Kumo Journeys staff app — Zavella showcase

Staff only Airport shuttles: HND shuttle A departs 4:00 PM, NRT shuttle B departs 4:45 PM (see Arrivals). Welcome dinner Kagurazaka Tsuki, 7:15 PM, party of 16 (14 + Kenji + Aiko), private room confirmed. 5 dietary flags sent to restaurant Mar 20.

Tue Apr 6 · Tokyo

Day 2 · Asakusa, Sumida River & teamLab

Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Street, a Sumida River water bus to Hama-rikyu Gardens, then the teamLab Planets digital art museum in Toyosu.

8:30 AM · Hotel lobby

BreakfastLunchDinner free

Staff only Guide: Aiko Tanaka. Water bus group tickets held at Asakusa pier, 11:10 AM sailing. teamLab timed entry 2:30 PM, 16 tickets (ref TL-88213). Bring a towel pack: visitors wade through shallow water.

Wed Apr 7 · Tokyo

Day 3 · Meiji Jingu, Harajuku & Shibuya

The forested Meiji Jingu shrine, Takeshita Street in Harajuku, and the famous Shibuya Crossing. Free afternoon to explore.

9:30 AM · Hotel lobby

BreakfastLunch freeDinner free

Staff only Sumo add-on (5 guests): Whitfield ×2, Kline ×2, Bell. Meet 6:15 AM lobby with Aiko, taxi to Ryogoku, back by 9:15 AM for the main tour. Strict silence at practice; no flash.

Thu Apr 8 · Hakone

Day 4 · Romancecar to Hakone · Ryokan night

Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto, a pirate-ship cruise across Lake Ashi, the Owakudani ropeway, then a traditional ryokan stay with hot-spring baths and a kaiseki dinner.

8:15 AM · Hotel lobby, overnight bag only

BreakfastDinner

Staff only Luggage forwarding: suitcases to front desk by 7:45 AM (Yamato, 16 bags, to Kyoto Sanjo Garden Hotel, arrives Apr 9 PM). Romancecar Shinjuku 9:00 AM, car 4, seats held (ref OD-2027-0408). Coach meets at Hakone-Yumoto 10:30 AM. Kaiseki at 6:30 PM fixed.

Fri Apr 9 · Kyoto

Day 5 · Shinkansen to Kyoto · Gion walk

Morning views of Mt. Fuji (weather permitting), then the bullet train from Odawara to Kyoto. Evening walk through Gion's lantern-lit lanes.

9:00 AM · Ryokan entrance

BreakfastDinner free

Staff only Shinkansen Hikari 639, Odawara 11:06 AM → Kyoto 1:14 PM, car 7 reserved (JR group ref JG-44170). Coach from Kyoto Station to hotel. Guide handover: Kenji + Haruto Saito from Kyoto.

Sat Apr 10 · Kyoto

Day 6 · Fushimi Inari & Higashiyama

An early start at Fushimi Inari's thousand torii gates, Kiyomizu-dera temple, the stone lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, then lunch at Nishiki Market.

7:15 AM · Hotel lobby (early start beats the crowds)

BreakfastLunchDinner free

Staff only Guide: Haruto Saito. Coach 7:30 AM. Nishiki lunch tasting walk with 6 stalls prepaid; vegetarian and gluten-free swaps confirmed. Okafor (tree-nut allergy): Haruto checks each stall.

Sun Apr 11 · Kyoto

Day 7 · Arashiyama & Kinkaku-ji

The Arashiyama bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji's Zen garden, and the Golden Pavilion. Free afternoon.

8:00 AM · Hotel lobby

BreakfastLunch freeDinner free

Staff only Tea ceremony add-on (6 guests): Whitfield ×2, Park ×2, Nair ×2. Taxi from Kinkaku-ji 1:30 PM to Uji Chakai-an, 2:30 PM session, returns 5:00 PM. Balance paid Mar 1.

Mon Apr 12 · Nara

Day 8 · Nara day trip

Todai-ji and its giant bronze Buddha, the free-roaming deer of Nara Park, and the lantern-lined paths of Kasuga Taisha shrine.

8:30 AM · Hotel lobby

BreakfastLunchDinner free

Staff only Guide: Yuki Nakamura joins in Nara. Coach round trip. Lunch Shika-no-ya kamameshi, 12:15 PM, party of 17.

