JOURNEYS FOR WOMEN
Japan: from the Sea to the Mountains
May 6 –17, 2019
Japan: from the Sea to the Mountains
May 6 –17, 2019
Take a look at the Japan Slide Show
We expected a beautiful, clean country, but Japan exceeded our expectations. It's gorgeous, super-clean, modern, yet classic, friendly and fascinating. Except for Tokyo and some sights with student groups, we found it pretty uncrowded as well. We were blessed with beautiful weather. Throughout the country we feasted on local foods, and definitely supported the green tea ice cream makers.
We began in lovely Kyoto where our wonderful guide, Masako, greeted us and gave us an overview of the trip and country. We visited Ninjo Castle with its "nightingale" floor, the Golden Pavilion and its surrounding gardens, and Sanjusangendo shrine with its 1000 statues. A highlight was a private lunch with 3 geishas, followed by a walking tour of the Gion district where a number of them still live and work. We traveled out of town by bullet train, feeling like we were floating on the tracks rather than speeding along at 180mph. We visited Hiroshima with it's moving Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, and Children's Monument. We went through the museum designed to discourage future atomic warfare, and ferried to Miyajima Island with it's Grand Torii Gate and 6th century Itsukushima Shinto Shrine. Most of us enjoyed the local lunch specialty, okonomiyaki. Another day we visited the ancient capital, Nara, with its Park and many deer, its Todai-Ji temple with giant Buddha, and Kasuga Taisha shrine with its 3,000 lanterns..
We traveled to our next destination, Kanazawa. In this 15th-century historic city, we had a private visit to a 4th-generation pottery studio, visited a restored Samurai residence and spent time in Kenrokuen Garden where purple iris were in bloom.
Next we headed for Takayama, stopping en route at Shirakawago World Heritage Village. We explored the village of Ogimachi, with its steep-roofed centuries old farmhouses that resemble the joined hands of monks in prayer. We visited the Festival Floats hall which exhibits a handful of floats on a rotating basis. They're used in their twice-yearly festivals. We shopped at the Morning Market, strolled through Old Town, visited one of the early-1800's merchant's homes and a local government house. We enjoyed a sake tasting, learning which are to be drunk warm and which cold. We were fond of the lemon-flavored one. Our hotel here had a spa and most of our group availed themselves of the waters.
Our last stop was Tokyo, which seemed a bit bustling after the relative serenity of the rest of the country. But we liked its vibrancy, and saw its night scene in our Shinjuku district. We made a trip to the Tsukiji outer fish market, sampling offerings liberally as we walked. We had fun at a private sushi-making class--both the prep and the eating--and left with certificates authorizing us to make and sell sushi in our home country. We visited 7th-century Asakusa Kannon temple, saw a 5-story pagoda and spent some time at the shopping arcade. Back in town, we were able to see the 2000' Skytree and we went up in a tower to see incredible views of the city. On our last full day, we went to Mt Fuji where we were graced with a few glimpses of the summit through the clouds. We also cruised across Lake Ashi and took the aerial tramway up to nice views of Hakone and the lake. We ended with a delicious grand finale dinner after which we bid farewell to Masako. We had packed so much into our stay that we felt the trip was considerably longer than 12 days.
We began in lovely Kyoto where our wonderful guide, Masako, greeted us and gave us an overview of the trip and country. We visited Ninjo Castle with its "nightingale" floor, the Golden Pavilion and its surrounding gardens, and Sanjusangendo shrine with its 1000 statues. A highlight was a private lunch with 3 geishas, followed by a walking tour of the Gion district where a number of them still live and work. We traveled out of town by bullet train, feeling like we were floating on the tracks rather than speeding along at 180mph. We visited Hiroshima with it's moving Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, and Children's Monument. We went through the museum designed to discourage future atomic warfare, and ferried to Miyajima Island with it's Grand Torii Gate and 6th century Itsukushima Shinto Shrine. Most of us enjoyed the local lunch specialty, okonomiyaki. Another day we visited the ancient capital, Nara, with its Park and many deer, its Todai-Ji temple with giant Buddha, and Kasuga Taisha shrine with its 3,000 lanterns..
We traveled to our next destination, Kanazawa. In this 15th-century historic city, we had a private visit to a 4th-generation pottery studio, visited a restored Samurai residence and spent time in Kenrokuen Garden where purple iris were in bloom.
Next we headed for Takayama, stopping en route at Shirakawago World Heritage Village. We explored the village of Ogimachi, with its steep-roofed centuries old farmhouses that resemble the joined hands of monks in prayer. We visited the Festival Floats hall which exhibits a handful of floats on a rotating basis. They're used in their twice-yearly festivals. We shopped at the Morning Market, strolled through Old Town, visited one of the early-1800's merchant's homes and a local government house. We enjoyed a sake tasting, learning which are to be drunk warm and which cold. We were fond of the lemon-flavored one. Our hotel here had a spa and most of our group availed themselves of the waters.
Our last stop was Tokyo, which seemed a bit bustling after the relative serenity of the rest of the country. But we liked its vibrancy, and saw its night scene in our Shinjuku district. We made a trip to the Tsukiji outer fish market, sampling offerings liberally as we walked. We had fun at a private sushi-making class--both the prep and the eating--and left with certificates authorizing us to make and sell sushi in our home country. We visited 7th-century Asakusa Kannon temple, saw a 5-story pagoda and spent some time at the shopping arcade. Back in town, we were able to see the 2000' Skytree and we went up in a tower to see incredible views of the city. On our last full day, we went to Mt Fuji where we were graced with a few glimpses of the summit through the clouds. We also cruised across Lake Ashi and took the aerial tramway up to nice views of Hakone and the lake. We ended with a delicious grand finale dinner after which we bid farewell to Masako. We had packed so much into our stay that we felt the trip was considerably longer than 12 days.