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YOUR O.A.T. ADVENTURE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE®
PREPARED ESPECIALLY FOR:
Traveler
Enhanced! Japan’s Cultural Treasures
2022
Small Groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! (average of 13)
®
Overseas Adventure Travel
The Leader in Personalized Small Group Adventures on the Road Less Traveled
1
Dear Traveler,
I can’t wait to see where my next journey will take me. I know you’re eager to explore the world, too, and our
Enhanced! Japan’s Cultural Treasures itinerary described inside is a perfect start.
Exactly how your adventure unfolds is up to you, because you can personalize and tailor your
experience any way you want. Arrive early in the first destination of your adventure, stay later in the last
destination, add a pre- or post-trip extension, spend time in a Stopover city, or even combine 2 or more
trips. More than 87% of our travelers choose to tailor their adventure. Also, because we’re the leader in Solo
Women Travel, we’re offering 15 exclusive women’s departures in 2022.
As for Enhanced! Japan’s Cultural Treasures, thanks to your small group of 8-16 travelers (average 13) you can
expect some unforgettable experiences. Here’s one that stood out for me:
What I love most about Japan is the perfect blend of ancient traditions and modern innovations. But this
unique culture does not come without its challenges as urban migration presents an ongoing problem for
smaller rural villages. You’ll see what I mean during A Day in the Life in Ashigawa, a traditional village near
Hakone where the average age of residents is 65. Formerly home to around 5,000 people, the population
today is around 300 as young people have left their homes for the big cities in search of a better life. During a
walk through the village, you’ll witness locals doing their shopping and going about their daily routine.
But the most moving stores of all are the ones that I heard directly from the local people I met. You’ll meet
them too, and learn about life in the everyday village when you visit to the local childcare center, followed
by a cooking lesson and meal with a local woman in her 200-year-old home. Near Kanazawa, you’ll also hear
a firsthand account of the 2011 nuclear disaster, a tragic event which forced almost 500,000 people to flee
the destruction and growing threat of radiation exposure, from a Fukushima evacuee. You’ll learn how the
disaster changed local lives, and how it continues to impact the area today as we explore the controversial
topic of energy production.
So you’ll experience the true culture, we don’t shy away from controversial topics. Plus, we make sure all our
Trip Experience Leaders are “insiders” who live in the country. You may be nudged out of your comfort zone,
but you will also be inspired by the wonderful people you meet.
Thanks for letting me dream along with you about Enhanced! Japan’s Cultural Treasures.
Remember, you can reserve with confidence thanks to our Risk-Free Booking policy: learn more
at www.oattravel.com/riskfree-booking.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our Regional Adventure Counselors at
1-800-955-1925.
Warm regards,
Harriet R. Lewis
Vice Chairman
Overseas Adventure Travel
P.S. For more information about this popular adventure, visit our website at www.oattravel.com/jpn2022.
2
CONTENTS
A Letter from Harriet Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The O.A.T. Difference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The Freedom to Personalize and Tailor Your Experience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Grand Circle Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The Leader in Solo Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
JAPAN’S CULTURAL TREASURES ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS:
Your Adventure at a Glance: CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE
Where You’re Going, What it Costs, Japanese Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
10
and What’s Included . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shopping: What to Buy, Customs,
Your Detailed Day-To-Day Itinerary . . . . . . . . 12 Shipping & More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Pre-Trip Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Post-Trip Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY
Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION
Travel Documents & Entry Requirements. . . 53 RESOURCES
Rigors, Vaccines & General Health . . . . . . . . . 55 Suggested Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Money Matters: Local Currency & Suggested Film & Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Tipping Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . . . . . 62
Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . . . 66
Climate & Average Temperatures . . . . . . . . . . 72
O.A.T. Health & Safety Measures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
3
Since 1978, leading the way in small group adventures
on the road less traveled
4
Experience the O.A.T. Difference
Small groups of 8-16 travelers (average of 13) crafted to balance included activities with time for
independent exploring.
O.A.T. is the leader in solo-friendly travel, with
43,000 solo travelers joining us through 2023 Authentic cultural connections like Home-
departures. We’ve had over 120,000 solo travelers Hosted meals and A Day in the Life experiences let
explore the world on an O.A.T. adventure since travelers engage with locals.
2015, and that number grows every year.
Unique lodgings and local modes of
O.A.T. Trip Experience Leaders, English-speaking transportation give you the local character—from
residents of the region, provide the firsthand canoes to camels, and from family-run hotels to
insight only a local can. historic manors.
87% of our travelers personalize and tailor Our 36 worldwide offices craft truly unique
their experience with the freedom to arrive itineraries, designed and supported by a team that
early, stay later, combine adventures, or add a lives and works in the area.
trip extension or stopover. Plus, each itinerary is
The Pillars of Discovery
CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS
During exclusive conversations with local experts,
you’ll get insights into the issues affecting their lives—
issues like immigration, sustainability, and violence
against women.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Meet the local people where they live, work, and play.
You might help a farmer, learn to make ricotta, or even
participate in a welcome ritual.
HOME-HOSTED EXPERIENCES
In groups of 4-5 travelers, you’ll join a local family
in their home for a meal that proves cross-cultural
exchange is the best seasoning.
GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION (GCF) VISIT
We established Grand Circle Foundation to give back to
the world we travel. You might visit a local school, clean
water facility, or a project supporting a local community.
Left page:ƩŭĞāũĿÖłŋłŶĞāmāĴŋłėĢƑāũĢłÁĢāłŶĢÖłā̇dÖŋŭ̍̒Top: A Day in the Life ŋĕÖmÖÖŭÖĢƑĢķķÖėā̇¦ÖłơÖłĢÖ̒
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5
Freedom to Personalize and
Tailor Your Experience
You Can Tailor Your Adventure Your Way
PRE- OR POST-TRIP EXTENSIONS
More than 55% of O.A.T. travelers choose to take a pre- or post-trip extension. Why? You’ll maximize your
discoveries, take advantage of your included international airfare, and you’ll usually travel with the same
group and Trip Experience Leader from your main trip.
1. You’ll maximize your discoveries—often in an 2. Great value: All extensions include
even smaller group than your main adventure accommodations, daily breakfast, and
(on average, 6 travelers with a dedicated Trip airport transfers.
Experience Leader)—and take advantage of your 3. Continuity and camaraderie: You’ll usually travel
included airfare. with the same Trip Experience Leader who leads
your main trip, enjoying more of his or her insider
expertise—and more time to bond with the group.
