The Voyage West

Posted by Tony on

Travel in plague times would be perilous. We were of two minds for awhile. But gradually we came to feel the trip was worth the risks. In some ways, it was a selfish decision. It was very consistent with the way Bonnie and I do things. But mostly so much effort had been put into the planning and preparation we couldn’t let this go by. Bonnie had worked so hard and done triple the research and reservations she normally would. We felt like we would never have this kind of chance again.

Just so you get an idea of how much was on the line, this is a sketch of our itinerary. Far more involved than what we normally do but a wealth of places and experiences and people and it was done well.

  • Monday, March 2 JFK to Tokyo (Haneda)
  • Tuesday, March 3 Sleep Hotel JAL City Haneda Tokyo West Wing
  • Wednesday, March 4 Trains to Kyoto
    • Local Train to Shinagowa Station Tokyo
    • Bullet Train to Kyoto
  • Wednesday March 4 – 5 Sleep Hoshinoya Resort
  • Friday March 6 Local Train to Nara
  • March 6 – 8 Sleep Nara Guesthouse Sakuraya
  • Monday March 9 Trains, Cable Car, Bus to Koya-San
    • Circle Train to SHINIMAMIYA
    • Local Train to GOKURAKUBASHI
    • Cable Car to KOYASAN
    • Local Bus to JOIIKIN TEMPLE
  • March 9 – 10 Sleep Koya-San Joiikin Temple
  • March 11 Wednesday Bus, Cable Car, Trains Back To Nara (10:37)
    • Local Bus to KOYASAN
    • Cable Car to GOKURAKUBASHI
    • Local Train to SHINIMAMIYA
    • Circle Train to NARA
  • March 11 – 12 Sleep Nara Guesthouse Sakuraya
  • Friday March 13 Trains to Uno Ferry to Naoshima
    • Nara To Kyoto – Local Train
    • Kyoto to Okayama – Bullet Train
    • Okayama to Uno – Local Train
    • Ferry to Naoshima
  • March 13 – 15 Sleep Mrs. Maroulla’s House Naoshima
  • Monday March 16 Ferry to Teshima
  • March 16 – 17 Sleep Mr. Kurershi’s House Teshima
  • Wednesday March 18 7:55 Ferry to Uno Trains, Bus to Magome
    • Ferry to Uno
    • Local Train (Uno to CHAYAMACHI)
    • Bullet Train (CHAYAMACHI to Okayama to Nagoya)
    • Local Train (Nagoya to Nakatsugawa)
    • Local Bus (Nakatsugawa to Magome)
  • March 18 – 19 Sleep Nedoko Guesthouse Magome
  • Friday March 20 Walk to Tsumago
  • March 20 Sleep Matsushiroya Tsumago
  • March 21 Sleep Fujioto Tsumago
  • Sunday March 22 Train Bus to Matsumoto
    • Bus to Nagiso
    • Local Train to Matsumoto
  • March 22 – 23 Sleep Hotel Kagetsu Matsumoto
  • Tuesday March 24 Trains to Karuizawa
    • Local Train (Matsumoto to Nagano)
    • Local Train (Nagano to Karuizawa)
  • March 24 – 27 Sleep Hotel Cypress Karuizawa
  • Saturday March 28 Bullet Train To Tokyo
  • March 28 – April 1 Sleep Sutton Place Hotel Tokyo
  • Thursday April 2 Train to Nikko
    • Bullet Train Ueno To Utsunomiya
    • Local Train Utsunomiya to Nikko
  • April 2 – 4 Sleep in Cottage Fu-Sha Nikko
  • Sunday April 5 Trains to Tokyo Airport (NRT) Fly to New York
    • Local Train to HAMAMATSUCHO
    • Airport Train to NARITA AIRPORT