The following is Julie’s and my subject-to-change work-in-progress itinerary for our upcoming trip to Japan. 

[Check out the below locations on the Japan Map page I've set up.]

Thursday, November 13

[all times local]

Flights:

• MIA-ATL
  DL 982
  600A – 754A
• ATL-DTW
  DL 660
  935A – 1131A
• DTW-KIX
  NW 69
  100P – 500P (11/14 arrival)

Friday, November 14

On Friday, we arrive in the evening and are going to make our way straight to the hotel in Osaka. That’ll probably be as much as we accomplish on Friday.

Saturday, November 15

Saturday morning, Julie and I will hop on a bullet train to Tokyo and we’ll check out Akihibara (the gadget district), Asakusa, Shibuya, and a few other spots that afternoon and evening. Hopefully I’ll be able to meet up with my friend Masaharu as well. We’ve tentatively planned on visiting the Advertising Museum in Tokyo.

Sunday, November 16

On Sunday we’ll finish up Tokyo stuff and head out to Nagoya in the afternoon. Julie has a friend out there, so we’ll spend some time with her. 

Monday, November 17

On Monday morning, Julie and are off to the Toyota factory plant tour which is outside of Nagoya by about an hour. We plan to finish the day in Kyoto, the old capital of Japan. Should be a nice blend of new tech and old society for the day. 

Tuesday, November 18

On Tuesday, we’ll visit Julie’s old school where she taught and then make our way to Himeji Castle in the afternoon. After that, we’ll take the train to Matsue where we’re going to stay at a nice spa hotel for the night. Hopefully that should be nice relaxation.

Wednesday, November 19

After a morning at the spa, we’re going to head to Fushimi Inari-taisha, a shrine near Kyoto. It apparently has a pathway lined with thousands of torii, those iconic red gates. 

Thursday, November 20

Things start to get more free-form at this point. Currently we plan to spend time in Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto and/or Nara on Thursday. We have left the back end much more open, and Julie has a bunch of friends in the Osaka area so I think it’ll be more “hanging out”. That’s a good thing, because I think the first few days will definitely wear us out.

Friday, November 21

Friday, again, will be a play it by ear day. We do know, however, that we’ll be staying in Osaka during these last days. 

Saturday, November 22

Saturday night we plan to stay with one of Julie’s old friends, so I imagine we’ll probably spend time with her on Saturday. Perhaps we’ll fit in any last minute shopping needs. Taking it easy(ier) will probably be the name of the game.

Sunday, November 23

Bye bye Japan! We’ll take the train back to Kansai International Airport and begin the grueling journey home.

[all times local]

Flights:

• KIX-DTW
  NW 70
  130P – 1130A
• DTW-EWR (that’s right, Jersey!)
  CO 1430
  445P – 700P
• EWR-MIA
  CO 638
  825P – 1158P