Tule Lake PILgrimage
Frequently Asked Questions – Transportation
How do I sign up to take a bus to the Pilgrimage?
On the Transportation sub-page, there is a list of bus departure locations. These locations are where the charter buses will pick up and drop off Pilgrimage attendees. The location can be a church, a shopping center, or parking area. The tentative locations are: CALIFORNIA: Sacramento Betsuin, Sacramento Airport, North Berkeley BART Station, San Francisco Japantown, San Jose Japantown, and Union City; OREGON: Portland and Eugene; WASHINGTON: Seattle and Olympia. These locations are subject to change. Once the registration process is completed, we will communicate final departure information.
Once I register for the Pilgrimage, can I change my departure location?
This will depend on whether there are open bus seats on the changed departure location. We will not accept any bus change requests after May 15, 2026.
Is there parking available at the departing bus locations?
We recommend you arrange to be dropped off and picked up at your assigned bus departure location, as there may be limited parking available. Parking at the departure location is at your own risk and expense. At the Sacramento International Airport, you can pay and park in the long-term parking lot. In San Francisco, you can pay and park at the Japanese Center Parking Garage. The Berkeley bus departure location is a BART station and requires a special parking permit for overnight parking. The permit will be provided by the bus monitors. At the San Jose, Union City, and the Sacramento Betsuin locations, you may be able to park in the church parking lots; details will be provided by your bus monitors. Parking for the Washington and Oregon bus locations may be at a shopping center. You can obtain additional information from the bus monitors assigned to your departing location.
Can I drive to the Pilgrimage instead of taking a bus?
Yes. However, we strongly recommend you travel with your fellow pilgrims on one of our buses. Sharing personal stories and hearing from others is a large part of the Pilgrimage experience. If you plan to drive, indicate “driving” when you register, as special arrangements must be made for private vehicles parked at the Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT). You must arrive at OIT no later than 5:00 pm July 3, 2026. If you plan to arrive AFTER July 3, 2026, please contact Grace Kajita at (916) 804-7856 to inform her of your itinerary. Please note that all those who drive will be required to pay the full registration fee of $700 to be assured a seat on a bus for the onsite tours. RV parking is not allowed at OlT. There is no reduction in registration fees should you decide to drive yourself.
Can I return on a different bus than my departure bus?
No. The bus you take to the Pilgrimage will be the same bus you will take to return to your departure location after the Pilgrimage is concluded.