Denver to Japan - Itinerary

Our travel plan

Below is a table with the broad picture of our itinerary. Below that is a more detailed day-by-day description of the plan as of the date at the bottom of the page. This is our 'official' itinerary, but we may change things based on weather, surprise opportunities, changing interests, and so on.

Kyoto, Hiroshima, Takayama, and Tokyo

 

Days, Dates, Cities and Notes
  Day       Date     Itinerary; 14 July - No. 2.
Wed 18 July Leave Denver in A.M. to LAX then to NRT
Thu 19 July Arrive Tokyo Narita (NRT); Shinkansen to Kyoto
Fri 20 July Kyoto
Sat 21 July Kyoto to Hiroshima (shinkansen)
Sun 22 July Hiroshima to Takayama (shinkansen to Nagoya then regular train)
Mon 23 July Takayama
Tue 24 July Takayama
Wed 25 July Takayama
Thu 26 July Takayama
Fri 27 July Takayama
Sat 28 July Takayama to Tokyo by bus
Sun 29 July Tokyo
Mon 30 July Narita Express
Depart for Denver; arrive evening of same day(!)

 


 Wed., July 18

We're taking off
* Meet inside door 612 at DIA 8:00 a.m.
* Depart DIA on flight UA 372 at 10:10 a.m.
* Arrive 11:36 p.m. at LAX, terminal 7
* Depart LAX terminal 7 on flight UA 891 at 1:14 p.m.


 Thurs., July 19

We arrive in Japan
* Arrive Narita International Airport, Terminal 1, at 4:35 p.m.
* Quarantine, Immigration (passport)
* Pick up bags, Customs
* Exchange currency
* Recieve PASMO cards
* Activate JR passes, get tickets to Kyoto
Plan A to Kyoto:
* 18:15 - Narita Express 44 to Tokyo station
* 19:17 - Arrive Tokyo station, track 1
* 19:33 - Depart Tokyo station, track 19 on Shinkansen Hikari 529
* 22:11 - Arrive Kyoto station, track 13
Plan B to Kyoto:
* 18:48 - Narita Express 46 to Tokyo station
* 19:49 - Arrive Tokyo station, track 2
* 20:03 - Depart Tokyo station, track 14 on Shinkansen Hikari 531
* 23:02 - Arrive Kyoto station, track 14
* Taxis to hotel
* Check in, crash!


Fri., July 20

Up and at 'em for our first full day in Japan.
* Train to Arashiyama, visit the bamboo forest and local town
* Local bus to Kinkaku-ji (golden pavillion)
* Taxis to Gion district and Pontocho
* Walk to Kiyomizu-dera temple
* Dinner at local izakaya


Sat., July 21

Kyoto to Hiroshima by shinkansen
* Depart 8:20 from track 14 on Shinkansen Hikari 495 to Hiroshima (JR pass)
* Arrive Hiroshima (track 12) at 10:18; hotel to drop off bags
* Morning / lunch time visit to Miyajima (JR Pass)
* Visit A-bomb dome and Peace Museum (admission from money pool)
* Free time - Shop / explore underground mall
* Group dinner; location to be determined


 Sun., July 22

Hiroshima to Takayama:
* 08:15: Shinkansen Sakura 540, depart from track 14
* 09:44: Arrive Shin-Osaka, track 20
* 09:53: Depart Shin-Osaka from track 25
* 10:58: Arrive Nagoya, track 14
* 14:48: Hida Ltd. Express 13, depart track 11
* Arrive Takayama 17:08
* Meet with host families
* First night with host families


 Mon., July 23

At home in Takayama:
* 08:30 - meet in Mayor's office
* 08:45-09:30 - Zazen experience at Zennoji temple
* 10:00-10:30 - courtesy visit to Mayor Kunishima
* 10:30-12:00 - meet with students who are going to Denver in August
* 12:00-13:00 - lunch at city office
* 13:00-15:00 - kimono experience at city office
* 15:00-17:00 - siteseeing: old town, festival floats exhibition hall, etc.
* 17:00 - picked up by host families at city office


 Tue., July 24

Takayama homestay:
* 08:30 - meet in Mayor's office
* 08:30-13:30 - free time (lunch on own)
* 14:00-15:00 - visit to old people's home
* 15:30-16:00 - visit to furniture maker (craftsmen)
* 17:00 - picked up by host families at city office


 Wed., July 25

Takayama homestay:
* 08:30 - meet in Mayor's office
* All day: visit to Shirakawa-go world heritage site, hot spring experience
* 17:00 - picked up by host families at city office


 Thu., July 26

Takayama homestay:
* 08:30 - meet in Mayor's office
* 09:00-09:45 - visit Okamoto day nurserry
* 10:00-12:00 - visit Takayama Nishi High school
  + Meet with Nishi students and Otsuchi students
* 12:00-13:00 - lunch at Takayama Green hotel
* 13:15-15:00 - visit Hida village; make rice cakes and straw sandals
* 15:00-15:20 - visit City of Denver Park
* 15:20-16:00 - visit hyaku en shop (like Dollar Store in US)
* 16:10-18:00 - free time
* 18:00-20:00 - Welcome and farewell party at Nobuta Barbecue


 Fri., July 27

Takayama homestay:
* 08:30 - meet in Mayor's office
* All day: Mt. Norikura, Hot spring experience in Okuhida, Senkoji temple
* 17:00 - picked up by host families at city office


 Sat., July 28

Bus to Tokyo:
* 7:45 a.m. - meet at Takayama station
* 8:00 a.m. - Leave for Shinjuku station by Keio-Bus
* 13:30 (1:30 p.m.) - Arrive Shinjuku West Exit Bus Terminal
* Taxis or walk to hotel
* Recieve PASMO cards
* 15:15 (3:15 p.m.) - depart Shinjuku Track 1 to Kamakura (PASMO card)
* Time in Kamakura, dinner there
* Return to hotel at 18:09, 18:38, ...
* Free evening: Saturday night in Tokyo!


 Sun., July 29

Tokyo:
* Odeo subway to Tsukiji market (PASMO card)
* Breakfast & wander time at Tsukiji, walk to Hama Rikyu Garden (money pool)
* Hour or two at Hama Rikyu Garden, board boat for trip up Sumida river (money pool)
* Get off boat at Asakusa (an old town area)
* Hour or two at Asakusa, train and subway to Harajuku (PASMO card)
* Rest of day is free time
* Dinner un-planned, but a group meal: our last night in Japan


 Mon., July 30

Homeward bound (PASMO card and airline ticket):
* Morning free time: explore Shinjuku station, or visit the Metropolitan Govt. Building observation tower
* Narita express 23 departing 11:40 from Shinjuku track 5, arrive Narita Terminal 1 at 12:56 (PASMO card)
* Depart from terminal 1 at 16:00 (4:00 p.m.) on flight UA 838 to SFO
* Arrive at 9:20 p.m., terminal 3
* Depart from terminal 3 at 1:01 p.m. on flight UA 1059 to Denver
* Arrive Denver at 4:30 p.m.