Japan Trip 2018
Seeking Sacred Space, Take Two!
Dates: October 10 - 22, 2018
Cost: estimated $2200 - 2900 * (without airfare) see note below
Experience the less traveled paths in Japan with a community of friends. Walk down centuries-old streets, hike mountain paths, and seek the spirit of Japan. Explore the sacred places of Japan and within yourself. Stay in traditional Japanese hotels (ryokan or minshuku) in Takayama and in small towns in the mountains. Want to stay a few more days? Extend your stay in Kyoto to visit world heritage sites, see the contemporary side of Japan, or take a side trip to Hiroshima or Nara to visit the 1300 year old Buddhist temple with the largest cast Buddha in the world.
duration: 12 total with travel days
* cost factors: airfare, hotels, land travel to and from airport, some entry fees and size of group. Although public transportation is fast and easy in Japan, chartering a bus (if there is a group) can add great convenience as well as time and cost savings. Travelers will be responsible for some meals (all breakfasts and five dinners will be provided), local land travel in Kyoto, passports and other personal travel expenses. Travel insurance is highly recommended, especially when planning a trip so far in advance. Pricing is based on group size of ten and the current exchange rate. The final cost can be determined once the size of the group is formed.
activities: walking, hiking, yoga (one class in Kyoto), shopping, exploration of cultural and natural sites
optimal group size: 9-12 minimum to take advantage of group rates and splitting the cost of a chartered bus
12 day (2 days of travel) = 10/11 days of activities in Japan
Day1- October 10th Kansai Airport Spa Hotel Garden Palace Map and shuttle schedule.
Takayama
3 nights Kaminaka Ryokan
Kiso Road (Kiso Road Wiki) Kiso Road Video Kiso Road Prep
1 night Magome (moving from the south to north) send luggage ahead from Magome to Tsumago Walk from Magome to Tsumago
2 nights Hanaya Ryokan - optional walk 45mins to Noriji, explore town and walk back (this saves schlepping luggage and easier to stay in same place two nights)
Kyoto Matsubaya Ryokan
5 nights
½ day travel to airport
Tentative Itinerary - shouldn't be any major changes
Transportation Activities Lodgings and Meals
Considerations :
Time of year-
Fall colors are brilliant in the mountains of Japan. The Kiso Road hikes will take us to several small towns through the mountains. I have only read about this and will greatly rely on my friend and travel agent in Takayama who arranges our charter bus. This part of the trip will be new for me as well as you. We'll prepare for an adventure.
Cost
Ten or more qualify for group fares on airlines and give the option of putting deposit down to reserve seats and pay 60 days before travel, a group of ten would also make travel by charter bus easier and affordable, but... the last trip travelers preferred to make their own airline reservations to take advantage of using air miles and airline preferences. Making group airline tickets keeps the group together if anything is delayed. The group will decide how flights will be handled.
Lodging may average about $90- $150 a night (per person for double occupancy). In Japan rooms are usually rented by the person, not by the room, and most ryokans do not have rooms for one person (if they do they are very limited). The small ryokans also do not always have many rooms (Kaminaka Ryokan in Takayama has a total of 14). Once we see the number of travelers and their preferences we can see what our options will be.
Ryokans provide breakfasts. Takayama, Kaminaka Ryokan and other ryokans have excellent traditional style Japanese breakfast and high quality food and many provide dinner. Kyoto Matusbaya Ryokan has a simple scrambled eggs, juice and tea or coffee for 700 yen per person.
Yoga Studios Kyoto Look at Studio Bindu exploring studios
Overnight temple stay - possible option one night Takayama
Travel Time-from ryokan or station
Indicate cost of train ticket
5 minute train ride and 5 minute walk
Hours/Days of Operation
Always Open
6am - 6pm
Entry fees
No fees to enter
300 adults
200 students
Fushimi Inari Shrine is located just outside JR Inari Station, the second station from Kyoto Station along the JR Nara Line (5 minutes, 140 yen one way from Kyoto Station, not served by rapid trains). The shrine can also be reached in a short walk from Fushimi Inari Station along the Keihan Main Line.
1 hour? once at the site
takes a good 45 minutes to an hour to get there
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/japan/kyoto-kiyomizudera
http://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/lang/01.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3959.html
historic district: old shops, teahouses, and shrines
10-15 minute walk from kiyomizu-gojo station, more expensive to take the green line to Higashiyama exit (look at map)
We have to walk along this to get to Kiyomizu- VERY Fun and long, hot, uphill walk!
Suggest walk first to Kiyomizu, early in the day and take time descending and shopping.PV
Takayama
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5903.html (old town)
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5902.html (Jinya) ten minute walk from Takayama station
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5907.html (Jinya market)
shops 8 am to 5 pm.
jinya market: 6 am to noon
Jinya government: 8:40 am to 5 pm
old town: free
jinya: 420 yen
No Entry fee
Varies by store, typically 9:00 to 18:00
Closed Wed. or Sunday
Nara
optional day trip
8:00 to 16:30 (November to February)
8:00 to 17:00 (March)
7:30 to 17:30 (April to September)
7:30 to 17:00 (October
500 yen
- Tōdai-ji
- Temple in Nara, Japan
- Directions
- Tōdai-ji, is a Buddhist temple complex, that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan. Wikipedia
- Address: 406-1 Zoshicho, Nara, Nara Prefecture 630-8211, Japan
- Construction started: 728 AD
- Opened: 752 AD
- Architectural style: Japanese Buddhist architecture
optional day trip
Kurama's main attraction, Kurama-dera, is a Buddhist temple located along the steep wooded mountainside above the town. It takes about 30-45 minutes to climb up to the temple's main buildings from the town below. A cablecar (100 yen one way) leads about halfway up the mountain.