MT FUJI, JAPAN ALPS, HIROSHIMA & JAPANESE CULTURE
2010
A Multi-Activity Adventure
The war and controversy, peace perseverance and prosperity have each shaped the history of Japan over the last 60 plus years. You can discover all this and much more for yourself on this fascinating journey to Japan’s Hidden Treasures. Yet another unique offering rarely found in the conventional tour brochures. From the early imperial palaces, traditional temples and sacred shrines, to 20th century memorials to the devastation of war, we follow the evolution of a great nation. See most colourful of festivals, walk through Geisha districts, take a bullet train ride to Hiroshima to meet the A-bomb survivors and hear their tales of survival in person, learn about Aikido martial art or practice Zazen meditation, explore the vibrant modern cities, hike through the scenic Japan Alps and the dormant volcanoes, pay homage to the sacred Mt Fuji and enjoy the traditional Japanese hospitality of a ryokan or traditional style hotel – Experience all this in our activity and fun-filled all inclusive Japan adventure.
Fully Escorted
16 Day Tour July 15-31, 2010
Hidden Treasures of Japan At Least Once in Your Life, visit Japan
Activities Included
The Trip Overview
◊ Spectacular Gion Matsuri Festival in Kyoto ◊ Kyoto sightseeing incl. famous Kinkakuji temple ◊ Visit to Arashiyama village ◊ Gosho Imperial Palace ◊ Kyoto Geisha District ◊ Japanese Arts cultural show ◊ Kyoto –Hiroshima Bullet train ◊ Hiroshima tour & meeting with A-bomb survivors ◊ Miyajima Island Visit ◊ City of Kobe & Hemeji Castle ◊ Sake Brewery demonstration ◊ Takayama - Ankokuji temple ◊ Aikido & Zazen meditation ◊ Trekking in the Japan Alps ◊ Fully guided Mt Fuji climb ◊ & Many more…… Japan is a modern, affluent, mountainous country, with a long, rich and colourful history. The full and varied itinerary for this trip means that we will experience many aspects of past and present life in Japan and go home with a deep insight into this fascinating country, her history and culture. Included are many opportunities to interact with local people often leaving the tourist trail. A chance to learn about their way of life and to taste the local cuisine. Our trip will begin with one of Japan’s most spectacular festivals, the Gion Matsuri. While in Kyoto we will visit some of her most famous World Heritage sites and have an introduction to many of Japan’s unique art forms. Taking the speedy shinkansen (bullet train) to Hiroshima we will find out what really happened when the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945 and learn about the steps being taken to ensure world peace for the future. After visiting Japan’s most splendid ‘White Egret’ castle in Himeji we will go to Kobe to experience the Japanese martial art aikido and also learn about how sake is made. In Takayama we will see beautiful traditional architecture, stay in a traditional Japanese-style ryokan and visit a nearby temple to experience zazen meditation. Visiting Kamikochi, a picturesque village in the heart of the Japan Alps, we will be surrounded by magnificent 3,000m peaks and spend two days hiking high up on the ridges, with wonderful views. The trip will culminate in a hike up Mt. Fuji (3776m) to watch the sunrise from her summit. Finally we will have a free day to explore the modern, sophisticated capital city, Tokyo.
Hidden Treasures of
Japan
Himeji Castle
Know Your Local Host In Japan…
c
Estella Dean is a long term British resident in Japan and our obvious choice to host this tour. Estella is an adventurer of the highest level first came to Japan in a 2-man yacht – sailing across the giant Pacific Ocean for 8 months!
Estella speaks fluent Japanese and has lived and worked in Japan for over 20 years. As an adventurer, she has travelled extensively in Japan mainly by bicycle! She is a founding member and president of the Kansai International Outdoor Club (IOC) of Japan. Estella also has extensive travel experience and has organized and led trekking and mountain biking adventures throughout Japan and around the world including trips to the Everest Base camp, Nepal, Mt Kilimanjaro Tanzania, Tibet, Central and South East Asia, Mongolia among others. As an avid follower of the Japanese culture and art, Estella has a profound knowledge of the Japanese way of life. During her free time, she attends a number of Japanese cultural events like masked dramas, contemporary dance, puppet theatre, story-telling, calligraphy, tea ceremony, Zazen meditation, Taiko (drumming) and numerous traditional festivals. She has practiced the Japanese martial arts of Aikido and Joujutsu for several years. She lives in Kobe and works full-time as an English teacher at high schools and universities while arranging and hosting adventure trips during her leisure time.
