By Jim Kanehira
From November 5 to 17. I had a wonderful experience of traveling in Japan on an autumn Aloha Club coach tour, geared especially for senior citizens. There were 11 of us –– six men (the oldest was 92) and five ladies.
Gladys didn't go because she doesn't go into onsens, so I roomed with my retired colonel-chaplain classmate who loved Japan and was on his 22nd Aloha Onsen Tour.
We rode on a brand new bus with capacity for 24 people, which had a screen for karaoke.
The tour guide, who spoke good English, made the trip interesting and fun with stories, interesting facts about places, and jokes.
We sang songs and exercised each morning at the beginning of the bus ride and various people sang karaoke during long rides.
Although I didn't know the Japanese songs my ability to read hiragana and katakana improved as I followed the screen.
The trip started from Kansai Airport and covered the southwest portion of Honshu, circling Kyushu and returning through the island of Shikoku. The scenery in the mountains was very colorful and beautiful as we traveled on highways and through numerous tunnels over 1,600 miles, including three ferry rides.
We stayed at ten hotels, which were very comfortable, all with enjoyable onsens and delicious food. I enjoyed going to onsens twice a day, at about 5:30 a.m. and prior to dinner.
I especially enjoyed the buffet breakfasts with a variety of dishes. All the wonderful food made me gain back all the weight I had lost in preparation for the trip.
We visited castles, beatiful gardens and parks, temples, museums, Nagasaki Peace Memorial Park, numerous companies and stores. We experienced picking oranges, apples and persimmons, which were just "ono."
I even went on stage and danced “Dojo-Sukui.” (“Catching Dojo Fish.”) We stopped at various convenient shops , tasting pickled vegetables and cookies. I ended up bringing home one box of goodies because they taste so good.
A couple stated they had gone on tours before but this was the best. Anyone wishing to visit and enjoy onsens should consider Travel Ways Aloha Onsen Club tours.