TOKYO & KYOTO – ITINERARY PLANNEROPEN COAST s YOUR JAPAN SPECIALISTS OKINAWA ISLAND s KERAMA ISLANDS s YONAGUNI ISLAND s THE SUNKEN LOST CITY California Seller of Travel: #2062607-40

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OPEN COAST s YOUR JAPAN SPECIALISTSOKINAWA ISLAND s KERAMA ISLANDS s YONAGUNI ISLAND s THE SUNKEN LOST CITY

California Seller of Travel: #2062607-40 s P.O. Box 9322, Marina del Rey, CA 90295T 310.433.6653 / 866.OCT.DIAL s E [email protected] s W www.opencoast-travel.com

TOKYO & KYOTO – ITINERARY PLANNER

OverviewBoth Tokyo and Kyoto are cities that blend 20th-century modernity andcenturies-old traditions. Ancient temples co-exist with concrete, steel andglass towers of modern architecture, while the quiet jingle of temple bells riseabove the din of city life. Only in Japan is it common to have sushi forbreakfast and where else does one see kimono-clad women checking theiremail. Despite its’ 21st-century technology, ancient festivals are celebratedhonoring rituals of Buddhist and secular traditions. Tokyo, the cradle ofcosmopolitan Japanese culture, and Kyoto, home to seventeen UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites both offer a mesmerizing array of temples, palaces,castles, museums, gardens, stores and much more.

Open Coast will customize your visit to coincide with local events and festivalcelebrations. We can assist you with flights, transfers and accommodations.Our most popular package is our 4-day, 3 night tour.

TOKYO HIGHLIGHTS

The early bird catches thefish at Asia’s busiest fishauction, Tsukiji Market.Here you can indulge in thefreshest sushi breakfastand witness a trulyJapanese tradition.

Harajuku, a trendyhangout is the place forpeople watching asTokyo’s thriving pop culturepulses. Shinjuku, close byto Harajuku, sees twomillion people pass throughthe station each weekday.The west side of thisdistrict is home toskyscrapers and government buildings. The east side, better known as Kabuki-cho is Tokyo’s neon lightcapital and houses a maze of clubs, restaurants and bars.

For upscale shopping Ginza is infamous for its’ seven-storied department buildings. The mazes ofbackstreets are lined with European boutiques and restaurants offering an eclectic variety of shopping andcuisine.

Akihabara, a.k.a. Electric City is the place to play with the latest in all the new electronic gadgets, storesoften provide English manuals for many of their discounted products.

Kabukiza Theater has remained the most popular form of entertainment since the Edo period. Gorgeouscostumes, a boisterous audience and magical stage settings make this classic Japanese art form like noother.

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The Imperial Palace, the residence of Emperor Akihito, 125th

Emperor of Japan, is the same site where Edo Castle stood duringthe days of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Strolling through Asakusa district brings you downtown providing aglimpse into the Edo period (1603 – 1867). Visit Kannon Temple(Senso-ji), the headquarters of the Sho-Kannon sect of Buddhismwhere many worshippers gather to pray. The street leading up to thetemple, Nakamise Dori, is lined with boutiques selling traditionalJapanese items such as pottery, kimono and swords.

Visit the Tokyo National Museum located in Ueno district, the largest museum featuring all thingsJapanese: Samurai armor, kimono, lacquer-ware, pottery and more.

Sumo, Japan’s national sport dates back to 200 AD as a Shintorite to produce an abundant harvest. There’s nothing quite likewatching these three hundred pound men throw one anotheraround at Kokugikan Sumo Stadium. Tournaments take placein January, May and September.

As the inventors of the Jacuzzi, the Japanese have madebathing a fine art, if not a ritual. Indulge yourself in a natural spa,onsen just outside of Tokyo or visit one of the local bathhouses,sento in town that are easily recognizable by the tall chimneyand shoe lockers just inside the entrance.