Optional Extensions offered with your Japan adventure
Tokyo: Ancient & Modern Traditions Hiroshima: City of Peace
3 nights pre-trip from $995 3 nights post-trip from $1495
Tokyo, Japan Hiroshima, Japan
6
87% of travelers personalize
and tailor their adventures.
Here’s how...
ARRIVE EARLY, STAY LATER COMBINE & TAILOR YOUR EXPERIENCES
Arrive early in the first destination of your pre- More than 3,000 travelers combined two or
trip extension or main adventure, or stay later in more adventures in 2019. If you’re already
the last destination on your main adventure or overseas, why not see more of the world and
post-trip extension. By coming early, you’re able maximize your value by avoiding the expense
to rest after your long flight or start exploring and length of another international flight?
on your own. By staying later, you have extra
time to relax, do last-minute shopping, or
AIR PREFERENCES
explore more in depth. Accommodations are See how 54% of travelers are personalizing
at the same hotels where you begin or end their air itineraries; you can choose your
the main trip and trip extensions, so your departure city and airline, depart from one city
transitions will be seamless. and return to another, upgrade your seat to
Premium Economy or Business Class, and more.
STOPOVER IN POPULAR
INTERNATIONAL CITIES FREEDOM OF CHOICE DURING
O.A.T. offers the opportunity to Stopover in
YOUR ADVENTURE
popular cities. For $595-$995 per person, your Whenever possible, we’ve included a number
price includes 3 nights in a centrally-located of off-the-beaten path activities that allow you
hotel, daily breakfasts, and roundtrip private to make the most of your explorations. These
airport transfers. recommendations are designed by our team of
local experts with women travelers in mind.
To discover how you can personalize
and tailor your adventure, visit
www.oattravel.com/personalize
Top: O.A.T. travelers in Matera, Italy;
Right: Enjoy a post-trip to the Bay of Islands, New Zealand
7
CHANGING PEOPLE'S LIVES
One village, one school, one person at a time
Dear Traveler,
In 1992 we established Grand Circle Foundation, an
entity of the Lewis Family Foundation, as a means
to give back to the world that had already given
us so much. Since then, we’ve pledged or donated
more than $225 million worldwide to support
the education of young people, the preservation
of international treasures and UNESCO World
Heritage Sites, and the conservation of natural
resources for future generations.
Grand Circle Foundation is also there when
Foundation funds are supporting Ukrainians like this family
crisis unfolds in the world. The almost universal who has found safe haven at a shelter in Romania.
condemnation of Russia’s recent actions against
Ukraine has resulted in an unprecedented
outpouring of support for Ukrainian refugees
and orphans. Through the kind generosity of
our travelers, friends, and associates, we have
raised more than $2 million to assist Ukrainians
who have had their lives upended. Our efforts
are being spearheaded by two of our regional
associates, Stefan Mototolea in Romania, and
Kadir Tasdelen in Poland. They have been
instrumental in using their local connections
to cut through the red tape so that Ukrainian
families most in need are getting help. And as
of March 31, more than $800,000 of relief aid in Learn how Moroccan women are bettering their lives with
workshops at the Imik Simik Women’s Association.
the form of clothing, food, medicine, and other
items in short supply has made it directly into the
hands of Ukrainian refugees at shelters in Poland
and Romania. And more is on the way.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
If you visit the Foundation’s home page
Thank you for traveling with us, and for helping at www.grandcirclefoundation.org, you can
to change people’s lives. click on our “Donate to Ukrainian Refugee
Relief” section. To learn about many more
Warm regards,
ongoing Foundation projects, you can sign up
for our weekly e-newsletter, the Inside Scoop,
at www.oattravel.com/the-inside-scoop.
Harriet R. Lewis
Chair
Grand Circle Foundation
www.grandcirclefoundation.org
8
LEADER IN SOLO-FRIENDLY TRAVEL
Travel solo, but never alone
WHO IS A SOLO TRAVELER?
Some solo travelers may bring a friend or family
THE LEADER IN SOLO-FRIENDLY
member along, sharing the adventure. Others
TRAVEL—BY THE NUMBERS
may explore on their own, enjoying the security
and camaraderie of group travel. However you
travel, feel confident with the leader in solo-
OVER 50%
friendly travel.
of all O.A.T. travelers travel solo.
FREE OR LOW-COST SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS 30,000 SINGLE SPACES
When you travel solo, your adventure is your own. are being offered in 2023 on all
That’s why 92% of our single spaces have a FREE O.A.T. adventures.
Single Supplement, and the remaining 8% have
the lowest single supplements in the industry. See 92%
details at www.oattravel.com/solo. of our 30,000 single spaces have
FREE Single Supplements.
YOU’LL ALWAYS FEEL SAFE AND SECURE The remaining 8% have the lowest
single supplements in the industry.
Our regional associates know your adventure
inside and out, and are ready to help 24/7
throughout your entire trip, should the need arise. 25 WOMEN-ONLY DEPARTURES
And a local Trip Experience Leader is there to on some of our most popular
ensure you always feel part of the group. 2023 itineraries.
TRAVEL AMONG FRIENDS
Small groups of 8-16 travelers (average of 13) by
land and 20-25 (average of 22) by small ship are
ideal for connecting with fellow travelers. Since SCAN ME
one in four travelers explore with us solo, you’re
NEW! 101+ Tips
sure to find friends as you experience the world.
for Solo Women
Travelers
This complimentary,
EXCLUSIVE WOMEN’S DEPARTURES 96-page booklet is a
We’re offering 25 exclusive women’s comprehensive collection
departures in 2023 of some of our most popular of savvy tips specifically for
adventures. You’ll connect with fellow intrepid seasoned women travelers
going solo. Learn about safety
women travelers while delving into your
for solos, packing like a pro, the
destination—from a woman’s point of view.
best travel apps, self-care on the
road, and more. Scan this code
to view an online copy or to
request one by mail.