The Tour Itinerary (In Brief)
Day 1(July 15) – Depart Canada - Osaka Depart Canada via the Trans Pacific route to Osaka, Japan. Day 2 (July 16) Osaka Afternoon arrival at Kansai International airport in Osaka, Japan, we will be met by an English-speaking guide. A 2-hour minibus ride will take us to our hotel in the heart of Kyoto, Japan's capital city in bygone days. Welcome dinner. Palace Side Hotel for 3 nights. (D) Day 3 (July 17) Kyoto Our trip coincides with one of Japan's most famous and spectacular festivals the "Gion Matsuri". The morning will be spent watching the main parade 'Yamaboko Junko' of 32 floats being pulled by hand through the streets of Kyoto. Many of the floats are as tall as 25 meters and weigh as much as 10 tons! They are all beautifully adorned and have been designated as important cultural properties. In the afternoon we will visit the famous Kinkakuji Temple, better known as the Golden Pavillion. Reflected in the Kyokochi pond it is one of the most beautiful and well-recognized symbols of Japan. From there we will take a bus outside the city and follow a 1.5 hour serene hiking trail along the river Kiyotaki to the picturesque village of Arashiyama, with thatched houses, traditional folk crafts, bamboo forests and temples. Here we will visit Tenryuji Temple with its traditional Japanese gardens. (BLD) Day 4 (July 18) Kyoto In the morning we will have a guided tour of Gosho Imperial Palace. Once the home of the Japanese Emperor, the architecture seen here is outstanding. After lunch we will visit Kiyomizu temple - A World Heritage site and a symbol of Kyoto. From here we'll take a walk along narrow streets with traditional Japanese architecture, many temples and art/craft shops, to Kyoto's largest park, Maruyama koen. On our way to the Gion (Geisha) district for dinner, we’ll pass through Yasaka jinja, the host shrine for the Gion Festival. Wandering the streets of Gion in the early evening, there is a chance of seeing a Geisha on her way to work. After dinner, we¹ll attend an evening cultural performance introducing us to seven different traditional Japanese arts, including the tea ceremony, ikebana, music, drama, dance and puppet theatre. (BLD) Day 5 (July 19) Kyoto –Hiroshima A 2-hour ride on the super fast shinkansen bullet train to Hiroshima. From there we hop across to Miyajima Island by ferry. At high tide, we will be able to view the muchphotographed tori gate of Itsukushima Shrine, majestically appearing to float on the water.
Day 5 (July 19) Continued… Depending on our energy level, we either take a cable car or hike to Misen Peak (530 m/1739 feet) for panoramic views of many other islands in the Seto Inland Sea National Park and the distant mountain ranges of Shikoku. We are likely to encounter wild deer and monkeys along the trails. 2 nights at Mitsu Garden Hotel. (BLD) Day 6 (July 20) Hiroshima A day to contemplate the past as we visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and museum. A survivor will give us an account of their firsthand experience of the atomic bomb 65 years ago. We will also have a guided tour of the museum and park. In the late afternoon we will visit a nursing home for victims of the atomic bomb in order to demonstrate our commitment to striving for a peaceful future. (BLD) Day 7 (July 21) Hiroshima – Kobe Catch an early shinkansen to Himeji to visit one of Japan’s most beautiful castles, also known as the White Egret Castle.
Another train ride will take us to Kobe, where we will have the unique opportunity to participate in a beginner’s lesson of the nonaggressive martial art, aikido. An evening dinner cruise from Kobe on the Inland Sea will take us towards the Akashi Kaikyo Suspension Bridge. At 1,991m (6,529 ft) it is the world's longest suspension bridge and we will be able to see it illuminated after dark. Overnight at Green Hill Hotel for 2 nights.
