Rengeō-in (Sanjūsangen-dō) Temple to see the 1000 gold Kanon statues in person.

 I took a day trip to the famous Tea town of Uji, near Kyoto. I saw Byodo-in Temple, snacked gyoza on the Uji Omotesando , and visited the islands and shrines around the Uji River. In the afternoon I took to the local train a few stops and relaxed with the locals at the Genji No Yu onsen

Today I had fun being transformed into a Maiko, and had my photo taken in full makeup and kimono! In the evening I took a small group tour to explore food and culture in the Gion district.

I spent this day exploring the temples and shrines of Kyoto's  Higashiyama district, visiting  Kiyomizudera, , Kodai-ji Temple, Yasaka Shrine, and the Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka neighborhoods.   In the evening I checked out the views from Kyoto Tower and the top of Kyoto Station.

I took a day trip to Kinosaki Onsen, a 1300-year-old onsen town famous for its 7 public baths. I visited four of the baths, took a ride on the ropeway for a view of the town, and walked back downhill through a peaceful forest dotted with small shrines.

Today I took the Shinkansen to Hiroshima, arriving around mid-day, checked into my hotel, the Granvia Hotel Hiroshima, and headed over to Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium for my first taste of Japanese baseball!

 This morning I toured Hiroshima Castle and tried on Samurai armor! I had lunch at McDonalds (gotta try it in every country!) and took in a second Hiroshima Carp baseball game.

   This afternoon I took a tour of the Mazda Museum and Factory, where my own Miata was manufactured back in 1994. I saw antique Mazdas, new Mazda technology, a cute Mazda fire truck, and a giant ship getting ready to take brand new Mazdas to their new homes overseas.

I took a day trip to see Miyajima Island, including the famous Itsukutshima Shrine and its floating Torii Gate, had a delicious oyster lunch and rode the ropeway up Mt. Misen in the rain. 

Today was an easy day, with just a four hour ride in the first class Green Car on the Shinkansen back to Tokyo. I had a tasty bento for lunch and enjoyed the views of the Japanese coastline. 

  This morning I visited the Art Aquarium Museum at the Mitsukoshi Department Store, and shopped for Japanese fashion in the upscale Ginza neighborhood. In the late afternoon I headed to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for great views of thunderstorms over the city as the sun set.

 Despite the pouring rain from an incoming typhoon, I took time this morning to go souvenir shopping on Nakamise-dori by Sensoji Temple. In the afternoon I chilled out at LaQua Super Sento close to the Tokyo Dome, and then attended a Tokyo Giants baseball game 

  My flight back to the U.S. was delayed a couple of hours, so I spent some extra time at Haneda International Airport.  After stowing my luggage in a locker until check-in opened, I enjoyed a delicious lunch, did some very successful souvenir shopping, and checked out the outdoor observation deck.