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Option A - Tour Dates for tour commencing July 23rd 2004
Study Component Schedule
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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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End Studies
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10 weeks
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MAY/13-14
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MAY/15
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MAY/20, JUL/21
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JUL/22
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8 weeks
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MAY/27-28
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MAY/29
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JUL/21
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JUL/22
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6 weeks
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JUN/10-11
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JUN/12
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JUL/21
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JUL/22
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4 weeks
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JUN/24-25
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JUN/26
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JUL/21
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JUL/22
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2 weeks
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JUL/08-09
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JUL/10
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JUL/21
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JUL/22
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*Arrival - there is a free Nagoya airport pickup on the days indicated.
**Public/Institute holidays affecting classes are listed here in full.
Proposed 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) - Click for info
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Depart+
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Return+
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Lunch+
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1
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JUL/23
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Early today we head to Okutono Jinya and drink tea in an old samurai barracks with a beautiful Japanese garden, before heading to one of the key reasons for Japan's emergence as a modern economy. At Toyota Motor we walk through their superb Kaikan, learning about the processes involved before heading to a Toyota Motor Factory for a birdseye view. Later in the afternoon we head to Asuke with its hilltop
castle and beautiful Korankei gorge.
Bring a towel and your swimming costumes, because apart from its thatched houses, old temples and lovely scenery, the gorge is also a great place to cool off with a swim or wade in the river "kawa-asobi".
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0820
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1800
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Yes
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2
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JUL/24
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We head to
Kyoto, which until the
Meiji Restoration of 1868 was the capital of Japan for 1000 years. After a brief visit to the remains of the Rashomon gate area, we head to
Toji with its cultural treasures and massive pagoda. Our next destination is somewhat unusual - the
Toei Movie Studios where so many of Japan's movies and period dramas are filmed - exploring the sets and watching some scenes being shot. Its a good place to get a photo of a samurai strolling past or a ninja having a quiet smoke. After a quick visit to
Tenryuji, we head across town to
Gion. In the
Gion district (where we are staying in a traditional Kyoto ryokan) we will walk to
Yasaka Jinja and take in the sights of the
district including the 300 year old famous tea house Ichiriki Ochaya (good for a bit of geisha spotting) and the nightlife area of
Pontocho.
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0800
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N/A
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No
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3
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JUL/25
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Our first stops this morning are
Kinkakuji - with its famous "golden pavilion" and
Ryoanji - home of perhaps the best karesansui rock garden in Japan. We then head to
Nijo Castle, from which the
Tokugawa Shogunate kept a firm grip on the imperial capital throughout their reign. The palace within the castle includes some beautiful artwork by the Kano school, the "nightingale floors" designed to warn of intruders, hidden passages concealing guards and several rooms of immense historical interest - especially the rooms where
Tokugawa Ieyasu met
Hideyori, the illfated heir of
Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the leadup to the
Battles of Osaka in 1615, and of course the room where the last shogun resigned more than two and half centuries later. From
Nijo Castle we will head up to the top of
Mount Hiei - with its world heritage listed Tendai sect temple
Enryakuji. From here warriors monks guarded the capital from evil spirits (and occasionally descended upon
Kyoto to wreak havoc), until an unfortunate encounter with
Oda Nobunaga in 1571. The rebuilt 16th century Kompon Chudo has altars in a sunken area below the worship floor, creating the illusion that they are floating amidst an undulating haze of incense smoke lit by low burning lanterns. Legend has it that the three large lanterns in front of the main altar have been burning contiunously for the past 1,200 years, ever since the Chinese priest Saicho (767-822) first lit them, though the unpleasantness of 1571 suggests otherwise. From
Mount Hiei we descend into
Shiga and cross the massive expanse of
Lake Biwa on our way to
Sekigahara and Okazaki.
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N/A
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2030
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No
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4
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JUL/26
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We head to the ancient capital of Nara, visiting
Kofukuji, and walking through
Nara Koen with its sacred deer to Kasuga Taisha. From here we head across to Nigatsudo and the world heritage listed Todaiji, the largest wooden structure in the world and home to Nara's famous daibutsu. If the weather is wet we'll visit the Isuien Garden & the Neiraku Museum. If it is dry we'll drive to the top of Wakasayama which gives us a fantastic view of the Yamato plain stretching from the outskirts of
Osaka northwards to the southern outskirts of
Kyoto.
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0700
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1900
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No
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5
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JUL/27
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Theme: Traditions. Our earlier visit to
Toyota gave us a snapshot insight into how Japanese people work these days, but what of the past or of those outside massive corporations? Our first stop today is the old ceramics town and port of Tokoname, where we will make pottery on the wheel with a master potter - a good chance to practise your Japanese too. We then visit a 300 year old sake brewery at Kunizakari Sake and after learning about the sake brewing process take a bit of time to sample their products, before dropping by Yoshihama Ningyou to see exactly what the master craftsmen who make Japanese Ningyou dolls can really do when they set their minds and considerable skills to it. We end our tour with an unusual destination. During the tour we have a chance to see Japan and the Japanese, but what do Japanese think and make of us and our countries? - Denpark is a fascinating and enjoyable way of trying to figure that question out.
