SEE REAL JAPAN
Please meet my guest and now a good friend Michie Taylor, who arranges unique 17-days tours around Japan (twice a year). For travellers with zest for no-make-up experiences this offer can be just hitting the nail! I bet the trip is like nothing else possibly found at official travel agents. It is arranged by a true patriot and an enthusiastic life lover Michie. Pls see below Michie's offer for Autumn 2008 below.
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Michie and David Taylor in Russia 2008
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"MICHIE'S JAPAN-08":
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
DATES & COST
Autumn 2008 :
10/21/08 – 11/6/08
$3,700
(the price includes return airfare from Philadelphia, USA)
- Points of stay will be Kyoto, Kurashiki, Nagasaki, Fukuoka ( where I am from in the southern island of Kyushu) & a few places in Kyushu.
- We will spend a few days in Kyoto.... ancient capital of Japan .... visit historical sights and gardens. Definitely visit a nightingale floor (a squeaky floor ) at one castle ..... the floor makes a pleasant sound to warn of intruders.
- We will stop at Kurashiki to visit small quaint museums where they have many collections of B. Leach, S. Hamada, S. Munakata and so forth.
-We will visit Miyajima, a U.N. World Cultural Heritage site or/and Korakuen Garden.
-We will be using Bullet Trains (SHINKANSEN) at some points of travel.
- We will visit some artist studios.
- We will visit Imari ..... a famous pottery town.
- Japanese enjoys night life more so than here. Many people stay out late & go out to restaurants and bars. Many bars can be very expensive, but there are some unique and interesting drinking places with reasonable cost ..... like a drink from $5 to $10. It's fun to experience night life of average people.
- Nagasaki city for A-bomb museum and Madame Butterfly house and more.
- Visit Kumamoto Castle ..... one of the most beautiful feudal castles in Japan (Historical fiction movie .. “Last Samurai” was based on this castle.)
- Visit Mt. Aso, active volcano ..... magnificent view. It can be closed if it's not safe due to eruptions, gas emissions, fog etc. This happens once in a while.
- Depending on accommodation availability, we'll visit a remote island fishing village (60 houses) for a seafood feast .... Japanese style, lots of sashimi....amazing sight even for Japanese. You don't know what "Fresh" means till you have dinner in a place like this. Accommodation is very simple.
- We'll stay at an old Japanese inn ...... it's so relaxing to take an outdoor bath at their hot spring (ONSEN) in fresh cold mountain air. So be prepared to become naked in front of the same sex..... or you may experience KONYOKU (mixed bathing) if you wish. Bathing is optional.
- A very elegant lunch in Fukuoka, a special elegant dinner in Kyoto and 2 buffets.
-Tea ceremony demonstrations. We may have a chance to participate.
- "How to put Kimono on” demonstration.
General notes on the trip:
* This trip will be a very unique experience for you, not only a touristy sightseeing trip, but a trip to learn about the culture and way of life in Japan.
* We will be walking a lot, so we need good legs and good shoes.
* This trip will be totally opposite of going on cruises or to resorts.....physically active & educational trip.
* We make 2 big moves while in Japan. Side trips are planed without main luggages.
* Airfare, entire transportation (except in Nagasaki and Kyoto), lodging and many meals (appx. 13B, 4L & 6D) are covered.
* Out of pocket expenses ... you are responsible for some meals (many different/interesting meals are provided), all beverages, local transportation in Nagasaki and Kyoto ($1 to $3) and admissions ($2 to $10)...very few senior discounts.
* We will be using mostly public transportation; subways, buses and trains (small local trains to Shinkansen-Bullet trains).
* Most lodgings are charged by a person rather than per room in Japan. We will be staying in nice and clean inns and hotels ..... but they will not be 5 star places. Depending on the group makeup, a couple may not be able to room together, but grouped into boys and girls at one location.
* Some meals will be given in the traditional Japanese manner on tatami floor with low tables. We will experience simple to very fancy meals.
* The attached itinerary could change a little, but I will stay in that guideline.
* Group of 12 people including me.