Tue Apr 13 · Osaka

Day 9 · Nijo Castle, on to Osaka · Farewell dinner

Nijo Castle's 'nightingale floors,' then the train to Osaka. Osaka Castle park, the neon canals of Dotonbori, and a farewell okonomiyaki dinner.

9:00 AM · Hotel lobby, bags packed

BreakfastDinner

Staff only Bags go by coach Kyoto → Hotel Namba Riverside. Group on JR Special Rapid 11:15 AM. Farewell dinner Namba Teppan-ya, 6:30 PM, private room. Collect trip feedback forms.

Wed Apr 14 · Osaka

Day 10 · Departures

Breakfast and farewells. Airport transfers to Kansai International (KIX).

Transfer times vary. See your Travel tab

Breakfast

Staff only KIX transfer A 8:00 AM (10 guests + Kenji), transfer B 11:30 AM (2 guests). Nair sisters staying on in Osaka, no transfer.

Travelers

14 travelers · 8 rooms · from the traveler questionnaires

Rooming: 3 King · 3 Twin · 2 Single

Maya & James Whitfield

Booking KJ-0405-11 · Chicago, IL

King Maya: vegetarian 4 add-ons

Arrival

Sun Apr 4 · ANA NH 11 · HND 2:25 PM

Departure

Wed Apr 14 · ANA NH 94 · KIX 11:15 AM

Add-ons

Extra night Apr 4
Private HND transfer
Sumo ×2
Tea ceremony ×2

Emergency

Ruth Whitfield (mother)
+1 (312) 555-0118

Insurance

Northstar · NTP-448812
+1 (800) 555-0199

Daniel & Grace Park

Booking KJ-0405-12 · San Francisco, CA

Twin 1 add-on

Arrival

Mon Apr 5 · UA 837 · NRT 3:35 PM

Departure

Wed Apr 14 · UA 34 · KIX 5:10 PM

Add-ons

Tea ceremony ×2

Emergency

Helen Park (sister)
+1 (415) 555-0163

Insurance

Travel Guard · TG-7781054

Linda Okafor

Booking KJ-0405-13 · Houston, TX

Single Tree-nut allergy

Arrival

Mon Apr 5 · JL 61 · NRT 4:25 PM

Departure

Wed Apr 14 · JL 60 · KIX 11:40 AM via HND

Add-ons

None

Emergency

Chidi Okafor (son)
+1 (713) 555-0127

Insurance

Allianz · AZ-5520931

Note

Carries an epinephrine auto-injector. Guides briefed; allergy cards in Japanese sent to all restaurants.

