Unseen Japan November 8 to 20, 2021 FACULTY LEADER
Unseen Japan November 8 to 20, 2021
In the company of art historian Louisa McDonald, embark on an itinerary that was created just for Travel/Study and includes sites that many tourists bypass. After exploring the significant temples, palaces, shrines and gardens of Kyoto, journey to the ancient capital of Nara and the remote Miho Museum, designed by I.M. Pei. We travel by bullet train to Hiroshima, where we experience the juxtaposition of modern and historical Japan and reflect on the day the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb on the city. A special highlight of the trip is our visit to Naoshima Island, where modern art fills the vast landscape overlooking the Inland Sea. An added treat is our stay at a traditional Japanese inn in the hot springs resort town of Matsuyama. Those who wish to explore bustling Tokyo may join an optional post-tour extension.
FACULTY LEADER
Louisa McDonald Louisa McDonald, ’67, MA ’70, PHD ’76, is a professor of art history with an emphasis on Japan at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she has been teaching for 20 years. Since getting her doctoral thesis on gender distinctions in medieval Japanese scroll painting at Stanford, she has broadened her scholarly interests in French Japonisme, modern and contemporary Japanese art, and the relationship between art and war. Her scholarship focuses on Japanese modernism and the construction of national and individual cultural identity. She has written on Japanese war paintings commissioned by the Imperial Japanese army and navy during World War II, questions of truth and propaganda, art as autobiography, and artists’ widows. A co- editor of Art and War in Japan and Its Empire: 1931–1960 (2012), an anthology of art historical essays, she’s currently working on a study of the 20th-century Japanese artist Foujita Tsuguharu. Dr. McDonald has taught in New England and Japan and has traveled extensively throughout Australia, East Asia and Europe. An avid reader of Nordic crime fiction and theology, she is fascinated with the endless variety of human creativity. During our program she will speak about Japanese art, from its ancient origins to its contemporary manifestations in the global art world.
• Professor, art history, since 2000, and former chair, art department, 2012–2017, University of Nevada, Las Vegas • Visiting professor, Graduate School of Education, Nagoya University, 2005 • Associate in Research, Edwin O. Reischauer Institute for Japanese Studies, Harvard University, 1982–1998
STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305 Unseen Japan November 8 to 20, 2021
ITINERARY
Monday, November 8 Osaka, Japan / Kyoto After arrival in Osaka, transfer to Kyoto and check in to our comfortable and well-located hotel. The evening is free to relax and rest after our flights. WESTIN MIYAKO KYOTO
Tuesday, November 9 Kyoto We start our journey at the Zen rock garden of the Ryoan-ji Temple before we delight in one of Japan’s most enduring sites, Kyoto’s Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion. After lunch at a local restaurant, tour the Imperial Palace, one of the largest vestiges of the emperors’ presence in Kyoto before the capital was moved to Tokyo. Return to our hotel for a welcome reception and dinner. WESTIN MIYAKO KYOTO (B,L,D)
Wednesday, November 10 Kyoto Begin the day’s explorations at Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion, then take a walking tour along a canal lined with cherry trees and Zen temples. Next is the Nanzen-ji Temple, known for its rock garden and art collections. Enjoy a typical Japanese lunch at a local restaurant before we continue our expedition in Kyoto at the Nijo Castle. This evening have dinner at a local restaurant. WESTIN MIYAKO KYOTO (B,L,D)
Thursday, November 11 Kyoto Drive to the Miho Museum, located in a nature preserve in the mountains of Shigaraki and designed by Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei to house the Shumei organization’s collection of Japanese teaware and rare art objects. Return to Kyoto after lunch and wander about the Heian Shinto shrine and adjoining garden. WESTIN MIYAKO KYOTO (B,L)
