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Arrive in Seoul
Arrive in Seoul, South Korea and transfer to our hotel.
Seoul is a city of contrasts. In this rapidly evolving metropolis, the traditional exists with the modern in a state of harmony. For over 500 years the seat of Choson Dynasty kings, Seoul is now the beating heart of modern Korea, the centre to which all else in the country is drawn.
Overnight in Seoul. Dinner if required.
Seoul
Today you will have a city tour of Seoul, including the Blue House (Presidential Residence, photo stop outside), the National Folk Museum, and Kyongbok Palace.
Of all the tourist attractions in Seoul, its Choson Dynasty Palaces and particularly Kyongbuk Palace are the most tangible link between modern Korea and its not-too-distant monarchical past. Not merely inert relics, they are symbols of a deep history and rich culture. Although substantially reduced in number, the remaining palace buildings provide a glimpse of traditional architecture and the overall organization of a palace grounds.
General Yi Song-gye (King T'aejo) ordered the construction of Kyongbok-gung ("Palace of Shining Happiness") in 1934, two years after founding the Choson Dynasty. In its original form, it is said to have had about 500 buildings. For the next 200 years, Kyongbok-gung was the seat of government and the royal residence of Choson Dynasty kings.
This afternoon we visit the Korean Folk Village where the old traditional style houses and life style of 18th-19th century are being practiced by people living in the village.
Overnight in Seoul. Breakfast and dinner.
Mt Sorak - Waterpia
After breakfast we begin our 4-5 hour journey to Mt Sorak. Upon arrival in Mt Sorak, after check-in, you will have the afternoon to relax at Waterpia Hot Springs Resort with outdoor and indoor hotspring pools and sauna.
Overnight Waterpia. Breakfast and dinner.
Waterpia - Mt Sorak - Waterpia
We leave today for Mt. Sorak National Park where we take a cable car ride to one of the top peaks for panoramic views of Mountain Sorak. Sorak-san's aerial tramway runs 1100 metres (3,608 feet) from the valley floor to the ridge above. This 5-minute ride offers a bird's-eye view of the Outer Sorak area. About 100 metres below the upper cable car terminus is the tiny hermitage of Allak-am. This religious site sits precariously on the edge of a precipice. On the sides of its main hall, colourful paintings depict scenes from Buddha's life and other familiar topics.
We later proceed to Shinheungsa Temple. A short, easy stroll from the park plaza brings you to Shinheungsa ("Divine Undertaking Temple"), the principal temple of Sorak-san. At the junction of two major valleys below high-spired peaks, this small compound has one of the most spectacular settings of any temple in Korea. It was established in 653 as Hyangsong-sa by the monk Chajang.
This afternoon we proceed to Gosung Unification Observatory located on the borderline. You can take a look at North Korea located across the most fortified border in the world and learn about Koreaís present relations with mysterious North Korea.
Return to Waterpia.
Overnight in Waterpia. Breakfast and dinner.
Waterpia - Kyongju
Today we take a very scenic drive down to Kyongju passing tiny fishing villages. Kyongju is Korea's ancient cultural city, the capital of the once great Silla Kingdom. It is to Korea what Kyoto is to Japan. During its 1979 meeting in Thailand, UNESCO selected Kyongju as one of the world's most important ancient cultural cities, both for its position in the historical and cultural development of East Asia and for its role in the formation of the Korean nation.
Around Kyongju there are hundreds of royal tombs, temples, palace sites, fortress ruins, pagodas and rock sculptures. Finely crafted gold and silver ornaments, skilfully shaped clay figures and pottery, metal utensils and weapons and an astonishing number of other objects discovered here are now displayed in the Kyongju museum which we visit. We also observe scraps of Silla Literature and the legends that are preserved in ancient books and annals.
Overnight in Kyongju. Breakfast and dinner.
