August 05, 2003 - Day 02. Arrive in Tokyo. Spent the night at Kimi-Ryokan.
August 06, 2003 - Day 03. Took a Shinkansen to Kyoto, and dropped our stuff off at Kyoto Tour Club. Took a Shinkansen to Okayama, got lost, but figured out the train system, then went back to Kyoto.
August 07, 2003 - Day 04. Took a Shinkansen to Okayama. Went to Kanko and visited the Taro Shrine. Went to Soja to visit Demon's Rock, got lost on the mountain for two hours in bug infested, 95 degree, 100% humidity weather with only half a bottle of water, got seriously dehydrated. Went back to Kyoto.
August 08, 2003 - Day 05. Visited Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). Visited the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Visited Kyoto Tower. Visited Higashi Hongan-ji (East Truewish Temple) (The world's largest wooden structure). Visited Yasaka Shrine (Gion Shrine). Visited Gion Corner and saw the Geisha perform: Tea Ceremony, Flower Arrangement, Koto Music (Japanese Harp), Gagaku (Ancient Court Music and Dance), Kyogen (Ancient Comedy), Kyo-mai (Kyoto Dance Performed by Maiko), Bunraku (Ancient Puppet Drama).
August 09, 2003 - Day 06. Visited Heian Shrine. Visited Fushimi Inari Shrine (Shrine of thousands of red gates).
August 10, 2003 - Day 07. Visited Sanjusangendo (1001 Kanon Statues). Took a Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Stayed at Kimi-Ryokan again.
August 11, 2003 - Day 08. Took a Shinkansen to Nikko. Visited Toshogu Shrine. Visited a Museum. Visited Daiyuin-Byo. Took a Shinkansen back to Tokyo.
August 12, 2003 - Day 09. Visited Tokyo Tower. Visited Tokyo Imperial Palace. Visited Asakusa Kannon Temple Kaminari-mon Gate. Stopped at Animate.
August 13, 2003 - Day 10. Visited Akihabara. Stopped at tons of anime shops (Animate, Tora-no-Anna, ect.). Stopped at the One Piece Shop in Ikebekero.
August 14, 2003 - Day 11. Visited the Tokyo National Museum. Visited Fuji-TV. Visited DECKS. Visited Aqua City. Saw a life size Going Merry.
August 15, 2003 - Day 12. Visited Comic Market #64 at Tokyo Big Site.
August 16, 2003 - Day 13. Took a Shinkansen to Kamakura. Visited the Great Buddha of Kamakura (Daibutsu). Took a Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Took a Shinkansen to Hakone. Realized that we wasted two hours by going back to Tokyo as Hakone is on the same track as Kamakura, just farther away from Tokyo. Visited an onsen called Spa Resort. Due to rain, the Daimonji-yaki festival was canceled. Took a Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Before getting too far away from Hakone, we stopped at Kozu and went to the beach.
August 17, 2003 - Day 14. Flight to Houston.