July 2, 2023 All Photos (May take a while to load!) - https://japantrip.dropkickllc.com/all-photos/ Tokyo July 10-12 - https://japantrip.dropkickllc.com/tokyo-july-10-12/ Osaka – July 13-14 - https://japantrip.dropkickllc.com/osaka-july-13-14/ Koyasan – July 15-17 - https://japantrip.dropkickllc.com/koyasan-july-15-17/ Kyoto & Nara – July 17-19 - https://japantrip.dropkickllc.com/kyoto-nara-july-17-19/ Yaeyama Islands - July 20-25 - https://japantrip.dropkickllc.com/yaeyama-islands-july-20-25/ Yokohama & Hakone – July 26-28 - https://japantrip.dropkickllc.com/yokohama-hakone-july-26-28/ Kamakura – July 29-31 - https://japantrip.dropkickllc.com/kamakura-july-29-31/ Tokyo - August 1-3 - https://japantrip.dropkickllc.com/tokyo-august-1-3/ Depart - July 10 12:55 PM- New York JFK Booking Numbers: Barbour Slater Flight 1 - JFK to Seoul ICN Depart - JFK Terminal 1 - 12:55 PM Layover: 55min Flight 2 - Seoul to Narita (Tokyo) Depart - Seoul ICN - Terminal 1 - 3:30 PM ORIGINAL FLIGHT: What We Did - Tokyo Day 1 Stop 1 Shibuya Station (aka Shubuya Scramble Square) - home to the famous intersection of people scrambling in every direction. Stop 2 Daikanyama- Daikanyama: A Guide To Tokyo’s Little Brooklyn Lunch - Maison ICHI Daikanyama Kyu Asakura House Stop 3 - Rest at hotel Stop 4 Dinner in Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho - Official Site Zaraku Shibuya Walked around Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho on our way back to the hotel – Breakfast from Family Mart the night before. Shinkansen from Shibuya Station to Shin Osaka. Checked into AirBNB (Not ready when we arrived) Waited on the rain. Eventually left for Hirano Gion – Kumata Shrine, Hirano Ward, Osaka Click here for Hirano Gion Info Saw some of the float prcessions Ate grilled beef tongue, cold cucumbers and other festival food Never got to witness the ceremonies within the shrine, taiko drumming, the fortunes, etc. – Ate amazing croissants in our room from Cafe&Croissant in Kuromon Market. Shopping in Tsūtenkaku/Shinsekai near Tsūtenkaku Tower. Ate kushage in Shinsekai at Yaekatsu (八重勝) 3 Chome-4-13 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0002. https://www.tsunagujapan.com/the-right-way-to-eat-the-famous-osaka-kushikatsu/ David, Patty, Kyoko and Ian explored Dontonbori at night. Saw a band of buskers play on the bridge. Stopped for drinks and snacks on the water at Motokara "Japanese style Smoked Dishses Restaurant" (燻製バル モトカラ 難波店｜女子会 道頓堀) 〒542-0084 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Souemoncho, 入り口は道頓堀川沿い 7-11 B1F – Peach Aviation - MM235 Simple Peach Fare 2h 25m I'm going. If you can get up to see it, it will be one of the most amazing things you will see in your life (not an exaggeration) - Weather depending. – eTickets (PDF): Ishigaki to Tokyo Economy 3h July 26, 2023 Went sightseeing and shopping around Minato Mirai 21. Sarah and Ian got eyeglasses at Owndays optometrist at Mark IS mall https://www.owndays.com/jp/ja/shops/681. Tried to go to Megmi Suisan kaiten sushi on the 4th floor in Mark IS mall https://neo-emotion.jp/post_kaitensushi/mark-is/. Since the pandemic, kaiten sushi is a thing of the past, so there was no sushi on the conveyer belt. Ian thought the place smelled bad so we left. Went to Kamakura Pasta restaurant instead, also on the 4th floor. David took more bread than he was allowed from the bread bar and was reprimanded by the bread lady, who rang a bell every time she brought out fresh bread. https://www.saint-marc-hd.com/kamakura/menu/kamakura/ https://www.saint-marc-hd.com/kamakura/shop/370/ After lunch we went to the rooftop of Mark IS mall and saw the garden. Patty went to doctor that evening at My Medical Clinic - Minato Mirai https://mymc.jp/minatomirai/. David and Patty went for prescription at Yokohama Station alone. Went back the next day because they gave her one too few antibiotic pills. Ian, Kyoko and Sarah had dinner at Bonno Restaurant near Sakuragicho