Japan

Travel Journal

Kyoto

November 14, 2025 from the itinerary: Check out from Hidatei Hanaougi and take the ryokan's shuttle bus to the Takayama Station. Travel by train to Kyoto. Take a taxi to the Ryokan Hiiragiya. Breakfast was lovely and similar to others. Again, it feels like this hotel is having issues with help as the attention to detail (name spelling, etc) just wasn’t there. The day started with a beautiful train ride along the Hida River on the way to Nagoya. My first train was a limit

5 hours ago3 min read

Takayama

November 13, 2025 from the itinerary: Explore the charming town of Tateyama on a curated half-day tour with your private guide. From 9-noon you'll experience the lively Morning Market, step back in time at the historic Takayama jinya and enjoy the flavors and ambiance of a local sake brewery and old town. Lunch - not included. Amazingly, the futon was more comfy than mattress! The mattress was extremely hard, so moved to the floor option about half way through the night.

21 hours ago3 min read

On to Takayama

November 12, 2025 from the itinerary: Travel a full day by car to Takayama. During the drive stop at several traditional villages including Gokayama and Shirakawago. Stay in Hidatei Hanaougi Ryokan. Weather - cool and sunny Breakfast included a fried egg which I wasn’’t sure how to eat using chopsticks and didn’t want anyway. I had the rice, sashimi and miso soup which were very tasty. Both Gokayama and Shirakawago are very remote mountain villages and world heritage site

2 days ago4 min read

Kanazawa - Day 2

November 11, 2025 - from the itinerary: Private Kanazawa Tour: Discover the vibrant heart of Kanazawa on a bespoke full-day tour with your private guide. You'll savor the bustling atmosphere of Omicho Market, appreciate the artistry at the Ohi Ceramics Museum and the Kanazawa Museum of Gold leaf. (note - we did this day 1). Today’s breakfast was similar to yesterday’s, but each day there is a slight variation. Hero and I spent most of today at the Kanazawa Castle, origina

7 days ago4 min read

Sightseeing in Kanazawa

November 10, 2025. From the itinerary - experience Kanazawa's captivating history and beauty on a personalized full-day tour with your private guide. Travel like a local using publlic transportation, with all entrance fees and transport costs thoughtfully included. From 9-5 you'll explore the refined elegance of Seisonkaku Villa, wander through the stunning landscapes of Kenrokuen garden, delve into the historical grandeur of Kanazawa Castle and immerce yourself in the atm

Dec 44 min read

Getting to Kanazawa

November 9, 2025 - Per the itinerary today was basically getting to Kanazawa by train. The weather turned windy and wet overnight I took time in the morning to enjoy the onsen and had a relaxing session in the massage chair. I noticed there was a star chart on the elevator ceiling.... Breakfast was in a different restaurant, but still elaborate with all food from the Toyama Region I couldn't resist having a croissant and a sit down while waiting for my transfer to the train.

Dec 32 min read

Extra Time in Toyama

November 8, 2025 - In the original itinerary I was leaving Morodo today and going to a Michelin star onsen called River Retreat Garaku, about 40 minutes outside of Toyama. Updated plan for the day - more sightseeing in Toyama before leaving for the fancy ryokan, to include seeing the castle, going on a canal boat trip and trying to find Iwasahara. The breakfast buffet was quite nice and was the first "Western" food I'd had in several days. A nice change. Plastic gloves were

Dec 23 min read

Omachi to Murodo

November 6, 2025, from the itinerary: Check out from the hotel and your pre-reserved car will pick you up and take you to the Ogisawa Station. Here you start the Kurobe Tateyama Alpen Route: Ogisawa Station to Kurobe Dam by electric trolley bus Sightsee around the Kurobe Dam and walk to the next step in the route - Kurobe Ko Cable Car Station, then take the Kurobe Ko Cable car to Kurobe Daira Station. Finally at the Kurobe Daira Station take an electric trolley bus to Mur

Nov 293 min read

Nikko to Omachi.

November 5, 2025 - Transfer to Omachi and the foothills of the Japanese alps. Catch the bus to the Yunishigawa Onsen Station. There transfer to a local train to tochigi Station. From there transfer to JR trains - first to Takasaki where you transfer to Ueda. At Ueda you are met by a driver for a 2 hour drive to Omachi. I realized I had just enough cash to change my ticket and get myself to Tochigi, so no need to race to the post office ATM this morning. I ended up having

Nov 263 min read

A Day to explore in Honke Bankyu

From the itinerary on November 4, 2025: Take advantage of the day in your beautiful retreat or explore Nikko. I am no worse for wear after my night on the floor and slept quite well. Here is breakfast and my name in Japanese. They kept asking me my name and I could never answer, so I finally got smart and took a photo of the name plate. Today the weather was glorious, so I decided to explore the area and get some exercise to work off the huge meals. By the time I got up th

Nov 252 min read

Nikko and Getting to the Ryokan

November 3, 2025 - From the itinerary (am copying in its entirety because I was kind of confused..). Tokyo to Honke Bankyu Ryokan This morning, begin your journey north toward the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture. Route Overview: Take a short metro or taxi ride from your hotel to Tokyo Station . Board a JR Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo Station to Utsunomiya Station – approximately 52 minutes . At Utsunomiya, transfer to the JR Nikko Line for Nikko Station – about

Nov 246 min read

Tokyo

November 2, 2025 from the itinerary: Day at leisure -S/G. Today was my insurance day - a day off in case my flight was delayed so as not to affect the rest of the itinerary. It started its a lovely Japanese breakfast. I’m not sure I would want to eat jelly fish again, but now i can say I tried it once. It did not taste like chicken. For those not familiar with Japanese toilets, here is a video of probably the best one I’ll have on this trip. Enjoy! Since all my other pla

Nov 33 min read

Getting to Japan

In 2019 I planned an amazing trip to Japan. It was 40 days and included small intimate villages on both the West and East coast of Honshu. I was told to split these up. I took the first of the trips, through the East coast in 2023 after Covid. This trip is the second half of the journey and covers several villages along the West coast, hiking days through the Japanese Alps, and a trip to Rabbit Island. From the Itinerary: October 30 and 31, 2025 travel on United Airlines

Nov 14 min read