Below are the things we did in Japan

Day 1 - Thursday 16^th October

	A computer problem on the east coast air traffic control of Australia caused our flight to Sydney to be nearly an hour late!! So when we got to Sydney, we found that Qantas was holding the plane – JUST FOR US (and maybe a few others!).
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	It felt quite good to finally leave Sydney and begin our journey! There were many choices of movie, TV show and game to entertain us on the flight, and we had so much fun! We didn’t sleep a lot on the plane, too excited to be going to Japan!
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Day 2 - Friday 17^th October

	Arriving in Japan at Narita was exciting, especially when we finally got going and began our drive to Japan’s largest city (30 million people). The buildings seemed to go on and on!
	We left our bags at our hotel and headed off to Yokohama.
	At Yokohama, we caught the lift to the top of Landmark Tower. This is the tallest building in Japan and has the second fastest elevator in the world. We were travelling at 750 metres per minute!! The view from the top was fantastic!
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	We then went to China Town in Yokohama. We went to a restaurant for lunch where we had a private dining room. The food was delicious!! There were many small dishes, such as corn and egg soup, wonderful rice with peas and omelette and an amazing pancake make with crab!
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	We thought nothing could top our day so far, but we were wrong. We arrived at Sengendai Elementary School and saw a huge ‘welcome’ sign hanging from the school.
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	We were shown into the library, where our name badges and a cool bottle of water were waiting. We were then led into a hall where all the children of the school were assembled. After being seated on the stage, the children then began their show. They sang, danced and played while we watched.
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	We then performed our song for them and presented our gift of an amazing picture of Gardenvale PS with the tour students and a didgeridoo to the school.
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	After the formal welcome ceremony (which was filmed by local TV) we went out to the rice fields, where the Grade 5 students taught all of our group how to cut rice the traditional way with a curved type of sword. It was wonderful and some of the kids tried to catch grasshoppers with their hands!
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	We then talked with students, and another two television crews arrived and interviewed some of our students!
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	We were then shown to a special garden – The Field of Gardenvale Primary School – where each of our names were placed on a plot and with a student, we planted seeds together. The students will take care of the seeds we planted together and they will grow strong over the next year.
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	We have been given so many gifts and felt so welcome that we were quite overcome!
	Before we left, the teachers were invited to be honoured quests at a special green tea ceremony.
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	We were so sad to leave and this visit was certainly a highlight of the tour.

Day 3 - Saturday 18^th October

	We were meant to go to Disneyland today – we did but when we got there at 9.00 am, Disneyland was already closed as there were too many people already!!
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	We changed our schedule and instead, visited the Imperial Palace and did some much needed souvenir and present shopping at Ueno Market.
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	We were able to buy fruit on sticks – it was so delicious!!
	We had traditional ‘Sukiyaki’ for dinner, which two ladies dressed in Kimono prepared for us at our table. It was great!!
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	After some shopping in the seven storey electronic shop we returned to a hotel for a relax and a soak in the baths on the roof.
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Day 4 - Sunday 19^th October

	We finally made it to Disneyland and actually got in!! At 7.30 am (when the gates opened), the queue was already so long it took half an hour to change our vouchers for tickets. We first went on the ‘River Jungle Cruise’ which was pretty amazing!
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	Next we went to ‘Splash Mountain’. Here, we were able to get a fast pass. This meant we booked our ride for 10.30 and could wander around till then.
	We then went to the teacups – everyone rode on this ride and it was great!!
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	We went down to ‘Space Mountain’ but there realised we could only do one fast pass at a time. We wanted to do ‘Astro Blasting’ but already, there was a 120 minute wait in line and the earliest fast pass time was already 5.30 (this was at 9.30 in the morning!!!)
	We went to Toontown, thinking that we would be able to wander into Mickey Mouses House – long line and hour wait!! We did have a great look around, though, and got to see some crazy and amazing costumes that Japanese children were wearing.
	After Disneyland, we went to Ghibli Museum. Here, the students were able to climb onto ‘Cat Bus’! We saw the Iron Giant, and rode Kiki’s broom! It was brilliant!!
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	Dinner was at an Italian restaurant – Japanese style Pizza – quite different to Australian Pizza but still very delicious.
	We have now all packed our bags and will leave very early tomorrow to have our first Shinkansen (Bullet Train) ride.
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Day 5 - Monday 20^th October