(BLD)
Day 8 (July 22) Kobe A day to explore Kobe, beginning with the Kobe Earthquake Museum. Here you will be able to relive the experience of the people of Kobe during the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. Kobe is also the home of many top quality sake breweries. We will visit one of these to learn about how sake is made and will have an opportunity to do some sake tasting. In the afternoon we will have the choice of hiking or taking a a cable car and Gondola to the summit of Mt. Maya, a 702 m hill affording spectacular views over Kobe and the Osaka Bay. Overnight in Kobe. (BLD)
Hidden Treasures of
Japan Day 9 (July 23) Kobe - Takayama Today we head north by train to Takayama, a small town in one of Japan¹s mountainous regions that has beautifully preserved the character of Japan’s history. Afternoon we will visit the Hida Folk Village - a lovely open-air museum of traditional Japanese architecture and rural life and where local people demonstrate some ancient Japanese crafts. Stay 2 nights in a family run Japanese ryokan and have the experience of sleeping in futons, wearing yukata and take our meals around a traditional Japanese hibachi. (BLD) Day 10 (July 24) Takayama Visit Takayama’s famous morning market selling locally-grown produce and handicrafts and take a walk through this beautiful old town. A good place for shopping for souvenirs. In the afternoon a short train ride will take us into the countryside, where rice paddies and wild flowers abound. By personal invitation we will visit Ankokuji Temple. Behind the temple, a pilgrims trail will take us up 1,000 steps to the summit of a hill with great views over the surrounding countryside and mountains. Back at the temple there will be an option to participate in an introduction to 'Zazen' meditation with the resident monk. At Ankokuji Temple we will also have a unique chance to see one of Japan's hidden National Treasures! (BLD) Day 11 (July 25) Takayama-Japan Alps After breakfast our luggage will be sent by delivery service our hotel in Kawaguchiko. With only day packs and hiking gear for two nights, we will take a bus towards the Japanese Alps, where will be met by our hiking guide. Two gondola rides will whisk us high up into the Northern Japan Alps and our hike will begin from an altitude of 2,156 m. A 1.5 hour hike will bring us to a comfortable, fully-manned mountain hut (2,300m) for lunch. In the afternoon a 1.5 hour ridge walk will take us to Nishihodoppyo Peak (2,701m) with excellent views of the Japan Alps and even Mt. Fuji if the weather is clear. Return by the same trail to the Nishihosanso mountain hut for the night.
(BLD)
Day 12 (July 26) Japan Alps An early start and follow an undulating ridge trail for 3hours before climbing to the summit of the active volcano Yakedake. From the summit look down into a lake in the crater and also have great views of the surrounding mountains.
Tour Conditions
Land Tour Price CA $5725 per person
Cost of Flights From CA $1150 per person approx* * Flights are from Toronto
Taxes and fuel surcharges CA $300 approx. Single rooms are possible only at hotels in Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kobe and Tokyo. Available on request.
LAND TOUR INCLUDES ◊ 15 nights accommodation at listed properties or similar available (10 nights hotel/ 2 nights Ryokan & 3 nights mountain huts) ◊ All meals excluding lunch on day 16 (Starting with dinner on Day 2 until breakfast on Day 17) including welcome & farewell dinner. Packed meals also provided during hikes/treks ◊ Land transportation by private mini coaches and/or scheduled public transport services and Japan Rail pass on the bullet trains ◊ Cultural show, Aikido and Zazen participation ◊ Hiroshima Peace education visit to Abomb survivors, memorial parks and the museum ◊ Services of Estella Dean as our local host and her team of local experts. ◊ Local trekking guides Japan Alps and Mt Fuji climb ◊ All admission tickets to tourist attractions, temples, parks and museums as listed in the itinerary ◊ Dinner cruise on Inland sea ◊ A Canadian trip director throughout the tour.
Day 12 (July 26) Japan Alps Continued The hike down to the valley will take about 4 hours. Overnight in Nishiitoya mountain hut and enjoy a hot spring in the picturesque village of Kamikochi in the heart of the Japan Alps. (BLD) Day 13 (July 27) Japan Alps The morning will be spent travelling to Kawaguchiko by a combination of buses and trains. Kawaguchiko is the jumping off point for the climb of Mt. Fuji and is also where we will meet up with our luggage. In the afternoon we will pay a visit to the Mt. Fuji Visitors Centre to learn about the history and geology of Japan’s highest and most majestic volcano. Our hotel will be conveniently located on the lakeside, so in the afternoon we will also have a chance to walk around part of Lake Kawaguchiko, hoping for good views of Mt. Fuji looming overhead. Overnight at Kawaguchiko Hotel (BLD) Day 14 (July 28) Mt Fuji Summit climb Again our luggage will be sent from our hotel by delivery service; this time to our final destination, Tokyo. With only day packs for one night and two days, taxis will take us to the start (1,300m) of the Yoshida hiking, trail where we will begin to climb Mt. Fuji. Moving very slowly to help us acclimatize, the hike to Hakuunso hut (3,200m) is about 7 hours. Dinner in the hut will be very early this evening, as we will be hoping for some sleep between 7 pm and 12:45 a.m. (BLD) Day 15 (July 29) Mt Fuji - Tokyo At about 1:30 a.m. and wearing all the clothes we have with us, we will begin our ascent to the summit of Mt. Fuji. (3,776 m). Walking very slowly, we will be planning to arrive at the summit a little before sunrise at about 5:00 a.m. After taking our sunrise photos, we’ll begin our 1.5 hour hike around the crater rim, stopping at the highest point on the way, to record our achievement. As the sun rises, we will also have a chance to see the shadow of Mt. Fuji cast across the valley below. Approx. 8:00 a.m. we will begin our descent of Mt Fuji to Kawaguchi 5th station(2,300m). This should take about 4 hours, so we will be more than ready for our lunch on arrival. After lunch a highway bus will take us all the way into the heart of Tokyo in about 2 hours 20 minutes. A short taxi ride from the bus stop will take us to our hotel. Depending on our arrival time, there should be time to relax before dinner. 2 nights at Daiichi Inn Hotel. (BLD) Day 16 (July 30) Tokyo A free day in Tokyo. Our farewell dinner tonight will include a live performance of Okinawan dancing.(BD) Day 17 (July 31) – Tokyo A short taxi ride to the pick-up point for the airport limousine bus for 2-hour trip to Narita airport for our return flight to Canada. (B)
How hard is trekking in the Japan Alps & Mt Fuji? We mix touring, village and city walks and hiking in the remote Alps, encompassing a wide variety of activities on foot. Difficulty level is graded as intermediate and this trip is not suitable for first time hikers! There is some exposure in the Alps and at times we will be hiking both up and down on fairly steep terrain with loose rocks and scree on the trails. Generally, these hikes are non technical and
relatively easy, mostly following good paths throughout with some exposure to ridges in places. Day 11 will be a long and strenuous day. On Mt. Fuji the trail is fairly secure, with no serious exposure, but the altitude makes this hike challenging for even fit hikers. Weather conditions on Mt Fuji can also be severe, windy and cold; it must not be taken lightly! One must
note that trekking at altitudes above 3000m(10,000 feet) demands some fitness on the body than walking at sea level.
Your Canadian tour leader and our local trekking guides supervise the hikes, instruction and all safety equipment is provided. However, you need to be physically prepared for the trekking element of the trip and for the ascent of Mount Fuji. Training tips and tutorials are available on request.
A word about current pricing…. At the time of finalizing this tour, the value of the Japanese Yen had hit an all-time high in the world financial markets. Should there be any exchange gains in the run up to the trip departure, we will gladly pass such savings to our clients. Likewise, if the currency rates hike unexpectedly against the dollar, we reserve the right to amend the land tour price.
Call: Priyantha Amarasinghe or Shernaz Writer
1 800 263 2995|416 391 0334
Not Included: Travel/medical insurance; Beverages during meals, tips for guides/staff; personal expenses, telephone, laundry etc
Press 3 - Ext 2680(Priyantha)|2669 (Shernaz) priyantha@tourcanvacations.com www.tourcanvacations.com 1027 Yonge St, Suite 310 Toronto, ON M4W 2K9