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Option B - Tour Dates for tour commencing May 15th 2009
Study Component Schedule
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study for 8 weeks from
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study for 6 weeks from
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study for 4 weeks from
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study for 2 weeks from
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Take Break from Studies
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Start
February Tour
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End
10 Day Tour Option
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End
12 Day Tour
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Continue studies (seamless)
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study for 2 weeks until
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study for 4 weeks until
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study for 6 weeks until
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study for 8 weeks until
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03/05
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cont'
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cont'
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cont'
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05/14
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05/15
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05/24
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x
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05/28
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06/11
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x
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x
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x
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|
x
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03/19
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cont'
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cont'
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05/14
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05/15
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05/24
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x
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05/28
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06/11
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x
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x
|
x
|
|
x
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03/19
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cont'
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cont'
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05/14
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05/15
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05/24
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x
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05/28
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cont'
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06/25
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x
|
x
|
|
x
|
x
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04/02
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cont'
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05/14
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05/15
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05/24
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x
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05/28
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06/11
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x
|
x
|
x
|
|
x
|
x
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04/02
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cont'
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05/14
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05/15
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05/24
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x
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05/28
|
cont'
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06/25
|
x
|
x
|
|
x
|
x
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04/02
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cont'
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05/14
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05/15
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05/24
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x
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05/28
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cont'
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cont'
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07/09
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x
|
|
x
|
x
|
x
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04/16
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05/14
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05/15
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05/24
|
x
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05/28
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06/11
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x
|
x
|
x
|
|
x
|
x
|
x
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04/16
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05/14
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05/15
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05/24
|
x
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05/28
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cont'
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06/25
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x
|
x
|
|
x
|
x
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x
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04/16
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05/14
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05/15
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05/24
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x
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05/28
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cont'
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cont'
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07/09
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x
|
|
x
|
x
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x
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04/16
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05/14
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05/15
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05/24
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x
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05/28
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cont'
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cont'
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cont'
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07/23
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Study Length
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Arrival*
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Commence
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Holidays**
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10 weeks
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MAR/03-04
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MAR/05
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MAR/13, APR/10, MAY/03-05
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8 weeks
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MAR/17-18
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MAR/19
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APR/10, MAY/03-05
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6 weeks
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MAR/30-APR/01
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APR/02
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APR/10, MAY/03-05
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4 weeks
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APR/14-15
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APR/16
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MAY/03-05
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2 weeks
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APR/28-29
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APR/30
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MAY/03-05
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*Arrival - there is an airport transfer available on arrival for the study component.
**Public/Institute holidays affecting classes are listed here in full.
Proposed Tour Schedule (this may change, please refer to notes below)
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Day
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Date
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Destination(s)/Notes
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Depart+
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Return+
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Lunch+
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1
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May 15th
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2 night trip: At Toyota Motor Corporation we walk through their superb
Kaikan, learning about the processes involved before heading to a Toyota Motor Factory to see the industrial robots and
assembly lines. On our return journey we visit historic Daijuji -
the ancestral temple of Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Matsudaira
clan, with its unique pagoda and artworks. Our next destination is another
center of excellence, however instead of the 21st century technologies of
Toyota, the methods used by Hatcho Miso are ancient and the product
unchanging throughout the centuries. We then fast forward as we head past Mount Fuji on our way to
Tokyo.
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0900
Please bring passport with you for accommodation check-in
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N/A
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Yes
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2
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May 16th
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We start with a visit to
the observation towers of Tokyo's ultra-modern Metropolitan Government Building to get a bird's eye view of the city - on
clear days we can see Mount Fuji. We then head across town to visit the sometimes controversial
Yasukuni Jinja, before making our way to the Imperial Palace
where we can visit several famous historic sites, the walls of the once impregnable Edo Castle, and the east gardens.
From here we move to the Ginza area, with some free time to explore the shopping district, Sony Building, New Design
Paradise, the Apple Store etc. From Ginza our next
stop is the historic Hamarikyuu Gardens, before
taking a cruise up the Sumida river to Asakusa, visiting Sensoji temple and the lively shopping precinct. A pretty full day basically.
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N/A
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N/A
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No
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3
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May 17th
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After breakfast we are off to Ueno-koen, an oasis of greenery in
the concrete jungle, that also has several interesting sites to visit such as the Toshogu, Benten shrine and the
Shitamachi Museum.
We then have some free time for shopping and people watching in Ameyoko Arcade, before heading over to the electronics
district of Akihabara (also includes free time for
shopping) to see the amazing array of gadgets and bargains on offer.
Our afternoon will involve a visit to the Meiji Jingu and the popular youth and shopping areas of Omotesando and Harajuku.
We return to Okazaki in the evening.
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N/A
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2100
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No
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4
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May 18th
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Day trip: We start the discovery tour driving deep into the forests of the Oku-Mikawa.
Our first destination is very remote, a Senmaida, consisting of more than 1000 small rice fields in an painstakingly
constructed terrace. We will then hike through verdant forests to Horaiji, a 1300 year old temple that also
has a brilliantly preserved Toshogu shrine in a grove of 350 year old cedar trees towering above us.
From Horai we will visit the Nagashino battlefield & its museum, learning about the famous battle that occurred here in
1575, before heading down the valley to the
the mysterious Toyokawa Inari shrine, dedicated to a fox-riding god called Toyokawa Dakinishinten. The legend of
Dakinishinten dates from the 15th century, and was believed by samurai warriors such as Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa
Ieyasu. Millions of people visit this shrine every year as it is one of the three major Japanese Inari.
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0815
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1800
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No
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5
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May 19th
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Day trip:
Today we explore elements of Japanese traditional culture, including the opportunity to experience (and participate in) a
formal tea ceremony, learn how to wear kimono and yukata. We will study shodo, make sushi and Japanese foods while sampling
some sake from the local brewery (established in 1690), and learn a traditional folk dance.
