====== Flight Considerations ======

JAL flies direct from BOS to NRT, via the Boeing 787 Dreamliner

  * Non-Stop
    * JAL:
    * get window seat, A or K, for better shoulder room
      * avoid aisle / center sheets, as you can't drop the armrests
    * target row 1 or 8 (bulkhead rows)     

  * With Layover
    * ANA (JFK, ORD -> NRT)
      * plane: Boeing 777-300ER (avoid 787, much narrower!)
      * roomiest seats available
    * United (EWR, SFO, ORD -> NRT)
      * plane: Boeing 777-300ER, 787
    * Sinapore Airlines (JFK -> NRT)
      * plane: Boeing 777-300ER, Airbus 350
      * downside: wide seats but not sleep diagnonal to lay flat


====== Themes ======

Themes: Matsuo Basho (松尾芭蕉), Date Masamune (伊達政宗)

Mogami (最上氏) and Date (伊達氏) clans

====== 宮城県 ======

===== 仙台市 =====

Major history of city began with 
Date daimyō, Date Masamune.

名物、食品:牛タン、炉端焼き、ずんだ餅

酒:

名物: 柳宇和氏、こけし

Yamagata Castle, connected to Date Masamune

Ōsaki Hachiman-gu (国宝大崎八幡宮), shrine ordered built by Date Masamune

====== 新潟県 ======

名物：酒

====== Trip Overview ======

===Visit Sendai===

  * Day 1
    * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/hUTSJg2AJbDjyGBg7 | Aoba Joshi (青葉城址), Aoba castle (Date's) ruins]]
    * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/SG5JpmpEbxjDacaA8 | Sendai City Museum (仙台市博物館), Date Masamune’s armour]]
    * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/qurZxort1rpHDWZ88 | Zuihōden (瑞鳳殿)]]: grave of Date Masamune
  * Day 2
    * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/GNKihqYdHXM8q4eF7 | Sendai Umi-no-mori Aquarium]]
    * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZNEsgj3B2U6uHU8e6 | Kirin Beer factory tour]]: [[https://www.kirin.co.jp/experience/factory/en/sendai/ | KIRIN ICHIBAN Shinbori Experience]]


=== Visit Matsushima (松島)===

  * En route from Sendai, visit [[https://www.urakasumi.com/ | Urakasumi Sake Brewery]]
    * tours at 11:00 and 14:00 on weedays only (reservations: info_en@urakasumi.com)
  * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZqnpCzVn2qMq7EBy7 | Zuiganji (瑞巌寺)]]: first built 828 CE, rebuilt by Date Masamune in 1609 as his family temple
  * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/kfGABCYfMErwqjHg9 | Entsuin Temple (円通院)]]: abutts Zuiganji. built to honor Masamune's grandson, Mitsumune
  * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/oThX8LgAGxSkJAoC9 | Godaido]]

=== Visit Hiraizumi===

  * Chusonji Temple
  * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/rYYoSX2T8DBQCYLr5 | Grave of Saito Musashibo-Benkei (西塔 武蔵坊 弁慶)]]
    * warrior of the fame 「弁慶の泣き所』
  * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/FJMrG5aCyay9Dy3J9 | Motsuji Temple]]
    * Basho wept here, composing his immortal haiku: "Ah, summer grasses! / All that remains / Of the warriors' dreams."
  * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/W5BAbPvSjbjtYhz58 | Takadachi Gikeido (高館義経堂)]]
    * place where Minamoto no Yoshitsune (first samurai of Kamakura shogunate) committed seppuku while his warrior Benkei stood on the narrow bridge and was famously killed while standing upright (弁慶の立往生); Date Masamune built a memorial to honor it in 1683 and Matsuo Basho visited in 1689

=== Visit Yamagata ===

Yamagata produces 95% of all shogi pieces

  * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/mvcLshnCJ3B2b59FA | Yamadera / Rissyakuji (立石寺)]]: Basho composed famous haiku here
  * [[https://kanko-mogami.jp/en/agarashare/funakudari/ | Mogami River Boat ride]]: Basho took a boat tour and wrote haiku about the power of the river
  * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/3zEt6QXzaAeUia8K8 | Kajo Park]]: original seat of power of Mogami Clan.
  * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/S6o3vzBWQ7WdGAB77 | Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum]]: Mogami Yoshiaki's actual battle armor—complete with a bullet dent from a matchlock gun
  * [[https://maps.app.goo.gl/fQ1xAwRC1S6GXahe9 | Senshoji Temple]]: temple holds the family graves of the Mogami Clan, including the final resting place of Mogami Yoshiaki

=== Visit Zao Fox Village ===

  * Hotel: [[https://www.ichijoh.co.jp/ | Yunushi Ichijou (湯主一條)]], ~$250