We spent three weeks in Japan in 2018 and ever since we’ve attempted to jockey our itinerary for more, more, more! We tried in 2020, just before the Covid lockdown, with what was to be an albeit inadequate three night stopover in Tokyo between Thailand and Portland, Oregon USA. But that got nixed. What we did get was just an all-day layover at an entirely empty Narita airport waiting to catch what turned out to be the very last direct flight from there to Portland. Delta Airlines never resurrected that route post-pandemic.
So in late March 2024, after our eagerly anticipated west coast USA Archie 3.0 visit (our third visit with Rich’s Grandson, Archie, following his birth in 2022), we arrived in Tokyo for a second three-week visit, to this alluring, gorgeous country.
In addition to visiting Tokyo we took a Shinkansen (bullet train) south to Naoshima, a destination commonly known as Japan’s art island and also enjoyed several spots around Osaka/Kobe. Below are our hotel choices, with pics, followed by a selection of pics from our activities at each location.
TOP TIP FOR JAPAN TRAVELERS
Ship your luggage point-to-point within Japan, between airports to hotel (and hotel to hotel) with Yamato Transport. No need to schlep too much on the trains and buses! Very affordable! https://www.global-yamato.com/
We were here April 8-10, 2024 ($80/night without breakfast). Great choice! We took the bullet train from Tokyo to Okayama to enjoy the nearby Korakuen Garden and the Okayama Castle, both within walking distance of the hotel. This location positioned us nicely for onward travel to the shores of the nearby Seto Inland Sea and Naoshima Island. It was peak cherry blossom season!
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