1) Western food is available if you get homesick ..... hamburgers to pizzas.
2) Vending machines will provide hot or cold coffee for about 100 yen ($1) a can.....delicious! Starbucks are everywhere too.
3) Beer is the most commonly available alcohol for about $4 - $6 a bottle (750ml?) at restaurants, inns and hotels.
4) Bowls of noodles (500 - 800 yen) and simple meals can be purchased for around 1,000 yen ($10)
5) If the exchange rate falls below $1 = 105 yen, there will be an additional charge. The rate now is approx. $1 = 115 yen.
Non-refundable deposit of $250 is required. Once plane tickets & Japan Rail pass are issued, they are non-refundable. Payment schedule will follow after commitment. Trip originates from PHL airport. Other city departure can be simply arranged with small additional cost. Please note that there may be an increase in cost if airfare changes dramatically at the time of booking.
(If the tour is cancelled by Michie Taylor, all fees will be refunded).
Thank you.
Michie Taylor
304 Greene Road
Berwyn, PA 19312
610-644-0402
Japan Trip Itinerary Outline
Day 1 Depart Philadelphia
Day 2 Arrive Fukuoka
Go to hotel by subway.
HOTEL IN FUKUOKA
Day 3 Walk around Fukuoka Tenjin area, going to a supermarket & 100yen ($1) shop
Wearing a Kimono demonstration/tea ceremony ?
Evening free
HOTEL IN FUKUOKA
Day 4 8:30 bus leaves
10:00 Tensui inn for a rest stop. Can take an outdoor bath for 500 yen
Lunch at B & B (230 years old house).. all organic home made food
JAPANESE INN NEAR MT. ASO
Dinner at the inn. Outdoor bath before meal (optional)
Day 5 9:00 bus to Mt. Aso active volcano, Kumamoto Castle
Clay artist studio "Gyorenbou" visit ?
HOTEL IN FUKUOKA
Day 6 Morning free
11:00 buffet lunch
Reed artist Youichi's studio visit ?
Evening free
HOTEL IN FUKUOKA
Day 7 Train to Karatsu
15 minutes (?) walk to Karatsu castle to see a giant wisteria
14:00 Taxi to Yobiko Port
15:00 ferry to Kakara-jima island
Check in at B&B inn and walk around the island (2 hour?)
Take a bath (optional) before dinner & put on Japanese Yukata
18:30 dinner (seafood feast)
FISHING VILLAGE INN
Day 8 8:50 ferry to Yobiko Port
Yobiko morning market
10:00 Taxi to Imari
14th generation Nakazato pottery studio visit ?
Ookawachiyama pottery village by taxi
Train to Nagasaki
HOTEL IN NAGASAKI
Day 9 Nagasaki city tour
Train to Fukuoka
HOTEL IN FUKUOKA
Day 10 Train to Dazaifu
11:30 Elegant Lunch at Umenohana restaurant
Walk around Dazaifu shrine to Komyouji Zen temple
Train to Fukuoka
Evening free
HOTEL IN FUKUOKA
Day 11 Train to Miyajima
Take a ferry to Miyajima island to visit Itsukushima shrine set in the ocean
Train to Kurashiki
HOTEL IN kURASHIKI
Day 12 “Tea ceremony” demonstration ? / Korakuen garden visit ?
Museums/Free afternoon
Evening free
HOTEL IN KURASHIKI
Day 13 Train to Kyoto
Kyoto city tour- Kiyomizu temple & more
Evening …. Visit Gion to see Maiko/Geisha
HOTEL IN KYOTO
Day 14 Kyoto city tour – Nijo Castle & more
Saihouji moss temple by appointment only (if reserved)?
Evening free
HOTEL IN KYOTO
Day 15 Kyoto city tour- Golden Pavilion & more
Katsura detached Imprial villa garden(very difficult to reserve) ?
Old Kyoto Sugimoto house visit ?
Dinner at elegant Japanese restaurant
HOTEL IN KYOTO
Day 16 Free all day
HOTEL IN KYOTO
Day 17 Morning bus to Osaka airport/Arrive at PHL
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