Robert & Susan Kline

Booking KJ-0405-14 · Minneapolis, MN

King Susan: gluten-free 1 add-on

Arrival

Mon Apr 5 · DL 167 · HND 3:05 PM

Departure

Wed Apr 14 · DL 180 · KIX 10:45 AM via HND

Add-ons

Sumo ×2

Emergency

Amy Kline (daughter)
+1 (612) 555-0174

Insurance

Northstar · NTP-451207

Hannah & Leo Chen

Booking KJ-0405-15 · Seattle, WA

Twin

Arrival

Mon Apr 5 · ANA NH 117 · HND 3:30 PM

Departure

Wed Apr 14 · ANA NH 94 · KIX 11:15 AM

Add-ons

None

Emergency

Wei Chen (husband/father)
+1 (206) 555-0139

Insurance

Travel Guard · TG-7802263

Marcus Bell

Booking KJ-0405-16 · Chicago, IL

Single 1 add-on

Arrival

Mon Apr 5 · ANA NH 11 · HND 2:25 PM

Departure

Wed Apr 14 · ANA NH 94 · KIX 11:15 AM

Add-ons

Sumo ×1

Emergency

Dana Bell (spouse)
+1 (773) 555-0151

Insurance

Travel Guard · TG-7790418

Elena & Tomás Ruiz

Booking KJ-0405-17 · New York, NY

King

Arrival

Mon Apr 5 · AA 167 · HND 3:20 PM

Departure

Wed Apr 14 · JL 3002 · KIX 10:30 AM via HND

Add-ons

None

Emergency

Lucia Ruiz (daughter)
+1 (917) 555-0182

Insurance

Allianz · AZ-5531107

Priya & Anjali Nair

Booking KJ-0405-18 · Atlanta, GA

Twin Both vegetarian 1 add-on

Arrival

Already in Japan from Mar 30 · meeting at hotel Apr 5

Departure

Staying on in Osaka · own booking

Add-ons

Tea ceremony ×2

Emergency

Ravi Nair (brother)
+1 (404) 555-0106

Insurance

Northstar · NTP-449960

Arrivals & Departures

Every traveler's flights and transfer in one place

HND shuttle A

Mon Apr 5 · 4:00 PM · Terminal 3 arrivals
Bell, Chen ×2, Kline ×2, Ruiz ×2 · 7 guests · Aiko meets

NRT shuttle B

Mon Apr 5 · 4:45 PM · Terminal 1
Park ×2, Okafor · 3 guests · Kenji meets

Sun Apr 4

2:25 PM

Maya & James Whitfield

ANA NH 11 from ORD · HND T3
Private transfer KT-5521 · Kanto Transfer Co.

Mon Apr 5

2:25 PM

Marcus Bell

ANA NH 11 from ORD · HND T3
HND shuttle A · 4:00 PM

3:05 PM

Robert & Susan Kline

DL 167 from MSP · HND T3
HND shuttle A · 4:00 PM

3:20 PM

Elena & Tomás Ruiz

AA 167 from JFK · HND T3
HND shuttle A · 4:00 PM

3:30 PM

Hannah & Leo Chen

ANA NH 117 from SEA · HND T3
HND shuttle A · 4:00 PM

3:35 PM

Daniel & Grace Park

UA 837 from SFO · NRT T1
NRT shuttle B · 4:45 PM

4:25 PM

Linda Okafor

JL 61 from LAX · NRT T2
NRT shuttle B · 4:45 PM · tight connection, driver waits until 5:15 PM

—

Priya & Anjali Nair

Already in Japan
Making own way to hotel by 5:30 PM

Wed Apr 14 · Departures from Osaka

8:00 AM

Transfer A → KIX

Whitfield ×2, Chen ×2, Bell, Kline ×2, Ruiz ×2, Okafor, + Kenji
Flights 10:30–11:40 AM

11:30 AM

Transfer B → KIX

Park ×2
UA 34 at 5:10 PM

—

No transfer

Nair ×2 (staying on in Osaka)

Hotels

4 properties · group blocks & back-office contacts

Tokyo · Nishi-Shinjuku

Hotel Hanabusa Shinjuku

Block confirmed

Dates

Mon Apr 5 · 3:00 PM
to Thu Apr 8 · 11:00 AM

Meals

Breakfast daily, 6:30–10:00 AM

Front desk

+81 3-0000-4410

Staff only Back office

Block: GB-KJ0405 · 8 rooms × 3 nights (+1 room Apr 4)

Contact: Mika Hoshino, Group Sales · +81 3-0000-4422 · groups@hanabusa-demo.jp

Rooming list due: Mar 15

Whitfield extra night Apr 4 on the group rate, billed to Kumo. Early check-in requested for Apr 5 arrivals, not guaranteed. Luggage storage available after checkout Apr 8.

Hakone · Yumoto

Ryokan Yumoto-sō

Block confirmed

Dates

Thu Apr 8 · 3:00 PM
to Fri Apr 9 · 10:00 AM

Meals

Kaiseki dinner 6:30 PM · breakfast 7:30 AM

Front desk

+81 460-00-0271

Staff only Back office

Block: GB-0408-KUMO · 8 rooms × 1 night

Contact: Mr. Ishida, Okami's office · +81 460-00-0272 · reservations@yumotoso-demo.jp

Rooming list due: Mar 15

Dinner seating fixed at 6:30 PM. Dietary cards sent: vegetarian ×3, gluten-free ×1, tree-nut allergy ×1. Two private family baths bookable at check-in (useful for guests with tattoos). Western-style bed not available.