Kyongju
We will spend a whole day sightseeing in Kyongju with visits to Pulkuksa Temple, Sokkuram Grotto, Tumuli Park-Royal Tombs. While many important sites are scattered in the vicinity, Kyongju, as the heart of the former Silla Kingdom, still has the largest concentration of remains. Mounded tombs, the most obvious remnant of the city's past, dominate your view as you approach this historic city. Many of the early tombs were constructed near the Panwol-song palace site - then undoubtedly the city centre but now at the edge of downtown. Later others were constructed outside the city, in the midst of flat faming fields and at the foot of the low hills that rim this valley.
Over the centuries these mounds have, by and large, been left unplundered. Some informal excavation was done in the early 1900's, but the first government-sponsored excavations were authorized by the Japanese during the occupation.
Overnight in Kyongju. Breakfast and dinner.
Kyongju - Haeinsa
Our tour continues to Haeinsa Temple, one of the most important Buddhist treasures in Korea. Haeinsa Temple features the famous Korean cultural treasure, Tripikata Koreana, built during the Goryo Dynasty to protect the country from the invasion of Mongolian troops. Designated a UNESCO World heritage Site, Tripitakana consists of over 80,000 pieces of inscripted wooden plates carved during the Koryo Dynasty. It took more than 15 years to complete this incredible work.
Overnight in Haiensa. Breakfast and dinner.
Haeinsa - Pusan - Seoul
Our journey continues to Korea's second largest city, Pusan. The city's name derives from two place names: Suwon, which means "water source"--the land depression that the city occupies was for centuries known for its clear-water wells. High above the city rises P'aldal-san, a tall hill at its height of beauty in the spring, with its slopes awash with the colour of pink cherry blossoms. In the late 1600's the military established a garrison here as one of the five principal fortifications set up to protect the approaches to Seoul. Intending to move the official capital from Seoul to Suwon, King Chongjo the 22nd Choson Dynasty King, had the fortress wall constructed in 1794. Battlements and palace buildings were erected, but the king died before he could initiate the move. Although there were great plans for this city, they never had the opportunity to mature, as the decision was made to keep the capital at Seoul.
Our tour continues with a visit to Kukje Market and Jagalchi Fish Market.
We fly to Seoul in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Seoul. Breakfast and dinner.
Seoul
Today is a free day for you to explore this vibrant city.
Overnight Seoul. Breakfast and dinner.
Seoul, Korea - Tokyo, Japan
Today we fly from Seoul to Tokyo.
Overnight Tokyo. Breakfast and dinner.
Tokyo
For those of us who are ready for an early start, we make an early morning excursion to the Tsukiji Fish Market. At this early hour we see the raw, windburned and robust face of Tokyo at the central wholesale market, the largest in the world. Although the market contains stalls selling meats and vegetables, the real product is the two million kilograms of fish sold here every day. Over 1,500 fishmongers scurry about on motorised fishmobiles in a cavernous warehouse where huge blocks of ice, all expertly handsawed, not only to cool the interior but miraculously keeps all odour of fish at bey. After this we return to our hotel for breakfast before heading off on our morning sightseeing.
We make our way to the Imperial Palace or Kokyo, built on the site of the Edo-jo castle. An impregnable fortress that housed the Tokugawa Shogunate for 265 years. Surrounded by moats, the original outer walls extended for over 16 km (10 miles) and were thick enough for a squad of samurai to walk six abreast on top. Even in its original state, it deceptively looked more like an administrative villa than a fortress. Once inside, it was a maze of moats, bridges, dead-ends and cul-de-sacs, all perfect for defence, and now perfect for private and public strolling parks and gardens. Even today, the grounds appear flat but are really a series of hillocks covered with trees that help camouflage numerous buildings. The earth used to make these hillocks was transported from Ueno in a land-reclamation project begun by the first shogun, Ieyasu Tokugawa.
Occupied by the shogunate for 265 years until Emperor Meiji moved the court here in 1860ís, the buildings survived until they were all but obliterated by the fire bombings of WWII.
