2/14 Sitting at LAX

Equipped with the knowledge of how to say “hello,” “thank you,” and “hot spring” in Japanese, I am confidently making the long journey to Japan. Before we continue, I would like to make the point that this blog is mostly written with two purposes:

1. Document my experiences for my own enjoyment so I can remember all the small things that happen that make the trip an “experience” rather than just “seeing some stuff.”
2. Provide updates to Mom and Dad so they know I’m still alive and in good health.

Note that neither of those items includes “writing entertaining and thoughtful prose that will enlighten readers and illuminate the wonders of foreign countries.” I believe there are millions of other websites where you can find that. The only reason I may make an effort to make this slightly interesting is so that my blog is more interesting than Ariel’s, who I believe is also making a blog for reasons 1 and 2 above.

Ok. While I haven’t had a chance to fill in all of the details, this is the current game plan:

2/14/2013: Flight from LAX leaving at 2:15pm and landing in Tokyo at 7:05pm 2/15/2013.

2/15/2013: Stay in K’s House Tokyo (Hostel) after finding my way from the airport into Tokyo. There I will hopefully pick up my “Japan Rail Pass,” which I ordered online on Monday and had sent to the hostel. The Japan Rail Pass is offered for foreigners only and allows unlimited train travel for 7 days anywhere in Japan. K’s House Tokyo: 20-10, Kuramae 3-Chome, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan 111-005, phone # +81-3-5833-0555

2/16/2013: Take a train (hopefully of the bullet type) to Kyoto and drop off my pack at K’s House Kyoto.

2/16-2/17: Do touristy things in Kyoto, staying at K’s House Kyoto (418 Nayacho, Shichijo-agaru, Dotemachi-dori, Shimogyo-ku, phone # 075-342-2444).

2/18/2013 – 2/19/2013: Make my way by train to Sapporo. This is a very far trip, so I think most of my time will be on trains. I’m hoping someone at the hostel in Kyoto can help me determine where the best place is to stop along the way. I’d prefer not to go all the way to Sapporo in one shot. I have a hotel reservation in Sapporo for the night of 2/19. Hopefully I’ll have time to check out the Sapporo Brewery. Hotel info in Sapporo: New Otani Inn Sapporo, 

Nishi1-1, Kita 2, Chuo-ku

Sapporo,  060-0002

Japan

+81112221111

2/20/2013: Hop on free bus to Rusutsu Ski Resort south of Sapporo. It’s something like a 2 hour ride, but I’m excited for the scenery. Arrive at Rusutsu, drop off my gear, change into ski clothes, rent skis, and start skiing. I have a hotel reservation at the base of the ski area (supposedly ski in/ski out). In the evening I’ll eat some dinner and try some “onsen” (Japanese hot springs). Aside from the language barrier, I think onsens are currently my biggest concern because it involves nude bathing with strangers. As far as I can tell though, Lonely Planet has devoted around half of its Japan guide to the merits of onsens, so apparently it’s worth checking out.

Rusutsu Resort
TEL: +81-136-46-3331

2/21/2013: Ski all day, then hop on a bus in the evening that takes me back to Sapporo, where I’ll stay the night. I still need to make a hotel reservation for that night.

2/22/2013: Make my way from Sapporo to the airport, fly to Tokyo. I have 3 nights reserved at K’s House in Tokyo. I don’t have any plans in Tokyo, but I’d like to see the fish market. I’d also like to see if I could make my way out of the city and get closer to Mt. Fuji. We’ll see.

2/22/2013 – 2/25/2013: Tokyo

2/25/2013: Fly from Tokyo to Seoul, South Korea. No plans yet for South Korea. I need to book some rooms, etc. Rosy gave me a nice long email with some useful information on it. I’d like to get out of Seoul for a day (possibly overnight), so I have some research to do.

3/1/2013: Fly from Seoul, South Korea to Hong Kong. Hang with Rosy for a few days.

After Hong Kong….TBD. I’m considering going to one more city before returning to CO for Brady and Kara’s wedding (3/15). I’m thinking either Taipei or Singapore, but I’ll have to look at United flights to see which one would be more convenient for returning to the US. I think both of those cities have direct flights to LAX and SFO.