JAPAN with CLASSICAL KING FM April 12 22, 2019

Transcription

1 JAPAN with CLASSICAL KING FM April 12 22, 2019 For the first time in the history of KING FM s Travel Club, we invite you to join lovers of classical music, art, food, history and culture on a fascinating journey to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. For 10 unforgettable days, you will discover the splendor and grace of Japanese temples, gardens, palaces, shrines and modern landmarks. Classical music concerts will abound and feature Japan s top orchestras such as the NHK Symphony performing in extraordinary venues. Four-star hotels, superb hospitality, impeccable service and sumptuous cuisine await you in a country known for its legendary attention to details. This trip is exclusive and limited to 32 lucky travelers. TRIP AT A GLANCE 1 Overnight flight to Tokyo 5 Nights Tokyo 4 Nights Kyoto 1 Overnight flight to US

2 As a professional conductor, I have had the privilege of leading orchestras abroad and one of those destinations was Japan. There, I discovered a great dedication to Western symphonic music and a very passionate following. I was most impressed by the musicians extreme dedication and commitment to this great musical art. Tokyo alone is home of five excellent orchestras including the famous NHK Symphony, which we will attend in a performance of music by R. Strauss, Berlioz and Janacek. We will attend two others classical concerts featuring top Japanese orchestras*, and our tour would not be complete without traditional Japanese music which will reveal the finest keepers of century- old folk traditions. Dave Beck and I very much look forward to exploring with you the musical, artistic and architectural beauty of this fascinating country. Christophe Chagnard, Artistic Advisor to KING FM s Travel Club * season begins on April 1st in Japan and will be released shortly but we know our travelers need to make their travel arrangements well in advance. We are working with the finest Japanese orchestras to curate a musical program for our group to KING FM s highest standards and will update our itinerary as soon as have secured these performances. Christophe Chagnard - KING FM Travel Club Artistic Advisor Christophe is a French conductor, composer and guitarist, and is one of the most sought-after musicians in the Pacific Northwest. Chagnard is the Music Director of the Lake Union Civic Orchestra (LUCO) which he has led since 2000 and was cofounder and Music Director of the Grammy nominated Northwest Sinfonietta from 1991 to Dave Beck hosts KING FM s midday show and our weekly Seattle Symphony Spotlight. Dave began his career in broadcasting at KUOW in 1985 where he was music director and the award-winning winning producer of KUOW Presents. An active musician (cellist) as well as broadcaster, Dave is a member of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra and has played as principal cellist of the Bellevue Philharmonic and Seattle Philharmonic Orchestras. He is a past president of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra board and regularly plays chamber music around Seattle. A University of Washington music graduate, his cello instructors have included Toby Saks, Raymond Davis and Cordelia Wikarski Miedel. This will be Dave s second trip with the KING FM Travel Club. He is most excited about sharing music and cultural adventures with fellow travelers in Japan.

3 YOUR KING FM JOURNEY INCLUDES With KING FM announcer Dave Beck With Travel Club artistic advisor Christophe Chagnard Tickets to the NHK Symphony Orchestra Plus two additional classical concerts (TBA) One traditional concert in a unique venue Pre-concert talks with your hosts Four star hotels throughout Guided visits to temples, gardens, markets and museums Transfers by private coach High speed train tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto Airport transfers for those arriving/departing with the group Daily excursions with English speaking expert local guides All breakfasts plus ten additional culinary experiences Outings to colorful markets Travel with like-minded KING FM supporters FEATURED & INCLUDED PERFORMANCES: A symphonic concert with the NHK Symphony in a program featuring soprano Veronique Gens and Czech conductor Jakub Hrusa, Brand new productions of Puccini s Gianni Schicchi and Zemlinsky s A Florentine Tragedy at the New National Theatre in Tokyo, A private classical chamber music concert in Kyoto, A recital by one of Japan s finest koto players, Chiaki Endo, that you may have applauded in Seattle for Celebrate Asia with the Seattle Symphony A full immersion into the fascinating world of Kabuki, Japan s oldest and most revered art form, at Kyoto s Minamiza Theater. TRIP FACTS 12 Days / 11 Nights (when including air travel) $6,195 per person double occupancy $1,399 Single Supplement Trip departs the USA on April 12 Trip begins in Tokyo at 6:00pm on April 13 Trip ends on April 22