After peering into this amazing complex and seeing the famous double bridge, we continue on to Ginza. Hopefully we will time our arrival so that we can be there for the opening of one of Japanís leading department stores. The bowing to and welcoming of the first customers of the day is indeed a cross-cultural insight. We will take a brief walk through the food halls where you will see the amazing variety of beautifully presented foods being sold at unbelievable prices. Seeing where and how the Japanese shop, what they buy, for whom and for what occasion, offers instructive glimpses into a highly sophisticated social strata where conventions of human interraction and presentation are minutely-defined.
We continue from here on to Ueno, home to the National Museum and the finest collection of Japanese art in the country.
Overnight in Tokyo. Breakfast and dinner.
Tokyo - Kamakura - Tokyo
Located just south of Tokyo, we venture to Kamakura, the capital established by the Shogun Minamoto Yoritomo in 1192. He was the first permanent shogun and ruler of Japan. His motivation was to get away from the corrupt imperial court of Kyoto. Within the next century many grand monuments were built, and has 65 Buddhist temples and 19 Shinto shrines located amongst its wooded hills. An easily defendable site being surrounded on three sides by hills and the fourth by the sea, makes this a dramatic setting for us today as we wander through the area. One of the highlights here will be a visit to the Daibutsu, or Great Buddha; the second largest bronze image in Japan. At another temple we will have the tea ceremony explained to us and be able to partake in this unique and beautiful Japanese tradition.
In the early afternoon we return to Tokyo and prepare ourselves for a taste of Kabuki, a traditional form of Japanese theatre. Kabuki was founded early in the 17th Century by Okuni, a shrine maiden who brought her unique and lively dance style to the dry river beds of the ancient capital of Kyoto, and over the next 300 years developed into a sophisticated, highly stylized form of theater. Early Kabuki was much different from what is seen today and was comprised mostly of large ensemble dances performed by women. Most of these women acted as prostitutes off stage and finally the government banned women from the stage in an effort to protect public morales, just one in a long history of government restrictions placed on the theater. This ban on women, though, is often seen as a good move because it necessitated the importance of skill over beauty and put more stress on drama than dance, putting Kabuki on the path to become a dramatic art form. Another development was the appearance of onnagata female role specialists; men who play women.
Popular actors who often inherit their positions from their fathers, continue to bring audiences into the theater and there has recently been a "Kabuki boom" centered around young people. Kabuki continues to be a form of entertainment enjoyed by a wide range of people, just as it has been for 400 years.
We will partake of one act before our dinner this evening.
Overnight in Tokyo. Breakfast and dinner.
Tokyo - Hakone
We enjoy our first Shinkansen, or "bullet train," ride today as we head towards Hakone. Wedged between Mt Fuji and the Izu Peninsula, Hakone is a large region encircled by several forested mountains and has a beauty dramatically accented by deep glens and ravines. In the feudal era, Hakone was a very important checkpoint that safeguarded the security of Edo (now Tokyo) as the seat of the Shogunate. This onsen (hotspring) area has been popular since the 1500s, when Hideyoshi Toyotomi came here to relax in an open-air bath after the hard fought Battle of Odawara.
From the castle town of Odawara we board our first train that takes us into the National Park.
Next we board a funicular that will take us to Gora. Later the views from the cable car across to Mount Fuji can be stunning. We will also be able to see down into the sulphuric springs of Sounzan from which the hotels take water for their hotspring baths. The entire area of Sounzan smells of sulphurous fumes as these clouds of steam rise from crevasses, and hotsprings bubble out. Later this evening you will be able to enjoy bathing in these therapeutic waters.
One of the highlights today will be our visit to the Hakone Outdoor Museum, or Chokoku-no-mori, a beautiful park filled with sculptures by renowned Japanese and international artists such as Rodin, Bourdelle, Moore, Zadkine and Picasso.
