Japan 02
9 Day Japan Super Value
Pacific Delight Tours

April 25 - May 3, 2002

Preface:  When visiting Asia we suggest that you visit both Japan and China.  While there are similarities, the two cultures are as interestingly different from one another as any we have experienced in our travels throughout the world.  Pacific Delight combined both countries for us into a single package.  The second segment is chronicled under "Travels" at China 02.  

On another note, this page uses "thumbnail" pictures to expedite loading but please take advantage of the opportunity to view each one in a larger format.  Simply give the "thumbnail" image a click and a larger image will soon appear.  Click the "Back" button when you want to return to this page.

Our approximately 7,000 mile journey to Japan began at 3 a.m. at daughter Kathy Jasien's house in Clifton, VA.  From Dulles airport we had a one hour twenty minute flight to Detroit via NW Airlines.  We arrived on time at 7:30 and departed as scheduled at 12:30, also on NW.  After the smooth, and seemingly short, flight of 13 hours, 42 minutes, we landed at Osaka, April 26 at 3:30 p.m.  The airport was constructed by filling the ocean side with dirt.  It is sinking, slowly, but we noticed no "mushiness" during our landing.  

Immediately we found ourselves surrounded by what was typical Japanese; courteous, clean and efficient.  The five of us in our tour group were met by a white gloved driver who escorted us to our white lace covered seats Toyota mini-van.   The most noticeable part of the two hour ride to our hotel in Kyoto was the absence of aggressive driving, in spite of heavy traffic.

Our New Miyako hotel was directly across the street from the train station but our room was quiet and comfortable.   Employees at the hotel were sharp in their uniforms, hats and gloves and were courteous and helpful.  English was understood by all.  In spite of brushing up on my Japanese, learned initially 42 years ago, it was rusty and hesitant.  One of the nicest characteristics of the Japanese people is that they are always so appreciative of anyone who attempts to speak even a word or two of their language.  I was in heaven!

Misako Kunisada, our Tour Guide, met us at the hotel, gave us a complete itinerary of our tour, ensured that our baggage had arrived, answered our questions and reassured us that our tour was being handled professionally.  And to think that there were only five of us!  Pacific Delight Tours certainly was living up to their reputation!

A breakfast buffet was just the thing to get our first day of sightseeing kick-started.  Misako was there at 8:20 along with our Toyota mini-van driver, Kobu san.  As we departed the hotel, Misako began her dialog.  Kyoto is the 7th largest city in Japan and was the cultural and political capitol for many years.  Our first stop was the ancient Nijo Castle pictured below.  

Click on the small pictures included in this section to view larger ones and expanded descriptions. 

Next stop was the Golden Pavilion and gardens.  These two pictures captured some of the beauty of the gardens and the insatiable appetite of the Japanese to have their pictures taken with "round eyed" Americans. 

The oldest street car in Kyoto, 100 plus years, is pictured below.  I am standing beside Misako, our able guide.  Don't forget to click on it to see an enlarged picture and learn more about our guide.

Dotty is fascinated by fortune telling at the Zen Buddhist Temple.  Bad fortunes were hung on a line to "cleanse" them.

After a delicious lunch at the Noodle Restaurant, the owners invited us to tour the other parts of the converted house.  The restroom was for both sexes and created an uncomfortable moment for several of us as it became populated by members of the opposite sex.  Dotty had no difficulty getting the owner to pose for a picture. 

A highlight of our Japan tour was the visit with two of the men who worked with me when I was stationed there in 1958-'59.  We had lost touch until a Japanese man working in the states came across a picture of a bridge on my web page.  He e-mailed that seeing it made him homesick but thanked me for it.  After telling him of my desire to contact one of my colleagues, he offered to have his parents look up the address.  Armed with his home address, I wrote my long ago friend and colleague, Minoru "Bob" Seiki and asked that he bring me up to date.  

Bob, who had been brought up and finished college in Hawaii before moving to Japan with his parents in 1938, asked his daughter, Shigeyo Ohkawa, to respond for him.  Shigeyo was now widowed with two children and working in Tokyo.  She e-mailed me and that began our planning for a trip to Japan, albeit years in the process.  To facilitate our reunion with her father, Shigeyo arranged for our train tickets to his home in Iwakuni, about 40 miles south of Hiroshima.

Another colleague, Seigo "Frankie" Iwatani and his wife, Kuniko met Dotty and me at the train station.  Frankie was now 80 years old but looked and acted more like I had remembered him those many years ago.  What a joy to be with my old friends again.  Click on the small pictures for larger ones and a description of the reunion.

Next on our schedule was a "Bullet" train ride to the resort of Hakone which is located in a mountainous area not too far from Tokyo.

At the Hakone mountain hot springs resort we were lodged in a comfortable room overlooking beautiful lush gardens.  The weather was cloudy and cool adding to the aura of a locale that experiences earth quakes often enough for the hotel to put in the rooms procedures to follow should one hit.  One did not while we were there!

After settling into our rooms we five walked a short distance to roam through a large garden that was part of the hotel complex.  You must see the larger view as well as the hotel accessories!

