We fly into Tokyo on September 20th. Once we’re in the country, we will activate our Japan Rail Pass. The pass lets you freely move about the country on (almost) any train operated by Japan Rail, with the exception of the very fastest Nozomi bullet trains. Trains in Japan can run at up to 200 miles per hour!
Trains of Japan Rail Credit: Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkansen]
Tokyo
Tokyo Bay Credit: Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo]
Nagano
We spend a few days in Tokyo before making a trip to Nagano, home of the 1998 Winter Olympics as well as a number of hot-tubbing monkeys.
Hot-Tubbing Monkeys Credit: Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_macaque]
After Nagano, we briefly visit the base of Mt. Fuji, then continue onward to Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan.
Mt. Fuji
Mt. Fuji Credit: Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt_fuji]
Kyoto
Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto Credit: Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto]
Nara
Nara Credit: Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara,_Nara]
Kobe
Kobe Credit: Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe]
Himeji
Himeji Castle Credit: Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himeji_Castle]
Kurashiki
Bikan District, Kurashiki Credit: Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurashiki]
Onomichi
Path of Literature, Onomichi Credit: Wikivoyage [http://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Onomichi]
Hiroshima
Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Hiroshima Credit: Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshima]
Fukuoka
Canal City, Hakata, Fukuoka Credit: Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukuoka]