Ancient Traditions of the Inland Sea of Japan

Transcription

1 O V E R 30 Y E A R S O F D I S T I N C T I V E T R A V E L Pre- and Post-Program Options Ancient Traditions of the Inland Sea of Japan May 4 to 15, 2016 We are pleased to offer you these Pre- and Post-Program Options to further enhance your journey. To book your Pre- and/or Post-Program Options, please complete the enclosed reservation form. Reservations and payment in full are due in the offices of Gohagan & Company no later than January 29, Pre- and/or Post Program Options may not be available for purchase after this date. Tokyo Pre-Program Option May 1 to 5, 2016 Experience Japan s dynamic capital and the world s most populous metropolis during your Pre-Program stay in vibrant Tokyo. Beneath the layers of thriving business districts, amidst the contemporary architectural achievements and a wellspring of Japanese pop culture, you will find the inherent cultural core of this historic city venerable wooden houses fronted by bonsai trees and shrines wreathed in incense smoke. Explore notable landmarks such as Tokyo s most important Shinto shrine the Meiji Shrine, the magnificent gardens of the Imperial Palace, and enjoy a full day excursion to Hakone to view the tallest peak in Japan the iconic Mt. Fuji a UNESCO World Heritage site. Admire Asian artwork, archaeological artifacts and antiquities in the National Museum of Tokyo and visit Tokyo Tower, the world s largest self supporting iron structure. Enjoy a high-speed transfer aboard the legendary Shinkansen Bullet Train to charming Kyoto to commence the main program. Accommodations are for three nights in the prestigious, Five-Star ANA InterContinental Hotel Tokyo. Canada. Sunday, May 1 Depart Canada and cross the International Date Line. Admire the beautiful gardens and grounds surrounding the Tokyo Imperial Palace, including the Nijubashi Bridge (Double Bridge), originally a wooden structure with two levels. Tokyo, Japan Monday, May 2 Arrive in Tokyo, Japan, in the late afternoon and transfer to the Five Star ANA InterContinental Hotel Tokyo, conveniently located just a short walk from the Imperial Palace. The evening is at leisure. CAD 08/20/15-1

2 u 2 restaurant, then embark on a scenic cruise around picturesque Lake Ashi, a crater lake with a nearly 12-mile circumference. The Shinkansen, or Bullet Train, passes by Mt. Fuji, Japan s highest mountain, travelling between Tokyo and Kyoto. Tokyo Tuesday, May 3 After breakfast in the hotel, enjoy a visit to the serene Meiji Shrine. Formally dedicated in 1920, it is the city s largest Shinto shrine built in honor of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, during whose reign ( ) Japan transformed from a provincial feudal country to a modern world power. Admire the temple s two traditional 40-foot-high torii gates that are more than 1700 years old and crafted from cypress wood, and tour the ornate structures in the shrine complex, also constructed of cypress wood with beautiful, curvilinear copper roofs. During a visit to Tokyo Tower, marvel at the world s largest self-supporting iron structure, built in the post-war boom of the 1950s to symbolize Japan s ascendancy as a global economic powerhouse. Looking to the West for inspiration, the Tokyo government decided to build its own version of the Eiffel Tower and constructed what was, at the time, the tallest structure in the city and still defines the Tokyo skyline today. Enjoy sweeping panoramic views of the city from its 500-foot-high observation platform. Return to the hotel and enjoy free time to explore on your own for the remainder of your afternoon and evening. Tokyo/Hakone Wednesday, May 4 Today, enjoy a full-day excursion to the mountainous region of Hakone to experience the captivating beauty of the iconic Mt. Fuji the tallest peak in Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located between Mt. Fuji and the Izu Peninsula, Hakone is surrounded by forested mountains and features dramatic scenery accented by deep glens and ravines. Enjoy a Japanese-style lunch in a local Tokyo Thursday, May 5 Following breakfast, check out of the hotel and visit the famous Tokyo National Museum, home to the largest and oldest museum collection in Japan. This comprehensive museum was established in 1872 and spans five distinct exhibition buildings featuring artwork, archaeological artifacts and antiquities from Japan and all across Asia. Transfer to the Tokyo Rail Station to board the Shinkansen, or Bullet Train, to Kyoto. Introduced in 1964 to usher in the Tokyo Olympic Games, this high-speed train line, the world s first, travels nearly 190 miles per hour. Upon arrival in tranquil Kyoto, the capital of Japan from the late eighth to mid-19 th centuries, check into the Five-Star Kyoto Hotel Okura. The evening is at leisure. Included Features: Transfers and luggage handling for participants whose arrival(s)/departure(s) coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s). Accommodations for three nights in the Five Star ANA InterContinental Hotel Tokyo, inclusive of taxes and service. Breakfast each morning. Guided visit to the serene Meiji Shrine. Visit to the Tokyo Tower, an icon of the city. Excursion to Hakone for Mt. Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with lunch. Half-day excursion to the impressive and comprehensive Tokyo National Museum. Travel between Tokyo and Kyoto on board the high-speed Bullet Train, with lunch included. All excursions and visits, as outlined above, with experienced local guides. Gratuities to local guides and drivers. Hospitality desk in the hotel. Experienced Gohagan & Company Travel Director to accompany you throughout the Pre-Program. Complimentary use of a state-of-the-art audio headset for each participant during guided excursions $1650 usd per person, double occupancy. $1980 usd per person, single occupancy.