9
Japan’s Cultural Treasures
Small Group Adventure
Japan: Tokyo, Hakone, Kanazawa, Kyoto
Small Groups: Average of 13 Travelers It’s Included
FROM PER DAY DAYS • Explore in a small group of 8-16 • 27 meals—13 breakfasts, 9 lunches,
travelers (average group size of 13) and 5 dinners
$ 4895 $ 327 15 • International airfare, airport transfers, • 13 small group activities
Including international airfare
government taxes, fees, and airline fuel
surcharges unless you choose to make
• Services of a local O.A.T. Trip
Experience Leader
FREE Single Supplement your own air arrangements
• All land transportation, including 3 rail • Gratuities for local guides and drivers
transfers on bullet and local trains • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward
your next adventure
Maximize Your • Accommodations for 13 nights
Discoveries & Value
Optional extensions: Watch our most popular video by O.A.T. travelers
Tokyo: Ancient & Modern Traditions
Created by Helen & Dan Larson, 14-time travelers from Saint Paul, MN
3 nights pre-trip from $995
Open the camera feature on your mobile device, and hover the lens over this code to
Hiroshima: City of Peace scan it. A pop-up notification will take you directly to the video.
3 nights post-trip from $1495
Local woman in the Higashiyama
district, Kyoto, Japan
Japan’s Cultural Treasures
10Itinerary Summary
To/From U.S.
Internal flight
Sea o f J A P A N Land route
Rail route
Pre-trip extension: 3 nights in Tokyo:
Kanazawa
Ja pa n Gokayama
Ferry route Ancient & Modern Traditions
(Optional Tour) U 0 Miles 100
H
Tokyo
DAYS DESTINATION
S
Mt. Fuji n
N
O Hakone a 1 Fly to Tokyo, Japan
H Kyoto
e
c
Osaka Nara 2-4 Tokyo
(Optional Tour) O
c
PRE-TRIP EXTENSION i POST-TRIP EXTENSION 5-6 Hakone
Yanaka District f
i H O N S H U
N
Ueno District
Tokyo c Hiroshima
Frro
FFro
om Kyot
yo
oto
oto
a
A
7-9 Kanazawa
y
Ba
JAPAN P Miyajima Islands of the
yo
Inland Sea
P
k
(Optional Tour)
To
Se a
A
Kamakura
Sagami (Optional Tour) land 10-14 Kyoto
o In
Bay Se t
J
SHI KO K U
15 Return to U.S.
What to Expect Post-trip extension: 3 nights in
Hiroshima: City of Peace
Pacing: 4 locations in 14 days with 3 train rides and one overland drive of 4.5 hours
Physical requirements: You must be able to walk up to 5 miles unassisted each day
over city streets, through gardens and markets, and within temples and shrines in
which the ground may be uneven and stairways may lack handrails. Luggage porters
are unavailable at hotels and on trains.
Flight time: Travel time will be 10-21 hours and will most likely have one to three
connections Arrive Early, Stay Later
View all physical requirements at www.oattravel.com/jpn2022 Prices below include accommodations,
daily breakfast, and private airport
transfer.
Japan: The O.A.T. Difference • Arrive early in Tokyo before your main
trip or your Tokyo pre-trip extension for
$125 per person, per night
Unbeatable Value: Travel at the lowest price and per diems in the industry.
• Conclude your main trip with more time
People-to-People Experiences: Experience A Day in the Life of a rural mountain in Kyoto for $100 per person, per night
village where the median age is around 65. We’ll visit a community farm, share • Remain in Hiroshima after your
a traditional meal, and get to know the people who call this serene place home. Hiroshima post-trip extension for $125
And, we’ll get to know a Japanese family during a Home-Hosted Visit. per person, per night
O.A.T. Exclusives: Get a fuller picture of Japan when we confront various
Controversial Topics, such as whether or not Japan should continue
using nuclear power after the Fukushima nuclear disaster of 2011 and the
discrimination of ethnic Koreans face here, even today. We’ll also discuss the
stigma against female sushi chefs while dining at a women-owned and operated
sushi restaurant in Tokyo. And, we’ll visit Kyoto’s YWCA, a NEW Grand Circle
Foundation site for 2021. More than 80% of travelers
rated this trip excellent
Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/jpn2022
11Japan’s Cultural Treasures
YOUR DETAILED ITINERARY
BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP EXTENSION
3 nights in Tokyo: Ancient & Modern Traditions
Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 4 Tokyo • Explore Yanaka district •
Visit Ueno Park
Day 2 Arrive in Tokyo, Japan
Day 5 Tokyo • Optional Kamakura tour •
Day 3 Explore Tokyo • Visit Bonsai Garden
Begin main trip
• Tsukiji Outer Market visit
OR
6 nights in South Korea: Seoul & Volcanic Jeju Island
Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 5 Visit the DMZ
Day 2 Arrive Seoul, South Korea Day 6 Fly to Jeju Island • Visit local farm &
cooking demonstration
Day 3 Explore Seoul • Visit Gyeonbok
Palace • Meet youth activist in Day 7 Explore Jeju Island • Visit Seongeup
Gwanghwamun Square Folk Village • Meet the “mermaids” of
South Korea • Visit pony farm
Day 4 Visit War Memorial Museum •
Controversial Topic: Life in North Korea Day 8 Fly to Tokyo, Japan • Begin
with a female defector main adventure
Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 2 Arrive Tokyo, Japan
Afternoon/Evening: Depart the U.S. today on • Destination: Tokyo
your overnight flight to Tokyo, Japan. • Accommodations: Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio
Tokyo Tamachi or similar
Afternoon/Evening: An O.A.T. representative
will greet us at the Tokyo airport upon
arrival—usually between 2:45pm and
8:30pm—and assist with the approximately
1.5-hour transfer to our hotel in Tokyo,
where we’ll meet our Trip Experience Leader
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
12and fellow travelers, including those who facility also supports educational outreach
took our optional Tokyo: Ancient & Modern programs and features a library in which
Traditions pre-trip extension. visitors can read about various art forms.
Depending on where we stay, our hotel for the • How to get there: A 15-20-minute taxi
next three nights should be located just steps ride, about $15 USD one way.
away from a variety of shops, restaurants, as • Hours: 10am-6pm, Wednesday-Monday.
well as the metro. Each of the air-conditioned • Cost: About $16 USD.
rooms will likely feature Wireless Internet, a • Expand your culinary horizons at the Tsukiji
flatscreen TV, and mini-fridge. Cooking School: Located right next to the
famous Tsukiji fish market, these cooking
Dinner: On your own tonight. This is a great
classes can teach you the art of making sushi,
chance to begin getting acquainted with the
tempura, and ramen, or let you learn first-
city, or you may choose to stay in and eat
hand from a Michelin-starred chef. Advanced
at the hotel and rest after your flight. Feel
booking is required, schedule is dependent on
free to ask your Trip Experience Leader for
the school’s menu.
recommendations.