Tonight we will enjoy a Keiseki-type meal at our hotel. Originally this type of dining was to accompany tea ceremony and is a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds. You can feel free to wear your yukata, or bathrobe (provided by the hotel) to the dining room tonight as many of the Japanese do when they stay in these types of hotels. It is a perfectly wonderful place to relax after leaving busy Tokyo behind.
NOTE: Our larger baggage will be sent ahead to Osaka. Today you carry just an overnight bag for our one-night stay in Hakone.
Overnight in Hakone. Kagetsu-en Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Hakone - Takayama
Today we travel to Takayama. The region known as Hida, which surrounds Takayama, was cut off from the rest of Japan by almost impregnable encircling mountains. Hida lacked good farmland, which made taxpaying from an agricultural livelihood an impossible burden upon the people. Necessity caused them to diversify, so the craftsmen of Takayama honed their tools to a sharpness matched by their skills and became known as the finest woodworkers in the land. The mountains yielded the most coveted lumber in the empire, which Takayamaís artisans fashioned into magnificent works worthy to adorn Japanís finest temples, shrines and palaces. During the Nara period, the central government, in lieu of taxes, required ten Takayama craftsmen to relocate to the capital, where their considerable talents were employed. During the Tokugawa era, the ancestral daimyo of Takayama was reassigned to the far north.
Our train journey today takes us through the scenic Hida River Valley. We arrive in the late afternoon and will have time to wander through the lovely town of Takayama and the merchant quarter of San-machi with its historic wooden structures.
Overnight in Takayama. Washington Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Takayama
This morning we will visit the Hida Folk Village consisting of over 30 unique houses which had been scattered in the Hida region. The houses are attractively laid out around a small lake display valuable articles showing the way of life and culture of the past. The style of architecture is called gassho-zukuri, or praying hand houses, because of the steep pitch of the roofs reminiscent of two clasped hands in prayer. This was to protect the occupants from the large amounts of snow that fall over the winter months here. We also visit the Yatai Kaikan, or Float Museum.
Your afternoon is at leisure. Takayama is a small, interesting and manageable place for those who enjoy easy going, on-foot exploration.
Overnight in Takayama. Washington Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Takayama - Kyoto
Our journey continues to Kyoto.
Kyoto vibrates with creative energy. For 1,000 years, skilled craftsmen, wise masters, and the nationís most promising fine artists have been lured here. The deep impress of culture and the refinement is indelible; itís in the soul of the city. A long line of Japanese emperors was enthroned here, and the city retains this regal bearing through a myriad of Festivals and commemorative customs preserved from feudal times. In diminutive home workshops along cobblestone alleyways no wider than a footpath, lacquerware, cloisonnÈ, damascene, kimono fabrics, pottery, porcelain, fans, dolls, embroideries, and bamboo ware are still expertly turned out by hand. Kyoto attracts a sophisticated crowd to its vibrant Noh and Kabuki theatres, while the last geisha finishing schools are found in the lantern-lit side streets of the Pontocho and Gion sections of the city.
Thankfully, Kyoto's treasures were spared from bombing during WW II, when American scholars persuaded the military to leave this masterpiece of a city alone. Though Kyoto is now a thoroughly modern city, much of its spirit is intact, with over 200 Shinto shrines; 1,600 temples, 30 of which administer to the major sects of Buddhism throughout Japan; three Imperial palaces; nine major museums; and countless classic gardens.
We arrive in this fascinating city mid-afternoon. Tonight we will venture to the Pontocho District, one of the traditional geisha quarters of Kyoto and next door to its rival Gion. Wandering down the narrow lanes with the Kama River flowing along side gives a sense to what this city was like long ago.
Overnight in Kyoto. Breakfast and dinner.
Kyoto
We have a full day sightseeing in Kyoto.
We visit Sanjusangendo Temple, named for the 1001 life-size statues of the Buddhist teacher Kannon. Each statue has subtle differences and has 42 arms each of which are capable of saving 25 worlds. The central statue which dominates the others was carved by the master sculptor Tankei when he was 82 years old. First built in 1164, it was reconstructed in 1266.
