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Home , Edo Castle, Futon, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Ryokan (inn), Washi

Two exclusive U-M Alumni Travel departures – September 20-October 2, 2021 & October 13-25, 2021 Insider’s 13 days for $6,684 total price from Detroit ($6,295 air & land inclusive plus $389 airline taxes and fees) It’s a land of delicate art and bustling commerce, of rich traditions and dizzying modernity; a jumble of sights, sounds, and tastes that for visitors are truly foreign – and truly fascinating. This well-crafted tour features the highlights of and , engages us in local life, and takes us off the beaten path to the lovely historic of Takayama and .

Sea of Japan Kanazawa JAPAN

Takayama Tokyo Kyoto

Osaka

Destination Motorcoach Train Pacific Ocean Extension (train) Entry/Departure A UNESCO site and “Special Place of Scenic Beauty,” beloved has drawn visitors for centuries.

Avg. High (°F) Sep Oct Nov Day 1: Depart U.S. for Tokyo, Japan Last, we visit the , housing Tokyo 78 70 60 extensive collection of art and antiquities from Kyoto 82 74 62 Day 2: Arrive Tokyo Upon arrival in Japan’s financial, Japan and other Asian countries. This afternoon is commercial, and political capital, we transfer to our free for independent exploration; lunch and dinner are hotel. As guests’ arrival times may vary, we have no on our own in this with endless dining options. B scheduled activities or meals planned. Your Small Group Tour Highlights Day 5: Tokyo/Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park/Hakone Day 3: Tokyo After a briefing about the journey ahead, Japan’s pastoral side is on tap as we leave Tokyo for Tokyo touring, including Imperial Palace District and we set out to discover a small part of this amazing city Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Here sits imposing Shrine • Stunning scenery of Mt. Fuji and Fuji-Hakone-Izu that covers a staggering 840 miles. Our sightseeing Mt. Fuji, a dormant volcano (it last erupted in 1707) National Park • Overnight stay in traditional • features the , a peaceful enclave of with a perfectly symmetrical cone that rises to 12,388 Takayama’s ancient streets and houses • Hands-on cooking temples and gardens. We also visit the gallery of pre- feet. We learn about environmental and conserva- class • Culturally rich Kanazawa • Tour of Kyoto, Japan’s eminent calligrapher Koshun Masunaga, where we tion efforts on the mountain at the Mt. Fuji World cultural capital • Traditional tea ceremony learn about this ancient art of artistic writing and Heritage Center then enjoy a relaxing cruise on Ashi browse the collection. Our tour ends in Ginza, Tokyo’s Lake, with Mt. Fuji in the background. Leaving Day Itinerary Hotel Rating famed shopping, dining, and entertainment district, the park, we travel to the town of Hakone, where we 1 Depart U.S. for Tokyo where we can stay to explore as we wish or return spend the night at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn 2-4 Tokyo Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo Deluxe to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure. Tonight, we where we take off our shoes upon entering, enjoy a 5 Hakone Hakone Setsugetsuka Not rated gather for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. B,D Japanese-style Kaiseki dinner, and on a . B,D (ryokan) 6-7 Takayama Hida Hotel Plaza First Class Day 4: Tokyo Our tour of Tokyo continues this morn- Day 6: Hakone/Takayama Today we travel first by 8-9 Kanazawa Hotel Nikko First Class Kanazawa ing at the Imperial Palace, surrounded by and bullet train then by Wide View Hida express train ramparts and home of the Imperial Family. Here we to lovely Takayama in the , considered 10-12 Kyoto The Thousand First Class Kyoto visit the East Gardens, part of the innermost circle of one of the country’s most attractive towns with its 16th- 13 Depart Kyoto for U.S. defense of the historic that once stood here. century castle and old-style buildings. Our explorations Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel We continue on to the Buddhist Asakusa Kannon, center on three narrow streets in the San-machi-suji industry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too Tokyo’s oldest temple (c. 645 ce), and the adjacent district where, in feudal times, merchants lived amidst small, too new, or too remote to be listed. Nakamise shopping arcade, dating to the 17th century. the authentically preserved small inns, , and

