JAPAN: LAND OF THE RISING SUN

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Itinerary

Day 1, Sun Tokyo

Arrival to Tokyo, meeting and orientation at the hotel.

Day 2, Mon Tokyo - Nikko

We’ll start our visit to Japan by taking a drive to Nikko National Park (140km from Tokyo) where we will visit the most impressive of the 200-plus Toshogu Shrines in Japan, all built in memory of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, the man responsible for the unification of Japan and the eventual restoration of the Japanese Imperial family. This complex - which houses his remains - was built by his grandson, Tokugawa Iemitsu. We’ll examine numerous buildings in the complex and gain some insights into the life of this important man. After that, we’ll drive up the thrilling Irohazaka Driveway to Lake Chuzenji formed by the eruption of Mt. Nantai. We’ll view the lake and, weather permitting, have a picnic lunch here.

Day 3, Tue Tokyo

We’ll get up at the crack of dawn today to visit Tsukiji Fish Market - the largest and most interesting of its kind in the world. Here millions of dollars exchange hands daily as fish are sold to the tens of thousands of restaurants in Japan. It’s not unusual for a fresh Tuna to sell here for up to $80,000 per fish! After the auction, we’ll return to the hotel for Tefillah & breakfast. The rest of the day will be filled with sightseeing in Tokyo. Our agenda includes as many of the following as time and traffic will allow: Edo Tokyo Museum, Asakusa Kannon Temple with Nakamise shopping arcade, Akihabara Electronics District and the glitzy Ginza avenue stores.

Day 4, Wed Tokyo - Hakone

In the morning, we'll start by visiting the Meiji shrine, Harajuku & Omote Sando. Meiji Shrine, a Shinto complex dedicated to the memory of Emperor Meiji who brought the corrupt Shogunate to an end in 1867. Emperor Meiji, who is buried at the shrine, is credited with modernizing Japan and initiating Japan's economic and industrial infrastructure. From the city, we'll once again head for nature. We'll drive to the vacation village of Hakone, visiting the Open Air Museum which houses works of some of the world's finest sculptors and artists – Henry Moore, Picasso and others, Owakudani Valley/Komagatake Ropeway, and Lake Ashi. Transfer to the hotel, enjoy the hot springs.

Day 5, Thurs Hakone - Takayama

This morning we'll drive through the Japanese Alps to Takayama. This town started to develop in the 8t century, and is famous thanks to a carpentery workshop. We will stroll through the picturesque markets of this town. We admire the traditional houses that line the streets here. We will also visit Yatai kaikan museum where we see a display of 4 to 11 great chariots, dating back hundreds of years, that were used to transport the gods in the Takayama festival that is help twice a year, spring and fall. This is one of the most spectacular festivals in Japan, which draws large crowds who join the parade.

Day 6, Fri Takayama - Kobe

Today we take a walk through the morning stalls of the Takayama market, displaying local art from the area's villages. We continue to the open museum that displays various houses from various periods in Japan history. At the end of this visit we head to Yoatsu village that lays alongside the Japanese Alps, and pay tribute to a righteous among nations, sujihara, a Japanese diplomat who saved over 6000 Jews from the Nazis during World War 1. The memorial hall is located in his hometown. We transfer to a hotel in the city of Kobe and prepare ourselves for Shabbat.

Day 7, Shabbat Kobe

We’ll spend a wonderful, peaceful and relaxing Shabbat with the Jewish community in Kobe, the only fully functional Orthodox community in Japan. After Shacharit and a Kiddush/Breakfast, we’ll take a stroll through the neighborhood near our hotel.

Day 8, Sun Kobe - Hiroshima

Our first stop this morning upon departing Kobe by coach will be Himeji Castle, one of Japan's three most beautiful castles and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This castle was built in 1333 as an army stronghold, and in the 17th century was rebuilt to serve the shuguns, and the city of Himeji was built around it. It is 5 stories high and is surrounder by many structures and gardens of Sakura trees. We continue to Kurashiki, where we visit the art museum Ohara. We end the day in Hiroshima, located on the Oceanside.

Day 9, Mon Hiroshima – Miyajima - Kyoto

Today we have q guided tour of Hiroshima. We will learn the history of the city that was A-Bombed at the end of World War II. Hiroshima, which in 1945 was the 6th largest city in Japan, was of strategic military importance. The headquarters of the Second Army, which was charged with protecting all of southern Japan, was located here. However, Allied bombing during World War II was not focused there. The city was built mainly of wood, which made it very vulnerable to fire. We will visit the A-Bomb Dome, the Peace Park, Museum and memorial. We'll make our way across the water by ferry to Miyajima Island, a sacred island that houses what is arguably Japan's most beautiful shrine – Itsukushima. The whole island is an historical site and is considered one of the three most beautiful sites in Japan. The birth of the city is dated back to 593 AC when empress seiko was crowned and a shrine was built in honor of this event. We then head to the train station and take a train to Kyoto, capital of Imperial Japan for over 1,100 years.

