PC - 2 TOKYO 2 DAYS
Date: September 5 (Fri.) - September 6 (Sat.)
Far: \ 41,500 (duble occupancy / two lunches included) Y47,500 (single occupany /two lunches included) Accompanied by an English-speaking guide.
September 5, Friday KYOTO - TOKYO
Transfer to Kyoto Station and board a "Bullet" train for Tokyo. After lunch, visit Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, the Imperial palace outer garden and Ginza. Overnight at a hotel in Tokyo.
Sensoji Temple
The oldest temple in Tokyo. It was founded in the early years of the seventh century, but most of the temple was badly damaged by bombing during World War II, except for the Nitemmon Gate and Demboin main Quarters. Nearly all of the present buildings were reconstructed, however. Kaminarimon Gate has a massive 100kg, 3.3-m-tall lantam, suspende in the middle, with images of the gods of the wind and thunder on the right and left, respectively. A narrow, paved entrance way to the temple crammed with tiny food and souvenir shops, many of which have been in business since the Edo period. The temple is surrounded by a beautiful garden created by famous, early Edo peried landscape gardener Kabori Enshu. Enshrined here is an image of Sho (Holy)-Kannnon, the Goddess of Mercy, which is strictly concealed from view. Visitors gather the smoke from the large incense burner that stands in font of the Main Hall in their hands and rub it on their skin in the belief that it purifies the body and cures illnesses.
September 6, Saturday TOKYO
Morning, visit Meiji Jingu Shrine, then Tokyo Tower for a panoramic view of the city and Tokyo Bay (weather permitting). Tour disbands on arrival at the hotel.
Meiji Jingu Shrine
The original Shrine was in pure Shinto style of dignified simplicity. The Honden (Main Shrine), Haiden (Oratory) and some other structures were destroyed, but the grounds are made of cypress wood more the 1,700 years old from Mt. Ari in Taiwan. The torii gate standing at the point where the southern and northen approaches meet is one of the largest wooden torii gates in Japan. It is about 12m high, with pillars 1.2m in diameter. Behind the shrine is the reinforced-concrete Treasure House in which many articles used by Emperor Meiji are exhibited, including the six-horse carriage in which the Emperor rode at the time of the promulgation of the Imperial Constitution.
Tokyo Tower
The general broadcast transmission tower that towers over the back to Zojoji Temple. It is 333m tall, the fouth tallest tower in the world. At 150m is an observation platform, while the steel tower contains the Tokyo Tower building, which has an aquarium on the first floor, shops on the second, a wax museu on the third, the Moderm Sciense Museum on the fourth, and television transmission rooms on the fifth.
Note: 1. Detail information of assembly time and place, please contact JTB counter in the Kyoto International Conference Hall ( 1st floor).
2. Tour may be cnceled should the number of particiants fail to reach 25.
PC - 3 HIROSHIMA & KURASHIKI 2 DAYS
Date: September 5 (Fri.) - September 6 (Sat.) Fare: \ 84,000 (double occupancy / two lunches included) \ 88,300 (single occupancy / two lunches included) Accompanied by an English-speaking guide.
September 5, Friday KYOTO - HIROSHIMA
Transfer to Kyoto Station and board a "Bullet" train bound for Hiroshima. Visit colorful Itsukushima shrine with its red torii gate, which seems afloat at high tide, then Peace Memorial Park, with its museum of A-bomb relics. Overnight at Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima.
Itsukushima shrine
The shrine is said to have been constructed in 593, with the present foundation being laid by Taira-no Kiyomori around the year 1168. The buildings, which have been reconstructed several times, presently consist of the Main Shrine and several secondary shrines and buildings, all connected by wide corridors and galleries. These stretch above the sea so that when the tide comes in, the whole edifice appears to float on the water's surface. Reconstructed during the 13th and 14th centuries, the Main Shrine consists of four parts: the Honden (Main Hall), where the goddesses are enshrined; Heiden (Inner Sanctum), where only priests may enter; Haiden (Oratory), open for all, and Haraiden (Purification Hall), as National Treasures.
Peace Memorial Park
This park contains a modem-style peace Memorial Hall, peace Memorial Museum, International Conference Center, Hiroshima, Memorial Cenotaph for Victims of the Atomic Bomb and many other memorial monuments. The Peace Memorial Museum is a modern, pilot-style building with displays of glass and roofing materials that were deformed by the atomic blast, a shadow printed on the stone steps by the radiation in the shape of a human body and numerous terrifying materials-all testifying to the devastation of the bomb and prompting the visitor to make a vow for universal peace.
September 6, Saturday HIROSHIMA - KURASHIKI - OKAYAMA
"Bullet" train to Kurashiki. Visit Ohara Museum of Art and Kurashiki Folkcraft Museum. Lunch at Kurashiki International Hotel. After lunch, ride a train to Okayarea for a visit to Korakuen Garden, one of the three most famous gardens in Japan as laid out in 1,700 by the local feudal lord. "Bullet" train back to Osaka. Tour disbands on arrival at Osaka station. Transfer service to hotels in Osaka is available on extra cost (\ 300). Ohara Museum of Art The white, two-story, ferroconcrete main hall is built in the style of ancient Greek temples and houses a collection of
European art gathered by Ohara that includes important works by E1 Greco, Corot, Rodin, Gaughin, Picasso and others. The annex has a collection of works by modern Japanese artists who painted in Western styles, while exhibits of pictures and sculpture can be found in the basement.
Kurashiki Folkcraft Museum
It is a two-story complex that makes use of rice granaries from the Edo period, and with its white walls and black tiles on the roof, it is a beautiful building. The collection of over 8,000 folkcraft articles includes ceramics, dyed goods, lovely mats, wooden craftwork, bamboo craftwork, textiles and other crafts from Japan and abroad.
Korakuen Garden
Along with Kairaku-en in Mito and Kenroku-en in Kanazawa, this garden is one of the three best landscape gardens in Japan. With a total area of 133,000 Sq.m., the garden was built in 1,700 by the local lord Ikeda Tsunamasa in the Enshu landscape style of strolling gardens. The garden houses a tea ceremony house, several ponds, a small waterfall and elegantly designed landscapes. As the seasons change, pine trees, maples, cherry trees and plum trees reach their peak of beauty.
Note: 1. Detail information of assembly time and place, please contact JTB counter in the Kyoto International Conference Hall ( lst floor).