After a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel we departed the hotel in very windy and rainy weather.  Because of the conditions, our scheduled cruise on Lake Ashi and a cable car ride up Mount Komagatake was cancelled.  Instead, we drove up a nearby mountain in fog so thick you could see no more than a few feet ahead.  Once near the top, we departed our mini-van and donned plastic ponchos furnished by our guide Misako.  It was tough going trying to maintain our balance in the face of very strong winds and visibility so poor we often couldn't see our feet.  The trail to the hot sulfur springs was short thank goodness.  Once there we saw where our breakfast eggs had been boiled and turned black by the hot sulfur water.  

The small picture gives an idea of what it was like, see the larger one!

Next on our revised itinerary was a two hour drive to Kamakura where we enjoyed a luscious traditional Japanese lunch.  Take a closer look!

After lunch we walked a short distance to see the Great Bronze Buddha.  Inside it was barely light enough to climb the few stairs and grasp the enormity of the work.

Just down the street was The Hase Kannon Temple where we got to turn the Buddhist library wheel.  One complete walk around while turning the wheel counts as having read the complete scriptures of Buddha.  And, we both completed our turn!

We also visited a cave by the temple that honored the God of Music.  When I departed Japan in 1959 my office staff gave me a beautiful replica of this God.  It is proudly displayed in our home but now we know more of its significance.

Another place of interest nearby was a Buddha surrounded by miniature statues to appease the gods for aborted babies.  Check closely in the enlarged picture.

Our ride from Kamakura to Tokyo passed by Yokohama on thoroughfares that we filled almost to capacity.  In the nearly three hour drive however we failed to see any road rage or unsafe driving.  Japan may be crowded but the people have adjusted and live with civility.  Our guide, Misako, would leave us in Tokyo but gave us her number there in case we needed any help.  She also briefed us on the remainder of our tour and gave us passes for our bus ride to the airport.  What an excellent guide she was!

Our luggage had been brought by truck from the hotel in Hakone as it had from Kyoto to Hakone.  It was waiting in our room at the Le Meridien Pacific Hotel.  Shortly after our arrival, Shigeyo called to make plans for the next day.

Included in our tour was an excursion through parts of this very large city of over 12 million, about one tenth the population of all of Japan.  Our driver/guide was personable and spoke excellent English.  His descriptions of the city and its people were interesting.  With only nine of us on the large bus, it was easy to ask questions during our leisurely drive. 

First stop was Tokyo Tower, 1,000 feet tall.  Because of the haze the views were somewhat obscured but we certainly gained a perspective of the enormousness of the city.

Next stop was at the Imperial Palace Plaza.  We were allowed to wander around but were not invited into the Palace.  This nice Chinese lady provided us with interesting conversation while we looked.

Here we are at the Asakusa Kannon Temple. 

Adjacent to the temple is the bustling Nakamise shopping arcade.

Later our bus took us through the famous Ginza district where one square meter of land cost as much as $250,000.  A brief stop at a pearl gallery concluded our tour.

Back in our beautiful hotel lobby our group posed for one final picture.

That afternoon Shigeyo came to our hotel from work where we greeted one another as long lost friends.  I remembered her only as a very young girl when I had been invited into their home in Iwakuni many years before.  After some wine and picture sharing, the three of us took a taxi to a Japanese/French restaurant where Shigeyo's son Taku works.  Madoka, Shigeyo's daughter, joined us as did Taku and his wife, Kumi.

The meal was spectacular as was the service.  Taku's co-workers were obviously putting their best foot forward.  Champagne was served first.  Sweet potato wrapped in a thin piece of ham was next then white wine that had a red wine flavor.  Next was a salad of smoked fish, raw shrimp, raw fish and wild greens then a different white wine.  Duck pate on white asparagus and fish with a white topping was served with red wine.  The most delicious Kobe beef capped off the dinner.  For desert there was sherbet served over a cracker and custard.  What an elegant meal! 

Conversation flowed freely during the evening.  This was our first opportunity to meet Taku, Kumi and Madoka.  Their English was quite good, not a surprise since Shigeyo spoke like a native American.  They were curious about us, our families and America so much of our discussion followed along those lines.  Taku was curious about my impressions about his grandfather with whom he had spent a great deal of his youth after his father had died.  My comments seemed to make him proud that his grandfather had been the number one Japanese employee on our Marine base at Iwakuni.

Next day Shigeyo met us for lunch at the TGIF restaurant in our hotel.  Afterwards we caught a train to near the Takushimaya Department store.  I got to browse their electronics floor while Dotty and Shigeyo explored the sections more appealing to the ladies.  The trip to Shigeyo's apartment was courtesy of Madoka who had driven to the store to fetch us.  Our final night in Tokyo is included at the click of the thumbnail below.

We had arranged with Pacific Delight Tours to join a tour headed for China which would stop in Tokyo en route.  So, on Friday, May 3rd  we departed our hotel and headed for the Narita Airport just over an hour away.  And before the day is over we were beginning another exciting adventure.  Click on "China02" in the left frame to explore China with us.