Day 10, Tue Kyoto

Kyoto, once known as the "Jerusalem of Japan", is home to over 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, some of the most important in Japan, as well as the traditional site of the coronation of Japan's emperors. Due to its sanctity, the city was not bombed by the allies during World War II. We'll visit Ryoanji Temple – a Zen Buddhist temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site that is famous for its simplistic and stark dry-landscape garden. From there we'll proceed to the ultimate opposite, the Golden Pavilion of Kinkakuji Shrine, an opulent gilded building in a magnificent garden, along with a tea house. Our next stop will be at Kyoto's famous Nishiki Market.

Day 11, Wed Kyoto

We'll continue to the Kiyomizu Dera complex and the Ninenzaka and Sanenzaka lanes as we stroll through the fascinating side alleyways of this inspiring sacred city. Toward evening we'll turn into paparazzi as we stake out the Gion district in search of Geishas on their way to their evening appointments. In the evening we go out on an exciting experience in the "peace house", a center for the Makoya cult and a supporter of Israel.

Day 12, Thurs Kyoto – Home Gateway

Another fascinating tour has come to an end. After breakfast we'll transfer to the airport and board a flight back to our home gateway.

Price Includes

• Shinkansen Bullet Train tickets according to the tour plan
• First Class Tourist Hotels
• Entrance fees as per the itinerary
• Comfortable air conditioned touring coach
• Half board kosher food daily & supplies for making sandwiches for lunch
• Professional experienced English-speaking Israeli guide
• Local English-speaking Guide as required

Price Excludes

• Travel & Health Insurance
• Personal expenses and evening entertainment not included in the itinerary
• Tips for local service providers ($120 to be collected in cash abroad)
• Shows and evening entertainment not included in the itinerary
• Tip for our Tour Guide (Recommended: $3 per person per day)
• Miscellaneous expenses such as departure fees, visas, security surcharges etc. where applicable.

Important To Know
There may be changes to the order of places visited. We will make every effort to visit every place mentioned in the itinerary.

The tour organizers have no control over airline services such as seating, special meal requests, changes in departure times or delays. These remain the sole responsibility of the airline company.

Kashrut on Tours
Kosher food is provided to our travelers on all our tours. We work with the local Rabbinate to provide Hashgacha for all local ingredients and fresh meat and poultry. In some cases, we fly in kosher food from Israel and other sources, depending on the destination of the tour. We do not guarantee Pat Israel and Chalav Israel for all destinations.

In many destinations we have our own crockery and cutlery. Where we don't, we provide disposables at the meals. When we cook in Hotel kitchens, we ensure proper Kashering and we use our own kitchenware on kashered and covered surfaces. All this is done under the strict supervision of our trained staff/guides who function as our Mashgichim.

Our travelers enjoy gourmet meals prepared by our team including fresh local fish, fruit, and vegetables. This is an integral part of Jewish travel. We make great efforts to assure that our travelers will experience local foods first-hand, while maintaining stringent observance of Kashrut laws on all occasions.

Rabbi Menahem Fogel
A native of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Menahem Fogel served as a pulpit rabbi in South Africa and Canada before returning to Israel in 1984 to take up the position of spokesman of Yad Vashem, in Jerusalem, a position he held for six years.

Since that time he has held senior positions in both the public and private sectors developing interactive computer systems for museums around the world. He also lived and worked in the USA, Netherlands, Austria, UK and India. A lifelong yearning for travel led to his becoming a Tour Manager in 2000 and developed expertise tourism to Japan & China, Alaska, Canadian Rockies and Africa. Recently he took on the added role of Rav Hamachshir for The Kosher Travel Club to ensure the highest standards of Kashrut are implemented on all our Kosher Tours.

For any questions about Kashrut please feel free to email menahemf@netvision.net.ilmenahemf@netvision.net.il

Deposit, Cancellation Fees & Policy:
A $500 USD Deposit per person must be received at the time of booking in order to confirm your reservation. Payment in full is due 90 days before departure. A minimum number of participants are required to operate tour dates. If a minimum number has not been reached prior to tour departure and the tour is cancelled you will receive a FULL refund.

• 90 days before departure bookings are refundable less a $100 administration fee
• 60-90 days prior to departure: $500 + $100 per passenger
• 30-60 days prior to departure: $1,000 + $100 per passenger
• Less than 30 working days prior to departure: 100% of total - no refund
• We strongly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance.