Sakura Cherry Blossoms March 23 - April 6, 2016 15 Days • 26 Meals Escorted by Barbara Sykes

Photo credit Jon Gurr Japan, long the economic powerhouse of Asia, is for many outsiders a complete mystery. Seen as the dominant force in electronics, automobiles and heavy industry, we know relatively little of its history, culture, architecture and arts. Images of ancient temples and the Buddha are often overshadowed. Of course, Japan is much more; it is alpine villages tucked away in mountain regions that appear untouched by the modern world; it is magnificent alpine and pastoral scenery and it is relics of imperial and feudal past, retained for all to see. Join us next spring as we explore this land during sakura (the season of the cherry blossoms when the fruit trees burst forth in glorious colour). Spring comes early in Japan and typically the millions of trees are bursting with new life during this two week period (of course this all depends on nature). We shall also discover the many worlds of Japan from

bustling cities like and Kyoto to mountain retreats like Hakone, Takayama and Suwa. Discover the historic TOUR HIGHLIGHTS and religious relics of Kyoto, Japan’s Imperial capital for  Komagatake Ropeway with scenic views of Hakone almost 1,000 years, as well as the temples of Nara. Enjoy and surrounding area the timeless traditions of a ryokan (country inn) and  Step into the past at Shirakawago, a World Heritage experience the delights of a Japanese garden. Site Our journey will be by private coach and also by rail, a  Experience Japan during the lovely Sakura Season truly wonderful way in which to explore this land. Please when the Cherry Blossoms are in full bloom read on but don't delay - our group size will be strictly  Travel through the mountainous interior of Japan where limited. Send in your enrollment today. life seems unchanged from centuries past  Enjoy a relaxing Japanese night in a traditional Ryokan  Visit one of Japan’s largest and most famous gardens: Kenroku-en Garden (The Garden of Six Qualities)  Enjoy a tea ceremony at Matsuri-no-Mori Museum  Visit Hiroshima and nearby Miyajima Island  Visit Himeji Castle, Kyoto’s Nijo Castle and Nara plus other UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites  Enjoy Japan’s extensive and very efficient rail system, including the bullet trains  Visit the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji Temple) in Kyoto

Sushi - ©JTA/ ©JNTO

Blossoms in Tokyo - Credit Akira Tsushima

TOUR ESCORTS INCLUSIVE FEATURES

 Return economy class airfare with Air Canada Until she retired in 2004, the Rev Barbara Sykes served as  First class hotels as indicated or similar, including three Rector of St Patrick's Anglican nights in central Tokyo, 1 night in Suwa in a traditional Church in Willowdale. Earlier ryokan (Japanese Country Inn), 2 nights in historic she also served at St Paul's Takayama, 1 night by the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa, 2 Bloor Street in Toronto and nights in Hiroshima and 4 nights in historic Kyoto with a St Thomas Becket in day trip to Nara Mississauga. Before ordination,  26 meals included as noted in the itinerary (B - 13 Barbara was a teacher and, Breakfasts, L - 6 Lunches, D - 7 Dinners) featuring a more recently has earned her number of traditional Japanese dishes Masters degrees in Divinity and  Transfers and intercity transportation by private coach Theology as well as her and rail service, as indicated Doctorate in Ministry. With her husband Ralph, Barbara has  Services of your tour escort plus our professional travelled extensively and has Japanese tour guide and local guides led numerous tours and cruises on our behalf to many  All taxes including airport departure taxes parts of the world including the Middle East, Afrca,

 Airport transfers in Canada or equivalent value Europe, South America and the Pacific region. March 23, Wednesday Depart Canada / Tokyo March 29, Tuesday Takayama Tour members from across Canada gather in Toronto (for This morning will be spent on a comprehensive walking the non stop Air Canada flight to Haneda) or Vancouver for tour exploring this delightful small city. Visits include the the overnight direct Air Canada flight to Narita. Miyagawa Morning Market, Kamisanomachi Street, Kusakabe Folkcraft Museum, formerly the residence of the March 24, Thursday Arrive Tokyo Kusakabe family, which has been designated an important Arriving in Tokyo this afternoon, we will be transferred to cultural property; Takayama Jinya, the regional our hotel, located in the centre of Tokyo. After settling in we headquarters of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Later we will gather for our welcome briefing and dinner. visit the Matsuri-no-Mori Museum, to learn about the art of Grand Palace Hotel (3 nights) D tea and to experience a traditional Japanese Tea

March 25, Friday Tokyo Ceremony. The museum has a collection of massive yatai or parade floats, created for the annual harvest festival. BD Our full day city exploration will begin with a visit to Tsukiji, the world’s largest fish market, which handles twenty March 30, Wednesday Shirakawago / Kanazawa percent of the global catch. Enjoy a walk through the Ginza Our first stop today will be at the mountain village of district, the most expensive real estate in the world, where Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site noted for its we will have some time to visit the numerous boutiques and unique thatch roofed houses. Visit the centuries old former stores. After lunch of Kushiage (fried meat and vegetables Residence of the Wada Family; the largest thatched roof on bamboo skewers) we ride the metro to the Tokyo home in the city. Later visit Gokayama to observe the Skytree and visit the top observation level for an awe- intricate and involved process of creating traditional inspiring view of the city. (and maybe even Mt Fuji on a Japanese paper (). Hotel Kanazawa (1 night) BD very clear day). Continue by subway to nearby to visit Nakamise-dori, Senso-ji Buddhist Temple and the March 31, Thursday Kanazawa / Hiroshima Asakusa Shrine where we will learn about Buddhist and Today we tour one of Japan’s most famous gardens; Japanese religious practices. BL Kenroku-en (The Garden of Six Qualities). It features magnificent landscaping, trees, lakes and views of the March 26, Saturday Kamakura / Tokyo region and, with some good fortune, will be glowing with Travel by fast train to Kamakura, 13th century capital and the enchanting colours of the cherry blossom. Visit the well home to countless poets and artists. Our walking tour will preserved tea house district of Higashi Chaya before taking bring us through busy streets to Kotoku-in Temple (40 foot the bullet rail services to Hiroshima, an important southern bronze Buddha), Hase-Kannon Temple and Tsurugaoka city. Box lunch will be provided for the train ride. Hachimangu Shrine. Stroll along the colourful Komaci-dori Hotel Granvia Hiroshima (2 nights) BL Street. BL April 1, Friday Hiroshima / Miyajima March 27, Sunday Mt. Fuji / Hakone / Suwa Hiroshima is best known for the event of August 6, 1945 Departing Tokyo we drive south skirting the Japanese alps when the A Bomb decimated the city and area. The Peace before driving up the slopes of Mt Fuji (weather providing to Memorial Museum and Peace Memorial Park are both the Fifth Station). Enjoy a delightful cruise on Lake Ashi sobering testaments to the event and aftermath. Time and take the Komagatake Ropeway for scenic views of permitting we shall visit Shukkei-en Garden, for cherry Hakone and surrounding area. On to Suwa where for this blossoms or a quiet walk with time to reflect. This afternoon one night we step into another world, relaxing in a cotton cross the Inland Sea by ferry to Miyajima Island, felt by yukata (dressing gown), relaxing in the spa, enjoying meals many to be one of the three top scenic experiences in in a Tatami-matted room and sleeping on a colourful Futon. Japan. On the island we will ride the cable car to enjoy the Nunohan Ryokan (1 night) BD magnificent views from the peak and visit the Itsukushima-

jinja Shrine dating from 1168AD. BL March 28, Monday Matsumoto / Takayama Our journey continues via Matsumoto, noted for its majestic April 2, Saturday Hiroshima / Himeji / Kyoto six storey castle, to the mountain village of Takayama. Visit This morning we travel by the Nozomi bullet train to Himeji the Hida Folk Village, a living museum of rural homes and where we will visit Himeji Castle, the 400 year old barns, where we will experience the traditional lifestyles of UNESCO World Heritage Site and national treasure. a bygone era. Continue by coach to historic Kyoto, capital of Japan for Best Western Hotel Takayama (2 nights) BD almost 1,000 years (until 1868). This delightful city conjures up classic images: streets of little wooden houses, the sound of geta (wooden sandals) clicking on the cobblestones, geisha in brightly coloured silk, tea ceremonies, traditional gardens and more. Kyoto Tokyu Hotel (4 nights) BL