We visit Heian Shrine, built in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the capital. It is a replica to three fifths of the size of the first imperial palace in the ancient capital Heiankyo. Behind it, there is a beautiful go-round style garden with a total area of 30,000 m2 which is well known for the beauty of its weeping cherry trees, Japanese iris, and waterlilies.
We continue to Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavillion, and proceed to Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavillion, one of Japan's most famous architectural an dhistorical icons. We also visit Ryoan-ji, the famous raked
gravel Zen Garden, for which the Zen Buddhists are renowned. The essential dichotomy and harmony of the universe, which lies at the heart of this belief system, is symbolized in these tranquil gardens.
NOTE: In order maintain a certain spontaneity during our time in Kyoto, the exact sites visited and their order in the itinerary may vary at the discretion of your Tour Leader.
Overnight in Kyoto. Breakfast and dinner.
Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto
Today we travel to Nara.
The crest of every mountain, the slope of every hill, the mute testimony of every rock, the waterfall, rivulet, and the valley of Nara are infused with the intangible spiritual energy that accompanied the birth of the Japanese civilization. Nara, meaning ìlevel land, ì occupies the great basin of what was Yamoto, or the Land of Great Peace. Here was the centre of the half-real, half mythical kingdom of Japan before it became a nation. Jimmu Tenno, the first emperor of Japan, was purportedly buried at Nara, the Imperial Japan, the oldest existing dynasty in the world, established its first permanent court within the city in 710. Arts, culture, and literature also bloomed in this fertile valley. The earliest histories of the nation were compiled in Nara by noble court ladies in colloquial Japanese, and from the ancient city Buddhism spread throughout the land.
In its glory days, Nara covered an expansive area linked by palaces, temples, shrines, public buildings, and noblesí villas. The temples were massive and extremely powerful, almost like independent city-states. Numerous fires, the ravages of time, war, and pestilence have reduced many of the ancient structures, but plenty remain in their original states, especially in the eastern sections of the city. Part of this legacy is the Great Buddha of Todai-ji Otera, the largest bronze statue in the world, tipping the scales at over 500 tonnes.
Nara Koen, at over 500 ha (1235 acres), is Japanís largest park and is home to the sacred deer of nearby Kasuga Taisha. This shrine, moss-covered and illuminated by over 3000 stone lanterns, was first erected in 768 and is second in importance only to the Grand shrines of Ise. As we walk through this park dotted with temples and deer wandering about, you will be struck at how the sublime cultural richness of the quiet past lingers on.
Overnight in Kyoto. Breakfast and dinner.
Kyoto - Hiroshima
We get a late start for Hiroshima today. Before our departure you may choose to visit (on your own) Nijo-jo (Nijo Castle) with its beautiful Momoyama era screen paintings and the nightinggale floors.
Later we board the Shinkansen for Hiroshima. Passing through Osaka and Kobe, just minutes from Kyoto on this fast train we will arrive at our destination in just a couple of hours.
Modern Hiroshima rose like a phoenix from its own ashes. Less than five decades since its obliteration, it is once again the most vital city of San-Yo with a population of one million and growing. Hiroshima is referred to as the ìRiver City.î In its confines, the Ota-gawa River fans out into six delta tributaries that flow into the immense and very busy bay. In the years just following the A-bomb blast, scientists doubted if Hiroshima could ever live again. Today the streets hum with activity, trees and flowers grow, and birds sing. Nature may not forget, but it does forgive!
On the morning of August 6, 1945, the people of war-torn Japan hurried to begin the day. Then suddenly buildings melted, people evaporated, and humankind lost the first battle of the atomic age. Seventy thousand buildings were flattened and 200,000 people perished, the lucky ones quickly; the unlucky lingered. Hiroshima, fringed by mountains forming a natural amphitheatre, seethed and fumed.
