Vacation Itinerary Planning

Above, an Asakusa sushi restaurant window display.

One of the ways I manage to get the most out of a vacation trip is to plan an itinerary.  I generally do this during the trip's planning stages.

I determine how many days/nights I have available, where I want go to, what I want to see and do.

This one was from my April 2007 trip to Japan:

Japan Itinerary - April 2007   

Fri., April 13:  Leave For Japan  

Sat., April 14:  Arrive In Japan - Tokyo: Asia Center of Japan (ACJ).  Call Shelley Sweeney.

Sun., April 15:  Tokyo: ACJ.  (Tokyo Metropolitan Pavillion of Daigo Fukuryuu Maru)東京都江東区夢の島3-2　夢の島公園内東京都江東区夢の島3-2　夢の島公園内(within Yumenoshima Park, Yumenoshima 3-2, Koutou-ku, Tokyo)TEL：03-3521-8494　FAX：03-3521-2900

10 min. walk from Shinkiba Station (JR Keiyo line, Tokyo Metro Yurakucho line, Rinkai line)
or
3 min. walk from the to-basu (Metropolitan Bus) stop "Yumenoshima".
(Take to-basu No. 木11 which is Shinkiba bound from Toyocho station of Tokyo Metro Touzai line)
10 min. walk from Shinkiba Station (JR Keiyo line, Tokyo Metro Yurakucho line, Rinkai line)or3 min. walk from the to-basu (Metropolitan Bus) stop "Yumenoshima".(Take to-basu No. 木11 which is Shinkiba bound from Toyocho station of Tokyo Metro Touzai line 

Meet up with Shelley Sweeney.  

Mon., April 16: Tokyo: ACJ  

Tue., April 17: Tokyo to Mt. Aso area in Kyushu via Hikari Shinkansen; change to limited express at Hakata Station to Kumamoto; stay in Kumamoto, Kyushu. Stay at Kumamoto Kajita Ryokan 2 nights. 

Wed., April 18: Tour Mt. Aso - JR Hohi Line "Limited Express" from Kumamoto station to Aso Station.  

Thur., April 19:  To Nagasaki - Go to Kumamoto Station in Kumamoto to take train to Nagasaki.  Tour Nagasaki A-Bomb Museum.  Nagasaki Comfort Hotel #RY50977157.  ¥5,500/night.  

Fri., April 20:  Nagasaki to Sasebo (visit Saikai Bridge from "Rodan" near Sasebo City).  Sasebo Washington #RY50876968.  ¥6,600/night.  

Sat., April 21: To Fukuoka: Fukuoka Tower (G v. SG).  Hotel Sanroute Hakata #RY50877526.  ¥8,000/night.  

Sun., April 22: Fukuoka to Tokyo via Hikari Shinkansen. ACJ until I leave.  22,890(Service charge included, Consumption tax included) 

Mon., April 23: Tokyo. Meet Masaharu Ina at 3:00 PM.  

Tue., April 24: Tokyo 

Wed., April 25:  Return to Los Angeles

I prefer an itinerary that gives me enough freedom to make last-minute changes but still is planned well enough to make sure I accomplish what set out to do.  The one above is an example of this.

Since Japan is 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles, planning an itinerary helps to organize days with a handy schedule.  I've had no mess-ups since doing this.