Here’s my itinerary:

June 15: Narita

June 16: Tokyo

June 17: Bullet Train (whoo-hoo!) to Kanazawa. \240In the 17th century, this preserved castle town was Japan’s wealthiest and became a thriving center for culture and arts, including Higashi Chaya geisha district.

June 18: Kanazawa. \240Kenroku-en is one of Japan’s top three gardens with 25 acres of gardens, ponds, waterfalls, pagodas, unique bridges, fountains and tea houses. \240Next door to Kanazawa Castle, built in 1580, and the Nagamachi Samurai district, located just below the castle, where samurai and their families lived in mud huts.

June 19: Bullet train to Takayama, where we’ll stay in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn.

June 20: Takayama. \240Hida no Sato is a traditional folk village dating from the 1600s with sake breweries, thatched roof farmhouses, onsen (volcanic hot springs) and rice fields.

June 21: Bullet train to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Park and Memorial.

June 22: Hiroshima. \240Ferry ride to Miyakima, a sacred island with the famous floating Torii gate (don’t know if we’ll get to see it because it’s supposed to be under construction,) which dates back to the 6th century. \240This is famed as one of Japan’s most scenic spots, with shrines and temples, deer and monkeys, hiking trails and Mt. Misen.

June 23: Bullet train to Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan. \240Visit the Fushimi Imari Takisha Shrine with the procession of torii gates.

June 24: Kyoto. Visit Kinkaku-ji, aka the Golden Pavilion, and gardens. \240Visit the Nijo Castle, residence of the first shogun of the Edo period built in 1693, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

June 25: Kyoto

June 26: Fujikawaguchiko (Mt. Fuji Five Lakes region.) \240Onsen. \240Kaiseki dinner.

June 27: Kawaguchiko in the morning, then bullet train to Tokyo.

June 28: Tokyo

June 29: Tokyo, then ?

June 30: ?

July 1: ?

July 2: ? to Narita. \2405:45 flight.