At the Peace Memorial park (Heiwa Kinen Koen), the Cenotaph, shaped like an ancient tomb, holds the names of the dead. The prayer, the hope, the Japanese reads ìRepose ye in peace, for the error shall not be repeated.î The skeleton of the Atomic Comb Dome (Genbaku Domu) turns green with age against a blue sky. Until all nuclear arms are banned and destroyed, the Eternal Flame will flicker. Pretty young girls stop to have their pictures taken. Families row in brightly coloured boats on a light-hearted Sunday picnic.
Overnight Hiroshima. New Hiroden Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Hiroshima - Miyajima - Hiroshima
Since ancient times, Miyajima has been regarded as one of the ìThree Most Beautiful Spotsî of Japan, and as part of the Seto Inland Sea National Park, it has received several distinctions, such as a place of extraordinary scenic beauty, exceptional history, and a natural monument. The virgin forests neighbouring Mt. Misen are representative of the lush greenery and abundance of nature which still covers the entire island even now.
Since ancient times, Miyajima has been revered and worshipped, The virgin forests of Miyajima is one of the best preserved among the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. The luxuriant virgin forests of Mt Misen is just one example of the vast variety of natural settings found on this island. A surprisingly large amount of south-western Japan native botanical specimen can still be found on Miyajima. The island is like a miniature model of Japan, showing the harmonious ecology of all living things from the ocean depth to the top of mountains.
For those who are interested it may be possible to do a "home visit" with a Japanese family while in Hiroshima. This is a volunteer program that would allow you to go to a familyís home for tea usually for about an hour. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet with and see how everyday people live.
Overnight in Hiroshima. New Hiroden Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Hiroshima - Beppu
Japan is a country of volcanoes. Hot springs are found everywhere, numbering over 2,000 and attracting millions of visitors annually. Most people go to hot springs not so much for cure, recuperation, or convalescence as for the pleasure. Whether young or old, male or female, the Japanese love to bathe in hot springs. The city of Beppu, overlooking Beppu Bay in Oita Prefecture, is Japan's largest spa resort. Beppu has 2,849 springs and nine types of water, which is the world record. Gushing up of 136, 212 kL (36,000,000 gallons) per day of hot water makes it the second highest output anywhere in the world. Beppu has eight different hot spring areas, the so-called Beppu Hatto (Eight Spas of Beppu). Thanks to opening the railway, progressing hole-boring technology and the developing Japanese economy itself during the Meiji Period (1868-1912), Beppu began to develop into the major spa area that it is today.
Considering the amount of spa water that gushes from the earth, hot springs are a major part of the lives of the people of Beppu, who can use inexpensive public bathing facilities in place of private bath. Local residents use hot water for their daily use. Furthermore, hot water is used for the processing food, the heating buildings, the cultivation of plants, the breeding of fish and the production of the geothermal power.
After checking in to our hotel, you may want to partake in something unique to Japan; a volcanic sand bath. We will go down to the beach where Japanese ladies will dig a hole for you in the warm sand, into which you will climb and are covered up to your neck. Some of you may prefer to only watch this spectacle or stay at the hotel and relax in the more standard baths.
Overnight at Fugetsu. Breakfast and dinner.
Beppu - Kagoshima
Kagoshima City is the capital of Kagoshima prefecture. The city originally prospered as the castle town of Lord Shimadzu, and was the first city to introduce western civilisation to Japan. Today, it is the largest City in Southern Kyushu with about 540,000 people. Kagoshima City nestled on the west shore of beautiful Kinko Bay with majestic Mt. Sakurajima (the symbol of Kagoshima) is referred to as the Naples of the Orient.
One of Kagoshima's greatest contributions to modern Japan is it's role over the centuries as a gateway for trade and exchange between Japan and the world. Japan has traditionally been a closed culture and only recently pursued international ties. Kagoshima is the catalyst city credited for "opening Japan to the World".
