We took a 17 day family trip to Japan in June 2002. It was the first time the girls had been to Asia, so it was a quite different experience for them. We bought bullet train passes and made good use of them as we journeyed from Tokyo to Hiroshima, Kyoto, Takayama in the mountains and Nagano, before returning back to Tokyo. In each city we took day trips to places such as Nikko, Miyajima Island and Nara.
Japan Itinerary
| Day | Date | Location/Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 June 2002 | Fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo, crossing the International Date Line on the 10 hour, 50 minute flight |
| 2 | 9 June 2002 | Arrive in Tokyo, dinner in Ginza |
| 3 | 10 June 2002 | Day trip to NIkko |
| 4 | 11 June 2002 | Sightseeing in Tokyo: Zoo; Ginza; Shinjuku |
| 5 | 12 June 2002 | Travel to Hiroshima via a 540 mile, five hour train trip |
| 6 | 13 June 2002 | Miyajima Island Day Trip via a 25 minute train and 10 minute ferry trip each way |
| 7 | 14 June 2002 | Visit Hiroshima sites: Peace Park, Peace Memorial Museum |
| 8 | 15 June 2002 | Travel to Kyoto via a two hour train ride |
| 9 | 16 June 2002 | Explore Kyoto: Ninnaji, Ryoanji, Kinkakuji (Golden), Yasaka-jinja and Kiyomizu Temples |
| 10 | 17 June 2002 | Day trip to Nara, taking a 45 minute train trip each way |
| 11 | 18 June 2002 | Travel to Takayama via two trains |
| 12 | 19 June 2002 | Takayama Rest Day: Visit a market, Relax and hike in a park |
| 13 | 20 June 2002 | Travel to Nagano via three trains and along the Japan Sea |
| 14 | 21 June 2002 | Visit Nagano Zenkoji Temple; Matsumoto Day Trip to Castle and Japan Folklore Museum |
| 15 | 22 June 2002 | Travel to Tokyo, via a one hour, 40 minute train ride |
| 16 | 23 June 2002 | Explore Tokyo: Sensoji Temple, Imperial Gardens, Meji-jingu Shrine |
| 17 | 24 June 2002 | Travel from Tokyo to Los Angeles, via an eight hour, 40 minute flight |