AJMS130518: Backroads of Japan- 18th May 2013

[bethanymcglue]

Hi,

My boyfriend and I are doing the Backroads of Japan in May. Very very excited!
Anyone else booked on to go?

Bethany and Pete

[cderocher]

Hi Bethany, My name is Chris Derocher and I will be on that tour with my wife Margaret and my 14 year old son Andy. We've done lots of independent travel and this will be our first group tour in years. We will be arriving in Tokyo 4 days before the tour and hope to see a sumo tournament, a kabuki theatre show and perhaps some pro soccer or baseball. We're really looking forward to the trip and I'm trying to learn a few words of Japanese- not easy! I'd be pleased to hear from you. Cheers, Chris D.

[bethanymcglue]

Hi Chris,

Nice to hear from you!
Pete and I are arriving early on day 1 of the tour and hope to book Sumo tickets for that day as we don't have anything scheduled until the evening, we have also booked tickets to the Studio Ghibli museum on day 3 of the tour as I believe we have free time that day. We will be heading back to Tokyo for 2 days at the end of the tour too.
We are trying to learn some Japanese also.
Pete has travelled around a bit before but this is my first big adventure so I'm very excited!
We look forward to meeting you, Margaret and Andy in May!

Beth

[cderocher]

Hi Beth, A good website for sumo tickets is buysumotickets.com. Also, if you're interested in some background reading my favorite so far is "A Geek in Japan" by Hector Garcia. I'll have to look into the Ghibli museum. Our next challenge is to decide on what kind of baggage to take. I think a convertible backpack with wheels and enclosable straps may be the best option. Please pass along any interesting info you come across, otherwise we'll see you in May. Chris

[bethanymcglue]

Brilliant! Thank you. I'll definitely check out that sumo site and book.
After a lengthy search I have bought a wheely rucksack- I got an Osprey Sojourn 60litre bag. It seemed the best on my search- although haven't used it yet. It' seems a decent rucksack with proper back support and straps, but they can also be zipped away, and a handle pulls out, to aid with the wheeling. Also the main compartment unzips all the way round a bit like a suitcase.
Beth

[cderocher]

Hi Beth, After a bit of a gap we're back into getting ready for the trip. As it turned out, I got an Osprey pack too, but the 75L (I'm a big guy and I get to carry all the extras like first aid supplies, white noise machine etc.). I don't have anything new to tell you about Japan except that I've heard that there is still some degree of anxiety in Japan about radiation and more recently about the behaviour of the North Koreans. Its surprising how many people raise these issues even from a North American viewpoint (we're Canadian). Anyways, I'll post a note if I learn of anything worthwhile.
Cheers, Chris