Station. http://www.bon-no.com/ July 31, 2023 Brunch with Mihoko at Garden Cafe Dinner - Kyoko and Sarah had dinner with her mother and Mihoko in Totsuka. Ian, David and Patty tried to eat at Sushi Yamamoto (鮨山もと) in Hase. There was a family at the sushi bar. The father started telling how lucky we were to just walk in and eat since he had tried twice before and finally made a reservation. Just as we got settled, the chef, Yamamoto-san, holds up a tablet with the words, "I have a reservation coming soon. I only have enough rice for them." Surprised that a place with such a good reputation didn't have enough rice, we left. We found another restaurant, Kohana Sushi, 小花寿司, 1 Chome-11-13 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016, Japan. Two older chefs behind the bar were very accommodating and we had an excellent meal starting with sushi platters, then we started picking individual items, and a couple of small bottles of sake. – Click for Narita Airport Map Return - Aug 3 - Tokyo Narita Barbour - Flight 1 - Tokyo to Montreal - Booking Number - 426ET7 Air Canada Flight 2 - Montreal to JFK Depart 6:25PM - Montreal Seats: Slater - Tokyo to Honolulu Zipair
Events in July–August 2023
Photo Links
Leave for Japan - JFK 12:55 PM - UPDATED 7/9/23*
July 10, 2023
Air Canada = 426ET7
Asiana = 23859526
Air Canada = 44os99
Asiana = 97564329
Asiana Airlines - Flight No. OZ 221
Arrive - Seoul ICN - Terminal 1 - 5:35 PM (Tue, July 11 Seoul Time)
Duration: 15h 40min
Asiana Airlines - Flight No. OZ 108
Arrive - Tokyo NRT - 21:00
Duration: 2h 30min
Flight 1 - NYC to TorontoDepart 10:00 AM - JFK
Arrive 11:45 AM - Toronto YYZ
Flight No. AC 8553Flight 2 - Toronto to Tokyo (Narita)Depart 1:05 PM - Toronto YYZ
Arrive - 3:10PM (July 11 Japan Time) - Tokyo Narita
Flight No. AC 009Booking Number (Barbour) - 426ET7SeatsJFK - YYZ 16D, 16C, 16FYYZ - NRT 27G, 27D, 27E WWD Tokyo Day 1**
July 12, 2023
メゾン・イチ 代官山
Five minutes on foot from Daikanyama station, this beautifully preserved private residence that has been turned into a museum provides a peek into a traditional Japanese home, constructed in 1919. The former residence of the Asakura Family was built by its patriarch, Torajiro Asakura, and is a fantastic relic of Taisho era Japan that lasted from 1912 to 1926. Its wooden architecture and meticulously manicured Japanese gardens make it a true hidden gem and important cultural site.
個室居酒屋 座楽 渋谷駅前店 WWD Osaka Day 1
July 13, 2023 WWD Osaka Day 2
July 14, 2023 Flight to Ishigaki - 2:20pm departure*
July 20, 2023
Osaka
KIX
2:20 PM
Ishigaki
ISG
4:45 PM SUNSET - 7:32 PM!!!
July 20, 2023 SUNSET - 7:32 PM!!!
July 21, 2023 SUNSET - 7:32 PM!!!
July 22, 2023 SUNRISE!! - 5:45 AM*
July 23, 2023 SUNSET - 7:32 PM!!!
July 23, 2023 SUNSET - 7:32 PM!!!
July 24, 2023 Flight Ishigaki to Tokyo (Haneda) - 7:10pm departure*
July 25, 2023
July 25, 2023
3h Nonstop
Japan Airlines - JL974
Ishigaki
ISG
7:10 PM
Tokyo
HND
10:10 PM SUNSET - From Airplane During Flight - 7:32 PM!!!
July 25, 2023 WWD Yokohama Day 1
Incomplete
Fly Back NYC/Hawaii - 5:30pm departure (IKS); 7:15 departure (DP)*
August 3, 2023
Depart 5:30PM - Tokyo Narita Terminal 1
Arrive 4:50PM - Montreal (Yes, 40 minutes before we left on the same date!)
Flight No. AC 006
Arrive 8:00PM - JFK
Flight No. AC 8898
NRT - YUL 28G, 28D, 28E
YUL - JFK 16D, 16C, 16F
Flight ZG002
Depart 7:15 pm JST - Narita
Arrive 7:50 am HST - Honolulu
Photo Links
Leave for Japan - JFK 12:55 PM - UPDATED 7/9/23*
JFK
Arrive Narita - 3:10pm Japan Time*
WWD Tokyo Day 1**
Tokyo
WWD Osaka Day 1
Kumata Shrine, Hirano Ward, Osaka
WWD Osaka Day 2
Shinsekai
Flight to Ishigaki - 2:20pm departure*
SUNSET - 7:32 PM!!!
SUNSET - 7:32 PM!!!
SUNSET - 7:32 PM!!!
SUNRISE!! - 5:45 AM*
SUNSET - 7:32 PM!!!
SUNSET - 7:32 PM!!!
Flight Ishigaki to Tokyo (Haneda) - 7:10pm departure*
SUNSET - From Airplane During Flight - 7:32 PM!!!
WWD Yokohama Day 1
Incomplete
Fly Back NYC/Hawaii - 5:30pm departure (IKS); 7:15 departure (DP)*