Kyoto · Sanjo

Kyoto Sanjo Garden Hotel

Block confirmed

Dates

Fri Apr 9 · 3:00 PM
to Tue Apr 13 · 11:00 AM

Meals

Breakfast daily, 6:30–10:00 AM

Front desk

+81 75-000-3310

Staff only Back office

Block: GB-KSG-2027-041 · 8 rooms × 4 nights

Contact: Aya Fujimoto, Groups · +81 75-000-3325 · groups@sanjogarden-demo.jp

Rooming list due: Mar 22

Receives 16 forwarded bags from Tokyo on Apr 9 afternoon; front desk will bring to rooms. Group arrives by coach from Kyoto Station around 2:00 PM.

Osaka · Namba

Hotel Namba Riverside

Block confirmed

Dates

Tue Apr 13 · 3:00 PM
to Wed Apr 14 · 11:00 AM

Meals

Breakfast from 6:00 AM for early departures

Front desk

+81 6-0000-7720

Staff only Back office

Block: GB-NR-0413 · 8 rooms × 1 night

Contact: Kenta Ueda, Sales · +81 6-0000-7731 · sales@nambariverside-demo.jp

Rooming list due: Mar 15

Early breakfast boxes for KIX transfer A (8:00 AM), 11 boxes ordered. Nair sisters extending 2 nights on their own booking.

Guides & Partners

Everyone in Japan who makes this departure run

Guides

Kenji Morita

Lead guide · entire tour · English, Japanese

+81 90-0000-0101

Aiko Tanaka

Local guide · Tokyo, Apr 5–7 · English, Japanese

+81 90-0000-0102

Haruto Saito

Local guide · Kyoto, Apr 9–13 · English, Japanese, Spanish

+81 90-0000-0103

Yuki Nakamura

Local guide · Nara & Osaka, Apr 12–13 · English, Japanese

+81 90-0000-0104

Ground partner

Hinode Ground Services

In-country operations · 24-hr desk

+81 3-0000-8800

ops@hinode-demo.jp

Contract ref HGS-KUMO-27. Handles guide payroll, coach bookings, and incident support in Japan.

Transport

Sakura Line Coaches

27-seat coach · Apr 8 (Hakone), 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

+81 3-0000-6610

dispatch@sakuraline-demo.jp

Driver assignments sent 48 hours ahead. Kyoto driver: Mr. Oda.

Kanto Transfer Co.

Airport shuttles Apr 4 & 5

+81 3-0000-5521

HND shuttle A (10-seat van), NRT shuttle B (van), private car KT-5521.

Yamato luggage forwarding

Tokyo → Kyoto, Apr 8 → 9

Via hotel front desk

16 bags. Waybills prepared by Hotel Hanabusa. Fee billed to Kumo.

JR group desk

Shinkansen Hikari 639, Apr 9

Ref JG-44170

Paper group ticket held by Kenji. Car 7, rows 3–6.

Group meals

Kagurazaka Tsuki

Welcome dinner · Mon Apr 5, 7:15 PM · party of 16

+81 3-0000-2231

Shabu-shabu. Vegetable broth pot for 3 vegetarians; GF sauces; no nuts at table 2.

Nishiki tasting walk

Lunch · Sat Apr 10 · 6 stalls prepaid

Haruto coordinates

Swaps confirmed at each stall.

Shika-no-ya

Lunch · Mon Apr 12, 12:15 PM · party of 17

+81 742-00-0415

Kamameshi rice pots. Vegetable version for 3.

Namba Teppan-ya

Farewell dinner · Tue Apr 13, 6:30 PM · private room

+81 6-0000-9913

Okonomiyaki cooked at the table. GF batter available on request.

Add-on vendors

Ryogoku stable visit

Sumo morning practice · Wed Apr 7 · 5 guests

+81 3-0000-4478

Final headcount due Apr 1. Silence and no flash during practice.

Uji Chakai-an

Tea ceremony · Sun Apr 11, 2:30 PM · 6 guests

+81 774-00-0356

Balance paid Mar 1. Seated on tatami; chairs available for 2 on request.

Sites

What you're seeing, city by city

Tokyo

Apr 5–8

1

Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise

Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in 628, reached through the Kaminarimon 'Thunder Gate' and a lane of traditional snack and souvenir stalls.

Day 2

Directions

2

Hama-rikyu Gardens

A former shogun's duck-hunting garden with a teahouse on a tidal pond, surrounded by skyscrapers.

