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JOIN OUR TOUR SUMMER AUGUST 1-11 2009
 .standard.jpg) The Japanese built their national and cultural heritage on a chain of volcanic islands. The transition from a closed society to one that opened to the outside world had a profound effect on Japan. Even today, when Japan is super-modern and technological, it retains a stark conservativeness and guards its unique tradition very closely. Our tour provides a wonderful opportunity to visit this amazing country where the ancient and the innovative are wonderfully interwoven; contemporary and traditional architecture embrace one another; amazing scenery and bustling cities; and polite, welcoming people everywhere.
Stay at First Class Hotels, Travel in comfortable Coach buses, Experienced guides, Enjoy delicious Glatt Kosher Meals.
Depatures from any destinations can be made to accomodate your location.
Travel Itinerary:
Day 1 - Saturday Night
This evening we fly out via an intermediate stop to Tokyo, capital of Japan since 1868. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 2 - Sunday, Tokyo
In the evening we land at Narita Airport near Tokyo. After orientation at the airport we depart for Tokyo for an initial impression of the special city via a panoramic tour on the way to our hotel. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 3-Monday Tokyo, Nikko
After Shacharit and breakfast, we depart for a full day tour to Nikko National Park (about 140km north of Tokyo): a mountainous nature reserve, among the most beautiful in the world. The town of Nikko has two parts. The lower part is most famous for the Toshogu, “Light of the Sun”, the most lavishly decorated example of Japanese 17th Century art and architecture, which includes the shrine complex and mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, who united Japan in the 17th Century. We’ll take the Irohazaka zigzag driveway up the mountains to upper Nikko on the banks of Lake Chuzenji. After viewing the beautiful lake and the magnificent Kegon Falls nearby, we return to Tokyo. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 4-Tuesday Tokyo,
An unusual experience awaits us this morning. Early in the morning, about 5:30 a.m., we’ll visit the world’s most famous fish market, the Tzukiji Market. It’s the largest fish ‘bourse’ in the world where the catch is auctioned every day to the highest bidder. You can find all kinds of fish here from the tiniest to the largest tuna you may have ever seen, weighing in a hundreds of kilograms. We’ll return to the hotel for Shacharit and breakfast, after which we depart for Asakusa temple with its impressive buildings, and its lively pedestrian mall. Afterwards, depending on traffic in the city we’ll visit some of Tokyo’s numerous other sites. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 5-Wednesday Tokyo- Hakone
After Shacharit and breakfast, we leave fascinating Tokyo and head out to explore nature. We drive out to the nature reserve of Fuji-Hakone. We’ll visit the renowned open air museum, located within the crater of an ancient volcano; a breathtaking display inside this volcanic nature reserve. We’ll view Lake Ashi and (weather permitting) the magnificent splendor of Mount Fuji, sacred to the Shinto religion. Hakone is known for its volcanic activity and legacy of hot springs and steam vents. We’ll have an opportunity to enjoy the hot springs (onsen). * Prepare a small overnight bag for the trip to Hakone as our suitcases will be transported from Tokyo directly to our hotel in Hiroshima. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 6, Thursday Hakone-Hiroshima-Miyajima
After Shacharit and breakfast, we make our way to the train station and catch the Bullet Train (Shinkansen) to Hiroshima. We'll transfer by ferry to the island of Miyajima, southeast of Hiroshima. The island of Miyajima, or in its full name, Itsukushima, which is located in the village of Miyajima, is a popular location where the mountains, the sea and the vermillion shrines create a beautiful and harmonious vision. The entire island is a historical site and is considered one of the three most beautiful in all of Japan. The origins of Miyajima are documented in the year 593 when the Empress Suyaku was crowned, and the shrine was built in honor of the event. The island and the mountain on it were considered a sacred site. After our busy day, we’ll return to our Hotel in Hiroshima. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day7-Friday Hiroshima-Kobe
Today we’ll take a guided tour of the city that was A-Bombed at the end of World War II. Hiroshima, which in 1945 was the 6th largest city in Japan, was of strategic military importance. The headquarters of the Second Army, which was charged with protecting all of southern Japan, was located here. However, Allied bombing during World War II was not focused there. The city was built mainly of wood, which made it very vulnerable to fire. We will visit the Peace Museum and Memorial. After the emotional visit to these sites, we’ll board the bullet train to Kobe, where we'll spend Shabbat. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 8-Shabbat Kobe
After Shabbat services and lunch, we'll take a walking tour of the area. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 9-Sunday Kobe-Kyoto,
This morning we'll travel to Kyoto – Capital city of Imperial Japan for more than 1100 years. Called “Jerusalem of Japan” Kyoto is home to many of the most important Buddhist and Shinto shrines, such as the Imperial Palace where Japanese emperors used to be crowned. Due to its sanctity, the city was unharmed during World War II. Many Japanese and foreigners visit the ancient sites of the city. We will visit the gilded Kinkaku-ji temple and marvel at its reflection in the surrounding lake. From there we’ll make our way to the beautiful stone garden which surrounds the Ryoan-ji temple. After visiting the temples, we’ll tour Kyoto’s famous Nishiki market, and in the evening we will be hosted at “Beit Shalom” – a community of Japanese supporters of Israel. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 10-Monday Kyoto,
Today we continue our tour of this fascinating city. We'll visit the famous Kiyomizu Temple, a Unesco World Heritage Site and continue through teh alleyways of Ninenzaka and Sanenzaka. After that we'll continue along the Philosopher's Path to a tea house to witness a traditonal Japanese Tea Ceremony. The jewel in the crown of our visit today will be a stop in the Gion district of Kyoto, where the Geisha homes are to be found. In the evening there may be an opportunity to attend a Kabuki show. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 11, Tuesday Kyoto - Tel Aviv
This morning we'll bid farewell to Kyoto and make our way to Kansai airport for out flight home to Tel Aviv. Sayonara!
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