Love Hotel Hill located in Shibuya consists of a string of love hotels. The high cost of renting apartments inTokyo means that many twenties and thirties couples still live with their parents and so these hotels providea private refuge. Wonder in and look around, you’ll see pictures of the rooms as you enter, to pick onesimply push on the room of your choice and for a fee, it’s yours by the hour.

KYOTO HIGHLIGHTS

Nestled in Kyoto’s eastern hills KiyomizuTemple, originally built in 798 providesmagnificent sweeping views from Mt.Otawa. It is one of Kyoto’s oldestBuddhist temples and close by lies thethree-storey pagoda and beautiful OtawaFalls.

Ginkakuji Temple, or Silver Templewas built for Shogun Shikaga Yoshihamaas a retirement home. His intention wasto paint the temple silver however he diedbefore he could achieve this. To this day

it remains a two-storey wooden structure. Built in 1482, it features many traditional design elements thatinfluenced modern residential Japanese architecture.

Nijo Castle located in central Kyoto was built in 1603 by the first Tokugawa shogun, Ieyasu, using Japanesecypress. Paranoid about invaders, Ieyasu installed creaky floorboards in the castles corridors to anticipateany invaders. These ‘nightingale floors’ were buttressed with hidden alcoves for bodyguards.

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Gion is a small area in Kyoto where geisha and their maiko (apprentices) can be seen on their way to workin the evening. Gei meaning culture and sha person translates into a person practiced in the arts. Beautifullydressed in kimono with elaborate traditional make-up, geisha have made Gion the entertainment capital ofKyoto. To celebrate the new seasons, each spring and autumn geisha and their apprentices performcaptivating dances at various local theaters.

Nara, another city located close by to Kyoto was originally known as Heijo. Nara was Japan’s firstpermanent capital (710-784) and today it is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. Remarkably,temples from that period still stand and though it is possible to see all these sites in one day, two days willallow for a more leisurely experience.

Nara Park was established in 1880 andcontains many of the city’s mainattractions such as Kofukuji Temple,Todaiji Temple and Nara NationalMuseum. Hundreds of friendly deer roamfreely in the park and are not shy toapproach, especially if you happen tohave some of their favorite food in hand.The deer are believed to be messengersof the gods of Shinto and are a symbol ofNara city.

Horyuji Temple is one of Japan’s oldestand finest temples and houses theworld’s oldest wooden buildings.Founded in 607 the complex was usedas a Buddhist learning center by Prince Shotoku. The West Temple contains the five-storey pagoda and theKondo main hall. The East Temple features the Yumedono pavilion or the Hall of Visions. There is afascinating collection of Buddhist art in the newly constructed hall, Daihozoin.

Kofukuji Temple, Happiness Producing Temple, is located on the outskirts of Nara Park and is famous forits five-storey pagoda, which represents the symbol of Nara. Established in 710 for the Fujiwara family, thetemple consisted of over 150 buildings. Nanendo Hall boasts a statue of Kannon, a sacred pilgrimage sitethat was carved in 1188.

Todaiji Temple, meaning Great Eastern Temple, was built as the headquarters for the temples in all ofJapan. After five long years in 752 its construction was completed. But the toll on the economy was so greatthat it led to a peasants revolt and most of the original buildings were destroyed. Despite this it continues tobe the most important landmark in Nara and it houses the Great Buddha, Daibutsu. It is the world’s largestwooden building despite the reconstruction being only two thirds the original size.

Ganjin, a Chinese priest who was invited by the emperor of Japan to spread Buddhism, founded ToshodaijiTemple in 759. Each year on June 6, the anniversary of Ganjin’s death, a wooden statue of Ganjin isdisplayed to the public. His tomb is also located on temple grounds.

Sample Package Includes:4 days, 3 nights accommodation • Daily continental breakfast • All hotel taxes, tips & surcharge • Departurepack •

Package price per person double occupancy: $350Single supplement: $250

TOKYO & KYOTO – ITINERARY PLANNEROPEN COAST s YOUR JAPAN SPECIALISTS OKINAWA ISLAND s KERAMA ISLANDS s YONAGUNI ISLAND s THE SUNKEN LOST CITY California Seller of Travel: #2062607-40

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