Our awesome bus driver!
Leilani and Saydee at Ryukyu Glass Village, a glass crafts shop.
Rainbow Street at Ryukyu Glass Village.
Lunch time
Even in the rain, this group had a great time.
Yvonne on the streets of Okinawa.
Kathy making a glass cup at Ryukyu Glass Village.
Edna’s finished product
Gary spinning his glass cup.
Tour manager Andy finished hi cup with a blue bottom.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, widely considered Japan’s best aquarium.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Nakijin Castle, a former residence of the Ryukyu Kingdom governor during the 14th century – is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.
Shikina-en Royal Gardens in Naha, Japan
Rainy day today
Shikina-en Royal Gardens
Shikina-en Royal Gardens
Shikina-en Royal Gardens
Leting our creative side loose by decorating Shisa at the Naha Pottery Museum.
Shisa is a traditional Ryukyuan cultural artifact and decoration.
Shisa making hands-on activity
Shisa making hands-on activity
Shisa making hands-on activity
The finished product!
Colorful shisa
Started the day with tour at Shuri Castle.
From 1429 for 450 years, it was the Ryukyu Kingdom's royal court and administrative center, central to foreign trade and the islands' political, economic, and cultural life.
Shuri Castle
Shuri Castle
Shuri Castle
Shuri Castle
Shuri Castle
Artifacts
Shuri Castle
Shuri Castle
On to a lunch buffet at Okinawa World.
After lunch, some headed underground to
Gyokusendo Cave.
Lots of steps going down into the cave, but well worth it.
Stalagmites
A 1/2 mile walk in humid hot cave.
Gyokusendo Cave
Gyokusendo Cave
Gyokusendo Cave
Gyokusendo Cave
Gyokusendo Cave
Gyokusendo Cave
Even a river flowing underground.
Gyokusendo Cave
At the end of the walk, there’s an escalator to take you back up.
Only a few took a photo holding the massive python at Okinawa World.
On to Masahiro Sake Brewery for a sake tasting.
Masahiro Sake
Masahiro Sake Brewery tasting
Masahiro Sake Brewery tasting
Masahiro Sake Brewery tasting
Masahiro Sake Brewery tasting
Masahiro Sake Brewery tasting
Masahiro Sake Brewery tasting
Masahiro Sake Brewery tasting
Masahiro Sake Brewery tasting
Masahiro Sake Brewery tasting
Masahiro Sake Brewery tasting
Today's stop was Awamori Liquor Factory.
The group bought a lot of sake and mentaiko crackers!
Sake tasting!
On to Michi no Eki for lunch, and tried the pig feet and shave ice!
Hugh and delicious!
Andy enjoying his shave ice.
Ryukyu Mura Village
Gift shops at Ryukyu Mura Village
Elephant Rock at Cape Manzamo
Group photo
Hotel Ana intercontinental Manza Beach Resort was fabulous with beautiful rooms and a great dinner buffet and show.
Ryukyu dance performance at Restaurant Yostutake.
Ryukyu dance performance
Ryukyu dance performance
Ryukyu dance performance
Ryukyu dance performance
Ryukyu dance performance
Ryukyu dance performance
Group shot
Nijo Castle in Kyoto
After the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, Nijo Castle was used as an imperial palace for a while before being donated to the city and opened up to the public as a historic site.
Its palace buildings are arguably the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan’s feudal era.
Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle
Group shot at Nijo Castle
Started the day with a Romantic Train Ride on the Sagano Torokko Ressha. “Torokko ressha” means “truck train” and it is named so after the railway truck cars that used to haul freight along the route.
Train ride was fun and old fashioned.
Sagano Romantic Train ride
Sagano Romantic Train ride
Sagano Romantic Train ride
After the train ride we walked to the Tofu Hot Pot Restaurant for lunch.
Everyone enjoyed the Tofu Hot Pot lunch.
Tofu & Chicken Hot Pot
After lunch, 26 tour members decided to hike up to the Monkey Park in Arashiyama, which was not on the itinerary.
Arashiyama Monkey Park's macaque monkeys
Arashiyama Monkey Park group photo
Monkeys everywhere!
The activity was a big hit with the group and a really fun hands-on activity.
Wagashi sweet workshop
Wagashi sweet workshop
Wagashi sweet workshop
Wagashi sweet workshop
Wagashi sweet workshop
Triangle mochi
Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is renowned for its thousands of vibrant red torii gates that create a mesmerizing tunnel through the forested mountainside.
Torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine
Torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine
Torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine
Seith lifted the stone and made a wish, so his dream will come true.
Nicole doing tea ceremony to honor her father.
Traditional Japanese tea ceremony
Visiting the deer at Nara Deer Park.
Feeding crackers to the deer.
Todaiji Temple, the largest wooden temple in the world and an UNESCO world heritage site.
The Great Buddha statue in the temple.
Meet our driver!
Andy, helping to take bags to hotel!
Dotoonburi, Osaka, Japan
Fresh sashimi!
Fresh sashimi!
Takoyaki!
Headed home after a fun trip!