Say HAI to...A Cultural Tour to Japan

Say HAI...to a Cultural Tour to Japan!
Date
Day
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Tokyo:
This morning we will be greeted at Tokyo International
Airport by our tour leader and escorted to our hotel.
After check in we will have a group meeting
the following day’ activities followed by lunch. This
afternoon we will set out to explore this
city visiting the Akihabara District
amazing array of electronic shops, department stores
and information technology exhibition outlets
showcasing the cutting edge of the global electronics
technology industry. En route today we w
famed as the centre of the Manga
who dress up in costume imitating their favorite cartoon and fantasy characters. Many young teenagers
who hang out here spend hours preparing their costumes, hair and makeup and enjoy being
photographed, most often on Sunday afternoons. After a delicious Tokyo
visit check-in to our central hotel, heading out again later this evening to enjoy the bri
city’s Shinjuku/ Shibuya districts.
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In contrast to our first day’s exploration of modern Japan, today we step back in time to see the Japan of
days past. Our first stop will be the Tokyo National Museum feat
art and archeological artifacts from around Northeast Asia, made up of over 110,000 items including
nearly a hundred national treasures. At any one time about 4,000 items from the permanent museum
collection are on display including ancient Japanese art, ceramics, Buddhist sculptures and a fine display
of swords.
Following this we will cross the city to the see the impressive Tokyo Imperial Palace located on the
former site of Edo Hill. This Place is still home to J
Tsukiji Fish Market. This is the largest fish and seafood market in the world located in the city centre of
Tsukiji District. This market handles over 2,000 tons of sea products a day a
and huge fish available. The market has a busy atmosphere and is made up of 2 sections, the outer
market with its restaurants and seafood retailers and the inner market with restricted access to licensed
Date: TBA │ Duration: 8 Nights / 9 Days
Proposed Day Wise Itinerary
Program
Tokyo: Dinner
morning we will be greeted at Tokyo International
Airport by our tour leader and escorted to our hotel.
After check in we will have a group meeting to discuss
activities followed by lunch. This
on we will set out to explore this intriguing
city visiting the Akihabara District – home to most
amazing array of electronic shops, department stores
and information technology exhibition outlets
showcasing the cutting edge of the global electronics
technology industry. En route today we will also visit Chuo Dori
Manga and Anime pop culture phenomenon, played out by Japanese youth
ours preparing their costumes, hair and makeup and enjoy being
photographed, most often on Sunday afternoons. After a delicious Tokyo-style lunch we will later today
in to our central hotel, heading out again later this evening to enjoy the bri
districts.
Tokyo: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
days past. Our first stop will be the Tokyo National Museum featuring the largest and best collections of
display including ancient Japanese art, ceramics, Buddhist sculptures and a fine display
former site of Edo Hill. This Place is still home to Japan’s imperial family today. The original Palace was
built on this site in 1888, was destroyed during
World War 2 and rebuilt shortly afterwards in
exactly the same style. Strolling around the
outer palace we can see the larger plaza
entrance way, the 2 bridges leading to the
inner palace grounds and the stone ‘eyeglass’
bridge. While here our local guide will explain
the role of the Imperial family in society today
and days gone by. The inner section of the
Palace is usually off limits and is only open to
the public 2 days a year.
This afternoon we visit the
Tsukiji District. This market handles over 2,000 tons of sea products a day and has a large array of rare
Street,
pop culture phenomenon, played out by Japanese youth
ours preparing their costumes, hair and makeup and enjoy being
style lunch we will later today
in to our central hotel, heading out again later this evening to enjoy the bright lights of the
uring the largest and best collections of
display including ancient Japanese art, ceramics, Buddhist sculptures and a fine display
apan’s imperial family today. The original Palace was
built on this site in 1888, was destroyed during
World War 2 and rebuilt shortly afterwards in
exactly the same style. Strolling around the
outer palace we can see the larger plaza
ridges leading to the
inner palace grounds and the stone ‘eyeglass’
bridge. While here our local guide will explain
the role of the Imperial family in society today
and days gone by. The inner section of the
Palace is usually off limits and is only open to
the public 2 days a year.
This afternoon we visit the exotic smelling
nd has a large array of rare

