Yamagata Trip Day Two

 

Technically this is day two of the trip, but for the Koshares it is just a portion of one very long day of traveling. By the time the Koshares arrived at their final destination the total travel time would include at the very minimum twenty-seven hours of flight time, lay-overs, and bus rides. By the day's end, the Koshares would get a chance for their first chance of sleep at the a traditional ryokan.

3:39 pm:   Arrival at Narita Airport in Tokyo
It was exciting to be arriving in Japan and also equally relieving to be off a twelve hour plane ride. The Koshares, gathered after customs and then boarded a bus for Hanada Airport; an hour and half drive across town.

4:45 pm:  Koshare board bus for Haneda Airport
On the bus ride to Haneda there was no time for rest as we viewed Tokyo from the bus. For over an hour most Koshares took photos and video of the sites we passed. Equally interesting were the vehicles driven by the Japanese. There were many Hybrid vehicles and all vehicles being driven were very small compared to cars in the United States.

6:15 pm:  Koshares board plane headed for Komatsu Airport
Another plane ride, the one we boarded was a double decker 747 for Komatsu Airport. On the plane, more than six-hundred passengers took the hour and a half flight for Komatsu.

9:45 pm:  Arriving at Komatsu
We met with our contacts at the airport and other people traveling in for the Noto Summit. The groups were rounded up for Wakura Onsen. On the hour bus trip we were given packets and instructions for our stay in Wakura Onsen. One of the people gathering the groups stated how easy it was to find the Koshares since they all looked professional in their black shirts and khaki pants coming off of the plane.

11:50 pm:  Koshares arrive at ryokan "Kaibo"
With all the hours the Koshares were awake, many of them did not go to sleep right when we got to the Kaibo. The resturant was open until one o'clock in the morning so many hit the resturant before it closed. After filling up on food, the Koshares took a bath in the natural hot springs in the hotel. By around two o'clock in the morning most Koshares were finally heading for their futon on the floor of their room - a comfortable sleep many reported.