• How to get there: A 20-minute taxi ride,
Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your about $20 USD one way.
explorations in Tokyo on these off-the-beaten • Hours: Advanced booking required.
path activities. These recommendations are • Cost: About $73 USD.
designed by our team of local experts with
women travelers in mind. Day 3 Explore Tokyo • Meet former sumo
wrestler • Explore Shinjuku
• Journey through 400 years of Japanese
history at the Edo-Tokyo Museum with your • Destination: Tokyo
Trip Experience Leader after taking a taxi • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
there together: view artifacts, recreations, • Accommodations: Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio
and more in its permanent exhibition. Plus, Tokyo Tamachi or similar
discover the special exhibitions on the first-
Breakfast: Served at the hotel starting at
floor gallery that are constantly changing,
7am, featuring a combination of Japanese and
including lectures and workshops on the
Western options.
fascinating history of Tokyo and Japan.
Morning: We’ll meet with our Trip Experience
• How to get there: A 20-minute taxi ride
with your Trip Experience Leader, about Leader for a Welcome Briefing at around
$20 USD one way. 9:30am in the hotel. During this briefing,
we will introduce ourselves and review our
• Hours: 9:30am-5:30pm, Monday-
Saturday. Closed on Holidays. itinerary in more detail (including any changes
that may need to occur). Our Trip Experience
• Cost: Free.
Leader will also discuss logistics, safety and
• Explore the National Art Center: Designed by
emergency procedures, and answer any
renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa,
questions we may have.
this is one of the largest exhibition sites in all
of Japan. Instead of featuring a permanent After the briefing, we’ll board our bus around
collection, the art center utilizes its 15,000 10:45am and drive 45 minutes to a restaurant
square feet as a rotating art installation. The owned by a former sumo wrestler. Upon arrival,
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
13we’ll witness a demonstration of this iconic and learn to get around like a local. Ask your
sport by two former wrestlers, beginning with a Trip Experience Leader how you can obtain a
ritual of purification and eventually engaging in pre-paid pass called “Suika.” Alternatively,
combat. Sumo has been the most popular form you may wish to visit the Meiji Shrine, a Shinto
of sports entertainment in Japan for the last holy place. The shrine was erected in honor of
1,000 years, making it integral to local culture. Emperor Meiji, who came into power in the
During an interactive demonstration, which 19th century when the shogunate powers fell.
we’ll have the opportunity to participate in if It was under his leadership that Japan adopted
we would like, we’ll learn about the history of modern customs and became a serious world
sumo, the rules, as well as its connection to the power. For a more relaxed afternoon, perhaps
Shinto religion. Throughout our conversation, you’d like to learn a few Japanese phrases from
we’ll have the opportunity to ask questions of your Trip Experience Leader and try them out
these impressive athletes and learn about their as you wander in and out of shops. This is a
own perspectives on the sport. great opportunity to foster casual, impromptu
interactions with locals, as well as to bolster
Lunch: Around 11:45am, we’ll hear an
your confidence with the new, handy phrases
explanation on the traditional lunch being
you’ve learned.
prepared for us today: Chanko, a hot pot dish
traditionally consumed by sumo wrestlers Around 6pm, we’ll gather for a 45-minute
to maintain their competitive physique. This orientation walk around the vicinity of the
hearty soup typically features a chicken broth hotel. Our Trip Experience Leader will show us
base, large quantities of protein, and vegetables where we can find anything we may need, such
such as daikon and bok choy. To increase the as an ATM or pharmacy. We will also familiarize
calorie intake, wrestlers typically pair this meal ourselves with nearby landmarks and learn
with large quantities of rice. This is a unique about local transportation. Later, we’ll also stop
opportunity to eat the food of choice for sumo by a traditional izakaya, an informal Japanese
wrestlers right alongside them. pub. There, we’ll have the opportunity to
sample sake, a Japanese rice wine, as well as
Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll sit down with
yakitori, skewered and grilled chicken.
the restaurant’s owner to discuss his past
experience as a wrestler and to discover sumo Dinner: On your own this evening. During the
traditions—an exclusive O.A.T. feature. We’ll orientation walk, this is a wonderful time to
even watch a slide show which will illuminate get recommendations and directions from your
the intense training process, as well as hear Trip Experience Leader.
about the wrestler’s personal reasons for
Evening: Around 7pm, we’ll join our Trip
participating in the sport and eventually
Experience Leader for a walk around Shinjuku,
making the decision to retire.
a famous entertainment and red-light district
Around 1:30pm, we’ll bid farewell to our hosts in Tokyo. We’ll first stop an an izakaya, a
and make the 45-minute bus ride back to the casual Japanese bar that also serves snacks.
hotel. From approximately 2:15pm to 6pm, After finishing our drink, we’ll continue our
enjoy free time to explore as you wish. Perhaps explorations of Shinjuku, and see how other
you’d like to get a taste of different sections of hostesses and sometimes young hosts attract
the city, in which case you may want to join the customers to their clubs and bars. Our Trip
14 million Tokyo residents who use the subway Experience Leader will engage the locals we
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
14pass in conversation, asking what they think we’ll remove our shoes and descend into the
about these hostess bars and perhaps share soundproof studio, where we’ll be greeted by
their own experiences. the taiko drum master. We’ll learn from the
master about the significance of this musical
We’ll return to our hotel around 8pm; the rest
instrument in local culture, and later observe
of the evening is free.
a short performance. We’ll even get to try
our hand at drumming with a short intensive
Day 4 Tokyo • Taiko drumming experience introduction to the art form followed by time to
• Explore Asakusa • Controversial perform patterns and rhythms on our own, as
Topic: Female sushi chefs & gender well as within the group. After our immersive
discrimination with sushi chef Yuki Chizui musical experience, we’ll then hear from the
drum master about their personal relationship
• Destination: Tokyo
with drumming, as well as the concerns about
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
keeping this longstanding tradition alive. This
• Accommodations: Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio
intimate dialogue gives us a chance to further
Tokyo Tamachi or similar
understand the value of this practice, as well as
Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today will feature to ask questions about it.
the Controversial Topic of female sushi chefs
Then around 11am, we’ll walk to the
in Japan. Historically a male-dominated field,
well-known district of Asakusa around. As we
women who have tried to enter this traditional
explore this part of the city, we’ll see where old
world are met with a barrage of challenges
meets new. While the appearance of Asakusa
beyond the already difficult process of studying
retains its historical charm, we’ll find modern
to become a sushi chef. We’ll meet with female
innovations in the district’s shopping area.
sushi chef Yuki Chizui who will share her story
We’ll stroll down the streets that host more
of how she managed to succeed despite these
than 100 shops, which sell everything from
gender prejudices—and offer us a taste of her
kitchen appliances to hand-cut glass. We’ll
creations. Read more about this activity below.
also pass by prominent temples, providing
Activity Note: Because of limited space, we architectural and cultural insight to this
recommend you pack an overnight bag on Day ancient country. With the guidance of our
4 for the next two nights in Hakone. On Day 5, Trip Experience Leader, we’ll familiarize
the rest of your luggage will be transferred to ourselves with this bustling district, and glean
the following hotel in Kanazawa. Ask your Trip ideas on how to spend our free time for a little
Experience Leader for details. over an hour.