Date
wholesalers and tuna fish auctions that are held every morning. The Japanese diet is heavily
fish and the importance of fish markets in Tokyo and around
the country dates back centuries.
We end our day with a Japanese tea ceremony at a nearby
teahouse. Here we have the chance to learn the culture of
drinking tea and also try local confectionery. Alternatively we
may enjoy a hands-on sushi making demonstration hosted by
a talented sushi chef where you will also have the chance to
make your own sushi.
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3
Following breakfast we visit National Museum of Nature and Science where we spend the morning
exploring many of the galleries. Galleries cover the history of the Japanese people who migrated from
the mainland of Asia some 40,000 years ago, to rare animal species on the outlying islands of Japan and
extinct animal species ranging from small fossils to complete dinosaur skeletons. Two exhibitions of
particular interest to visiting student groups will be a fascin
back hundreds of years and the Modern Global Environmental Detector exhibit that shows the ever
changing geology of the planet with many real time interactive displays for students to get involved with.
This is of particular relevance to Japan as it is situated on the Asia Pacific tectonic plate susceptible to
earthquakes and tsunamis with a densely populated country.
After lunch we take a visit to a local martial arts training school to try our hand, and feet, at
Japanese Kabuki opera. This ancient form of opera dates back c
traditional folklore and legends recently revived.
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After breakfast we make a visit to the Tokyo Tower building and take the elevators up to the viewing
platform to reveal spectacular 360 degree views
head to the train station for our bullet train bound south to the cultural city of Kyoto. The bullet train in
Japan is admired by most countries in the world for its speed and efficiency. The journey
approximately 2.5 hours, set you shutter speeds on your cameras to
hour.
sh auctions that are held every morning. The Japanese diet is heavily
fish and the importance of fish markets in Tokyo and around
the country dates back centuries.
We end our day with a Japanese tea ceremony at a nearby
chance to learn the culture of
drinking tea and also try local confectionery. Alternatively we
on sushi making demonstration hosted by
a talented sushi chef where you will also have the chance to
Tokyo: Dinner
of Asia some 40,000 years ago, to rare animal species on the outlying islands of Japan and
particular interest to visiting student groups will be a fascinating section on Japanese inventions dating
f particular relevance to Japan as it is situated on the Asia Pacific tectonic plate susceptible to
earthquakes and tsunamis with a densely populated country.
After lunch we take a visit to a local martial arts training school to try our hand, and feet, at
students will have the chance to learn some basic
skills from instructors before trying out their
newly learned grappling and throwing techniques
in a short course.
Later afternoon we take part in a hands
cooking class and demonstration wher
will teach us some of the many secrets of
delicate Japanese cooking. We will cook our own
dinner tonight. An alternative to the cooking
class is to take in an evening performance of
Japanese Kabuki opera. This ancient form of opera dates back centuries and gives a glimpse into
traditional folklore and legends recently revived.
Tokyo to Kyoto: Breakfast, Lunch
platform to reveal spectacular 360 degree views of the city. We then return to our hotel, check out and
Japan is admired by most countries in the world for its speed and efficiency. The journey
approximately 2.5 hours, set you shutter speeds on your cameras to fast as we travel nearly 250km an
sh auctions that are held every morning. The Japanese diet is heavily based on
of Asia some 40,000 years ago, to rare animal species on the outlying islands of Japan and
ating section on Japanese inventions dating
f particular relevance to Japan as it is situated on the Asia Pacific tectonic plate susceptible to
After lunch we take a visit to a local martial arts training school to try our hand, and feet, at Judo. Here
students will have the chance to learn some basic
skills from instructors before trying out their
newly learned grappling and throwing techniques
Later afternoon we take part in a hands-on
cooking class and demonstration where our host
will teach us some of the many secrets of
delicate Japanese cooking. We will cook our own
An alternative to the cooking
class is to take in an evening performance of
enturies and gives a glimpse into
of the city. We then return to our hotel, check out and
Japan is admired by most countries in the world for its speed and efficiency. The journey will take us
as we travel nearly 250km an

