Here is the translator link:
http://www.japantoy.biz/translate.php

This has some info about a package:
http://namerikawa-kankou.jp/hotaruika/application.html

The calendar on this webpage doesn't translate:
http://namerikawa-kankou.jp/hotaruika/reserve.html

but the the text on the calendar can be copied/pasted to a translator. Red means fully booked. I think orange means there are a lot of people on the waiting list. Green means there are not a lot of people on the waitlist. Blue means bookings are available.

lol, mrwunrfl....maybe you should go then....

Kavey, I don't have time (since I leave tomorrow) to review your itinerary but if you are somewhere in the firefly squid vicinity you might try going to some fairly good-sized tourist info office and see if the staff there can make some inquiries for you.

As an example, last year when I traveled around the Tohoku area I wanted to make a reservation on one of the Matsushima cruises and I didn't have a lot of choice as my time there was limited. I had filled out an application on the website but never heard anything. So I went to the Sendai station tourist office, and the staff there called for me and confirmed the cruise co. did have my reservation. When I got to the pier the next day the woman knew who I was right away...lol....

So maybe you could try something like that.

Enjoy!

Russ

Too right!

Mara (Bon Voyage and wonderful trip!) and MrWunrfl

My difficulty was that in order to put ourselves in the vicinity I needed to book us a night into a really uninspiring western hotel, only one anywhere in right location, and if we then discovered the boats weren't going out that night, there really was nothing else in the area I wanted to see or do. And yeah, every day and night experience is precious, even when I have 4 weeks to play with!

So I made the call to do 2 nights at the preceding place, a gorgeous-looking modern ryokan style hotel called Hyakurakuso on the coast at the top of the Noto Peninsula, which looks really very lovely. I'll still see what I can manage to do on arrival though. I'm also trying to get in touch with them to ask whether these squid also visit anywhere on the coast up by them, in which case perhaps can arrange to see them from there...

But thank you for the links, it's REALLY kind. x x x

HT, good idea to gather more info when we pass through, for next time!

Kavey, will be following you at Hyakurakuso in mid May, especially look forward to your reporting on the Noto Peninsula (and elsewhere of course, we will also be in Kanazawa and Kyoto - -thinking about going to Miho museum while there), Have a great trip and I hope you enjoy Hakone Ginyu.

Thanks, FromDC, I'm so excited about the whole trip!

>>lol, mrwunrfl....maybe you should go then....

Well, maybe I will now that I have done the research. I have been planning to build an itinerary around a visit to Unazuki Onsen. Namerikawa is on the way.

MrWunrfl, I will definitely try and collect some additional data when we are passing that way!

Have a wonderful trip, Kavey. I'll be looking forward to reading your trip report. I'm in the early stages of planning my second trip to Japan for Sakura 2017 (I'm now off to Morocco for 2 1/2 weeks in 5 days.) For trip #2, I'm thinking a few days in Tokyo, a day in Kamakura, then Kyoto,Himeji, Yoshino, Kanazawa and Fuji Five Lakes. For my remaining 3 days, debating between Nara and Koyasan vs. Matsuyama in Shikoku. I know the former would be fascinating and much easier, logistically, but something (maybe to be the "first kid on my block") is calling me to Shikoku.

MinnBeef
At least half the fun is the planning and anticipation, isn't it?

I'll be live tweeting (@kavey) and instagramming (@kaveyf) from the trip, so please do follow there if you'd like to follow along live, as it were!

Will be following on instragram. Have a great trip!!!

Hope you'll be posting here because I have no idea how to follow on Twitter or Instagram, LOL

FromDC, it's very unlikely I'll be posting here during the trip itself, to be honest.

Instagram allows me to post pics taken on my camera phone, with a short explanatory text caption for each one. I can do that in a few snatched minutes here and there during each day. We like our coffee breaks so I often send a few instagrams during those...

You can follow just by clicking the link above now and then and looking through what I've shared there. You don't have to create an account yourself to do that or anything complicated.

Sorry, duh, no links above.

Instagram is https://www.instagram.com/kaveyf/

i don't know if it's too late, but anyway, https://www.facebook.com/akikatsut/m...=3&pnref=story would be April 2nd-10th this year. Frst two pic of https://www.flickr.com/photos/68668266@N02/favorites

Ooh just had a look while waiting on my kinubiki noodles! Beautiful!

As the 6th day begins I realise I've already shared 101 photos / video clips via Instagram so far! ����������

I've been following and I must say it gives one a vicarious sense of travel pleasure to be tagging along via instagram.
Some good trail blazing for those who want a hint of what it like to travel in Japan along an interesting itinerary. Looks like a few clear days then some rain in Kyoto
Have Fun!

Sure looks like you've been eating well. Hope you enjoyed Hakone Ginyu.

Loving it! And and and...

What an incredible morning! We visited Soto-en pottery in Shigaraki and I had a one-to-one lesson during which I made a cup. My tutor, Kiguta, was so lovely! My cup will be fired in the noborigama kiln in August when they next switch it on, and then shipped to me. The older master potter served us tea and wagashi before we left, which was also lovely.

Then we visited another pottery shop nearby, I chose a couple of small items (size and value) to buy and the tiny old lady was just sooooo adorable, she gave Pete and I gifts of tiny glazed frogs each, packaged up with a different message written on each envelope. Love her!