JAPAN

JAPAN 2019.

Our Tour director was Jason Chou, and our tour company partner was Explorica, Inc. Our student travelers were: Ceres, Jules, Richelle, Brianna, Lisa, Cassandra, Christopher, Gennevi, Layla, Jennelle, Justin, Darius, Heather, Maria, Armando, Miranda, Hailey, Ezekiel, Brittany, Allyssa, Zachary and Elissa. Our adult travelers were: Mrs. Tova Black, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Earhart. Air travel courtesy of Delta Airlines. Additional photography by Tova and Ceres Black.

Day One - LAX to Tokyo.

30,000 Yen. Always have some local currency upon arrival.

The entire group at LAX, ready for boarding!

Dinner with Delta, "International Cabin" menu.

Brianna, Jules and Tova.

Justin, Elissa and Zachary.

Miranda and Allyssa.

Maria and brother, Armando.

Jennelle and Layla.

Hailey, Brittany and Ezekiel.

Mr. Black and Ceres.

Gennevi, Chris and Cassandra.

Lisa, Barbara and Greg.

Richelle.

Day Two - Konichiwa Tokyo!

Met the tour director at Tokyo Haneda airport and checked into Tmark City Hotel. Japanese buffet dinner at Daichi-no Okurimono (Gifts from Mother Nature Restaurant) in Ueno District.

First bus ride, from the airport to Hotel.

Tokyo is dense. View from bus.

Busy Tokyo: activity, people and text everywhere.

The group walks together thru the streets of Tokyo.

Jules admires "sampuru," the tradition of Japanese fake food.

Near the Akihabara area, the anime district.

Tired after a long flight, the group walks steadfastly towards dinner.

First dinner together at Daichi-no Okurimono.

Extensive Japanese buffet at Daichi-no Okurimono.

Gennevi, Christopher, Brittany and Jennelle.

All You Can Eat at Daichi-no Okurimono.

Happy and hungry travelers.

Richelle, Brianna and Layla.

View from hotel room at TMark City Hotel, Tokyo.

Day Three - Tokyo Landmarks.

Tokyo guided sightseeing tour: Imperial Palace East Garden. Asakusa District: Kaminarimon Gate, Sensō‐ji temple, Asakusa Shrine visit. Lunch and shopping in the Harajuku District. Meiji Shrine. Shibuya Crossing. Nabe style multi-course dinner at Mirizaka Shibuya Dogenzaka. Karaoke at Karaoke Manekineko.

The entire group at the Imperial Palace East Garden.

Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa: the gateway to Senjo-ji and shopping.

Under the giant lantern, the gateway to Nakamise Dori or Nakamise Shopping Street.

Zōri sandals allow for free circulation of air around the feet. Because of the humid climate throughout most of Japan, they are easily slipped on and off, important in a culture where shoes are constantly removed, and where tying shoelaces would be impractical in a tight kimono.

This five-story pagoda is devoted to Kannon Bosatsu, the Goddess of Mercy. Originally built in 942 AD.

Lighting a candle inside Sensō‐ji. The first temple was founded in 645 AD.

Inside Sensō‐ji, a Buddhist ceiling painting of a nymph swirling among cherry blossoms.

Sensō‐ji models for tourists with rented kimonos and smartphones.

Yvette, Bill, Barbara, Greg, Lisa and Heather relaxing near the Asakusa Shinto shrine, also known as Sanja-sama (Shrine of the Three gods).

Cassandra, Layla and Ceres with newly purchased fans and fortunes.

Brianna and Richelle.

Justin, Zachary and Elissa: SDHS Band friends in Japan.

Chris, Jennelle and Brittany, arms full from shopping.

The Harajuku district in Shibuya is a fashion and culture hot spot for Japanese youth.

Harajuku stores are crazy.

Crepes in many, many varieties on sale in Harajuku.

"Pet Cafes" are very popular in Harajuku. Guests pay to relax in comfort with animals of all kinds, cats, puppies, owls, etc.

Sake barrels are offered every year to the enshrined deities at Meiji Jingu Shrine. They have been donated by sake brewers from around Japan, with the sake being used for shrine ceremonies and festivals.

