The Window Reflecting the World: A Journey Through Nature: Canada

A Journey Through Nature: Canada

From June 18 to June 25, 2015, I took a guided tour of Canada, visiting Niagara Falls and the Canadian Rockies, flying with Air Canada.

Day 1

Departed from Itami Airport at 14:00 (ANA flight), arriving at Haneda Airport at 15:10.

Afterward, I flew from Haneda at 17:40 on an Air Canada flight, with a flight time of approximately 12 hours and 5 minutes.

The time difference between Japan and Toronto was 13 hours (during daylight saving time).

I arrived in Toronto at 16:46 (local time) on the same day (after crossing the International Date Line).

After arriving in Toronto, I transferred to a hotel near Niagara Falls for an overnight stay.

Day 2

Today, I visited the famous Niagara Falls, one of the world's three largest waterfalls, located on the border between Canada and the United States.

The Canadian Falls (on the west side) have a drop of about 54 meters and a width of about 675 meters. The American Falls (on the east side) have a drop of about 56 meters and a width of 320 meters. Next to the American Falls is the Bridal Veil Falls. These three waterfalls are collectively referred to as Niagara Falls, and all are incredibly impressive in scale.

I first visited the "Table Rock" viewpoint, right next to the Canadian Falls, where I could closely observe the peaceful water surface before it turns into the waterfall and the white, cascading water along with the mist rising.

Next, I took the Hornblower Niagara Cruise (formerly known as the Maid of the Mist) to get up close to both the American Falls and the Canadian Falls. We wore red plastic raincoats during the cruise, but once near the falls, my face, hair, and shoes got wet, so I had to protect my camera as well.

I also visited the "Journey Behind the Falls," where you can view the Canadian Falls from behind, but due to heavy mist, I couldn't take any photos.

After lunch, I visited the small town of "Niagara-on-the-Lake," located at the mouth of the Niagara River where it flows into Lake Ontario. After touring the town, I visited a winery for a tasting and returned to the same hotel as the previous night.

Day 3

Today, I traveled from Toronto to Calgary. Before heading to the airport, we made a stop at a souvenir shop. The owner of the shop was the late Kyozen Ohashi, a famous Japanese television personality. I purchased the classic Canadian souvenir, "maple syrup." The grade of syrup is determined by its color, flavor, and sugar content. The lighter the amber color and the more delicate the flavor, the higher the grade. I bought the "Light" grade, which had a darker color than the "Extra Light" grade.

I departed from Toronto at 12:00 on an Air Canada flight, with a flight time of about 4 hours and 15 minutes. I arrived in Calgary at 14:11.

The time difference between Toronto and Calgary is 2 hours.

From Calgary Airport, I took a bus to Banff National Park, and after a scenic tour, I arrived at my hotel in Banff, which is the central hub for exploring the Canadian Rockies.

Day 4

I began my exploration of the Canadian Rockies. First, I visited Moraine Lake, located in Banff National Park. It is a large and beautiful lake, and in mid-June, while there was still some snow on the surrounding mountains, most of the water was from the melting snow, giving the lake a stunning blue color.

Next, I visited Peyto Lake, which is known for the way its color changes depending on the season and the position of the sun. When I visited, the lake was a beautiful shade of blue.

I also visited Lake Louise, known as the "jewel of the Rockies." It was absolutely breathtaking, as always.

Later, I went to the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield, where I rode a snow coach and stood on the glacier. The edge of the glacier had begun to melt, and the footing was quite slippery.

After this, I returned to my hotel in Banff for the night.

Day 5

In the morning, I visited Yoho National Park. Before entering the park, our bus stopped at the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint. These tunnels were built to help trains navigate the steep grade at the provincial border. The 7-kilometer long tunnels form a figure-eight shape.

The bus driver checked the timetable and told us that a freight train was about to pass through, so we waited for it and were able to capture some great photos.

Afterward, we visited Emerald Lake, the largest lake in Yoho National Park. The lake's surface has a mysterious emerald color, caused by the refraction of light through glacial silt.

After lunch, I traveled back to Calgary and then flew to Vancouver.

I departed Calgary at 16:20, with a flight time of 1 hour and 30 minutes, and arrived in Vancouver at 16:49.

The time difference between Calgary and Vancouver is 1 hour.

Day 6

Today, I toured Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia, located on Vancouver Island. The capital of British Columbia is not Vancouver but Victoria.

I took a 1.5-hour ferry ride from Vancouver to Victoria. In Victoria, I toured the Legislative Assembly (from the bus window), and at Butchart Gardens, I enjoyed a garden tour while having lunch.

In the afternoon, I took a horse-drawn carriage ride through Inner Harbour, visited Craigdarroch Castle, and explored Oak Bay. I then returned to Vancouver by ferry.

[Vancouver]