Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima Island
Hiroshima Peace MuseumKonichiwa!
Welcome to the blogsite for the Summer 2008 "Taste of Japan" student trip. Below, students will find images of the scheduled adventures based on the CHA-Tours 9 day itinerary.
TASTE OF JAPAN
9 DAYS
GROUP LEADER: Mrs. Debra Cole, Mr. Don Smith, Ms. Theresa Harrison
REQUESTED DEPARTURE DATE: June 15, 2008
REQUESTED DEPARTURE CITY: Wichita
TOUR FEE INCLUDES:
· Round-trip air transportation
· Hotel accommodations in selected standard CHA quality hotels and Japanese-style hotel in Hakone
· Services of local hosts
· All on-tour transportation services
· American-style breakfast daily; lunch on Day 4; dinner on Day 4 and 5
· Guided city sightseeing tours and walking tours as listed in itinerary
· Included visits to sights shown in italic letters in itinerary
DAY 1 DEPARTURE FROM THE USA
DAY 2 TOKYO
Welcome to Tokyo, Japan’s bustling capital city, home to more than eight million people. You are greeted at the airport by your local host and escorted to your hotel where the balance of the day is free to relax and unpack.
DAY 3 TOKYO
Your morning sightseeing of Tokyo includes a visit to the Meiji Shrine, the 20th-century Shinto monument surrounded by elaborate gardens. See the Imperial Palace Plaza, and visit the Asakusa Kannon Temple with the Nakamise Shopping Arcade. On your free time, explore the city’s Ginza area.
DAY 4 TOKYO-NIKKO-TOKYO
Enjoy an included excursion to Nikko where sightseeing features the Toshogu Shrine, Yomeimon Gate, Kegon Waterfall, Lake Chuzenji, and No Bobai Village. Stop at the Bonsai Garden to watch a sacred dance. Lunch is included. Tonight, attend a traditional Tempura Dinner.
DAY 5 TOKYO-KAMAKURA-HAKONE
Travel to Kamakura, an historic city which was once the capital of Japan, where you visit the Temple of the Great Buddha, sitting 37 feet high. Enjoy spectacular views of Mount Fuji as you proceed to Hakone, Japan’s resort town, to visit the Hakone Barrier. Enjoy a picturesque cruise on Lake Hakone and take a cable-car ride up towering Mount Komagatake for incredible views. Overnight in a traditional-style hotel this evening. Dinner is included this evening.
DAY 6 HAKONE-KYOTO
Ride the famous Bullet Train to the ancient city of Kyoto, considered the heart of Japan. Enjoy free time to explore the city’s many temples, shrines, gardens, palaces, pagodas, tea houses, restaurants and shops. Later, visit Gion Corner to witness traditional Japanese arts including a tea ceremony, flower arranging, a puppet show, and a traditional dance performance.
DAY 7 KYOTO-(NARA)
This morning’s sightseeing of Kyoto features the Old Imperial Palace and includes visits to Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, and the Heian Shrine and Garden. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore beautiful Kyoto at your own pace, or consider an optional excursion to Nara featuring the Todaiji Temple with the Great Buddha, Kasuga Shrine, and the Deer Park.
DAY 8 KYOTO-HIROSHIMA
Transfer from hotel to the train station to board your the Bullet Train to Hiroshima. Upon arrival, sightseeing features a visit to the Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima and the Peace Memorial Museum.
DAY 9 HIROSHIMA-OSAKA-DEPARTURE
Travel to Osaka (time permitting) for an orientation tour and a visit to the Osaka Castle on your way to the airport to board your return flight, crossing the International Dateline, arriving in the U.S. on the same day.
9 DAYS
GROUP LEADER: Mrs. Debra Cole, Mr. Don Smith, Ms. Theresa Harrison
REQUESTED DEPARTURE DATE: June 15, 2008
REQUESTED DEPARTURE CITY: Wichita
TOUR FEE INCLUDES:
· Round-trip air transportation
· Hotel accommodations in selected standard CHA quality hotels and Japanese-style hotel in Hakone
· Services of local hosts
· All on-tour transportation services
· American-style breakfast daily; lunch on Day 4; dinner on Day 4 and 5
· Guided city sightseeing tours and walking tours as listed in itinerary
· Included visits to sights shown in italic letters in itinerary
DAY 1 DEPARTURE FROM THE USA
DAY 2 TOKYO
Welcome to Tokyo, Japan’s bustling capital city, home to more than eight million people. You are greeted at the airport by your local host and escorted to your hotel where the balance of the day is free to relax and unpack.