Giant torii gate leads into Meiji Shrine (明治神宮). The shrine is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Completed in 1920.

Purification ceremony before entering the shrine.

Tour Director Jason explains shrine ceremonies and rites at the Meiji Shrine.

Shibuya crossing!

Plenty of entrees at Mirizaka Shibuya Dogenzaka.

Multi-course set meal at ミライザカ渋谷道玄坂店.

Nightime in Tokyo is alive and exciting.

Ezekiel and Maria figuring out the karaoke app with live Google translate on another phone at Karaoke Manekineko.

Jennelle and Gennevi sing at Karaoke Manekineko.

Ezekiel, Maria, Miranda and Allyssa are caught in a "Bad Romance" at カラオケまねきねこ.

Day Four - DisneySea!

Tokyo Subway during rush hour. Disney Monorail to Tokyo DisneySea. Tokyo Subway Home.

Tour Director Jason explains the Tokyo subway system before sending us on our way to Tokyo station and then on to Maihama, the Disney Parks train station.

The daily number of train passengers in the Greater Tokyo Area is approximately 20 million. This is more than the individual populations of over 100 countries in the world.

The average number of passengers transported per hour is about 64,000, since the trains only operate between 5 AM and midnight.

Main entrance to Tokyo DisneySea.

DisneySea celebrates 2019 with "Pirate Summer," featuring the Pirates' Summer Battle “Get Wet!" in its Mediterranean Harbor.

The Jules Verne inspired "Mysterious Island" area, featuring the "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" rides.

Main entrance to the "Mermaid Lagoon."

The "Mermaid Lagoon" area is entirely indoors to simulate the underwater environment. It features 6 rides, several gift shops, a theater and a restaurant.

The Japanese love for "sampuru" food is present at the Disney Parks, too.

Chris, Gennevi, Jennelle and Brittany in the "Arabian Coast" area.

Darius in Agrabah.

View of the Raging Spirits" roller coaster in the "Lost River Delta" area.

"Lost River Delta" area.

The "Tower of Terror" in the "American Waterfront" area.

Alien head mochi come in three flavors!

Amazing pyramid temple in the "Lost River Delta" area.

Near the gondola ride in the recreated Venice of DisneySea.

Fun merch says: "Mickey Mouse," "Minnie Mouse," "Donald Duck" and Daisy Duck" in Katakana.

Day Five - Tokyo to Hakone.

Travel to Hakone by bus. Hakone excursion: Lake Ashi cruise. Hakone Ropeway to top of Mount Komagatake. Views of Mt. Fuji. Overnight in an onsen, (Japanese natural hot spring hotel), Kanpo no Yado Atami Honkan. Japanese dinner buffet by shuttle at the Kanpo no Yado Atami Bekkan.

"Sampuru" at the impressive Tomei Expressway Ebina Service Area.

Hello Kitty with Matcha sweets at the Tomei Expressway Ebina Service Area.

Boarding the boat for our cruise of Lake Ashi. Also referred to as Hakone Lake or Ashinoko Lake, it is a scenic lake in the Hakone area of the Kanagawa Prefecture. It is a crater lake that lies along the southwest wall of the caldera of Mount Hakone.

Zachary.

Cassandra and Layla.

Justin.

View of Mt. Fuji from Lake Ashi.

The Water Gate at Hakone Shrine, Lake Ashi.

Allyssa, Maria and Miranda.

Richelle.

Tova and Ceres.

Brittany and Gennevi.

Armando and Ezekiel.

We reach the top of Mt. Komagatake via a 1,800 meter aerial tramway in Hakone National Park.

The group with Mt. Fuji behind us.

The Hakone Shrine, Mototsumiya, at the top of Mount Komagatake.

Allyssa near the Hakone shrine.

Expansive and airy lobby at the Kanpo no Yado Atami Honkan Hotel.

Traditional Japanese rooms, complete with futon and tatami mats at the Kanpo no Yado Atami Honkan hotel.

Another amazing buffet style dinner at the Kanpo no Yado Atami Bekkan.

Layla, Cassandra, Heather and Lisa in yukata after dinner.