Date
Upon arrival in Kyoto we transfer to our hotel
and slow down our pace considerably from
frenetic Tokyo. Kyoto served as Japans capital
and the emperors residence from 794 until 1868
but is today only the 7th
largest city in the
country and a population of just 1.5 million
residents. Over the centuries Kyoto was
destroyed many times by wars and fires, but due
to its historic value the city was dropped from
the list of target cities for the atomic bomb and
spared from bombing raids during World War II. Today countless temples, shrines and other historic
priceless structures survive in the city. We just have time to stroll around the streets c
start to get a feel for the city
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Kyoto: Breakfast, Lunch
What better way to being our time in Kyoto than by taking a
traditional leisurely rickshaw ride past intriguing wooden
buildings and stone alleys in Kyoto’s famed Higashiyama
area. On our journey we will get a real feel for this hist
city as our guide explains the signif
town. We then switch from rickshaw to bicycle and saddle
up ourselves for a bicycle ride through the Sagno area where
we will pass open fields, old temples and quaint residential
There are numerous wooden machiya merchant houses all with purposely designed narrow and long
architecture to avoid the land taxes in the past.
Many of the tea houses in Gion are entertained by geisha ladies of which we will see several strolling
around the streets in their traditional costumes and white painted faces and have the history of Geisha
explained to us.
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This morning we visit the Kyoto Nat
museums. The museum’s permanent collection
calligraphy, costumes and paintings. It is housed in the spacious galleries of the Heisei Chish
building designed by Taniguchi Yoshio and opened in 2014.
Upon arrival in Kyoto we transfer to our hotel
and slow down our pace considerably from
frenetic Tokyo. Kyoto served as Japans capital
nd the emperors residence from 794 until 1868
largest city in the
country and a population of just 1.5 million
residents. Over the centuries Kyoto was
destroyed many times by wars and fires, but due
was dropped from
the list of target cities for the atomic bomb and
priceless structures survive in the city. We just have time to stroll around the streets c
Breakfast, Lunch
being our time in Kyoto than by taking a
traditional leisurely rickshaw ride past intriguing wooden
buildings and stone alleys in Kyoto’s famed Higashiyama
area. On our journey we will get a real feel for this hist oric
city as our guide explains the significance of the old part of
town. We then switch from rickshaw to bicycle and saddle
up ourselves for a bicycle ride through the Sagno area where
we will pass open fields, old temples and quaint residential
areas. We call in on Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple to
about the significance of Buddhism in Japan and visit an
attractive preserved town close by.
This afternoon we visit a local school on the outskirts of the
city to learn about the Japanese education system and have
a chance to interact with local students. Whilst here we will
join in on an English speaking class learn some elementary
Japanese. It is suggested visiting students prepare in
advance a cultural performance to perform shortly before
we farewell the school.
Mid to late afternoon we head to G
its geisha and laden with shops, restaurants and tea houses.
architecture to avoid the land taxes in the past.
ion are entertained by geisha ladies of which we will see several strolling
Kyoto: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning we visit the Kyoto National Museum one of the country’s oldest and most distinguished
permanent collection includes archaeological relics, sculptures, ceramics,
calligraphy, costumes and paintings. It is housed in the spacious galleries of the Heisei Chish
building designed by Taniguchi Yoshio and opened in 2014.
priceless structures survive in the city. We just have time to stroll around the streets close to our hotel to
areas. We call in on Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple to learn
about the significance of Buddhism in Japan and visit an
This afternoon we visit a local school on the outskirts of the
city to learn about the Japanese education system and have
dents. Whilst here we will
join in on an English speaking class learn some elementary
Japanese. It is suggested visiting students prepare in
advance a cultural performance to perform shortly before
Mid to late afternoon we head to Gion District famous for
its geisha and laden with shops, restaurants and tea houses.
ion are entertained by geisha ladies of which we will see several strolling
ional Museum one of the country’s oldest and most distinguished
includes archaeological relics, sculptures, ceramics,
calligraphy, costumes and paintings. It is housed in the spacious galleries of the Heisei Chishinkan, a