Friday, November 12 Nara / Uji / Kyoto Embark on a full-day excursion by motor coach to Nara, where we marvel at the Kasuga Grand Shrine, famous for its thousands of stone lanterns. Continue to the Todai-ji Temple, one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, to admire its immense bronze statue of Buddha (Daibutsu). After lunch visit the Nara National Museum, then on the way back to Kyoto, stop in Uji to view the Byodo-in Temple with its Phoenix Hall, one of the most acclaimed structures in Japan. We dine independently tonight. WESTIN MIYAKO KYOTO (B,L)
Saturday, November 13 Kyoto / Hiroshima This morning travel by bullet train (shinkansen) to Hiroshima on the island of Honshu. After lunch at a local restaurant, head to the striking Atomic Bomb Dome as well as the Peace
STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305 Unseen Japan November 8 to 20, 2021
Memorial Park and Museum, portions of which were designed by renowned architect Kenzo Tange and sculptor Isamu Noguchi. Enjoy the evening at leisure. HOTEL GRANVIA HIROSHIMA (B,L)
Sunday, November 14 Miyajima Go by ferry this morning to the sacred island of Miyajima to visit the Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage-designated National Treasure. This bright pavilion complex appears to float on the edge of the Seto Inland Sea. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free for independent pursuits. HOTEL GRANVIA HIROSHIMA (B,L)
Monday, November 15 Hiroshima / Matsuyama Today we board a high-speed ferry to Matsuyama, a bustling port town on the island of Shikoku in the Seto Inland Sea. After lunch devote the afternoon to sightseeing, including the Matsuyama Castle and the Ishite-ji Temple, a Shingon temple that has been designated a National Treasure of Japan. Late this afternoon we check in to our traditional ryokan accommodations and enjoy dinner at our hotel. YAMATOYA HONTEN RYOKAN (B,L,D)
Tuesday, November 16 Matsuyama / Uwajima / Uchiko This morning drive to the historic feudal town of Uwajima to roam the Tensha-en Garden, with its more than 20 varieties of bamboo. Then we head to the Date Museum to take in its collection of Edo period armor, paintings and other samurai antiquities. After lunch visit the small town of Uchiko and explore a number of well-preserved Edo- and Meiji-era dwellings and storehouses. This evening return to Matsuyama for dinner and to relax at our ryokan accommodations. YAMATOYA HONTEN RYOKAN (B,L,D)
Wednesday, November 17 Matsuyama / Kurashiki Depart this morning by express train to Okayama. Then cover the short distance to the river port city of Kurashiki by motor coach. Kurashiki’s well-preserved 18th-century merchant quarter is now home to shops, museums and teahouses. On our walking tour, venture to the Museum of Folkcraft and the Ohara Museum of Art, with its displays of Western impressionist works and traditional textiles, woodblocks and ceramics. Dine independently this evening. KURASHIKI KOKUSAI HOTEL (B,L)
Thursday, November 18 Kurashiki / Takamatsu / Naoshima Island This morning travel back across the Seto Inland Sea to Takamatsu. Visit the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum and tour the Shikoku Mura Village, which displays structures and objects of rural life on Shikoku. Afterward we stop at Ritsurin Garden, considered one of the most
STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305 Unseen Japan November 8 to 20, 2021 outstanding landscape gardens in Japan. This afternoon take a ferry to Naoshima, a small island in the Seto Inland Sea. BENESSE HOUSE (B,L,D)
Friday, November 19 Naoshima Island Spend today independently exploring Naoshima, a community devoted to cutting-edge contemporary art, with two striking museums, interactive installations and outdoor sculptures. Naoshima is a place of discovery, with a unique symbiotic relationship between natural scenic beauty and art. Stroll among the installations and at the Chichu Art Museum before gathering this evening for a festive farewell reception and dinner. BENESSE HOUSE (B,L,D)
Saturday, November 20 Osaka / Home Transfer by ferry and train to the airport for flights home. (B)
OPTIONAL POST-TRIP EXTENSION: TOKYO November 20 to 23 After we bid farewell to the main group, transfer to Tokyo by ferry and bullet train, where our hotel is within walking distance of the Imperial Palace and the Ginza District. Tour the magnificent Meiji Shrine, the Hama-Rikyu Gardens and two of Tokyo’s prestigious museums: the Edo-Tokyo Museum and the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park . Enjoy free time to explore the city independently, diving into the heart of this ancient and modern wonder. Details and pricing will be provided to confirmed participants.