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at For a local specialty, head to a little shop
7am, featuring a combination of Japanese and called Suzukien to indulge in its famous,
Western options. matcha-flavored ice cream. Matcha is a type of
green tea, popular in Japan both for drinking as
Morning: At about 9am, we’ll transfer 30-45
well as an ingredient for a number of recipes.
minutes via taxi to a taiko studio. Taiko
This is a great opportunity to enjoy a traditional
are traditional drums that have been used
delicacy alongside locals as they line up to be
throughout Japan’s history—from setting
served. To enjoy matcha in another form, ask
the beat for marching armies to adding a
your Trip Experience Leader about arranging
tempo to boisterous festivals. Upon arrival,
a traditional tea ceremony at Kakinuma. The
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
15Japanese tea experience is a delicate balance of far from equal—only 10% of management
presentation, preparation, and performance. positions are held by women, and a Japanese
This is an approximately 1- to 1.5-hour activity woman’s earnings is 67.8% of a man’s. In such
and will require advanced notice, should you be a male-dominated society, the road to equality
interested. Of course, another way to continue is clearly still blocked by many challenges. One
enjoying this multi-faceted neighborhood is profession in particular has a very strong “No
to explore the streets by foot, such as Festival Girls Allowed” policy in place—the vocation of
Street and Sushi Street, allowing you to take a sushi chef.
in the frenetic pace of activity and observe and
As with any specialty Japanese occupation,
interact as you go along. Your Trip Experience
training to become a sushi chef is no easy
Leader can always point you in the direction of
feat even for a man. It takes years of grueling
particular areas of interest, should you want
study. After that, the hopeful chef must
some ideas.
find employment in a reputable restaurant,
Then around 12:15pm, we’ll take a 30-minute where he will most likely do little more than
subway ride to our next destination—lunch. watch—and wash dishes—at first. Now
imagine going through all of that as a Japanese
Lunch: Around 1pm at a local women-owned
woman. The odds are already stacked against
and operated sushi restaurant, where the
any female sushi chef, regardless of her
manager and staff will introduce us to
training. There is a litany of strongly-held—yet
their menu.
completely unfounded—beliefs as to why
Afternoon: Today, our lunch will coincide with women cannot be sushi chefs. The most
learning about a Controversial Topic in Japan: common excuses include women’s hands
Gender discrimination in the world of sushi being too small and too warm to prepare sushi
chefs. As female sushi chef Yuki Chizui will tell correctly. Others claim that feminine products
us, breaking into this field—a so-called “sacred like makeup and perfume would interfere with
profession” traditionally held by men—was taste and smell. These old wives’ tales may
anything but easy. sound ridiculous to a Western ear, but they have
proved to be major hurdles for female sushi
Japan is at once the most modern and the most chefs here.
ancient of countries. Its cities feel high tech
and Western, yet it is also fiercely protective This has not stopped a few intrepid chefs
of its culture and traditions. But time does not from forging a path through this unforgiving,
stop for any country, and in recent years Japan male-dominated profession. Sushi chef
has attempted to embrace some inevitable Yuki Chizui will tell us how she carved out
changes. One of the most notable changes is the room for herself in this restrictive world.
culture’s view on Japanese women in society. Her interest in sushi began in college when
Back in the 17th century, a woman’s role was she worked part-time at a sushi restaurant.
restricted to a domestic one, nothing more. But She first noticed how chefs directly interact
after World War II, women’s rights saw some with their customers over the counter and
advancement, receiving the right to vote in felt that was her calling. She began to study
1946. And now, in the 21st century, more and the art of sushi making, but it was not an
more Japanese women are being encouraged easy road. In 2012, when she first served her
by the government to enter the work force. sushi to two male customers—a manager
Despite this, gender in Japanese society is still and his subordinate—she was humiliated
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16when the manager asked his subordinate Around 5:45pm, we’ll depart the hotel for
to taste it first since it was made by Yuki, a 15-minute walk to a nearby restaurant
a woman. Undeterred, she has amassed 10 for dinner.
years of experience and is now the head chef
Dinner: Around 6pm our group will gather for a
and general manager of this restaurant. She
Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant, featuring
wants to help turn the role of a sushi chef
traditional Japanese food such as sashimi
into a lifelong career choice for women, free
(fresh, raw fish), local vegetables, tempura
from discrimination and prejudice. She also
(various foods fried in batter), and more.
collaborates with young female artists to create
new sushi tools made specifically for women Evening: Truly immerse yourself in the local
and special kimono uniforms to wear at her culture with this night in Tokyo. Perhaps you’ll
restaurant. venture to Akihabara, a bustling shopping
district famous for its electronic retailers. Here,
There is further hope for the future of
you can also find a taste of true Japanese culture
women sushi chefs in the creation of newer,
at a number of the manga (Japanese comics and
more inclusive schools, such as Tokyo Sushi
graphic novels) and anime (hand-drawn and
Academy. More than 20 percent of the enrolled
computer-animated Japanese media) stores.
chefs-in-training are women. That is more
than double the amount of female students This evening, we also recommend you take
since the school opened in 2002. Still, as the some time to pack an overnight bag to bring
approximately 35,000 sushi restaurants in with you to Hakone for the next two nights.
Japan are almost all run by male chefs, it is clear Tomorrow morning, the rest of your luggage
women sushi chefs still have a long way to go. will be transferred to Kanazawa for our
During our hour-long conversation, we’ll have arrival on Day 7.
around 40 minutes to ask Yuki any questions we
may have about this fascinating topic.