6 This afternoon we visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace located in the Imperial Park to see where the Emperors
of Japan once rules the country for nearly 900 years. The complex is enclosed by long walls consisting of
several gates, halls and gardens and there is even an enthronement ceremony room where recent
Emperors held their coronation ceremonies. After the Palace visit we walk out into the Imperial Park to
see the impressive Kaninnomiya Mansion a former residence for court nobles.
Later in the day we take a leisurely cultural walking tour through the Higashiyama District
between Kiyomizudera and Yasaka Shrine visiting the various temples, shrines and shops along the way.
We will particularly enjoy walking beyond Yasaka Shrine past Chionin and Shorenin Temples to Heian
Shrine, and possibly even further via Nanzenji and the Philosopher Path to Ginkakuji Temple. Time
permitting we may also visit Zohiko where the best lacquer ware shop is located complete with its own
museum where we will learn the process of this labour intensive art.
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Kyoto – Hiroshima: Breakfast, Lunch
We farewell Kyoto and once again take the efficient train service heading 315km further down the
country to the city of Hiroshima. It is here that we will take a close up look at one of the most tragic
event of World War II, and in fact one of the most single tragic acts in human history- the dropping of
the first atomic bomb on this city in August 1945 killing and injuring an estimated 130,000. The dropping
of the ‘A-Bomb’ on Hiroshima (and shortly afterwards Nagasaki) was approved by the American military
forces with the intention of bringing World War II to a close as fast as possible and preventing the need
for American soldiers to invade the Japanese mainland and carry out further mass bombing raids which
would have very likely caused even more deaths and dragged the war on for months.
Students will spend their time in this city learning about this historic event, the need for peace and

reconciliation as well as the human determination to rebuild this city. We will do this by firstly visiting
ground zero directly below where the bomb was detonated and stroll through the Hiroshima Peace
Memorial Park that was once the site of the city’s political and commercial heart. We visit one of the
very few remaining building still standing in the initial blast zone called the A-Bomb Dome that still has
an eerie feeling to it as it stands alone. We will take a thorough tour of the moving Hiroshima Peace
Memorial Museum to learn more details of the long lasting effects of the bomb, see relics that survived
(or partially melted) in the blast and even see walls with shadows of people etched into those walls that
were simply vaporized. Our guide will help explain the events and also talk to us about how the United
States has helped to rebuild Japan post war years and provided the conditions to help turn it into an
economic superpower being the third largest economy in the world only behind the United States and
China.
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Hiroshima / Osaka:Breakfast, Lunch
After a late checkout we travel by train to our final destination – Osaka. Osaka is the third largest cities in
the country and the second most important being an economic power house for centuries. This
afternoon we visit Osaka Castle that was first built in 1583 and over the centuries was modified and
added to. In 1660, lightning ignited the gunpowder warehouse and the resulting explosion set the castle
on fire. In 1665, lightning struck and burnt down the main tower. In 1843, after decades of neglect, the
castle received much-needed repairs when the bakufu collected money from the people of the region to
rebuild several of the turrets. During World War II, the weapons arsenal on site here became one of the
largest military armories in the country employing 60,000 workers. American bombing raids targeting
the arsenal damaged the castle tower and, on August 14, 1945, dropped bombs destroyed 90% of the
arsenal and killed 382 people working there.
We next head to the Osaka International Peace Centre. This museum focuses on the destruction of the
Osaka City during World War II and the broader themes of the tragedy of war and the importance of
peace. There is a large section on U.S. air raids over Osaka Prefecture between December 1944 and
August 1945. The museum originally showed the atrocities committed by Japan’s military actions in Asia
but they were later were removed. Other exhibits include Japanese domestic life during World War II,
civil defence, why Japans waged war on the U.S., Osaka after the war and what all of us can do to

maintain peace.
After dinner we take a trip to Tsutenkaku Tower build in 1912 to see spectacular panoramic views of the
city. We head up to the 5th
floor viewing platform. This tower is popular with the locals and it is
supposed to represent the New World. The unique design is a cross between the Eiffel Tower and the
Arch Du Triumph in Paris.
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Depart Osaka: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning we head to the airport and wave farewell to our tour leader as we board the return flight
home.

Say HAI to...A Cultural Tour to Japan

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Say HAI to...A Cultural Tour to Japan