4 Not included: Travel insurance * Any items not mentioned in your KING FM itinerary * International Air tickets $1, Optional Group Air on Delta Direct: Direct round trip air on Delta Airlines from Seattle to Tokyo and return from Osaka to Seattle Includes airport transfers, taxes and all fees YOUR KING FM CLASSICAL ADVENTURE BEGINS! DAY 1: Friday, April 12 - Depart the USA for Tokyo An optional group flight departs today for Tokyo. DAY 2: Saturday, April 13 - Arrive in Tokyo Konichiwa! Welcome to Tokyo, Japan s ultra-modern capital. You ll be transferred to your accommodation in Tokyo by a private motor coach upon arrival. Relax and rest up before meeting your KING FM hosts and local guide for an orientation followed by dinner. Sleep in Tokyo at the Keio Plaza Hotel (D)

5 DAY 3: Sunday, April 14 - Discover Tokyo Tokyo is a big city and we have a lot to see! This morning meet your guide and hosts after breakfast for a full day of discovery in Tokyo. Our highlights include the Asakusa District, the Buddhist temple of Sensoji, Kokyo Gaien plaza gardens of the Imperial Palace and the Meiji Shrine* with its spectacular 40 foot Torii gate. We'll go to the top of the Tokyo Skytree for a 360 view of the city too. Our first concert is by the NHK Symphony, Japan's finest orchestra in a great program including Richard Strauss' "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" (with its famous opening which was used in Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey"), Berlioz' "The Death of Cleopatra" featuring soprano extraordinaire Veronique Gens, and Janacek's Sinfonietta, a specialty of Czech conductor Jakub Hrusa. Sleep in Tokyo (B, L) *In preparation for Meiji Shrine's 100th anniversary in 2020, renovation works are carried out on some of the shrine's buildings from spring 2016 to October Efforts are made to keep the impact on visitors very low.* DAY 4: Monday, April 15 - Hamarikyu Gardens and Tokyo National Museum Known for the exquisite attention to detail, today we see examples of this as we visit a few of Japan's most beautiful gardens: Kiyosumi Teien gardens built around a series of ponds, the Hamarikyu Gardens, and the Koishikawa Korakuen gardens. As one of Tokyo's oldest and famous gardens, the Koishikawa Korakuen was built in the early Edo period as the residence for an important samurai family. After a delicious lunch, we head inside to the Tokyo National Museum, one of the largest and best collections of art and archeological artifacts, made up of over 110,000 individual items including nearly a hundred national treasures. In addition to the exhibition halls, there is also a Japanese style garden, tea houses, shops and cafes spread out around the grounds. Sleep in Tokyo (B, L)

6 DAY 5: Tuesday, April 16 - River Cruise You ll have a free morning to explore and discover Tokyo on your own. (Your luggage will be forwarded to your hotel in Kyoto. Please bring with you what you need for one night in Tokyo.) Your guide will escort you to the pier in Asakusa to board a Sumida river cruise for a refreshing view of Tokyo. The juxtaposition of the old town with the Tokyo Skytree and other notable skyscrapers on the riverside highlights the evolution of this dynamic city. You are free to explore Tokyo on your own until being transferred to our concert this evening. Tonight, enjoy a recital by one of Japan's finest koto player: Chiaki Endo. Ms. Endo is not only a complete master of her traditional instrument, she has also collaborated with orchestras world-wide such as the Seattle Symphony which featured her as soloist on "Celebrate Asia." This KING FM Travel Club exclusive private recital will allow you to experience her great artistry up close and engage in a post-concert Q&A. Sleep in Tokyo (B) DAY 6: Wednesday, April 17 Discover Tokyo Enjoy the spacious lawns, meandering paths and tranquil scenery of Shinjuku Gyoen, one of Tokyo's largest parks. In spring it becomes one of the most popular places in the city to see cherry blossoms. Next, visit the Edo Tokyo Museum, learn about how Tokyo changed from a small fishing village into the largest metropolis in the world. Interactive exhibits explain more about the many waterways, trade routes and geography that surround the city. Then make your way to Tsukiji Outer Fish Market, the world s largest wholesale fish and seafood market. It is lined with more than 400 shops selling everything related to food, from fresh ingredients to cooking utensils. The Outer Market is also a private market it will stay put even in the event the Inner Market relocates.