	We woke up at 5.30!!!!!! We walked to yet another train, but this time we travelled on the Bullet Train. It was really fun and fast. It felt smooth, like an airplane with no turbulence – sort of like a plane taking off.
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	We went to Hakone – so high up in the mountains. We travelled by cable car, ropeway, pirate ship and train, and we were able to see the top of Mount Fuji from Owadakuni so clearly. It was a fantastic moment. We are finding it difficult to explain how wonderful it was. Tomorrow it will be clear so we are thinking of doing it all again – that’s how wonderful it was.
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Day 6 - Tuesday 21^st October

	Once again we awake to a day of perfect weather – 25 degrees and sunshine. (We are told it will start raining tomorrow!)
	Mt Fuji was so wonderful yesterday, and because the forecast for today was clear skies, we decided to go up the ropeway again today to see our favourite volcano. The moment our cable car rose over the cliff and we again sighted the summit of this magnificent volcano, everyone broke out in spontaneous cheering and applause.
	Returning to the train station, we rode the ‘rickety rail’ through beautiful forest and over the most incredible bridge.
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	We rode the Shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto – it took two hours and felt like we were in an aeroplane – but with more leg room. The countryside was brilliant.
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	We checked into the Kyoto Tower Hotel and from the top of the tower (100m high) we saw all of Kyoto – 360 degrees! It was quite beautiful and we saw all the lights come on.
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	We had Chinese for dinner tonight – Yum!
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	Our hotel rooms are comfortable and huge – many are looking forward sleeping in a bed again but some of us really loved sleeping on futons on the floor.

Day 7 - Wednesday 22^nd October

	We started today with a huge breakfast in the dining room on the 8th floor. After that, we went on a guided tour of Nijo Castle, The Golden Pavilion, The Old Imperial Palace and the Kyoto Handicraft Centre. It was very interesting to learn about the history of these beautiful buildings.
	Nijo Castle is 400 years old, and when you walk on the floor, it squeaks but not like a mouse, like a nightingale. It is called the Nightingale Floor, and all floor boards are designed to squeak so that no other samurai or ninja could enter the palace without being heard. Of course, the Shogun’s samurai would then stop the intruder!!
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	The Golden Pavillion is the most amazing building. It is coated in 22 carat Gold leaf. It looks like it is painted, so bright is the gold! On the first floor, the inside of the rooms are also Gold!!
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	The Old Imperial Palace was very large. Although it is still the Official residence of the Emperor of Japan, it hasn’t been used for some years. However, President Bush and Prince Charles have visited this Palace. So have Gardenvale Primary School students!!!
	The Kyoto Handicraft Centre had many beautiful things and we were able to buy lots of gifts and souvenirs for family and friends.
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	After lunch at Kyoto Station, we headed off for Toei Movieland. Here we saw Samurai (actually they were actors) and geisha walking around the 17th century set.
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	The whole of Movieland is really a giant movie set where many of the Japanese historical movies are filmed. While there were none being filmed while we were there, there were still many actors wandering around.
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	We saw a ninja show. It was based on the story of the famous Shogun Tokugawa, and was exciting to watch. Many ninja leapt onto the stage and the battle raged. Part way through, the Shogun left the stage and walked into the audience, frightening a few people. He then smiled and welcomed us. He came over and asked us where we were from, then told us to enjoy the show. He returned to the stage, and the Ninja war continued! It was wonderful.
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	We also were able to look at many buildings that look just like they did in the 17th century. It was quite amazing.
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	After wandering around in the rain, we decided to go into the Ghost house. It was quite scary as ninja and other’s jumped out at us. We screamed quite a bit!
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	We returned to Kyoto and had a wonderful Italian meal in Kyoto station. In Japan, the Train station is one of the best places to go and eat. There are lots of shops and restaurants and it is very busy.
	Tomorrow we are going to Hiroshima and Miyajima. Can’t wait.

