Lots to catch up on.....
Day 1 was truly long. We got to the airport at 4:30 for our 6:30 AM flight to find that it had been canceled. A family was in the same predicament that we were in....Needing to get to Toronto to catch the flight to Tokyo. After several fits and starts, we got on a plane to Vancouver where we would catch up to ourTokyo flight. This actually worked quite well. It broke up the flight better. Again some apprehensive moments when we discovered that our seats had been canceled to Tokyo as we were down as no shows in Toronto. All worked out and we successfully boarded the plane to Tokyo. BTW, the Vancouver airport is very nice with lots of local art and decoration.
The flight over was long but we got 2 meals. Every seat had its own entertainment center. It was strange in that everyone was watching their own movie in their own time.
Arrived at the Narita airport about 3:30 Sunday afternoon. We got through immigration in about 20 minutes then proceeded on to baggage claim. Nick, Melodie and I got our bags quickly. Betsy waited, and waited. It never came so we had the experience of placing a lost luggage claim. They were helpful and the woman's English was excellent. Betsy got a little bag with toiletries and a white fits all T shirt to carry over until her bag came.
We found our way and rented phones, changed money and activated our Japan Rail Passes. Got instuctions and tickets to get to Kyoto. Our first Japanese train was late leaving. I thought they were never supposed to be late! That made us miss the connection to Kyoto. Not a problem. Got the tickets changed and made the shiansen train. I left a message for Andy telling him what train we were on and that it would be really nice if he could meet us at the train station. Or, I assumed that was what I was doing. I called and a recording in Japanese came on. When it finished I just started talking.
Before getting on the train, we got the box lunches that had been suggested. Our first real Japanese food.... Very good. That yellow mustard isn't Heinz!
It was dark so we couldn't see any of the landscape that we were zipping through.
We got to Kyoto about 10:00 at night. Andy found us! What a happy reunion.
It was a 2 train ride to our hotel. Steps up, steps down. It won't be so bad when we don't have our luggage with us.
The hostel is fun and funky. Nick and my room is covered with poster of Madonna in all phases of her career. There are gathering lounge areas with computers, wi-fy, TV, reggae posters. Definitly aimed at a different age group but it is fun.
Long day so we all turn in.
Actually, I guess that is day 1 and Day 2. We started on Saturday morning and now it is Sunday night in Kyoto.

Monday June 13
We all feel much more rested and ready to really start seeing Japan. We walk from the hostel looking for some thing for breakfast.