Day 5 Travel overland to Hakone • A Day in
Then around 2:30pm, you’ll have the option to the Life of Minamiashigara Village
continue exploring with your Trip Experience • Destination: Hakone
Leader, or return to the hotel by taxi which will • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
take between 45 minutes and 1 hour, putting
• Accommodations: Hotel Recove Hakone
you back at the hotel around 3pm. You can find
or similar
a taxi at Kokusai Dori or on a number of other
main streets in the area. Check with your Trip Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today we will visit
Experience Leader for more information. Until a small mountain town and experience A Day
around 5:45pm, enjoy some additional free in the Life of Minamiashigara Village. This is a
time to either relax and freshen up at the hotel unique opportunity to witness one of Japan’s
before dinner, or continue your discoveries. elder villages, where the population is primarily
Check with your Trip Experience Leader for made up of senior citizens. We will learn how
ideas on how to spend your time, whether the residents thrive here and take part in their
you’d care to visit one of the many historical day-to-day routines. We’ll also enjoy a karate
shrines and temples in the area or perhaps visit demonstration and visit a local children’s
a nearby rice cracker shop and talk with the nursery, where we’ll see how rural Japan’s
owner about their business. youngest residents learn and play. Read more
about this immersive activity below.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
17Activity note: Total travel time to Hakone is village’s natural beauty. He will lead us on an
approximately two hours, but we will make introductory walk through the village around
a three-hour stop along the way. Please also 10:30am, during which we’ll see where locals
note: The karate studio and nursery from our A do their shopping and go about daily life. He
Day in the Life experience are closed during the will also point out the scenery he fell in love
weekends. If this day should fall on a weekend with as a young man, from the river to the
during your departure, you will instead visit green mountains. During our walk, we’ll also
a local senior housing facility and take part stop to visit one of the community farms—a
in some of their daily activities, such as green tea farm, citrus farm, or wasabi (green
learning origami. horseradish) farm, depending on the season.
We may even have a chance assist in harvesting
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at
if the time of year is right.
7am, featuring a combination of Japanese and
Western options. Lunch: Around 12pm at the home of a local
family. We’ll sit down together to savor
Morning: We’ll board our motorcoach at
traditional rural Japanese dishes. Over the
around 8:30am and depart for the mountain
course of our meal, we’ll have the opportunity
region of Hakone, located about 55 miles
to speak even deeper about social issues,
southwest of Tokyo.
such as learning how the locals feel about the
Around 10am, we’ll arrive at Minamiashigara evolution of their village and the effects of
Village—52 miles outside of Tokyo and situated urban migration. We may also want to ask how
at an elevation of 826 feet. It is here that life has changed in Minamiashigara over the
we’ll enjoy our A Day in the Life experience last 50 years.
with the local villagers. Japan is an aging
Afternoon: After lunch, our hosts will have
society, and we will be especially aware of
one last tradition to share with us: A simple
this in Minamiashigara, as the average age of
yubitaiso, or hand exercise, that residents
residents is 65 with a population of around
of the village practice every day to promote
580 people. One major factor that led to the
rejuvenation and brain health. You may wish to
shrinking of villages like Minamiashigara is
incorporate this special exercise into your own
urban migration. Young people, or those simply
daily routine.
in search of work, left their homes for the big
cities, such as Tokyo, in search of a better life, We’ll bid the villagers goodbye and drive about
and they continue to do so today. 30 minutes to a local karate studio, arriving
around 1:40pm. We will be met here by the
We’ll begin today’s immersive experience
master of the studio, or dōjō, who will teach us
with a visit to a local market run by the
the spirit of karate and share his personal story
village, getting a sense of the various types
of earning a black belt at a world championship
of vegetables, meat, and traditional snacks
tournament. Then we will be treated to a
sold there. Then we’ll continue our journey
demonstration of this ancient martial art.
to town—about a 20-minute drive. Upon
arrival, we will be met by community leader Around 2:20pm, we’ll head to our final
Mr. Yuji Ueda who has been the chairman of the stop on our A Day in the Life experience—a
local village community for the last 12 years. local children’s nursery—an approximately
Mr. Ueda moved here from Tokyo for work 10-minute walk past the scenic rice fields.
at the age of 28, and soon came to love the The nursery will give us a glimpse of how the
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
18youngest members of this rural society learn former rice paddies field now features man-
and play. The children here range in age from made hills, rockeries, ponds, streams, and
3-5 years old and we will be able to take part in several types of moors. With more than 1,000
their daily discoveries, as they learn to behave species of wild aquatic plants, we recommend
in a group, take care of one another, practice setting aside at least two hours to fully take in
taiko (Japanese drum), and other seasonal this garden.
activities. We’ll then be asked to share with the
• How to get there: A 10-25-minute taxi ride
class what American children are taught in their with your Trip Experience Leader, about
nursery schools. $10-$15 USD one way.
Then around 3pm, we’ll depart Minamiashigara • Hours: 9am-5pm, daily.
Village to continue our 90-minute drive to • Cost: About $7 USD.
Hakone, arriving and checking in to our hotel • Spend some time at the Open Air Museum:
by approximately 4pm. Depending on where Complete with carefully-manicured greenery
we stay, our hotel for the next two nights and eclectic sculpture gardens, the mingling
should be located at the foothills of Mount of art and nature here provides a serene get-
Fuji, and feature authentic hot spring baths. away. The park features over 1,000 sculptures,
Room amenities may include Wireless Internet, including pieces by famous artists such as
flatscreen TV, and mini-fridge. Picasso, Henry Moore, Constantin Brancusi,
Barbara Hepworth, Rokuzan Ogiwara, and
From about 4pm-6pm, enjoy some free time
Kotaro Takamura. Also on site is a natural-fed
to relax before dinner. Perhaps you’d like to
hot spring foot bath for guests to enjoy.
enjoy the on-site onsen, a traditional Japanese
bathing facility featuring hot spring water. • How to get there: A 25-minute taxi ride,
about $45 USD one way.
Dinner: Around 6:30pm at the hotel, featuring • Hours: 9am-5pm, daily.
traditional dishes. • Cost: About $16 USD.
