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 Japan? By myself? Believe me, I did have my doubts, but with Alison and John running the show, I couldn't have gone wrong. It's good natured tour guiding at it's best with those two, and at any time one might feel the least lack of confidence, then there's plenty enough to borrow from them.
It is like landing on another planet, though. But I think that fear is God's way of saying "Pay attention! This might be fun!" And fun it was.
First impressions were that the Japanese are really quite distinct from each other in facial features. It was what I needed after having a laugh to myself a week earlier when our fearless guide Yutaka had emailed me a photograph of himself so I'd recognize him at the airport (a feature of the tour that began a lengthy list of his endless ability to ease the way) Ha, I thought, like I'm going to recognize him from his photograph in a sea of Japanese faces... But there he was, his smile illuminating not only my name sign, but practically the entire airport. He made it seem as if he were as happy to see me as I was him. After 14 hours on the airplane, it was quite a bit.
Trying to sum up ten days of adventure in a few paragraphs is as difficult as trying to remember it all - there was so much to do. Meet the other tour participants, especially your roommate if you're lucky enough to have one. Get settled into your room. Gather for the first of many fabulous traditional meals. Navigate through the subway system and ride the trains, including the famous Bullet train, always on time, every time, saving you time.
I haven't even begun to tell you about the motorcycle riding and I'm not sure I've got space. Perhaps I should suffice it to say that it's now easy to understand why the Japanese have been pioneers in motorcycle development, as they all must have been tested on these world class roads. And not only were the roads fun, but the scenery was spectacular. The architecture... The GARDENS..
Not once did I encounter any local of any age who wasn't polite and helpful, and a smile goes a longer way here than it lots of countries. Good thing, too, as despite quite a large number of people that could speak English, there were times when charades were in order, and if you're not smiling when you're doing that, then you're not doing it right.
So come on, let's go! You've got to see Kyoto, and Nagasaki, and that route up to the waterfall, and those enormous koi. You'd love the people there, and the immersion in the completely different and ancient culture. And you'd love the folks on the tour, as that motorcycle bond trumps most any differences that any of us may have. And you'd love yourself for having taken the plunge.
Jane Haddow
Georgia USA
 I would like to say again that Yutaka's work to make the
tour a delight earned him his salary. Thanks again for pairing me up with him on
accommodations. Thanks, too, to the two of you for allowing me to join the group.
Even
though Japan's surface is still unscratched by me, what I did experience was pretty
astounding. I've seen a few, and that country is by far the most different from anywhere
I've traveled.
Pete Tamblyn
USA
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