Itinerary

Fly across the North Pacific and the International Dateline. **
 * Tentative [[file:Japan Itinerary.doc]]

code DAY 1 Jul 9 Friday depart USA

DAY 2 Jul 10 Saturday arrive TOKYO (D) Arrive at approximately 3PM any formalities. Be met & transfer the Park Hotel. Evening activity to Ginza or other active area returning to hotel by approximately 9PM.

DAY 3 Jul 11 Sunday TOKYO (B. L) Morning tour to the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno. Afternoon or Evening; performance of kabuki.

DAY 4 Jul 12 Monday TOKYO (B, L) Sightseeing in Tokyo to include Yasukuni Shrine and probably Asakusa Shrine. Final details to be determined.

DAY 5 Jul 13 Tuesday TOKYO/NARA (B, L, D) Morning train to Kyoto. Be met on arrival by coach to go to Nara. Drive via Uji, visiting Byodo-in and Manpuku-ji on the way. Stay at Ryokan Nanto Hotel (or similar) in traditional ryokan style rooms. Japanese style supper at Ryokan Nanto . DAY 6 Jul 14 Wednesday NARA (B, L, D) Walking tour of Nara including Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji Museum, Sangatsu- do (Lunch across from Sangatsu-do); Afternoon to Nigatsud0 & Kasuga Shrine. Japanese style supper at Ryokan Nanto.

DAY 7 Jul 15 Thursday NARA/KYOTO (B, L, D) Depart for Kyoto after breakfast. Enroute to Kyoto, visit Horyu-ji; including East & West precincts; Horyu-ji Museum and Chugu-ji (specifically to see Miroku bosatsu statue from Asuka period). Also visit Toshodai-ji and Yakushi-ji arriving at Kyoto Kokusai Hotel to have dinner.

DAY 8 Jul 16 Friday KYOTO (B, L) Sightseeing to Ginkakuji and Daitokuji (Daisenjin & Koto-in). Vegetarian lunch in Daitoku-ji. See Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji in the afternoon. A highlight of the Matsuri Festival is tonight which should combine with the evening Gion Corner performance.

DAY 9 Jul 17 Saturday KYOTO (B, L) Gion Matsuri Festival parade is today. Reserved seats will be booked for the group. Most of the balance of the day free with Maiko or Geisha dance on stage tonight at the hotel. If a performance is not possible, visit to Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine in the afternoon.

DAY 10 Jul 18 Sunday HIROSHIMA (B. L) Early departure by Shinkansen train from Kyoto Station to Hiroshima. Visit the Atomic Bomb Museum in the morning. After lunch take the train to Himeji to visit Himeji Castle. After visiting the castle return to the hotel in Kyoto.

DAY 11 Jul 19 Monday KYOTO (or depart JAPAN ) (B) China-Japan & Japan only participants transfer to Kansai Airport for departure flight to be advised. 4 participants doing Japan-Vietnam have a free day in Kyoto.

DAY 12 Jul 20 Monday KYOTO/HONG KONG (B) 4 participants doing Japan-Vietnam have a free day in Kyoto until a flight at 6:10PM from Osaka to Hong Kong. At Kansai Airport join up with 6 other participants also doing Japan-Vietnam. On arrival in Hong Kong, transfer to the BP International Hotel. In Hong Kong 4 more participants will arrive from Tokyo and join the groups arriving from Osaka.

DAY 13 Jul 21 Wednesday HONG KONG/HANOI (B)

All 14 NCTA teachers doing Japan-Vietnam have a free day in Hong Kong until a flight at 10:05PM arriving in Hanoi at 11:05PM. After obtaining the Vietnam visa on arrival, be met, join with the group arriving from the States for a transfer to the Flower Garden Hotel. code