Vacation Time! Japan Spring 2013

After a year of planning it is almost here....two more days until our trip to Japan!! Our last family trip to Japan was three years ago when my family came to visit while I was studying abroad in Osaka. Unfortunately during the trip my grandmother got really sick and didn't get to experience as much as she would have liked. She wanted to go to her home country of Japan once more with the entire family and we certainly weren't going to turn down the opportunity. I tend to be the travel agent for the family but this time it was a little more complicated as we have nine people traveling from four different cities all with different interests for the vacation.

Below is the proposed itinerary for Adam and I (the rest of my family will be there a few more days so they'll also get to see a little more):

Day One: Travel Day
Depart Atlanta super early in the morning (this should be interesting as I am NOT a morning person). Hopefully we'll get upgraded on this flight as it's a 777 with the lay flat beds! It'll be about a 4 hour flight to LA then we'll have seven hours in the airport before departing for Tokyo.

This will give us plenty of time to get a run in, eat some In-n-Out Burger, shower, and still have time to watch Colorado take on Illinois in the NCAA Tournament. GO BUFFS! 

After all of that excitement it'll be time to cozy up on the plane to Japan. Twelve and a half hours later we will be on the other side of the globe, jet lagged and ready to head to bed. 

Day Two: Jigokudani Monkey Park - Nagano
I mean who wouldn't want to go see snow monkey's bathing in a hot spring?!

Day Three: Tokyo 
Sushi Lunch, Tokyo Skytree, and Asakusa

Day Four: Kyoto  
Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kinkakuji Temple, Kyomizudera, and Gion

Day Five: Osaka
Osaka Castle, Osaka Aquarium, Dontonburi

Day Six: Kobe
Kobe Harborland, Kobe Beef Lunch, Shin-Kobe Ropeway, Shibuya

Day Seven: Tsukiji Fish Market & Tobu World Square

Day Eight: Mt. Fuji or Nagoya

Day Nine: Travel Home
After seven full days of sightseeing I'm sure we'll be exhausted but sad to leave Japan. I hope to update the blog a few times during our trip so keep checking throughout the week for updates!

* All images courtesy of Google Images and Japan-Guide :)