The Japanese Imperial Family hosted the Prince and Princess of Wales on their landmark visit to Japan on this day in 1986, 40 years ago, following a week-long visit to Canada to open Expo ’86 which itself came just days after an Official Visit to Austria.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in Kyoto on the evening of May 8th, starting their itinerary the following morning with a traditional tea ceremony at Nijo Castle in Kyoto, followed by a Tour through the Gardens with Prince Naruhito, and a visit to a Buddhist Temple. The day ended with a reception by the local branch of the Japan-British Society and a traditional Japanese dinner given by Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe.
The following day, the Prince and Princess arrived in Tokyo and rode in an open limousine to their formal welcome at the Akasaka Palace. In the evening, Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko hosted the Prince and Princess (in her Saudi Sapphire Choker) for Dinner at the Togu Palace in Tokyo.
On May 11th, the Prince and Princess visited the Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo, followed by a visit to the Red Cross Infants’ Home in Tokyo, a demonstration of traditional Japanese flower arranging or ikebana at the Akasaka Palace, and Sa visit to NHK, Japan’s Public Broadcasting Service in Tokyo.
In the evening, the Prince and Princess of Wales (wearing her Prince of Wales Feathers Pendant) were joined by members of the Imperial Family as they attended a Dinner given by the British Ambassador at the British Embassy in Tokyo.
On their final day, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited a Nissan Car Factory, and the Kabukiza Theatre in Tokyo, before the Prince addressed the lower house diet session, and the couple attended the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royogoku Sumo Arena in Tokyo.
In the evening, the Prince and Princess (wearing her Saudi Sapphire Choker as a Headband) attended a Dinner hosted by Emperor Hirohito at the Imperial Palace, joined by Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko (in the Pearl Sunburst Tiara) and other members of the family. Afterwards, the couple traveled straight to the airport to return back to Britain, at the end of a two-week Tour.
