Japannn

Okay, here's the itinerary for Japan. It's mostly worked out, though we still have to fill in a few details.

The ship docks in Yokohama early, early on Tuesday February 9. The first thing I'm doing is going to a Zen Temple and Meditating with Zen monks. I'll be back in the afternoon when I'll meet up with Helen, Heather, David, Nick and Gabe. We're spending the afternoon exploring the city, then heading to a karaoke bar where Gabe will be impressing us with his rendition of a Lady Gaga song, among other gems. We're staying on the ship that night to save money, then taking the train to Tokyo first thing in the morning.

We're spending all day on the 10th in Tokyo (yes, we have a list of places to check out). That night we're splurging on a capsule hotel. It was hard to find a co-ed one, as they're generally used by Japanese businessmen, but the reservations are finally make. :)
Seriously, I'm curious to see what it'll be like... google it... I'm thinking morgue... haha

At 4:30am the next morning we're headed to a huge fish market, which is supposed to be crazy/exciting. I vote early morning sushi, but we'll see... :)

Immediately following the fish market, we're hopping a train to Osaka (or thereabouts) and eventually getting to a town where we take a cable car up to the mountain village of Koya-san. We're spending the afternoon in the village; there's supposed to be a gorgeous hike through an ancient graveyard, then spending the evening/night at a Buddhist Temple. They feed us traditional meals and we get up to pray with them at 6am. The email didn't say that we'd be required to wear kimonos, but they sent me a link to a website where you can learn to tie one... hint?

The next morning we're traveling to Nara to spend the day. If all goes according to plan we're sleeping on the ship in Kobe that night. The next morning I'm traveling for a quick tour of an ancient samurai training fortress, then heading back to the ship before on ship time at 6.

We're trying to squeeze Hiroshima in, but it's hours and hours away. If we end up with extra time, that's the first place on my list.

Love

Molly