Last Update Before the Big Trip!

We're leaving for Japan in less than a week, woohoo! So this is the last update before we go.

We still haven't received confirmation of all our accommodation places yet! I'm still waiting for my first choice accommodation in Kyoto for a reply. But the rest are all booked. It wasn't easy, as I had to brush up my Japanese to write emails to the Japanese Ryokans and the local tourist associations in order to book some of the more traditional places. I even had to ***FAX*** a booking request to one of the villages as they still don't have email.

So it took some extra effort, but I think it will be worth it. Our final itinerary is:

Day 1: Kansai Int'l Airport - Osaka
Day 2: Osaka
Day 3: Osaka - Himeji - Kobe - Osaka
Day 4: Osaka - Nara - Uji
Day 5: Uji - Kyoto (Aoi Matsuri festival)
Day 6: Kyoto (Northern Hills + Arashiyama)
Day 7: Kyoto (Higashiyama)
Day 8: Kyoto - Kanazawa
Day 9: Kanazawa - Gokayama
Day 10: Gokayama - Shirakawago
Day 11: Shirakawago - Hida Takayama
Day 12: Hida Takayama - Kamikochi - Okuhida Onsengo
Day 13: Okuhida Onsengo - Matsumoto - Tsumago
Day 14: Tsumago - Magome
Day 15: Magome - Nagoya - Centrair Airport

So that is the big plan, a 15-Day trip concentrating on a small geographical area roughly 300 KM in diameter. About the distance from New York to Washington, or Paris to Brussels. But in my opinion these regions of Kansai (Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe) and Chubu (Central Japan) are the most culturally and culinarily interesting regions of Japan.

As usual I'll come back with photos and commentary. And of course the food pics!