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Option A - Tour Dates for tour commencing September 3rd 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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JUN/22-23
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JUN/24
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JUL/20, AUG/12-13
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SEP/02
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8 weeks
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JUL/06-07
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JUL/08
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JUL/20, AUG/12-13
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SEP/02
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6 weeks
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JUL/20-21
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JUL/22
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AUG/12-13
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SEP/02
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4 weeks
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AUG/03-04
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AUG/05
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AUG/12-13
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SEP/02
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2 weeks
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AUG/17-18
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AUG/19
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x
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SEP/02
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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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SEP/03
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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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0820
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1800
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Yes
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2
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SEP/04
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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 ultra-modern "Nagoya Dome". This large enclosed stadium is home to Nagoya's professional baseball franchise - the "Chunichi Dragons" - who we are going to watch play. You don't need to understand the rules of the game (or anything else about baseball or the teams either for that matter), watching the Japanese fans celebrating is often more interesting!
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0700
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N/A
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No
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3
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SEP/05
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Our first destination is the famous/infamous
Tagata Jinja, known to the more uncouth as the "penis shrine" of course. We then head across the river to
Gifu prefecture and
Kagamigahara, the site of Japan's oldest airfield, host of the annual airshow, and of most importance to us, the superb
Aerospace Museum. Although these days we associate Japan with motor vehicles, Japan also has a long history in designing, testing and manufacturing world class aircraft. From
Kagamigahara we head across the river to
Inuyama Castle, one of the 4 that are national treasures and completely different to that seen in
Matsumoto on Day 2 (apart from the difference in scale,
Inuyama Castle is also the only castle in Japan that is privately owned). We visit the beautiful Urakuen gardens and historic Joan tea house - a national treasure located next to the castle that was built by Oda Uraku, the brother of Oda Nobunaga. In the evening enjoy dinner on a river boat while we watch the magical
cormorant fishing.
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0815
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2130
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No
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4
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SEP/06
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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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0800
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1830
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Yes
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5
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SEP/07
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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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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.
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