30 Visit us at alumni.umich.edu/travel B – Breakfast; L – Lunch; D – Dinner Tour limited to 24 Alumni Association members and friends breweries. This afternoon we attend a traditional Traveler’s heart. Never here, an historic ritual of form, settled long in one place.” grace, and spirituality. B,D – Basho Day 7: Takayama We pay an early visit to the river- side Miyagawa Morning Market, a blaze of dazzling the only remaining section of the town’s original castle; colors and foodstuffs. Here we meet a local chef to Hakukokan, a museum celebrating the art and craft of gather ingredients for the lunch we will prepare to- gold leaf technology; and the Higashi Chayagai gether at a nearby site. After enjoying the fruits of and area. Last, we visit the Kutani Kosen Kiln, our labors, we embark on a walking tour, visiting where artists fashion the prized, highly decorated pot- Takayama Jinya, an historic government house; the tery. We dine tonight at a local Japanese restaurant. B,D local sake brewery; and Takayama’s , whose well-preserved buildings and homes date to the Edo Day 10: Kanazawa/Kyoto We depart this morning Period (1600–1868). B,L by train for Kyoto, formerly Japan’s Imperial Capital and now the country’s cultural and artistic center, with We Day 8: Takayama/Shirakawago/Kanazawa more than 1,600 temples, hundreds of shrines, artful leave Takayama this morning for the UNESCO World gardens, and historic architecture. Upon arrival, we Heritage site of Shirakawago Gassho-zukuri Village. visit Kinkaku-ji, the beloved lakeside Temple of the Comprising buildings relocated­ from authentic villages Golden Pavilion set on pillars suspended over the water. nearby that were razed for a dam, the village is also Next: Ryoanji, a Buddhist temple whose acclaimed a vibrant community whose residents work together dry garden epitomizes the simplicity of Zen meditation. to preserve the unique traditional architecture here We reach our hotel late this afternoon and dine there known as Gassho style. Then we visit Gokayama tonight. B,D Village to see how traditional Japanese is made. Late this Day 11: Kyoto More of Kyoto is on tap today, begin- afternoon we reach ning with a visit to the otherworldly the castle town of Bamboo Grove; the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Kanazawa, an allur- Crafts (Fureaikan), showcasing all of Kyoto’s 74 ing coastal city that We visit Kyoto’s Temple of the Golden Pavilion on Day 10. different métiers in one place; and Nijo-jo Castle (ca. survived the ravages 1603), the extravagant residence and fortifications of of World War II. B,L the shoguns who ruled Japan for more than 250 years. Tours Depart: September 20, 2021 Then the remainder of the day is free for independent Day 9: Kanazawa & October 13, 2021 exploration in this traditional yet modern city. B Prices include international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees Today’s tour of this culturally rich city Los Angeles $6,184 Day 12: Kyoto We continue our encounter with Kyoto features renowned Portland (OR), San Francisco, today, first at the important Fushimi , with $6,484 Kenrokuen Garden, Seattle its trails straddled by red gates; Sanjyusangendo a national landmark Hall (ca. 1266), an important Buddhist temple hous- , Chicago, whose origins date ing 1,000 statues of the Thousand-Armed Kannon Cleveland, Dallas, to 1676. We also deity; and Nishiki Market, “Kyoto’s Kitchen” of Denver, Detroit, Houston, $6,684 see Ishikawa Gate, in traditional dress restaurants, stores, and stalls selling everything food- Minneapolis, , related. Then this afternoon is at leisure; tonight Philadelphia, Phoenix Post-Tour Extension we toast our Japan adventure at a farewell dinner Atlanta, Baltimore, at a local restaurant. B,D Charlotte, Cincinnati, $6,784 October 2-4, 2021 & October 25-27, 2021 Miami, Orlando, Hiroshima: City of Peace Day 13: Depart Kyoto for U.S. This morning we Tampa, Washington, DC travel by motorcoach to , where we board our 3 days/2 nights for $1,095 total price Land Only (transfers not included) $5,295 return flight to the . B Single Supplement: $155 Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person Discover the city reborn from the atomic based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, des­truction of World War II, now a modern and Your Tour Price Includes surcharges, and fees of $389, which are subject to change cosmopolitan urban center whose residents until final payment is made. • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities warmly welcome American visitors. Single travelers please add $1,395. Your $500 deposit is • 11 nights’ accommodations: 10 nights in Deluxe and First fully refundable up to 95 days before departure. All 2021 Class hotels; 1 night in traditional Japanese ryokan tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and Your Tour Price Includes • 19 meals: 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 6 dinners fees) are guaranteed. • Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Rail transportation Kyoto/Hiroshima; Hiroshima/Osaka • Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director Business Class upgrade on round-trip Trans-Pacific flight: • 2 nights’ accommodations at Hotel Granvia Hiroshima (First Class) • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip $4,695 per person in addition to the above costs (upgrade • 3 meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch • Rail transportation as described is subject to availability and pricing is subject to change). • Extensive included sightseeing: excursion to Miyajima Island and • Luggage handling for one per person Please note: This trip involves full days of sightseeing Daisho-in Temple, Hiroshima touring by local “Hiroden” train, • Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and and significant amounts of walking on stairs and uneven visit to Peace Memorial Park and Museum, Atomic Bomb Dome hotel porters, and all drivers • Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director surfaces. You should be in good physical condition to • Gratuities for dining room servers, hotel porters, and all drivers • $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next ­U-M/Odysseys enjoy the tour to its fullest. Unlimited tour ($200 after 3 tours; $300 after 10 tours)

For questions, call the Alumni Travel team at 855-764-0064 31