OUR ANNUAL TRIP TO JAPAN

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      ABOUT THE TRIP ITSELF

The Sushi Club of Houston hosts an annual trip to Japan for our members who want to see the land of Japan with their own eyes.  Every year, we welcome our members to join our club's founder on a 'crash course' in absorbing this fascinating country.  We schedule the trips long in advance to give our club the benefit of scheduling their personal life/making arrangements.  There are no last minute surprises or peculiarities that make our trip unappealing.  You travel to the Japan as a well-informed, comfortable group.

      A DETAILED ITINERARY

The trips usually last about 8 days (7 nights) and start with a direct flight from Houston to Narita, Japan (main airport near Tokyo).  The flight from Houston to Nartia is about 14.5 hours long, so we encourage our members to bring books, magazines, gaming devices, laptops....just about anything to make the flight enjoyable.

Our trips usually begin in Narita, which is truly amazing.  After processing our way through the airport (customs, immigration, etc.), we check into our Narita hotel.  Most people have never heard of Nartia...and you don't know what you are missing.  After a relaxing day or two in Narita, we travel to Tokyo, Japan. 

The trip from Narita to Tokyo is about one hour long and occurs on a railway train named 'the Nartia Express' - a straight train ride into Tokyo's nucleus of travel...the Tokyo Train Station (named 'Tokyo Eki').  Once in Tokyo, we travel to the prefecture of Asakusa.  Your hotel is located in Asakusa, near the main shopping district.  Asakusa has everything you could ever ask for in a town!

The next few days are spent in Tokyo.  Our club visits all of the highpoints of the city while enjoying a number of wonderful meals - Sushi (of course), Tempura, Soba, Udon, Ramen, etc.  You'll visit places like the Imperial Palace of Japan, the great statue of Kusunoki Masashige, Tsukiji Fish Market, the Ginza Strip, Shiba Park, Tokyo Tower....and much more!

 After a few days in Tokyo, we travel (via Bullet Train) to Kyoto, Japan. This is a 2.5 hour trip, traveling at 223 miles per hour.  After arriving in Kyoto, we check into our hotel and begin our journey through this extraordinary city.  Kyoto is a city deeply steeped in the history of Japan.  There's a tremendous amount to see, but our trip in Kyoto will be limited to about 2 days...so we make it really count!

While in Kyoto, you will see a number of extraordinary sights - the Golden Pavilion, the castle of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Red Torii gates of Inari Fushima, the Chio-In Temple, the Gion (Geisha) District and much more.  Since our time is limited, we will pick the greatest spots to visit.  This will leave you hungry for more.  Perhaps we can tempt you to travel to Japan a second time to continually quench your passion for Japan.

After a few days in Kyoto, we hop back onto the Bullet Train and travel to Osaka, Japan.  The great news about this city is that it is a mere 10-minute Bullet Train ride.  After arriving in Shin-Osaka, we travel into the main city of Osaka and go directly to Osaka Castle.  This is really something to see.  The enormous castle has three large moats, a garden area commemorated to the great military ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi...and, of course, the castle itself.

After spending about about 4 hours in Osaka Castle, we will grab a meal nearby.  Then, we will travel to a place dedicated to food and fun called 'Dotonbori.' 

Dotonbori is, without a doubt, a mini-version of Las Vegas, Manhattan and Reno all mixed into one small area.  In the Dotonbori district, you will enjoy a great meal (possibly Fugu?).  After a wonderful dinner, it's time to travel back to our Kyoto hotel.   

Our final morning and afternoon is spent traveling back to Narita to fly back to Houston. After a hearty breakfast, we travel from Kyoto to Tokyo and then hop back onto the Narita Express for a train ride through Chiba, Japan to the airport.  Once in the airport, you can exchange your money back to US currency and make any final purchases for your friends, coworkers and family.  At about 5:00 pm, it's time to go back home.

      LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MONEY...

The entire cost of the trip varies for one major reason - the value of the Yen continually changes.  One year, the entire cost of the trip (including airfare, hotels and bullet train) was only $1,200.00.  One year, the trip was slightly less than $1,500.  When the Yen dropped in the bad economy, the trip was $1,700.00.  But anyone who has traveled to Japan will tell you that even $1,700 for 8 days in Japan is a great deal (especially when your flight, hotels, bullet train, breakfasts and some dinners are included).

      KEEPING YOU INFORMED

Long before we travel to Japan, interested members purchase their own airfare.  This accomplishes three things - (1) it ensures that you intend to go! and (2) you get all of your frequently flyer miles.  If the Sushi Club purchases everyone's airfare for them, you only receive 50% of your mileage allowance.  (3) If you are allowed to purchase your airfare in advance, you get the option of handling the costs of your trip in sequences which might make it more affordable to you (rather than one lump sum at one time).

We stay at hotels that provide complimentary breakfasts (and one provides dinner!) so we always recommend that our group fills their stomachs in the morning at no charge and enjoy a light, inexpensive lunch.  Then, we enjoy dinner as a group!  This really helps reduce the cost of the trip.

      IT'S YOUR TRIP.  WE KEEP THAT IN MIND.

We travel as a group and make decisions together.  Although the Sushi Club is considered the 'host,' nothing is thrust upon you without your approval.  For example, if the club is fatigued from a full day of walking and wants to take a break, no problem!  If the group would like to enjoy a tempura dinner instead of a sushi dinner, no problem!  You're in Japan.  It's your money.  We will not dictate your experience.  You have every right to ask for an alteration to the daily plan.  Obviously, we can't change the path of our trip (Narita, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, etc) or our hotel reservations, but the daily schedule is up to you, the group.  We never demand you follow our schedule.

      IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS

A few recommendations - (1) Pack light.  Don't bring lots of luggage.  You will be traveling up/down lots of stairs in the subways from hotel to hotel.  The lighter...the better.

(2) Wear comfortable shoes.  You will be walking a great deal.  Wear shoes that keep your feet comfortable with laces that remain tied.  You don't want to stop every city block to tie your shoes.

(3) Bring spending money for souveniors, food and souvenirs. You'll spend about $12.00 a day on subway tickets, $15-30 on food and souvenirs are up to your discretion.  (4) Our club will carry an international cell phone for any emergencies.  Before the trip, you will be given the international phone number to provide to your work, family, friends and neighbors.  If any concerns should arise while you are in Japan, you are merely one phone call away.  Additionally, our hotels provide Free 24-hour internet service in the lobby.  If you prefer, you can check your email 30 times a day.  It's up to you.

      BEFORE THE TRIP

Before the trip, our group assembles for lunch at a local restaurant to meet one another and review the entire trip in detail.  Additionally, you are updated with every detail of the trip via email.  You will receive lots of information about the upcoming trip so you can make the necessary arrangements in your personal life.

For more information on our next trip to Japan, please contact the Sushi Club of Houston's founder, Carl Rosa by clicking here. 

We hope that you will join us in Japan!

Sincerely,

The Sushi Club of Houston