Day 8 - Thursday 23^rd October

	This morning we had a bit of a sleep in – we didn’t wake up until 7.15 am. After breakfast, we were off to the train station for the bullet train.
	We rode a bullet train called ‘Hikari’ which can travel 230 kph! It took just on 2 hours to get to Hiroshima. In Hiroshima, we saw the A-bomb dome – this is the wreckage from an A-bomb blast in World War 2. It has been kept to remind everyone in the world to work toward peace.
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	Every one in the Tour group rang the peace bell. It is a huge bell, but when you ring it, the noise is not so loud – but it lasts for a long time. It is said that the vibrations of the bell can be heard and felt all over the world!!
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	After Hiroshima, we went to Miyajima by train, then ferry. This island is south of Hiroshima, and is famous for the Floating Torii Gate and Monkeys. We did get to see the Torii Gate and it was beautiful. The monkeys were hiding today! We did get to travel on the ropeway and cable car and see the area from 500 metres up!
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	Even though we didn’t see monkeys, there were some animals! In the street, there were two deer just walking around. They are wild, but friendly. In Japanese culture, they are considered the ‘messengers of the gods’. There was even a man swating the flies away from a deer. It was rather cool – that is until the deer tried to eat my map!!
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	Two more bullet trains back to Kyoto and another day ended! On the first train, we were in the ‘Silent Car’ – this car is for Japanese business people and no one is allowed to talk in this car so that travellers can speak if they want. It was such a relief to change trains and sit in a car where we could talk to each other.
	Tomorrow is Nara – more deer!

Day 9 - Friday 24^th October

	This morning we were up by 8.00 and had breakfast in the dining room. We headed to the train station (again) and caught the rapid train to Nara.
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	When we arrived in Nara, we had to walk to the park area, where we saw the first of the most incredible temples we have ever seen.
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	The first temple we saw was built in the 4th Century! That means, it is 1600 years old!! Inside was a huge wooden statue of Buddha which was coated in gold leaf.
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	We walked to another amazing building where there was an even larger Buddha, and we all bought a candle and lit it, then placed it upon the candle stand.
	When we left the temple area, we headed for the park. We were amazed to see deer everywhere – in the park – crossing the road!!! They were just wandering around free on the city sidewalks and streets. If there was a deer crossing the road, the cars would slow, go around or stop! We found a ‘senbei’ (deer biscuits) seller and bought enough senbei for everyone, and then started to feed the deer. Deer are not shy, and if you weren’t quick enough, the deer would just take the food, or if it could any paper, from your hand. It was just wonderful, and the further we walked, the more deer there were.
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	As we approached the Todaiji Temple, we were awe-struck! The temple is the largest wooden building in the world! It is 48 metres high! Inside is a huge Buddha statue which is 30 metres high! It is made of gold and copper and weighs 500 tonnes!
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	It is said that if you can make it through the hole in this pillar of Todaiji temple, you will have eternal happiness. We tried and succeeded - all look pretty happy to me!
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	After the temple, we wandered back along the main street of Nara (still seeing deer everywhere!) and did a little last minute gift shopping. We caught the rapid train back to Kyoto.
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	This evening we are going to a Chinese Restaurant in the hotel, and then we have to pack our bags, as we are checking out of the hotel tomorrow and travelling to Tokyo on our final Shinkansen trip. We will catch a plane home tomorrow night so this will be our last entry.
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	Thank you for sharing our trip - we will see you on Sunday!
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