INFORMATION
Covid-19 and Travel With travel requirements and local Covid-19 conditions changing weekly, travel protocols for specific destinations will be shared with confirmed travelers closer to departure. To read more about Travel/Study’s approach to ensuring traveler health and safety, visit our Covid-19 Travel page.
Size This trip requires a minimum of 15 participants and is limited to 34. Travel/Study is committed to providing a low-density experience on all programs and will implement protocols to do so, including social distancing on transportation as well as during lectures, meals and excursions. Single accommodations are limited.
Cost* $10,295 per person, double occupancy $12,595 per person, single occupancy *Stanford Alumni Association nonmembers add $300 per person.
STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305 Unseen Japan November 8 to 20, 2021
Included ● Educational program with lecture series and predeparture materials, including an education resource list and travel information ● All tours and excursions as described in the itinerary ● Gratuities to guides and drivers for all group activities ● 10 nights of deluxe hotel accommodations ● 2 nights of ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) accommodations ● 12 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 6 dinners ● Welcome and farewell receptions ● Transfers and baggage handling on program arrival and departure days ● On-tour quarantine-related trip-cancellation, -interruption and -delay insurance coverage ● General medical, accident and evacuation insurance ● Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program
Not Included ● Your personal flights to and from the program ● Passport and visa fees ● Immunization costs ● Meals and beverages other than those specified as included ● Independent and private transfers ● Nonquarantine-related trip-cancellation, -interruption and -delay insurance coverage ● Baggage insurance ● Excess-baggage charges ● Personal items such as internet access, telephone calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services
Air Arrangements You are responsible for booking and purchasing airfare to the start location and from the end location of the program. These air purchases are NOT included in the program cost. To assist you in making these independent arrangements, we will send you details with your confirmation materials on when to arrive and depart.
What to Expect The fall is an ideal time of year to visit Japan. We consider this expedition to be moderately strenuous. On average, daily programs involve one to three miles of walking, often on uneven terrain. In some instances, such as at temples, stairs may not have handrails. Although all of our accommodations feature Western amenities and are quite comfortable, hotels in Japan tend to be less luxurious than in many other parts of the world. In Matsuyama we stay at a typical Japanese ryokan, where we sleep on traditional tatami mats and futons. Please note when specifying bed preferences, twin-bed rooms tend to be more available and more spacious than double-bed rooms. Participants must be physically fit, active and in good health. We welcome travelers 15 years of age and older on this program.
STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305 Unseen Japan November 8 to 20, 2021
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Eligibility We encourage membership in the Stanford Alumni Association as the program cost for nonmembers is $300 more than the members’ price. The nonmember fee is waived for anyone traveling as a paid guest of a current member, as well as for emerita or emeritus faculty and staff. To purchase a membership, call (650) 725-0692 or visit alumni.stanford.edu/goto/membership.
Deposits, Payments and Cancellations A $1,000-per-person deposit is required to reserve space on this program. Final payment is due 90 days prior to program start. Deposits and any payments are fully refundable until 90 days prior to program start. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and we resell your place(s), in which case a $1,000-per-person cancellation fee will apply.
Insurance Stanford Travel/Study provides all travelers who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with minimal medical, accident and evacuation coverage, as well as on-tour quarantine-related trip- cancellation, -interruption and -delay insurance coverage, under our group-travel insurance policy. Our group policy is intended to provide minimal levels of protection while you are traveling on this program. You may choose to subscribe to optional nonquarantine-related trip- cancellation, -interruption and -delay insurance coverage and/or baggage insurance. Information offering such insurance will be included in your confirmation materials. The product offered includes special benefits if you purchase your insurance within 14 days of receiving your welcome email.
Responsibility The Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University and our operators act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any automobile, motor coach, launch or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as tour rates include arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. We reserve the right to cancel any program prior to departure, in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. We also reserve the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the program. No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at
STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305 Unseen Japan November 8 to 20, 2021 the owner’s risk entirely. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their plane or conveyance. Neither the Stanford Alumni Association, nor Stanford University, nor our operators accept liability for any carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in connection with the tour. Program price is based on rates in effect at the time the brochure is published and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign an Assumption of Risk.
California Seller of Travel Program Registration #2048 523-50
STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305