7 Enjoy double-feature one-act operas at the New National Theatre, Tokyo. Brand new productions of Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi" and Zemlinsky's "A Florentine Tragedy" will be featured as they are shorter operas which are most often presented in pairs and provide great contrast in a single thrilling performance! After the concert, head to Ginza District. Named after a silver mint which once existed there, an abundance of money is still the Ginza s best-known feature. Expect to see the flagship stores of many luxury brands. This afternoon we visit the manmade island of Odaiba. Created from massive landfills, the island features hypermodern and strange buildings best described as the result of a preschooler's architecture class! Among the pavilions, indoor shopping malls, game centers, cafes, restaurants, and surrealistic constructions of Odaiba, visitors are often intrigued that this island seems to hail from the future rather than the past. Sleep in Tokyo (B, D) DAY 7: Thursday, April 18 South to Kyoto by High Speed Train This morning, we transfer to Tokyo Station to board the famous bullet train! trains travel at speeds of up to 300km/hr and cover the 513km distance to Kyoto in approximately 2.3 hours. Upon arrival, you will discover the charm and tranquility of Arashiyama, located on the Western outskirts of Kyoto. Start the day at Okochi Mountain Villa, the former estate of famed film star Okochi Denjiro. Walk around the splendid gardens, which have impressive viewpoints of the city below. The villa itself is considered the finest example of traditional Japanese residential architecture in the country. Take a moment to enjoy a complimentary matcha green tea and traditional Japanese sweets in this charming setting. Now, it s time to lose yourself on a peaceful stroll through the bamboo grove. An important material for products and construction, bamboo also grows tall, narrow and dense, creating a hushed and serene feeling as you pass through. Finish off at Tenryuji Temple, a 14th century temple that was built by the ruling Shogun Ashikaga Takauji to appease the spirit of Emporer Go-Daigo. Takauji was his ally, before he turned against the emperor in a struggle for supremacy over Japan. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, take in the simplistic beauty of this important Zen Temple, before exploring its grounds. The gardens are true to their original design, with a peaceful reflective pond and stately pine trees enveloped by the forested mountains of Arashiyama. Take a moment to contemplate and put your mind at ease, before returning to Kyoto. Sleep in Kyoto at the The Royal Park Hotel Shijo (B, L)

8 DAY 8: Friday, April 19 - Kyoto We begin the day with a visit to Kiyomizu Temple, also known as the Pure Water Temple. First, take in the majestic views from the 13-metre high veranda, before further exploring the grounds and crowded tourist shopping street Matsubara-dori full of shops and restaurants. You will then have some free time to explore Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka which is a preserved area with restored shop houses where you can imagine what Kyoto looked like before modernity descended. Next, make your way to Chionin, the head temple of the Jodo sect of Japanese Buddhism, which has millions of followers and is one the most popular Buddhist sects in Japan. The temple has spacious grounds and large buildings. Finally, you will visit Maruyama Park - Kyoto s most popular park for cherry blossom viewing - located in the center of Higashiyama district. Tonight we'll attend a private classical chamber music concert in Kyoto featuring some of the city s finest musicians. This concert is catered for our travelers only and will allow you to experience the intimacy of chamber music as it was meant to be shared. Sleep in Kyoto (B, L) *Kiyomizu Temple's main hall is covered up from February 2017 to March 2020 for the renovation of its roof. Visitors will be able to enter the main hall during the renovations*

9 DAY 9: Saturday, April 20 - A Day in Kyoto Start your day by strolling through Miyagawa-cho, one of the five active Hanamachi which literally translates as flower town. Continue to Gion Hanami Koji Street and enjoy the aroma from classic Japanese restaurants and the view of Ochaya, otherwise known as Japanese tea rooms. You may even happen to see a Geisha or a Maiko (apprentice Geisha) while walking around this historical area. Make your way to Kenninji temple, the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto which was established in Explore Karesansui, a famous Japanese rock garden, and admire 'Fujinraijinzu', a picture drawn by Soutatu Tawaraya and a national treasure that you may already have heard of. Today we'll also dive into the fascinating world of Kabuki at Kyoto's Minamiza Theater. Kabuki is one of Japan's oldest and most revered art form which includes singing, dancing and story-telling, certainly one of the most fascinating cultural experiences in the country of the rising sun. Finally, we head to Yasaka Shrine. Founded over 1350 years ago, the shrine connects the Geisha District of Gion with the beautiful Higashiyama Temple District. In the afternoon, you are free to explore Kyoto on your own. Sleep in Kyoto (B, L)

10 DAY 10: Sunday, April 21 - Kyoto Today, you will visit two beautiful and iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Ginkakuji and Nanzenji. Begin with Ginkakuji, also known as the Silver Pavilion, a Zen temple with a beautiful moss garden and a unique dry sand garden. Then, take a walk on the Philosopher s Path, a pleasant stone path through the northern part of Kyoto's Higashiyama district, which follows a canal lined by hundreds of cherry trees. Finally, we move on to Nanzenji to admire the garden and painted sliding doors at the Hojo, the former head priest's residence and Nanzenji's main hall. Enjoy farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Sleep in Kyoto (B, D) Day 11: Monday, April 22 - Your KING FM tour concludes Sayonara! A complimentary transfer to Kansai International Airport for those travelers on the group flight. (B)