In 1543, a Portuguese vessel landed on Tanegashima one of the southern islands, bringing the first firearms to Japan. In 1549 The Spanish missionary Francisco Xavier landed in Kagoshima and introduced Christianity to Japan. During the 17th century, the shogunate had an "isolation policy" which prohibited contact with other nations; however, Satsuma (now Kagoshima) continued to trade with China, and sent students to England to study western culture.
We visit the excellent Reimeikan Museum and then go to the Iso Ko-en Gardens. This is a wonderful garden with Mount Sakurajima as borrowed scenery in the background. Sakurajima is one of the worldís most active volcanoes and lies just 4 km (2‡ miles) from the city across the bay. The volcanic soil is extremely rich and the farmland at the base of this mountain is testament to its value.
Overnight in Kagoshima. Breakfast and dinner.
Kagoshima - Kumamoto
Shaped by natureís fires and the winds of history, Kumamoto is a highlight of our tour of Kyushu. We begin our tour with the Kumamoto Castle, considered one of the most beautiful and the third largest in the country. Built between 1601 and 1607 (known as the period of the Warring States) this castle was designed as impenetrable, and the curved stone walls are practically impossible for invaders to scale. A true fortress, within the castle walls are numerous wells and camphour trees; the wood from these trees can be used for firewood even when fresh. Authentic artefacts related to the castle as well as a siege in 1877 are on display in the castleís donjon.
From here we will go to the Hosokawa Mansion, a beautiful home that gives us an opportunity to see how the rich lived in Japan during the Tokugawa Period. We will end our day at the Suizenji-koen Park. Created in 1632 as a place of rest for the lords of the Hosokawa clan, the park is sublime in its aesthetic detail. Considered one of Japanís six most beautiful landscape gardens. The park was designed to represent the old road from Tokyo to Kyoto, and you will delight in the miniature views of Lake Biwa and Mt Fuji. Stop and enjoy a cup of green tea served with a delicate sweet while you relax in an authentic tea house.
Overnight in Kumamoto. Sunroute Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Kumamoto - Mt Aso Kuju National Park - Kumamoto
Today we make a day trip to the The Aso Kuju National Park. At 80 km (50 miles) in circumference, its caldera is one of the world's largest. The spectacular Mt Aso forms the centre of the Aso-Kuju National Park. This volcano has five cones, one still active. The five peaks of Mt Aso are Takadake, Nekodake, Kishimadake, Eboshidake and Nakadake. Nakadake Crater is 4 km (2æ miles) in circumference and 125 m (410 feet) deep. Because of its situated and particular shape, it is the only active volcanic crater in the entire world that you can actually look down into. The lava flow created by eruptions over millennia forms a unique landscape that has a radius of 100 km (62 miles). Mt Aso is the reason Kumamoto has been known since early times as the "Land of Fire."
Halfway up Mt Takadake is the ravine known as Sensuikyo. In May, the entire ravine turns a glorious pink when 50,000 azalea burst into full bloom. The annual Tsutsuji Matsuri (Azalea Festival) is a popular Festival. From Daikanbo, 936 m (3088 ft) above sea level, one commands the best view of the five peaks of Mt Aso which are said to resemble the figure of a reclining Buddha. The noted writer Tokutomi Soho, deeply impressed by the view, gave it the name Daikanbo, "Great View Peak."
Senomoto Kogen (Senomoto Highland) is 1000 m (3,280 feet) above sea level. Looking beyond the highland, the five peaks of Mt Aso and the Kujyu mountain ranges come into view. Many people come here in Spring to enjoy picking a wide variety of wild, edible plants. In summer, there is a welcome cool breeze, while in autumn the area is made lovely with the sight of pampas grass swaying gracefully in the wind. From May through the end of October the scenery is one of pastoral peace as contented cows graze freely.
Overnight in Kumamoto. Breakfast and dinner.