Mr. Black and Darius model their yukata.

Day 6 - Hakone to Takayama.

Travel to Matsumoto by bus. Lunch on the road. Matsumoto Castle visit. Overnight stay at another onsen hotel, the Route-Inn Grantia Hidatakayama. Japanese dinner buffet at the hotel.

A complete breakfast at the Kanpo no Yado Atami Honkan hotel.

Hailey, Brittany, Ceres and Jennelle share stories at breakfast.

At a "rest stop" grocery store off the highway.

View from the bus while speeding along towards our next destination.

Convenient, automated lunch selections. Insert cash or a card, and ten minutes later, a steaming bowl of noodles appears.

Jules, Darius, Tova and Brianna enjoy lunch at Yatsugatake rest stop, on the Chuo Expressway.

Ezekiel and Armando.

Allyssa, Maria and Miranda enjoy ramen.

Justin, Elissa, Zachary and Richelle.

Allyssa, Maria, Jules and Miranda.

The entire group in front of Matsumoto Castle. Much of the castle was completed by 1594.

Bridge across the moat leads to the castle entrance.

Ceres with a ninja!

Hailey is about to slice a soldier!

"Charlie's Angels," Nihonjin style.

Mr. Black and Jules ready to slay with a ninja!

Samurai armor in Matsumoto Castle.

View of the moat from the highest point in the castle.

Spectacular views from the castle.

Jules and the girls!

Allyssa, Maria and Miranda play hide-and-seek with Matsumoto Castle.

At the main entrance to the castle.

Beautiful, green, misty and majestic views along the Japanese highway system, cutting straight through the mountains.

Japan experiences rainfall throughout the year, so most of the country is very green.

Cassandra and Hailey eat dinner at the Route-Inn Grantia Hidatakayama Hotel.

Ceres and Layla.

Rare roast beef, grilled prawns, salad, miso soup, tempera vegetables, curry with rice. And French Fries.

Ezekiel and Richelle.

Tova and Jules.

Heather and Lisa.

Jennelle and Brittany.

Everyone enjoys another excellent Japanese buffet.

Christopher, Gennevi, Brianna and Elissa.

Tour director, Jason.

Day Seven - Takayama to Kyoto.

Takayama sightseeing, Old City visit. Shirakawa Village visit. Lunch on the road. Travel to Kyoto by bus. Japanese hot pot style dinner and sake samples at an Izakaya. Check into Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto.

Rainy morning in old Takayama.

So many Japanese goods on sale...

Gennevi and Christopher contemplate eating skewers of raw Hide beef.

Richelle is picture perfect with a delicious snack, umbrella and rain gear.

Tova enjoys the beauty and tranquility of Takayama.

Steps to the suspension bridge which leads into Shirakawa village.

The group crosses the suspension bridge over the river to Shirakawa Go.

It is like stepping back in time at 白川郷.

Shirakawa village was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1995.

The group in front of a set of machi gassho style buildings. Thatched roofs, with a steep incline, protection in snowy winter.

Rice fields.

View of Shirakawa village from hilltop.

Brianna fulfills her lifelong dream to visit Japan!

Tranquil beauty at 白川村.

Traditional Japanese restaurant at 白川村.

Amazing "sampuru" food displays showcase the delicacies available at the Kusatsu parking area, off the Meishin Expressway.

Quick noodle lunch at the Kusatsu parking area.

Irresistible ramen, even if you only have 15 minutes.

Excellent set menu with small hot pot at Public House Restaurant, in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto.

Darius, Heather, Lisa, Layla, Cassandra and Hailey.

Greg, Barbara, Yvette and Bill.

SO MUCH GOOD FOOD!

Day Eight - Nara Excursion and Kyoto Landmarks.

Kyoto guided sightseeing tour: Kinkaku‐ji temple (Golden Pavilion) visit. Kimono fashion show at the Nishijin Textile Center in Kyoto. Fushimi Inari Taisha visit. Lunch in Kyoto. Nara excursion: Nara Park, Tōdai‐ji temple, Kasuga Grand Shrine. Japanese dinner buffet. Pokémon Center visit.