3 u 3 Kanazawa Post-Program Option May 15 to 18, 2016 Conclude your journey through Japan in Kanazawa, one of the best preserved cities in the country. Enjoy an excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage site of historic Shirakawa go and the village of Ogimachi, famous for its traditional gassho zukuri (praying hands) farmhouses a reference to the shape of the roofs. Admire the art of Washi papermaking, a centuries-old Japanese handcrafting tradition registered on UNESCO s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, during a fascinating demonstration. Visit Kenroku en Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, created for the enjoyment of feudal lords who lived in its 16 th century castle; and the Higashi Chaya district with historic teahouses where geisha once lived; and see the Nagamachi samurai quarter. Accommodations are for two nights in the modern ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa and for one night in the Five-Star ANA InterContinental Hotel Tokyo. Osaka/Kanazawa Sunday, May 15 Disembark the ship this morning and transfer via train to the charming traditional town of Kanazawa, located between the mountains and the sea. A city with a strong cultural identity, Kanazawa served as the seat of the Maeda Clan during the Edo period (1603 to 1868), the second most powerful feudal clan after the Tokugawa. Visit the Kenroku-en Gardens, one of Japan s most famous landscape gardens. Kenroku en translates to garden of six qualities spaciousness, seclusion, air of antiquity, ingenuity, flowing water and views. Stroll through its beautiful, sprawling landscape of hills, streams, ponds and small waterfalls, culminating in the center at the Kasumigaike Pond. Next, enjoy time in the Higashi Chaya district, a leisure district where geisha once practiced their craft, now dotted with exclusive restaurants and historic teahouses. Visit the Nomura family samurai residences, which housed samurai warriors of the mid-19 th century, surrounded by traditional tile-roofed mud walls in the Nagamachi quarter. Check into the modern ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa Hotel. The remainder of your evening is free to enjoy individual pursuits. A stone lantern designed in the image of the Japanese koto (harp) was erected by Kasumigaike Pond in Kenroku-en garden, which became an iconic symbol of the garden. Kanazawa/Ogimachi/Shirakawa-go Monday, May 16 Today, enjoy a full-day excursion featuring the historic UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa go, a region comprised of three historic villages that have existed since the 11 th century. Begin in the picturesque village of Ogimachi by admiring the art of Japanese Washi paper making, a special type of paper created from mulberry plants first cultivated in Japan its production technique is registered as a traditional practice on UNESCO s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. After the demonstration, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Continue on to the village of Shirakawa go to visit the Toyama and Wada family residences, the finest examples of the famous gassho-zukuri style houses constructed in the early Edo period (1603 to 1868). Built to house families involved in silkworm cultivation, these structures are designed to permit appropriate heat, light and air conditions during the cultivation process, including a common open hearth fireplace on the ground floor. Their steep, thatched roofs resemble hands in prayer and are the most striking visual feature of the village. This afternoon, return to Kanazawa where the remainder of your day is at leisure to explore its quaint streets and lovely gardens. Kanazawa/Tokyo Tuesday, May 17 Following breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the Kanazawa Rail Station. Board the high speed Shinkansen Bullet Train and travel to Toyko. Check into the Five-Star

4 u 4 ANA InterContinental Hotel Tokyo, where the remainder of your afternoon and evening are free to explore the lively and dynamic city of Toyko. Tokyo/Canada. Wednesday, May 18 Enjoy breakfast in the hotel and your morning at leisure in Tokyo. Transfer to the airport to board your return flight to Canada. Included Features: Accommodations for two nights in the modern ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa and for one night in the Five-star ANA Intercontinental Hotel Tokyo, inclusive of taxes and service. Travel between Osaka and Kanazawa on board the high-speed Bullet Train, with lunch included. Breakfast each morning. Visit to the Kenroku-en Gardens, one of Japan s Three Great Gardens. Visit the Higashi Chaya District where geisha once practiced their craft, and see the ancient samurai residences of the Nagamachi quarter. Excursion to the historic UNESCO World Heritage-designated villages of Shirakawa-go and Ogimachi. Demonstration of the Japanese-style Washi papermaking, registered as a traditional practice on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, in Ogimachi. Specially arranged lunch of regional Japanese specialities in a local restaurant. Travel between Kanazawa and Tokyo on board the high-speed Bullet Train, with lunch included. All excursions and visits, as outlined above, with experienced local guides. Gratuities to local guides and drivers. Hospitality desk in the hotel. Experienced Gohagan & Company Travel Director to accompany you throughout the Post-Program. Complimentary use of a state-of-the-art audio headset for each participant during guided excursions Transfers and luggage handling for participants whose arrival(s)/departure(s) coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s). $1470 usd per person, double occupancy. $1595 usd per person, single occupancy. Please note: The Tokyo Pre-Program and Kanazawa Post-Program Options are sold as a separate package; individual services and/or Included Features of the Pre and/or Post-Program Options cannot be purchased individually. Pre- and Post-Program Options Cancellation and Refund Policy In the event you have to cancel your reservation, cancellation policies as outlined in your travel program brochure apply. These policies are strictly enforced. Cancellations for all or any part of the trip will not be effective until they are received in writing in the offices of Gohagan & Company. A minimum of 35 participants per program is required in order for the Tokyo Pre-Program and the Kanazawa Post-Program Options to operate. Thomas P. Gohagan & Company u 209 South LaSalle Street u Suite 500 u Chicago, Illinois u (800) u Fax (312)

5 E S TABLISHED Pre- and Post-Program Option Reservation Form Ancient Traditions of the Inland Sea of Japan May 4 to 15, 2016 Please Note: If you have already sent a deposit for the Pre- and/or Post-Program Options with your main program brochure reservation form, please disregard this form. Confirmation will appear on the enclosed Reservation Confirmation. Final payment is due in the offices of Gohagan & Company by January 29, Insert the following information from your Reservation Confirmation: Reservation number First passenger s name exactly as it appears on passport Second passenger s name exactly as it appears on passport Please make my/our reservation(s): Tokyo Pre-Program Option May 1 to 5, 2016 Double Occupancy $1650 usd per person x $ Single Occupancy $1980 usd per person x $ Kanazawa Post-Program Option May 15 to 18, 2016 Double Occupancy $1470 usd per person x $ Single Occupancy $1595 usd per person x $ Total: $ The Pre- and Post-Program Options may be paid by cheque, wire transfer or credit card. q Enclosed is my payment of $ as deposit ($200 usd per person Tokyo Pre-Program Option and/or $200 usd per person Kanazawa Post-Program Option). q Enclosed is my payment in full of $ (due January 29, 2016). q I/We authorize you to charge $ to: q Visa q MasterCard. Card Number Exp. Date Signature as it appears on credit card Please send reservation(s) and payment to: Thomas P. Gohagan & Company 209 South LaSalle Street, Suite 500 Chicago, Illinois CAD 08/03/15-1 Thomas P. Gohagan & Company u 209 South LaSalle Street u Suite 500 u Chicago, Illinois u (800) u Fax (312)