Japan
(Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kyushu, and Tokyo)
(14 Days)
Departure Date Range: June 16 - June 24, 2008
Dulles International Airport
Return Date: June 29, 2008
Dulles Airport, Virginia
Tour Highlights
Inari Taisha Shrine, Kiyomizu Temple, Gold Pavillion, Ishukushima Shrine, Peace Memorial Museum,
Mount Inasa, Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, Tenmangu Shrine, Konmyozenji Temple, Nara,
Meiji Shinto Shrine, Sumida River Cruise, Asakusa Kannon Temple, Nikko and more.
Itinerary
Day 1: Overnight Flight to Japan
Day 2: Osaka
Arrive at Kansai International Airport. Osaka is the third largest city in the country and is the
industrial and commercial center of western Japan. It is the birthplace of bunraku, the traditional form of
puppet drama, and is still considered the best place in the world to take in a performance.
Day 3: Osaka and Kyoto
Drive to Kyoto, onetime hub of Japanese civilization and national capital for more than a thousand years.
Beginning at the onset of the Heian Period in AD 794, the Imperial family resided here until the capital was changed to Tokyo in 1868. Kyoto is a city rich in history--pagodas, Shinto shrines, old imperial villas and Buddhist temples.
Also known for time-honored crafts such as silk weaving, ceramics and lacquer ware.
Take guided sightseeing tour of Kyoto. See the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, the most impressive of the country's
shrines to the Shinto god of rice, sake and fertility. Visit the Kyomizu Temple dating back from 798.
Kiyo mizu means "pure water" and was named for the waterfall within the complex.
Also visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) - a Chinese Zen-influenced temple that boasts beautiful gardens.
Day 4: Kyoto
Take optional half-day excursion to Nara, another of Japan's ancient capitals. See Daibutsu,
the world's largest bronze statue of a Buddha. Then walk the wooded Nara Park, whose informal nickname,
"Deer Park" stems from its sizable deer population. Just outside the part, you will visit Kasuga Shrine,
one of the most famous Shinto shrines in the country. Twice a year, some 3,000 lanterns are lit simultaneously
at the shrine in celebration of the Lantern Festival.
Enjoy free time in Kyoto. You are encouraged to explore the Kyoto National Museum, which features
traditional Japanese art objects and treasures. Or simply wander the canal-lined streets and enjoy wooden homes,
bonsai trees and occasional kimona-clad geisha in traditional makeup.
Day 5: Kyoto and Hiroshima
Take the Bullet train to Hiroshima. These trains travel about 170 miles per hour. Visit Hiroshima,
the largest city in the Chugoku region of western Honshu, the biggest of Japan's islands.
Take an excursion to Miyajima Park or the Sacred Island. The Park is most famous for its floating torii,
the gate that guards the entrance to the Istukushima Shrine, dedicated to the god who protects against sea disasters
and war. This floating gate was built as a pier for the sacred island and commoners were not allowed to
touch the ground; visitors would have to enter by boat. There are no cemeteries here--because of the extreme
sanctity of the island, in ancient times, no one was permitted to be born or die here. People who were ill or
pregnant here were ferried off to the mainland.
Take a guided sightseeing tour of Hiroshima. Follow an expert tour guide as they introduce you to
the history of Hiroshima, where the world's first atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, killing thousands
both from the immediate blast and from radiation sickness in the months following. Visit Peace Memorial Park,
a UNESCO Heritage Site that contains the Atomic Bomb Dome. Visit also the Peace Memorial Museum that
focuses on the devastation of the nuclear attack and its toll on the community. The park is host to several memorials, including the Memorial Cenotaph, which contains the names of all of the known bomb victims, and the Children's
Peace Monument, inspired by the story of a leukemia patient, Sadako. Upon learning of her cancer at age 10
(9 years after exposure) she set out to fold 1,000 paper cranes, a symbol of longevity in Japan. She was convinced
if she could complete her goal, she would survive the cancer. She died after completing 644 cranes, but the
children at her school completed the remaining ones for her and launched a nationwide campaign of
crane-folding. The memorial is perpetually filled with paper cranes sent from schools across the country.
Day 6: Fukuoka
In route to Fukuoka, visit the Kintai-kyo, known as the Brocade Sash Bridge in Iwakuni.
The five distinct arches are said by some to resemble the sash on a kimono.
Arrive in Fukuoka to the island of Kyushu -- a region of rugged green mountains, volcanoes and hot springs.
Fukuoka is Japan's major cultural center and an important international gateway. It also claims the
country's biggest hotel, longest bar, largest cinema complex and most advanced baseball stadium.
Day 7: Fukuoka
Arrive in Fukuoka and take a full-day excursion to Mount Aso, a volcano with the world's largest caldera,
stretching 11 miles east to west and 15 miles north to south. The caldera holds five volcanic peaks,
one of which (Aso) is still active. Take a cable car that will take you to the rim of the
Aso's gigantic, bubbling crater.
Day 8: Nagasaki
Take sightseeing tour of Dazaifu en route to Nagasaki. Dazaifu if best known for its Temangu Shrine,
dedicated to the 9th century scholar Suguwara No Michizane, the god of learning.
The city is also known for its cherry blossoms, which draw crowds in late February and early
March at the onset of Spring.
Visit Mount Inasa, nicknamed the "Ten Million Dollar Night View." Mount Inasa's summit
offers a spectacular way to marvel at Nagasaki --from 1, 092 feet above sea level!
Arrive in Nagasaki.
Day 9: Nagasaki
Take a guided sightseeing tour of Nagasaki, the second city to fall victim to the atomic bomb,
shattering the lives of hundreds of thousands on August 9, 1945. Originally, Kokura was the target,
but due to cloud coverage over the city and a low fuel tank, the decision was made to go with the
secondary target of Nagasaki.
