Art Journeys in Shikoku
This tour is sure to appeal to your sense of nostalgia. Streets lined by samurai estates and seaside vistas of ancient pines offer timeless beauty, while the chatter of friendly school children and the sound of a hillside temple bell seem to awaken lost memories. You may wonder if you’ve been here before; or, was it just a favorite scene in an Ozu film?
April is cherry blossom season – one of the most beautiful seasons in Japan. We will visit places known for their spectacular cherry blossoms, such as Makino Botanical Garden, Chikurin-ji temple, Naoshima Island, Ritsurin Park, Kotohira Shrine, and Miyajima Island. It is also a season for Buddhist pilgrims. Everywhere we go, we will meet O-henro - pilgrims walking with a stick scribed with Buddhism sutra, clad in white kimono and a bamboo cone hat.
Besides visiting popular ‘must-see’ scenic places, this tour will also take you to venues little known to foreign travelers. We will visit small towns and meet with local people. In Kinashi, which produces 80% of Japan’s pine Bonsai, we will be guests at a Bonsai nursery owner’s home. In the charming castle town of Aki in Kochi, we are invited for tea at a local’s home. We will also visit with a gracious family in the small seaside town of Takehara. Our hosts will prepare a fine meal in their gallery/restaurant, housed in one of the town’s many centuries-old merchants’ establishments.
In this tour, we will travel on local trains, buses and boats. (Our baggage will be handled by carrier service.) Mingling with local people and observing their everyday life first hand, we will enjoy the ‘real’ Japan.
Tour Date: April 6 – 19, 2010 (The tour starts at Narita Airport and ends in Hiroshima city.)
Group Size: 10 – 12 people
Price: $3,750 per person.
Included: accommodations based on double occupancy, 19 meals (11 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners), Surface transportation in Japan, Sight-seeing tours by bi-lingual escort guide, Admission to attractions.
Not Included: International and domestic airfare, Excess baggage fees, Optional trips, Travel insurance, Items of a personal nature such as laundry, phone calls, beverages, etc., Expenses incurred due to unforeseeable circumstances such as weather, accident, strikes, schedule changes of transportation, etc.
Single Occupancy Supplement: Add $150.
Shikoku Tour Flights Information
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 (Tue, April 7)
Arrive in Tokyo (Narita) Airport
Participants flying on our designated airlines flight will be greeted by tour representative and transferred to a hotel in Narita Airport. (If you plan to take other flights or arrive on other dates, let us know; we will inform you of times and places to join the group.)
Day 2 (Wed, Apr. 8)
Narita - Haneda Airport –Kochi Airport – Kochi city
In the morning, we will take the hotel shuttle bus to Narita Airport, then the airport bus from Narita to Haneda Airport. We will arrive in Kochi in the early afternoon. Kochi Castle is within walking distance of our hotel. We will have a leisurely walking tour of the castle with a local volunteer guide and learn about the history of Kochi.
(B)(D)
Day 3 (Thu. Apr. 9) Kochi
We will visit Makino Botanical Garden and Museum, known for its large collections of native plants of Shikoku and eco-friendly architectural design. The great pilgrimage temple Chikurin-ji is adjacent to the Garden. We’ll have a picnic in the garden; bring your own lunch and drink.
(B)
Day 4 (Fri. Apr. 10) Kochi – Aki – Kochi
We will take the train to Aki. Aki, a castle town that flourished in the 16th century, is today a small town, which still preserves its old Samurai estates. We will be escorted by a volunteer guide and served tea at a local’s home.
(L)
Day 5 (Sat. Apr. 11) Kochi – Takamatsu
We will take the train to Takamatsu. After hotel check-in, we will visit the famed Ritsurin Gardens in the center of town. Designed 200 years ago for the Matsudaira rulers, the estate encompasses 135 acres, six ponds and thirteen pine-clad hills. Within the grounds there is also a folkcraft museum, a treasure trove of local pottery, furniture and textiles.
(D)
Day 6 (Sun, Apr. 12) Takamatsu - Kinashi - Takamatsu
On this day, we'll visit the village of Kinashi , which produces 80% of Japan 's pine Bonsai (miniature trees). We'll walk through fields of bonsai, tour several nurseries, and appreciate bonsai masterworks that have been lovingly tended for centuries. We will be guests at a Bonsai nursery owner’s home.
(B)
Day 7 (Mon, Apr. 13) Takamatsu – Kotohira – Takamatsu
We will take the train to Kotohira. The town is known for the famous shrine of Konpira, the patron deity of seafarers, situated on the top of a hill with 1,368 step stone stairs. In town is Japan's oldest extant theater, Kanamaru-za, where Kabuki drama is performed this month. (We hope to obtain tickets for our participants.) We will arrive at our hotel in Takamatsu in the evening.
(B)(L)
Day 8 (Tue, Apr. 14) Takamatsu - Mure - Takamtatsu
In the morning we'll visit the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum. Mure is a thriving center of stone carvers. The great 20th century sculptor Isamu Noguchi made his home and studio here, and these are now a museum. The centuries-old farmhouse and landscaped grounds display his versatile works in stone, wood, and paper. We will return to Takamatsu in the early afternoon. Or, as optional trip, you may choose to stop in at Shikoku-mura Park. The Shikoku-mura is an extensive outdoor museum, in which historic structures from all over Shikoku are preserved and open to view.
(B)(L)
Day 9 (Wed. Apr. 15) Takamatsu – Naoshima - Takamatsu
A 45 minute ferry ride will take us to the small island of Naoshima (pop. 3,500). Part of this island has been transformed into a unique subterranean museum by the celebrated architect, Tadao Ando. Here we’ll enjoy the “House Project”, which showcases contemporary arts in traditional domestic architecture. We will also visit the Benesse Art Museum and Chichu Museum, and enjoy an array of kinetic sculptures placed along a winding seaside path.
(B)
Day 10 (Thu. Apr. 16) Takamatsu – Okayama – Hiroshima
We will take the train to Hiroshima via Okayama. In Hiroshima, we will visit Peace Memorial Museum and Park.
(B)
Day 11 (Fri. Apr. 17) Hiroshima – Hiro – Takeharu – Hiro – Hiroshima
We will take the train to Takehara, a charming old town which once prospered from salt production. In the old town district, we’ll visit a wealthy merchant’s home and award-winning Sake brewery, and browse craft shops for fine articles of bamboo and recycled kimono textiles. Lunch will be served at a gallery/restaurant housed in centuries-old domestic architecture.
(B)(L)
Day 12 (Sat, Apr. 18) Hiroshima – Miyajima
We will take a 45 minutes boat ride from the Peace Memorial Park to Miyajima Island. We will explore the famed Itsukushima Shrine, Momiji-dani Park and chaming back alleys. You can enjoy a ropeway to Mt. Shami for a breath-taking view of the Inland Sea and hike the hills. We will stay in a traditional Japanese inn.
(B)(D)
Day 13 (Sun. Apr. 19) Miyajima – Hiroshima
This is a free day. We’ll be back to Hiroshima in the afternoon.
(B)(D)
Day 14 (Mon, Apr. 20) Hiroshima
The tour disbands in Hiroshima city this morning. Participants taking our designated flight will take the airport bus to Hiroshima Airport.
(B)