Evening: The evening is free for your own • Visit the Museum of Photography:
discoveries. Relax at the hotel bar and Established in 2002, the museum houses
restaurant for a nightcap, or perhaps take in the a permanent installation by local photog-
scenic surroundings of the countryside with an rapher, Katsura Endo, showcasing Mt. Fuji
evening walk. through the changing seasons. Plus, rotating
collections and special exhibitions make their
Freedom To Explore: Make the most of way through the museum regularly.
your explorations in Hakone on these
off-the-beaten path activities. These
• How to get there: A 20- to 25-minute taxi
ride, about $30 USD one way.
recommendations are designed by our team of
local experts with women travelers in mind.
• Hours: 10am-5pm, Wednesday-Monday.
• Cost: About $5 USD.
• Witness Hakone’s Botanical Garden of
Wetlands with your Trip Experience
Leader after taking a taxi there together:
Take a stroll through this exotic, aquatic
wonderland, where four distinct wetland
ecosystems—marsh, fen, bog, and swamp—
are all on full display. Established in 1976, the
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
19Day 6 Hakone • Wood workshop visit • ask the owner any questions we may have about
Meet with local fisherman at Lake Ashi this exquisite artistry. Afterwards, you’ll set out
again for Hakone Yumoto for lunch.
• Destination: Hakone
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lunch: Around noon at a local restaurant in
• Accommodations: Hotel Recove Hakone Hakone Yumoto.
or similar
Afternoon: After lunch, you’ll meet a geisha,
Activity Note: Alternative activities may be who will perform a traditional Japanese dance
substituted for some of today’s visits depending and play exclusively for you and your fellow
on weather conditions. travelers.
Breakfast: Served at the hotel from Then, around 3pm, we’ll depart for the
7:30am-9am, featuring a combination of 30-minute drive to our hotel, where we’ll enjoy
Japanese and Western options. free time for the remainder of the afternoon.
Check with your Trip Experience Leader for
Morning: This morning, we’ll board our
ideas. Of course, you’re in the land of hot
bus around 9am and drive approximately 20
springs, so should you be interested in a soak,
minutes to meet a fisherman who will tell
Hakone is a wonderful place to indulge in this
us about about his fishing business and Lake
relaxing pastime.
Ashi, a scenic crater lake situated along a wall
of the Mount Hakone caldera. This caldera Dinner: We’ll regroup for dinner at the
is a complex volcano which last erupted hotel restaurant around 6:30pm, featuring a
approximately 1,000 years ago. The lake and combination of Japanese and Western options.
surrounding area draw many visitors each year Your Trip Experience Leader will introduce the
for a number of recreational activities, such traditional options, as well as demonstrate how
as hiking, boating, camping, and of course, to eat them like locals.
fishing. Our generous host will take us on a boat
Evening: After dinner, your Trip Experience
ride (weather permitting), and tell us about
Leader will provide introductions to Japanese
important landmarks in the area, such as the
culture through practices such as origami (the
sacred Kuzuryu Shrine. This interaction is a
art of paper folding), kendama (a traditional toy
wonderful opportunity to get to know a local
game), and shuji (Japanese calligraphy). If time
and glean firsthand insight into the ways of life
permits we may even have the chance to learn a
here, such as how to make a livelihood.
local dance from the hotel’s staff.
At around 10:45am, we’ll leave the
fisherman and board the bus for a short ride Day 7 Hakone • Bullet train • Express train
to Hamamatsuya, a workshop specializing in
to Kanazawa
wooden handicrafts. There, we’ll meet with the
• Destination: Kanazawa
owner of the shop, who is the fourth generation
in his family to carry on this well-established • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
business. We’ll see the creation of the elaborate • Accommodations: Kanazawa New Grand
woodwork of Hakone Yosegi Zaiku, a special Hotel or similar
product of Hakone featuring complex inlaid Activity Note: Find the rest of your luggage
designs using varying shades of wood. After the waiting at our hotel in Kanazawa this afternoon.
demonstration, we’ll have the opportunity to
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
20Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at After checking in, we’ll take an orientation
7:30am, featuring a combination of Japanese walk around 4pm. This is a great opportunity
and Western options. to ask your Trip Experience Leader to point
out restaurant recommendations and get
Morning: We’ll leave our hotel at about
acquainted with the area surrounding our hotel.
8:45am, driving 45 minutes to the train station,
Then, the rest of your afternoon is free for your
where shortly after 10am we board a bullet
own discoveries.
train—the legendary high-speed train service
that revolutionized travel in Japan. Dinner: Around 6pm at a local restaurant,
featuring authentic Japanese cuisine.
The Japanese call this train the shinkansen. It is
one of the world’s finest quick-transit trains, Evening: We’ll return to our hotel around 8pm,
and still among the fastest trains in the world, and you’re free to explore the surrounding area
traveling at speeds of up to 200 mph. Prior to on your own, or relax at the hotel bar, share
boarding, you will need to stand at a precise pictures from your discoveries throughout the
location indicated by your coach and seat day, or simply head back to your room to retire
accommodations. The train stops exactly where for the night.
indicated and sure enough, your coach will
Freedom To Explore: Make the most of
be right in front of you. We’ll board the bullet
your explorations in Kanazawa on these
train in Odawara for the first leg of our journey
off-the-beaten path activities. These
(approximately 1 hour), and then finish our
recommendations are designed by our team of
trip to Kanazawa on the Limited Express train
local experts with women travelers in mind.
(approximately 3.5 hours in total, including our
transfer between trains). Along the way, we’ll • Go back in time when you walk to Nagamachi
enjoy views of Japan’s rolling countryside and Samurai District with your Trip Experience
modern cityscapes. Leader: Near the site of former Kanazawa
Castle, this preserved historic district—
Lunch: On your own today at your convenience.
featuring narrow lanes and a network of
We suggest doing as the Japanese do: Buy a
canals—is where samurai once resided with
packed lunch (called eki-ben) in the station and
their families. Observe the earthen walls,
enjoy it on the train. Eki-ben lunches are one
private entrance gates, and waterways that
of the attractions of train travel in Japan and
characterize this historical area.
usually include rice or noodles, vegetables, and
sushi or meat. • How to get there: A 20-minute walk with
your Trip Experience Leader; or a 10-min-
Afternoon: We arrive at Kanazawa station ute taxi ride about $10 USD one way.
around 2:48pm and transfer to our hotel.
• Hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Depending on where we stay, our hotel will
• Cost: Free.
likely be located in the heart of Kanazawa. Hotel
amenities may include a restaurant and coffee
• Visit the 21st-Century Museum of
Contemporary Art: The circular architecture
shop. Room amenities will likely be a mini
of Kanazawa’s ode to contemporary art draws
fridge, tea- and coffee-making facilities, cable
you in, but it’s the wide range of art forms
TV, Wireless Internet, and private bath with
featured—from visual media to music and the
hair dryer.
performing arts—that will keep you mes-
merized. Most of the art featured here was
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
21produced between 1980 and the modern day offer personal insight into the topic, as well as
and supports the idea of “new values.” Artists perspective on traditional methods of energy
featured in the permanent collection include production.
Francis Alys, Matthew Barney, Tony Cragg,
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at
Olafur Eliasson, Suda Yoshihiro, and more.
7am, featuring a combination of Japanese and
• How to get there: A 10-minute taxi ride, Western options.
about $10 USD one way.
• Hours: 10am-6pm, Wednesday-Sunday. Morning: We begin our exploration of
• Cost: About $12 USD. Kanazawa around 8:30am when we depart by
bus for a panoramic tour of this historic city.
• Behold Oyama Shrine: Originally constructed
in 1599 east of Kanazawa to honor the Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Kanazawa
powerful Maeda Clan’s first leader, Maeda was a prosperous castle town in the domain
Toshiie, this site is perhaps better known of Kaga, ruled by the Maeda Family, and it has
for its gate—an 1875 addition, following its been one of the cultural centers of Japan ever
relocation to the current site two years earlier. since. Located on the coast of the Japan Sea,
The construction of the gate features a mix Kanazawa was spared much of the destruction
of Japanese, Chinese, and European religious that World War II brought to the country. It
elements. The shrine grounds are lined with is famous today for its unique architecture,
gardens, walking paths, and ponds. exquisite Kaga-style handcrafts—including
• How to get there: A 10-minute taxi ride, silk-dyeing and lacquerware—delicate
about $10 USD one way. regional cuisine, and the Kenrokuen Garden,
• Hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. one of the most treasured in Japan. We start
• Cost: Free. our tour with a 1-hour morning visit to this
very garden, opened to the public in 1875 and
Day 8 Explore Kanazawa • Visit Kenrokuen one of the most visited garden spots in all of
Garden • Controversial Topic: Nuclear Japan. Here, we’ll have the opportunity to
energy with Fukushima survivor Mr. admire garden landmarks such as the mid-18th
Morishima • Visit gold leaf factory • century Kaisekito Pagoda, the two-legged stone
lantern of Kotoki Toro, and the placid waters of
Omicho Market visit
Kasumi Pond.
• Destination: Kanazawa
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch At about 10am, we’ll depart Kenrokuen for a
• Accommodations: Kanazawa New Grand 5-minute drive to Los Angeles Café, where
Hotel or similar we’ll meet with the owner to discuss the
Controversial Topic of nuclear power in Japan.
Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s activities
As a survivor of the 2011 Fukushima disaster,
feature a conversation surrounding the
54-year-old Mr. Morishima is painfully
Controversial Topic of nuclear energy with
familiar with the topic. Today, we’ll hear his
Fukushima survivor, Mr. Morishima. We’ll hear
harrowing story, as well as come to understand
his firsthand account of the 2011 disaster, a
the ongoing controversy surrounding nuclear
tragic event which left tens of thousands dead
energy. Depending on the day, we may also be
and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their
joined by Mr. Morishima’s 18-year-old son,
homes. This challenging conversation will
Hiromi, who brings his own unique perspective
to the conversation.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
22Prior to the Fukushima incident, Mr. Morishima is contaminated with radioactive tritium,
lived with his wife and two children in a cancer-causing hazard when consumed,
Fukushima prefecture, where he also ran a absorbed through the skin, or inhaled as a gas.
doll-making business. On March 11, 2011, life Fishermen, environmental activists, and the
changed in an instant when a 9.0 magnitude general public have come out strongly against
earthquake shook the country, causing tsunami this initiative, but many view it as an alarming
waves to damage backup generators at the indication that government officials haven’t
Fukushima Daiichi plant. The loss of power learned anything from the events of 2011.
prompted cooling systems to fail and fuel
During our conversation, we’ll hear from Mr.
rods to eventually melt, resulting in a series of
Morishima for about 20 minutes before opening
explosions and considerable nuclear material
up the dialogue to a 40-minute Q&A. Take
leakage. Amidst the chaos and destruction, Mr.
this time to ask any questions you might have.
Morishima and his family—along with nearly
Perhaps you’d like to know how Mr. Morishima
160,000 others living in the vicinity—were
copes with his trauma or if he believes the
forced to flee the growing threat of radiation
government will ever do away with nuclear
exposure, some of them driving more than 48
power in his lifetime.
hours to reach safety. More than 20,000 people
were killed that day between the earthquake, Around 11:15am, we’ll depart for a short ride to
tsunami, and nuclear disaster. And those who our lunch spot for the day.
remain are left to wonder—or fear—what the
future holds for Japan’s energy sector. Lunch: At a local restaurant, around 11:30am.
Today, Mr. Morishima is a survivor, and once Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll walk around
again, a business owner, but his life is not the Higashi Chaya District, a traditional
without trauma or hardship, particularly as neighborhood known for its teahouses. Then,
the debate about nuclear power dependency around 1pm, we’ll depart for a 15-minute drive
rages on. Nearly a decade after the disaster, to experience one of Kanazawa’s most famous
just 36% of the nation condones nuclear art traditions—gold leaf. We will arrive at the
energy generation, while 64% are opposed headquarters of Hakuichi, a local company
to it. While it’s true that all nuclear reactors famous for its gold leaf production—and
were shut down over safety concerns following meet one of the masters who will give us an
Fukushima, a number of them have restarted introduction to this intricate craft. We’ll then
since that time. Today, nine nuclear power get a hands-on lesson and learn how to apply
plants are in operation, a significant decrease the shimmering foils ourselves, creating
from the 54 nuclear plants utilized before postcards to take with us. Afterwards, we’ll visit
Fukushima, but certainly no consolation to Hakuichi’s showroom to view the gold-leaf
those suffering from radiation exposure or artworks on display, including an impressive
forced to evacuate their homes. golden Samurai costume.
In October 2020, the national conversation Later, at about 2:30pm, we’ll drive 20 minutes
surrounding nuclear power intensified to visit Omicho Market. This spacious, indoor
when the government proposed dumping market is comprised of stalls selling fresh
storage tank water from the plants into the produce, seafood, meat, and various specialty
ocean. These tanks contain millions of tons
of water used to cool reactors—water that
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