April 3, Sunday Kyoto The highlight this morning is the Kinkaku-ji Temple (Gold Pavilion). This three-storey pagoda is covered in gold foil set beside by a reflecting pond and surrounded by gardens. Nearby are the gardens and palace Nijo Castle (UNESCO Site), noted for the great Ninomaru Wing and Audience Hall with its Nightingale Floors. The Heian Shrine, built in 1895 to mark the 1,100th anniversary of Matsumoto Castle - Photo by Jon Gurr Kyoto as a capital. The 79 foot vermilion-hued gate at SPECIAL NOTE: On some journeys and for some this shrine is the biggest in Japan. In nearby Fushimi we overnights our luggage will be unavailable to us. A small visit the Inari with its series of vermillion Torii overnight bag in which you will carry some clothes and gates leading through gardens with cherry trees to the other necessities should be brought for these occasions. forested Mt Inari. Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) is also noted for its flowering trees as is the Philosopher’s Walk which leads us to Nanzenji. If the timing is right, this should be a most enchanting walk with lots of colour to enjoy. BD

April 4, Monday Nara Nara is one of the most sacred centres in all of Japan. Here we will see Kasuga Taisha Shrine, founded in the 8th century to protect the capital, which by tradition, is rebuilt every 20 years. In the temple grounds you will find some 3,000 stone lanterns which are lit twice a year, during festivals. At Todaiji Temple we will visit Daibutsuden Hall, once the largest wooden buildings in the world, enshrining a great bronze sitting image of Buddha. Before returning to our hotel, we will take a stroll at Deer Park. BL

April 5, Tuesday Kyoto The Great Torii on Miyajima Island Enjoy a morning at leisure to explore this wondrous former capital. Take the chance to do some shopping at the huge Tour Cost in Canadian Dollars (per person) complex attached to the Central Station, the city centre or Land Only ...... $6,275 the Kyoto Handicraft Centre. This afternoon we will gather Vancouver...... $7,595 for a walk through the Higashiyama District with its narrow Victoria ...... $7,595 cobblestone alleys, tiny shops and restaurants. We Calgary / Edmonton ...... $7,595 continue through the Gion Geisha District where the Winnipeg / Regina / Saskatoon ...... $7,795 Geisha still live and work before heading to our restaurant Toronto ...... $7,595 for the farewell Shabu-Shabu dinner. BD Montreal / Ottawa ...... $7,695 Halifax / St. John’s ...... $7,895 April 6, Wednesday Kyoto / Tokyo / Toronto Single Supplement ...... $1,795 This morning we travel by bullet train to Tokyo, where the Land Only is based on joining at the hotel in Tokyo and group will split. West coast passengers will continue to leaving at the airport in Tokyo. Rates are per person based Narita for the direct flight to Vancouver while east coast on sharing a twin/double room at hotels. Airfares from passengers will travel to Haneda for the non stop flight to other gateways are available on request. Airfares and air Toronto. B carrier are subject to change and will be confirmed prior to final payment. Refer to Inclusive Features. The above prices DO NOT INCLUDE the cost of comprehensive insurance which is available on optional basis and is highly recommended. Insurance premiums vary with the cost and length of the trip as well as the traveller’s age. For passengers up to and including 74 years on departure date, premiums will range from $355 to $425pp. Cost supplements for members aged 75-85 will range from $200 to $392pp. This insurance is effective from the date of purchase and carries limitations on preexisting medical conditions. Please discuss your insurance coverage prior to booking. Check our website for the most current information. Refer to the enrollment form for general information and conditions. Final payment will be due January 8, 2016 Deposit will be $500 per person

To reserve your spot on this tour, simply complete the Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain enrollment form, indicating the tour you wish to join and your home city, and forward it with your deposit to: CT RATING 3.5 - Challenging: This journey is designed to provide an in depth experience and will feature an CRAIG CANADIAN GROUP TRAVEL LTD overnight in a Japanese ryokan (country inn), sleeping 1092 Mount Pleasant Road Toronto ON M4P 2M6 and eating in tatami-matted rooms. This journey involves Tel: 416-484-0926 or 1-800-387-8890 / Fax: 416-484-8143 a number of long walks and several visits involving many steps. To fully enjoy this journey members should be fully Email: [email protected] / Web: www.craigtravel.com mobile with no walking limitations and be in good physical health.

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