Visit the Peace Park, created with donations from all over the world. Explore the Nagasaki
Atomic Bomb Museum.
Visit Glover Garden, named for Scotsman Thomas Glover, who at the age of 21 set up
permanent residence in Japan and contributed to the modernization of Japan, notably in the
shipbuilding and coal-mining industries.
Day 10: Fukuoka
Return to Fukuoka for the night. Enjoy free time in Fukuoka. Visit Canal city for shopping
and people watching, or the "fashion buildings" of Tenjin, the city's main shopping and dining district.
Or, visit the 17th century Fukuoka Castle and the nearby Ohori Park.
Spend the night in traditional Japanese-style accommodations. Experience true Japanese hospitality
when you spend the night in traditional ryokan accommodations where you sleep on a futon in the
simple surroundings of a Japanese inn with tatmi-matted floors and a traditional Japanese bath.
Remember to remove your shoes as you enter the ryokan!
Day 11: Tokyo
Take a flight to Tokyo, the modern day capital of Japan. Tokyo is the national center of
government, education and finance, and home to 12 million residents.
Day 12: Tokyo
Take sightseeing tour of Tokyo. Visit the Meiji Shinto Shrine and its elaborate wooded Inner Garden.
Pass through Harajuku, the trendy district popular among the younger population. Also visit the shopping district.
Visit the Imperial Palace, residence of the Imperial family, with its gigantic stone walls, a spacious plaza
and a large garden open to the public.
Finish the tour with a cruise on the Sumida River to Asakusa, Tokyo's amusement center.
The 7th century Asakusa Kannon Temple, dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy, is a five-story
pagoda surrounded by shops, restaurants, theaters and cinemas.
Day 13: Tokyo
Visit a fish market. Fishing ships from all over the world pull into port bearing the harvest
of their work at sea. Tuna is the most harvested fish.
Take optional excursion to Nikko, a national park of rivers, lakes and wooded highlands.
Park visitors engage in a wide range of recreational activities, from mountain climbing to skating.
You will visit the five-story pagoda of Toshugo Shrine. See the Kegon Waterfall, and trace your way to
the falls' origin--the deep blue waters of Lake Chuzenji. Stop at the Bonsai Garden before returning to Tokyo.
Partake of a Tempura Dinner.
Day 14: Tokyo and Return Home
Enjoy free time in Tokyo.
Return Home.
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Download Complete Brochure Here:
Cost of Study Abroad
For Young Adults Under 23 Years of Age
Total Cost of Trip: $3430, plus excursions -$255 = $3685
(Includes Program Fee-$2635; Departure Fee-$270;Lifetime Membership Fee-$95; Peace of Mind Program-Free;
For Adults Over 23 years of Age:
Total Cost of Trip: $3845, plus excursions-$255=$4100
(Includes Program Fee-$2635; Departure Fee-$270;Lifetime Membership Fee-$95;Peace of Mind Program-Free;
and, Adult supplement for double room-$415; )
Additional Excursions:
Nikko - $160
Half day to Nara - $95
Plus optional insurance:
All Inclusive Insurance Plan - $115 (recommended)
Medical and Accident Insurance - $65
Baggage and Property Insurance - $45
*Note: Prices are subject to change.
Program fee valid for all who enroll through Friday, August 31, 2007.
ALL PRICES INCLUDE :
Round-trip airfare;
12 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms;
Complete breakfast and dinner daily;
Full-time bilingual EF Tour Director;
4 sightseeing tours led by licensed local guides-Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nagasaki;
3 sightseeing tours led by tour director-Miyajima Park, Mount Aso, Dazaifu;
10 visits to special attractions: Inari Taisha Shrine, Kiyomizu Temple, Gold Pavilion, Istukushima Shrine, Peace Memorial Museum, Mount Knasa, Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, Meiji Shinto Shrine, Sumida River cruise, Asakusa Kannon Temple, and Nikko.
To Enroll Online:
1. Visit www.eftours.com and click on the tab “Parents/students”
2. Click on the circle which reads “Enroll”
3. Enter the Tour ID 209229 then follow the directions
To Enroll Over the Phone:
1. Simply call 1-800-665-5364 (customer service)
2. Note the ID number 209229 and provide information and credit card payment.
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Study Abroad Requirements:
All tour members will designate some aspect of Japan culture, history, religion, peace practices, zen practices, art, archaeology, architecture, political or social system , symbolism or behavior they want to study.
Study tour members are studying on-line and visiting links about the places to be visited.
We will also have one or several half-day meetings in late April to early May.
During the study tour we will keep a journal and take photos for a photographic journal on
our studies and experiences. At dinner, we will spend some time discussing the events of the day.
Students who are studying particular aspects of Japanese
culture and behavior will be responsible for developing a report on their specific content area(s).
We will then compile our tour findings with pictures, essays and descriptions for publication
on the course Web site for public education and viewing. Tour participants will receive an
EF backpack and journal for the trip. Students will be asked to write up their summary descriptions on the
trip back home for submission before departing the airplane in the US.
Use this course web site and the Tour web site for study. Enter tour site by going to:
Or, go directly to my tour page (make sure you have the tour number to enter when asked.
On my tour page at EF, you will find links, suggested reading, suggested movies.
Read destination profiles, pack for your tour and travel smart sections. Pay particular attention
to sections on appropriate clothing to take, money/currency, etc.
IMPORTANT TRAVEL LINKS
Related Learning Links
Essential information on Japan, including its history and culture, attractions, featured articles and more.
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