Kumomoto - Nagasaki
This morning we leave for Misumi Port just south of Kumamoto. From here we will board a ferry which will take us across the Ariake Sea to Shimabara. This old castle town sits in the shadow of Fugendake which began erupting in 1990 after 2 centuries of inactivity and didnít stop until just a few years ago. The area worst affected is slowly being rebuilt but we will be able to see a number of homes still half buried and left as a reminder of the destructive forces. From here we make our way up the mountain and on to Unzen where we will see these bubbling jigoku, or "hells" as they are known in Japanese. We will be able to walk amongst these pools on walking trails. From here we make our way down the other side of this mountain and on to Nagasaki.
Overnight in Nagasaki. Washington Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Nagasaki
Blessed with a temperate climate, a superb setting, and a history unlike that of any other prefecture in Japan, Nagasaki easily ranks as one of Japan's most rewarding and exotic destinations. Much of the prefecture's considerable charm can be traced to the unique role which the region played in Japanese history. From 1639 to 1859, while the rest of the country was secluded from foreign contact by governmental decree, the port of Nagasaki alone was allowed to conduct trade with Europe and the Asian mainland. This free-port status and the prolonged exposure to foreign cultures which it brought resulted in the creation of a sophisticated and liberal climate which no other part of Japan could hope to emulate.
Nagasaki's attractions are as varied as they are plentiful: feudal castles, samurai houses, Meiji-era Western villas, smoking volcanoes, mineral-rich hot-spring baths, architecturally pleasing resorts, rugged islands, beautiful beaches, and a hospitable and friendly people are just a few of the rewards awaiting the traveller to this diverse and dynamic prefecture.
This morning we make a trip to Glover Garden, named after Thomas Glover. This is a collection of European style houses which have been collected in to this park which cascades down the side of a hill. In addition to the houses which you can go through is the Museum of Traditional Performing Arts which contains beautifully decorated floats from the Kunchi Festivals.
This afternoon is free for you to enjoy this wonderful city. Nagasaki has an interesting Chinese Confucian Temple that you may like to visit on your own, as well as a vibrant Chinatown.
Overnight in Nagasaki. Breakfast and dinner.
Nagasaki - Saga Prefecture - Fukuoka
Today we visit Saga Prefecture, Japanís most important area fro the production of traditional porcelain and pottery. Many of the kilns were established by potters who were taken to Japan from Korea after the war between Japan and Korea in the 1590s.
Arita ware originated in the beginning of the 17th century when layers of kaolin, the main component of porcelain, was discovered and the first porcelain kiln was built in present day Arita town. Arita is also called Imari ware because the products of the Arita Kiln were mainly shipped from the nearby port of Imari. Arita porcelains of the early days were typically made in the Chinese style of the period, with deep blue patterns on a white background, called ìsometsuke.î In the 1640s, a new style called ìaka-e,î characterised by bright colours and bold patterns principally in red, was invented. These two styles, sometsuke and aka-e, dominated Arita-Imari ware. These beautiful pieces of white earthenware from the Orient won tremendous acclaim in Europe and influenced the European porcelain industry.
Our first stop will be to the hidden village of Imari, then on to Arita. Karatsu will be our last stop before we arrive in Fukuoka.
Overnight in Fukuoka. City Washington Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Fukuoka
Fukuoka is a city blessed with a beautiful climate and a seaside location. Since ancient times the city has flourished as a cross-roads of international exchange.
It is said that the earliest Japanese state mentioned in historical records, Nakoku, was located in the area where the city is now located. Foreign culture first entered Japan through Fukuoka. The Gold Seal discovered across the bay from Fukuoka City on Shikanoshima Island symbolises the long history of the area. This seal, inscribed ìKing of the State of Na of Wa or Japan and Vassal of the Han Dynasty,î dates back to AD 57.
Today we embark on our city tour of Fukuoka that includes the Kanzeonji Temple, and the Dazaifu Temmangu Square.
Overnight in Fukuoka. Canal City Washington Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Departure
Departure from Fukuoka.
Breakfast.