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0830
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1730
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Yes
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6
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May 20th
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Overnight trip. Today we drive deep into the mountains. We visit Magome and Tsumago, two small
villages on the old Nakasendo highway that linked Edo with Kyoto, before heading deep into Nagano. We will spend the rest of
the day and evening in Matsumoto, an old but prosperous town centered on Matsumoto Castle - one of the few castles in Japan designated a
national treasure. In addition to the castle we'll visit the magnificent Japan Ukiyoe Museum, which houses the Sakai
Collection of ukiyoe works before enjoying the hot spring waters of Asama Onsen. Matsumoto is a university town and has plenty of
bars and restaurants. Dinner tonight will probably be in an izakaya, with free time afterwards to explore the town.
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0730
Please bring passport with you for accommodation check-in
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N/A
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No
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7
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May 21st
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After breakfast we will leave Matsumoto and drive into the alps, taking a break at Hirayu
Onsen to enjoy a hot soak, and have a look at the waterfalls and thatched houses. We will then descend into the city of Takayama on the
other side of the alps.
We begin with a visit to the Takayama Jinya, the military barracks where the town was governed from during the period of
the Tokugawa Shogunate. This is the best preserved example in Japan of an Edo Period Jinya, from which officials of the
shogunate directly managed the rich mining and forestry resources of this region. The torture chamber remains exactly the
same as it was when the Jinya was surrendered to the new Meiji Government in 1868. Takayama is popularly known as "Little
Kyoto". Part of the reason is that most of the old streetscapes of Kyoto are now concrete and plastic, and the other part
of the reason is that Kyoto's historic buildings tend to resemble those of Takayama. This is because much of Kyoto was
built by carpenters from this region, using their labor as an alternative to paying taxes with rice. We spend the rest
of the day in the old streets, visiting a sake brewery, the kokubunji temple, and other old temples in the area, and if
time permits, the thatched houses.
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N/A
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1930
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No
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8
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May 22nd
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Day trip. We travel to the former capital of Nara. After
obtaining an overview of the Yamato plain from the summit of Wakasayama, we visit Todaiji temple, home of the Daibutsu (very large ancient Buddha).
While in Nara, we will also visit some difficult to get to areas such as Muroji.
Nestled deep in the mountains, almost buried inside a large forest, Muroji is the "Koya-san of women", arguably the most
beautifully located temple in all of Nara, and also home to fantastic artwork and Enryaku era (780-805) architecture.
Our last stop for the day is the small temple of Onodera. Set beside a flowing stream, Onodera provides a good vantage point
from which to see a famous Magai Butsu, a 14 meter high image of Buddha carved into cliff during the Kamakura Period. Please bring a towel, because if
the water isn't too deep, it will be possible to wade across the stream for a close up look at the Magaibutsu and also the
sanskrit engravings hidden around its base.
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0730
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1930
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No
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9
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May 23rd
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Overnight trip.
Today we head to Kyoto and explore some of the most famous World Heritage listed sites in
Kyoto.
We start with the Kamakura period masterpiece
Sanjusangendo,
before moving on to the famous Rokuonji (better known as
Kinkaku-ji), and then visiting
Ryoanji with its
superstar status rock garden. Our late afternoon schedule is fairly
flexible, and those who wish to do some souvenir hunting (or other shopping) will have
the chance to explore Kawaramachi & Kyoto's many shopping arcades. In the evening we will visit
Yasaka Jinja and the
Gion district where we will be
staying overnight in a traditional Ryokan. We will also enjoy some of Kyoto's nightlife in the Gion & Pontocho areas.
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0745
Please bring passport with you for accommodation check-in
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N/A
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No
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10
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May 24th
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After a leisurely breakfast, our first destination is
Nijo Castle, with its beautiful
artworks and famous nightingale floors, one of the most unique attractions in
Kyoto.
We will visit Ginkakuji, before
making our way along the path of philosophy to
Nanzenji, the most important zen temple in Kyoto.
Our final destination for the tour is the wonderful
Kiyomizudera and the Jishu Shrine.
Those ending the tour in Okazaki will then head back to Aichi. Transportation to Kyoto station or accommodation can be
arranged on request for those who wish to leave the tour in Kyoto.
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N/A
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1930
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No
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+Departure from/Return to Okazaki times given using 24 hour clock (ie 0800 = 8am, 1830 = 6.30pm)
+Lunch - Yes/No indicates whether lunch is included or not.
Return = N/A means an overnight stay, usually in a ryokan or minshuku, where evening meal/breakfast is always included.
Discounts: As this is an off-season tour (the usual number of participants is 5 or less), it is possible to obtain
a discount of 5000 yen off the program fee (in addition to the accommodation discounts offered through the "early bird" pass) if payment is completed more than ten weeks before program commencement.
Notes:
In the week before a tour commences, a briefing will be held for the participants. If the number of students
participating is 9 students or less (which is usually the case in the off season), then the actual destinations, or the
order in which they are visited, can often be altered to reflect the specific interests of the group members.
Please also note that the schedule may need to be changed in the event of inclement weather/typhoons etc, or the unforeseen closure
of any given destination. Appropriate alternative destinations are chosen only after consultation with you.
To help ensure that students can budget for expenses accurately, Institute staff will either purchase food (usually
bento and drinks) for you to eat or find a reasonably priced restaurant (maximum cost 1000 yen - with Yamasa paying for the
remainder of your food bill) if due to traffic/weather conditions we are delayed by more than one hour on the days we
return to Okazaki accommodation.
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C O M M U N I T Y M E M B E R S