Day 2

Directions

3

teamLab Planets

An immersive digital-art museum you walk through barefoot, including rooms of shallow water and floating flowers.

Day 2

Directions

4

Meiji Jingu

A Shinto shrine to Emperor Meiji set in a 170-acre forest planted by volunteers from across Japan.

Day 3

Directions

5

Shibuya Crossing

The world's busiest pedestrian scramble. Watch from above at Shibuya Sky or the station walkway.

Day 3

Directions

Hakone

Apr 8–9

1

Lake Ashi cruise

A replica pirate ship crosses the caldera lake, with Mt. Fuji rising behind the red torii of Hakone Shrine on clear days.

Day 4

Directions

2

Owakudani

A volcanic valley of steaming vents, reached by ropeway. Try the black eggs boiled in the hot springs.

Day 4

Directions

3

Hakone Shrine

The lakeside 'Peace Torii' standing in the water is one of Japan's most photographed gates.

Day 4

Directions

Kyoto

Apr 9–13

1

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Thousands of vermilion torii gates winding up Mt. Inari. The first 30 minutes of trail give the classic views.

Day 6

Directions

2

Kiyomizu-dera

A hillside temple with a wooden stage built without nails, overlooking the city and cherry trees.

Day 6

Directions

3

Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka

Preserved stone-paved lanes of wooden shops leading down from Kiyomizu-dera.

Day 6

Directions

4

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Towering bamboo stalks along a short path. Best early, before the crowds arrive.

Day 7

Directions

5

Tenryu-ji

A UNESCO-listed Zen temple with a 14th-century landscape garden borrowing the hills behind it.

Day 7

Directions

6

Kinkaku-ji

The Golden Pavilion, covered in gold leaf and reflected in its mirror pond.

Day 7

Directions

7

Nijo Castle

The shogun's Kyoto residence, famous for 'nightingale floors' that chirp to warn of intruders.

Day 9

Directions

Nara

Apr 12

1

Todai-ji

One of the world's largest wooden buildings, housing a 49-foot bronze Buddha.

Day 8

Directions

2

Nara Park

Over a thousand free-roaming deer, considered sacred messengers. Many bow for a deer cracker.

Day 8

Directions

3

Kasuga Taisha

A vermilion shrine lined with some 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns.

Day 8

Directions

Osaka

Apr 13–14

1

Osaka Castle

The reconstructed castle keep stands in a park of moats and cherry trees, with a museum inside.

Day 9

Directions

2

Dotonbori

The neon-lit canal district and Osaka's street-food heart, home of the famous Glico running man sign.

Day 9

Directions

Emergency

Public numbers plus the staff escalation chain

Ambulance · Fire

119

English support available

Police

110

Crime, theft, accidents

Help for visitors

Japan Visitor Hotline

Japan National Tourism Org. · 24/7, English

050-3816-2787

US Embassy & Consulate

US Embassy Tokyo

Akasaka, Minato-ku

+81 3-3224-5000

US Consulate General Osaka-Kobe

Covers Kyoto, Nara & Osaka

+81 6-6315-5900

Escalation chain Staff only

1

Kenji Morita, lead guide

First call for anything on tour

+81 90-0000-0101

2

Hinode Ground Services

24-hr desk · hospitals, police reports, rebooking

+81 3-0000-8800

3

Sarah Lindqvist, duty manager

Kumo Journeys US · 24 hrs · notifies families

+1 (503) 555-0142

Hospitals with English support

St. Luke's International Hospital

Tokyo · English-speaking staff

Map

Japan Baptist Hospital

Kyoto · English-speaking staff

Map

Osaka Red Cross Hospital

Osaka · large emergency department

Map

Traveler insurance Staff only

Maya & James Whitfield

Northstar · NTP-448812
+1 (800) 555-0199

Daniel & Grace Park

Travel Guard · TG-7781054

Linda Okafor

Allianz · AZ-5520931

Robert & Susan Kline

Northstar · NTP-451207

Hannah & Leo Chen

Travel Guard · TG-7802263

Marcus Bell

Travel Guard · TG-7790418

Elena & Tomás Ruiz

Allianz · AZ-5531107

Priya & Anjali Nair

Northstar · NTP-449960