Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

TENRI JAPAN TOUR 2015 DAILY ITINERARY

The order of some of the activities is subject to change.

I have been leading an annual tour of Japan since 1980. It has, for many year's, been the most economical Tour of Japan on the Market.  This year there are two important events that we began two years ago. We will be traveling via JR (Japan Railroad) on a one week pass and we will visit the beautiful island of Kyushu.

Sunday, May 17
Leave around noon from JFK or LaGuardia Airport in New York (or from any another airport),
fly over the International Dateline gaining a day.

Monday, May 18
Arrive at Tokyo's Narita Airport in the afternoon. We will proceed to Tokyo by bus. While in Tokyo, we will stay at the Tohon Dai Kyokai. Shakuhachi lessons can be taken anytime during the tour with Ronnie. While we are in Tokyo, additional Shakuhachi Lessons can be
taken, if so desired, with such masters as Aoki Reibo, Mitsuhashi Kifu, Furuya Teruo and Kakizakai Kaoru.
Tohon Dai Kyokai phone: 011 81 33625 1171

Tuesday, May 19
Visit the home of Sadao Chinone (a famous Shakuhachi maker) in Hitachi City (Ibaraki Prefecture) and perhaps purchase some Shakuhachi, have a feast and tour his work/studio and family farm. We'll finish off the day with a soothing bath at a local onsen (hot-springs resort). We will travel by rented Nissan van.

Wednesday, May 20
Return the car by 8:00AM. In the morning, we will attend a 4-hour performance of the grand Kabuki, at the newly remodeled Kabuki-Za Theatre. Later in the day we may visit the area around the Ginza.

Thursday, May 21
We will begin our one week JR-Pass. But first a "welcoming" by the overseas Department of Tohon Dai Kyokai, followed by a special lunch. We then travel to the city of Tenri, Japan and stay at the TohonTsumesho for two nights. Mt. Fuji may be seen from the Bullet train
on the way! Tohon Tsumesho phone: 011-81 743 63-5193.

Friday, May 22
We will listen to one Besseki Lecture and afterwards we will spend the day in Nara, the first capital of Japan, visiting the Nara-koen (a city park with bowing
"sacred deer"), the Nara National Museum of Art and Todai-ji (a Buddhist temple and the largest wooden structure in the world containing the largest
bronze Buddha - the Dai-Buttsu). We will also visit the famous Kofuku-ji. Buddhist temple. Marco Burmester will lead the group in Nara.

Saturday, May 23 - Wednesday, May 27
Leaving early in the day on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train), we will spend today and the next four days on the Island of Kyushu. Here we will see the largest active Volcano in Japan (Mt. Aso), visit the Museum and Peace-Park in Nagasaki, and its "Temple row" with
many Beautiful Buddhist Temples. We will also go to the city of Miyazaki-Shi, famous for its tropical climate and Shinto Shrines. We will also visit Kumamoto, and visit Kumamoto Castle, Musashi's cave, and other highlights.
Perhaps, we will do something like this:

Saturday, May 23
Travel early in the day from Tenri to the southern city of Takasaki-Shi. Here we will spend some time with Hiromichi and Noeme Kimoto in this lovely Southern city on Kyushu known for its Shinto Shrines, and natural beauty.

Sunday, May 24
We will leave for Nagasaki early in the morning. In the afternoon we will visit "Temple Row."
We will stay in a hotel in Nagasaki. We may visit the Peace Park.

Monday, May 25
Early in the morning we will leave Nagasaki for Kumamoto, where we will spend this whole day with Jeff Cairns and, among other activities, visit Kumamoto Castle, Musashi's Caves, a Traditional potter up in the mountains, and Mt. Aso (the world's largest active
Volcano). We will travel around Kumamoto by rented van.

Tuesday, May 26
Spending our second day in Kumamoto, we will do more of these wonderful activities, and perhaps take lessons in Gaikyoku with the famous Tsurugi Sensei, the top Shakuhachi player/teacher in Kyushu.

Wednesday, May 27
On this day, the last of our 7-Day JR-Pass, we will take the Bullet train to Kyoto. Accommodation for our five nights in Kyoto will be at a small Kyoto Hotel near Kyoto Station, which was rated #1 of the 183 places to stay in Kyoto by "Trip Advisor." While in Kyoto we
can also arrange to take as many lessons with Kurahashi Yodo II Sensei as desired.

Thursday, May 28
This day will be our visit to the Imperial Garden of Shugakuin. We will also visit downtown Kyoto, including stops like Gion Corner (where there are geisha walking
around!), Kanazen (the only Shakuhachi store
in Western Japan) and Chio-in Temple and/or
Yasaka Jinja may be included.

Friday, May 29
We will visit downtown Kyoto for more sight-seeing and shopping, marvel at the beauty of the exquisite gardens of Heian-jingu and purchase souvenirs at the Kyoto Handicrafts Center. On this day, perhaps we will visit the famous Ginkakuji (Temple of the Silver Pavillion).

Saturday, May 30
We will visit the Buddhist Temple Kiyomizu-dera, and walk up the hill to the famous Philosopher's walk. Earlier in the day we will try to visit Hon Daigo and visit the city of Uji, where the Tea Ceremony was invented. In this city we will visit two Zen Temples, one where Dogen Zenji bones are interned, and experience an abridged version of the Tea Ceremony. In the evening we will visit
Soryo Bun Kyokai, and have dinner with Rev. Soichi Takahashi. We will join Yu-Otsutome at 6:00PM.

Sunday, May 31
On the morning of this day we will visit Tofukuji Temple Complex and the Shakuhachi sub-temple Meian-ji. We may then perform with Kurahashi Yodo II Sensei, and have a farewell party.

Monday, June 1
We depart from Osaka International Airport or from Itami – the Domestic Airport, arriving back in the USA around noon the same day because of the international dateline.

Last edited by Nyogetsu (2014-12-26 12:23:23)