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| Japan Sea Tour |
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| Itinerary |
The following schedule is subject to change in accordance with the circumstances of our lodgings, transportation, local events and hosts. We will send participants the finalized itinerary one month in advance of the departure date.
(B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner |
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Day 1 Arrive in Tokyo (Narita) Airport Arrive in Narita Airport. Clear Customs and Immigrations. Participants flying on our designated flight will be greeted by tour representative and transferred to Garden Narita Hotel.
Day 2 Narita - Haneda Airport -Yonago Airport - Matsue
Transfer to Haneda Airport. Fly to Yonago. Our destination is Matsue, a charming castle town. We'll have a half-day walking tour of Matsue with local volunteer guides. Our dinner is local specialty, Shijimi Clam over rice. (B)(D)
Day 3 Matsue - Adachi Museum - Kiyomizu-dera Temple - Matsue
In the morning, we will visit Kiyomizu-dera, a historical temple deep in the mountains of Yasugi. Our lunch will be a vegetarian course meal. In the afternoon, we will visit Adachi Museum known for its outstanding Japanese art, folkcrafts collection and spectacular landscape garden. Their garden has been ranked as the finest Japanese garden by the Journal of Japanese Gardening for the past 5 years. We will meet a head gardener and learn about the maintenance of the garden - a story behind the scene. (B)(L)
Day 4 Matsue - Izumo Taisha - Sakura-e
Sending suitcases to Kyoto, we will travel with 4-nights-5 day-pack.
We will take a chartered bus to visit the Izumo Quilt Museum, which shows exquisite quilts of Japanese textiles in a well-preserved, old Japanese domestic architecture. We will meet a renowned quilt designer/craft person and Director of the Museum, Ms. Mutsuko Yahatagaki. In the afternoon, we will visit the Izumo Taisha, the oldest shrine of Japan. Our lunch will be Izumo Soba buckwheat noodle, the local favorite. We will then visit Kagura (sacred dance) museum in Sakura-e with Jake Davies, our local guide. (B)(L)(D)
Day 5 Sakura-e
Free in the morning. Enjoy hot-springs bath, nature walk, paper making, etc. In the afternoon, we will visit Mizu-no-kuni museum, a breath-taking modern architecture set in a beautiful hillside, which exhibits water-theme arts. Then, we will explore Sakura-e. This region is known for Kagura, sacred dances performed by local people with gorgeous costumes and masks to celebrate the nature gods' homecoming. Jake, a mask maker himself, will show us how the Kagura masks are made. We will also visit a flute maker, Mr. Ebiya-san at his workshop.
In the evening, we will enjoy sacred Kagura dances performed by the local. (B)(D)
Day 6 Sakura-e - Hagi
We will take the train to visit Hagi, a quaint pottery town along the coast. Hagi is also known for its vital role during the Meiji Restoration of 1867, when the shogunate government surrendered power to the emperor. We will have a walking tour of this historic castle town with temples, shrines, rows of samurai houses, and craft shops. (B)(L)
Day 7 Hagi
We will visit the Hatanos, award-winning potter family at their kiln. Free in the afternoon. (B)
Day 8 Hagi - Kyoto
We will travel a scenic mountain road by bus from Hagi to Yamaguchi, then transfer to Kyoto by Bullet Train. (B)
Day 9 Kyoto
Today, we will appreciate the traditional architecture and gardens of Japan's ancient capital, Kyoto. We will visit Zen gardens in Daitoku-ji Temple. Our lunch is monk's vegetarian full course Kaiseki. After lunch, we will visit Gion district, famed for its arts and crafts shops such as hand-made paper, lanterns, incense, old kimono fabrics, antique furniture, etc. The tour will end in Gion. (L)
Day 10 Kyoto
Free day.
Day 11 Kyoto - Miho Museum - Kyoto
We will visit Miho Museum. Miho Museum was designed by I.M. Pei. The museum is known for its fine collection of ancient arts of the world. The architecture, eighty percent of which is underground, is known for its inspired blending of modern geometric forms and traditional Japanese design. (L)(D)
Your tour leader will provide walking maps and information.
We will visit Miho Museum, designed by I.M. Pei. The museum is known for its fine collection of ancient arts of the world. The architecture, eighty percent of which is underground, is known for its inspired blending of modern geometric forms and traditional Japanese design. Our last dinner will be a buffet style All-You-Can-Eat-Kyoto's-Local-Specialty.
(D)
Day 12 Kyoto
The tour will disband this morning. If you plan to fly on this day, let your tour escort know in advance. She will help you book airport shuttle bus. |
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"I really liked how we were given a quick overview of each town and then given time to explore on our own"
H.F. 2007 Japan Sea Tour
"Thank you for a great trip, the trip of a lifetime with the people, the country and the food...more than any expectations."
J.Y. 2009 Japan Sea Tour |
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Contact Us
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| Community Travel Service |
Tel: 510-528-0600
info@comtravel.net
P.O.Box 6259,
Albany, CA 94706 |
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