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0800
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1830
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Yes
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6
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JUL/28
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We head to the famous wedded rocks of Futamigaura, where pilgrims cleansed themselves prior to visiting the Ise Grand Shrines, the most important shrines in Japan. From here we sample the delights of Okage Yokosho, an old style neighbourhood where pilgrims would let their hair down so to speak (class distinctions were usually ignored amongst pilgrims, offering men and women of different social class all sorts of possibilities). Many of the shops are centuries old, and we will enjoy a lunch like no other (its a secret for now though!). We next drive along Route 12 (or 32 - see notes) through the vast estates of the shrines and through remote country to Ago Bay and the wonderful Goza Beach, our destination for tonight. Its summer, so that means fireworks. Its a great beach, so sandcastles and candles are also in order, but not until after the seafood Banquet.
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1800
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1900
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No
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7
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JUL/29
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Goza Beach is too good to ignore, so we'll go back for a stroll and/or swim. The beach is uncrowded even on weekends, so on a weekday like this there is acres of sand to enjoy. We then set off along the scenic Pearl Road until we reach Mikimoto Pearl Island in
Toba. One of the showpieces of Japanese inventiveness, at Mikimoto we also watch female Ama divers working the seabed (without breathing apparatus) and enjoy a superb museum. From Toba we take a bit of a cruise, across the vast Ise Bay to the tip of the Cape Irago in
Aichi. The Atsumi peninsula is one of the most difficult places in Aichi to travel to, but it also has as a result, wonderful uncrowded surf beaches such as Akabane Beach. A quick cool off, then a visit to the mysterious Toyokawa Inari on our way back home.
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0700
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2030
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No
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8
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JUL/30
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We visit the oasis like
Atsuta Jingu, one of Japan's top 3 shrines.
Our next stop is the amazing Tokugawa Art Museum - one of the best collections of Japanese arts and treasures in the country. This museum is a mecca for researchers, but also fascinating for anyone with an eye for beauty and an interest in Japan's rich heritage. In the afternoon we stop by the brilliant Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, showcasing Japan's "monozukuri" know-how, before seeing (and sampling!) some of that "know-how" practical application during the last stop of the day, the always enjoyable Asahi Beer Brewery Tour.
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0830
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1900
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Yes
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9
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JUL/31
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Climb Mount Fuji!
For those who are fit, healthy, active and want to experience a few thrills - try the view of the sunrise from the peak of Mount Fuji. If you aren't fit, aren't feeling the best, and would prefer to lie back and take it easy - no problem. This two day section of the tour is to Mount Fuji - Japan's highest mountain and most famous symbol. We start with a break at the vast lagoon of Hamanako, before those in the climbing party head off from Shin-5-gome, climbling (with safety guide etc) to a mountain hut a few hundred meters below the peak, taking a few hours rest and then dashing for the top and the sunrise. Its wonderful stuff. For those who'd prefer the easier life, there is the gentle descent (by car) from Shin-5-gome, to enjoy the temples and onsens of Shizuoka.
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0900
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N/A
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No
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10
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AUG/01
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For those who climbed - we Descend Fuji, meeting the rest of the party (who have no doubt enjoyed a leisurely onsen soak and fine night's sleep) at Shin-5-gome and then heading across the mountain face to the beautiful
Shiraito-no-taki.
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N/A
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1700
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No
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11
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AUG/02
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We first visit
Takisanji with its stunning
Kamakura period
architecture and magnificent
gate built in 1267 by Mitsunobu Fujiwara,
also taking time to get a close look at the beautiful
Toshogu built by the 3rd and most
powerful shogun of the Edo period
Tokugawa Iemitsu. We then drive to the old post town of Goyu,
a station on the old Tokaido linking Kyoto with Edo, made famous in Ukiyoe prints such as those by the artist
Utagawa Hiroshige.
Here we can walk along a preserved pine tree lined
stretch of the old road, stopping by a 300 year old inn and the small town's fascinating shiryokan.
In the afternoon we visit Horaiji-san - a
1300 year old temple set amongst the cliffs and if the weather is fine we'll hike up to Oku-no-in for the spectacular views (if the weather is wet we will instead visit one of the increasingly rare senmaida). We finish the day with a visit to the Nagashino Castle Ruins and the
Shitagahara Battlefield and Museum - a turning point in Japanese history where
Oda Nobunaga and
Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated the cavalry of the Takeda clan in 1575.
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0845
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1830
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No
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12
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AUG/03
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The ancient Nakasendo highway linking Edo (now Tokyo) and Kyoto is the focus of our last day. We start with the small post town of Magome, walking through the old juku and visiting the honjin, which is now the Toson Memorial. After this we will hike along part of the Nakasendo, enjoying the coolness of the great forests and stopping at the two waterfalls before entering the preserved post town of Tsumago - which includes a real honjin and a streetscape that feels like you have stepped back in time. From
Tsumago we head to Obara Washi and make fans from Japanese washi paper (ultra useful in the summer heat). Apart from learning a lot about traditional Japanese paper making, they make good souvenirs.
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0730
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1930
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Yes
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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. Evening meal/Breakfast is always included.
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
