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Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Colorado
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Here is the Itinerary.
Trip Itinerary
Japan: Empire of the Sun
Day 1
TOKYO - Arrival day
Day 2
TOKYO - Morning orientation tour of Tokyo. Free afternoon to explore this many faceted city. Perhaps visit Yoyogi Park to view the amazingly vibrant street scenes, temples, pagodas, and shrines of Tokyo. In the evening there is the opportunity to see a Kabuki theatre or No play. The capital of Japan, has a population of around 20 million and is one of the largest cities in the world. Undoubtedly modern and industrialized, it is full of endless fascination and surprises. It's a sprawling metropolis of the 21st century, buzzing with blue suited businessmen, yet ladies dressed in traditional Kimono are often seen on the subway. In some ways, Tokyo grew out of a number of villages which gradually merged into each other, and this historical development is still felt today. Each district somehow has the feel of a self-contained city with its own character. Your tour leader will take you to the area near The Imperial Palace, which is generally considered to be the city center, and brief you on the various areas of interest in town. The Imperial Palace, home of the Emperor, is unfortunately not open to the public but can be glimpsed through the trees from one vantage point. Nearby, the Ginza is the main shopping street, the equivalent of Oxford Street in London. Tokyo's major religious site, the Meiji Shrine is located in a large park area. Although a reconstruction of the original, it exhibits all the original features of a Shinto Shrine. Other sights to visit are Ueno Park and Akusaka Temple. A visit to Yoyogi Park is a real experience on a Sunday afternoon, when the rebellious youth display avant garde art, music, and various other forms of untraditional culture to keep you entertained. In the evening there is the chance to see a Kabuki play. Traditional Kabuki theatre is a great way to spend an evening. This is a larger than life play, of dramatic color and sound and is taken very seriously by both the actors and audience alike. It can be seen as a whole show or simply act by act. If you have extra time in Tokyo, it is worth making a day trip to nearby Kamakura to see the Diayatsu (Great Buddha), cast in bronze, weighing close to 850 tons and 11.4 meters tall. (BD)
Day 3
JAPAN ALPS - Board the famous 'Bullet train' for the first time. Transfer at Nagoya and journey into the mountains. In the afternoon you'll arrive in the Japan Alps far from the modern life of Tokyo. (BD)
Day 4
JAPAN ALPS - A full day to explore this beautiful landscape. Discover traces of a feudal past in the thatched houses and rice fields. JAPAN ALPS Running the length of the Japan's largest island Honshu, the Japan Alps are a beautiful range of mountains. Their steep hillsides and sharp ridges have ensured that, despite the vast population of this small country, a natural environment has remained almost completely preserved from man. The inaccessibility of the mountains has also ensured that the small village communities here have been spared the all-encompassing modernization elsewhere in Japan. The villages are no longer isolated, but do still exhibit traditional crafts and architecture long vanished form other parts of the country: wooden houses with thatched roofs, rooms opening onto rice fields, and the serenity of the silent hills far removed from the bustle of cities. (BD)
Day 5
KYOTO - Depart early to travel to Kyoto, former Imperial Capital and home of the country's most treasured remnants of Japanese imperial life. Imperial capital of Japan, Kyoto is an essential part of any visit to Japan. On arrival, Kyoto looks much like every other modern Japanese city, but dotted throughout are vast wooden temples as old as the country itself. There are said to be 2,000 temples, shrines, palaces, museums and traditional gardens in Kyoto - wander past huge wooden structures and multi-storied pagodas, all linked with famous walkways. (B)
Day 6
KYOTO - Dotted throughout the modern city of Kyoto are hidden gems of a distant past. You have a full day to discover the walkways, Zen gardens, huge wooden temples, pagodas, and shrines. In the evening perhaps watch the cormorant fishing. (B)
Day 7
KYOTO - HIMEJI - KURASHIKI - Visit the impressive Himeji castle. Continue to the Kibi plain where we collect bikes for an easy ride along this beautiful plain. Spend the night in lovely Kurashiki. (BD)
Day 8
KURASHIKI - NAGASAKI - Free morning in Kurashiki. This afternoon we travel to Nagasaki. (B)
Day 9