DAY 3 TOKYO
Your morning sightseeing of Tokyo includes a visit to the Meiji Shrine, the 20th-century Shinto monument surrounded by elaborate gardens. See the Imperial Palace Plaza, and visit the Asakusa Kannon Temple with the Nakamise Shopping Arcade. On your free time, explore the city’s Ginza area.
DAY 4 TOKYO-NIKKO-TOKYO
Enjoy an included excursion to Nikko where sightseeing features the Toshogu Shrine, Yomeimon Gate, Kegon Waterfall, Lake Chuzenji, and No Bobai Village. Stop at the Bonsai Garden to watch a sacred dance. Lunch is included. Tonight, attend a traditional Tempura Dinner.
DAY 5 TOKYO-KAMAKURA-HAKONE
Travel to Kamakura, an historic city which was once the capital of Japan, where you visit the Temple of the Great Buddha, sitting 37 feet high. Enjoy spectacular views of Mount Fuji as you proceed to Hakone, Japan’s resort town, to visit the Hakone Barrier. Enjoy a picturesque cruise on Lake Hakone and take a cable-car ride up towering Mount Komagatake for incredible views. Overnight in a traditional-style hotel this evening. Dinner is included this evening.
DAY 6 HAKONE-KYOTO
Ride the famous Bullet Train to the ancient city of Kyoto, considered the heart of Japan. Enjoy free time to explore the city’s many temples, shrines, gardens, palaces, pagodas, tea houses, restaurants and shops. Later, visit Gion Corner to witness traditional Japanese arts including a tea ceremony, flower arranging, a puppet show, and a traditional dance performance.
DAY 7 KYOTO-(NARA)
This morning’s sightseeing of Kyoto features the Old Imperial Palace and includes visits to Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, and the Heian Shrine and Garden. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore beautiful Kyoto at your own pace, or consider an optional excursion to Nara featuring the Todaiji Temple with the Great Buddha, Kasuga Shrine, and the Deer Park.
DAY 8 KYOTO-HIROSHIMA
Transfer from hotel to the train station to board your the Bullet Train to Hiroshima. Upon arrival, sightseeing features a visit to the Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima and the Peace Memorial Museum.
DAY 9 HIROSHIMA-OSAKA-DEPARTURE
Travel to Osaka (time permitting) for an orientation tour and a visit to the Osaka Castle on your way to the airport to board your return flight, crossing the International Dateline, arriving in the U.S. on the same day.
Meiji Shrine, Tokyo
Imperial Palace Plaza, Tokyo
Asakusa Kannon Temple, Tokyo
Nakamise Shopping Arcade, Tokyo
Ginza by Night, Tokyo
Toshogu Shrine, Nikko
Kegon Waterfall, Nikko
Lake Chuzenji, Nikko
One Evening in Traditional Japanese Inn (Ryokan)
Traditional Tempura Dinner, Tokyo
Temple of the Great Buddha, Kamakura
Hakone Barrier, Hakone
Cruise on Lake Hakone, Hakone 
Cable Car Ride Up Mount Komagatake, Hakone
Hakone Open Air Museum, Hakone
Ride the Famous Bullet Train
Kyomizudera Temple, Kyoto
Shopping, Kyoto
Gion Corner Tea Ceremony, Kyoto
Gion Corner Flowering Arranging, Kyoto
Gion Corner Puppet Show, Kyoto
Old Imperial Palace, Kyoto
Niji Castle, Kyoto
Kinkakuji Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kyoto
Heian Shrine & Garden, Kyoto 
Todaiji Colossal Great Buddha, Nara
Kasuga Shrine, Nara 
Deer Park, Nara
Osaka Castle, Osaka 