April 1991: Japan
Due to my involvement in the international Ocean Observing Systems Development Panel, in 1991 I was invited to attend a Seminar and Workshop about the Integrated Global Ocean Station System (IGOSS). Sponsored by the International Oceanographic Commission and the World Meteorological Organisation, the Seminar took place at the Japan Meteorological Agency in Tokyo from Monday April 15th to Friday 19th with the Workshop on Monday to Wednesday of the following week.
Being keen to take the opportunity of seeing some of the art, gardens, and temples of Japan, Nicky flew out with with me on the 12th April and we stayed on following the workshop, departing Japan on the 5th May.
Before we left the UK we bought Japan Rail Passes (which can’t be bought within Japan) and, at the recommendation of a colleague at Texas A&M, Worth Nowlin, a coopy of the guide book “Japan Solo” which proved invaluable.
It’s hard now to work out all the places we visited and I’m not sure I have all the photos we took. I think some of the best slides may be missing. However, mainly by using the seat reservation tickets from the Shinkansen (“bullet trains”) I have pieced together a partial itinery and created some photo albums.
| When | Where |
|---|---|
| Friday 12th April | Left London Heathrow 1530 local time |
| Saturday 13th – Wednesday 24th April | Staying at Tokyo Green Hotel, Awajicho, Tokyo (Diary Entry – Tokyo) |
| Monday 15th – Friday 19th April | IOC/WMO Seminar on IGOSS products |
| Saturday 20th April | Day trip to Shrines and Temples of Nikkō – Shinkansen from Ueno to Utsunomiya then JR to Nikko (Diary Entry – 1st Weekend) |
| Sunday 21st April | Day trip to Niigata via Shinkansen (Diary Entry – 1st Weekend) |
| Monday 22nd – Wednesday 24th April | IOC/WMO Workshop on IGOSS products |
| Thursday 25th April | From Ueno to Sendai by Shinkansen (left 0934 – arrived 1134) |
| Thursday 25th -Sunday 28th April | In Sendai staying in Aisaki Japanese Inn (Diary Entry – Sendai) |
| Friday 26th April | Visited Hiraizumi by train (Diary Entry – Sendai) |
| Saturday 27th April | Boat trip on Matsushima Bay (Diary Entry – Sendai) |
| Sunday 28th April | From Sendai to Kyoto (Shinkansen to Ueno, subway train to Tokyo Station, Shinkansen to Kyoto) |
| Sunday 28th to Tuesday 30th April | In Kyoto, staying at Ryokan Kitanoya (Diary Entry – Kyoto) |
| Tuesday 30th April | Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo |
| 30th April to 5th May | Staying at Tokyo Green Hotel, Awajicho, Tokyo (Diary Entry – Tokyo) |
| ~ Saturday 4th May | Visit Nagano (Diary Entry) |
| Sunday 5th May | Leave Tokyo Airport 2230, arrive LHR on Monday 6th May |
Memento Gallery: well used Japan Rail Passes…