NAGASAKI - A full day to explore this fascinating city which for many years was the only link between Japan and the outside world. Opportunity to visit Glover Gardens, Dutch museum, China Town, or harbor cruise. To the vast majority of non-Japanese, Nagasaki is known only as the target of the second atomic bomb that brought WWII to a close. There is much more to this city however. For many centuries, during the years of self imposed Japanese isolation from the rest of the world, Nagasaki acted as the only port trading with the outside. The legacy of this can still be seen, both in the exciting China town (Japan's largest) and the Dutch port, clearly reflecting the most successful traders of the period. Nagasaki is also a natural harbor and as such is ideal for shipbuilding and was chosen as the sight for the Mitsubishi Shipyards. On the hills surrounding the city are the pleasant Glover Gardens. (B)
Day 10
KYUSHU HOT SPRINGS - You'll travel across Kyushu to the hot spring resorts of the eastern island. Enjoy being buried in hot sand and the open-air hot pools of a Japanese Onsen resort. Kyushu Island - This is the third largest and southern most of the main islands in Japan. In common with most of Japan, Kyushu has volcanic activity and at the center of this island is the massive volcanic caldera of Mt. Aso. You'll travel to the east of the island and visit an Onsen - Hot Springs - where you will have a chance to sit back and relax in the naturally warm spring waters or bury yourself in hot sand. Almost an obsession with Japanese, the Onsen is a key cultural feature of life in Japan and not to be missed. (BD)
Day 11
BEPPU - MIYA JIMA ISLAND - Travel to Beppu where you'll have the option to take a sand bath. Continue by train and ferry to the small island of Miya Jima. See the famous floating Tori Gate and spend the night on this lovely island. In the Inland Sea, not far from the coast near Hiroshima, is perhaps the most photographed shrine in Japan. The Tori Gate sitting in the water off the island is featured in most tourist brochures of Japan. The shrine itself dates back to the 6th century and is designed in a pier like structure, as mere 'commoners' were not allowed to set foot on his holy place. Miya Jima is busy place with many Japanese tourists during the day, the island is much more relaxing in the evening. It is peaceful place to stay and there are quite a few temples to explore as well as some good walks. (BD)
Day 12
HIROSHIMA - FUJI CITY - A free morning to explore and enjoy the island of Miya Jima. Return to the mainland and visit the Peace Park in Hiroshima before continuing to Fuji City for the night. Perhaps more than any city in the world, Hiroshima is famous for one moment in history. On 6 August 1945 it became the first target of an atomic bomb. Unlike most Japanese cities Hiroshima is a city of wide boulevards and is fundamentally an industrial city. Travelers come to visit the large Peace Park in the center of the city. It is an extremely moving place dotted with memorials of those known to have been killed in the explosion and those that died as a result. At the heart of the park are the remnants of Gembaku Domu. It was directly above this building that the bomb exploded, decimating all but the Domu immediately below. A burning flame waits in the park to be extinguished when all nuclear weapons in the world have been destroyed. (BD)
Day 13
MT. FUJI - Today, like so many pilgrims and visitors before, you'll commence your climb of Mt. Fuji. Overall the climb takes between 5 and 7 hours and you'll break the trek by spending the night on the mountain at the 8th station. (The climb is dependent on weather conditions). Mt. FUJI It is said that a wise man climbs Mt. Fuji once, only a fool climbs it twice. At 3,776 meters, Fuji-san is by far the highest mountain in Japan. What makes it unique, and so beautiful, is its perfect volcanic cone shape. It is not a difficult climb to the top of Fuji. Every year pilgrims, families and school groups all make the ascent. There are several routes to the summit, each a well-designated path. The mountain is divided into 10 stations and like most people you'll begin your ascent at one of the 5th stations. Fujinomiya, an altitude of 2,380m, is the preferred 5th station start point, and the 1,396m to the summit takes 6-7 hours in total. You'll interrupt the climb by stopping overnight at the 8 station. Accommodations on the mountain is a basic dormitory style hut with a few facilities. At dawn you will view a beautiful goraiko (sunrise) before the final leg to the summit. After exploring the crater rim you'll then descend and make your trip back to busy Tokyo. Please note that your ascent of the mountain is subject to weather conditions. It is recommended that you bring light hiking boots with ankle support. Your main luggage pack will be left in storage while you climb the mountain. You will need a daypack to carry water bottles, other personal items. It is recommended that you plan to take only essential items - after all you will have to carry these yourself! And don't forget to allow space for snack items. (BD)
Day 14
MT. FUJI - TOKYO - Continue to the summit of Mt. Fuji and then return to Tokyo. (B)
Day 15
TOKYO - Tour ends after breakfast. (B)
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