A Balancing Act Educational Tours Japan Music Performance Tour

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1 A Balancing Act Educational Tours Japan Music Performance Tour Day 1/2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 ITINERARY SUMMARY CALGARY / TOKYO overnight Flights Private Coach Transportation from airport to Hotel Time to rest or explore the hotel complex and grab dinner on your own Transportation: Private Coach airport to Hotel Meals: On Board flight meals/dinner on own time at hotel complex Accommodations: Central Tokyo Hotel 4 nights Tokyo Edo-Museum Odaiba District Buffet Lunch at Taiyourou Odaiba Akihabara District Performance & exchange at Tokyo Kaisei High School Sukiyaki Dinner at Momo Paradise Shinjuku Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Buffet Lunch, Sukiyaki Dinner Accommodations: Central Tokyo Hotel Entrance Fees: Tokyo Edo-Museum Imperial Palace Hamarukyu Garden Sumida River Cruise BBQ Lunch at Niku no Hanamasa Asakusabashi Ueno Park Performance The Museum of Contemporary Art Japanese Set Dinner at Hokkaido Shinagawa Intercity Meals: Buffet Breakfast, BBQ Lunch, Japanese Set Dinner Accommodations: Central Tokyo Hotel Entrance Fees: Imperial Palace, Hamarukyu Garden, Sumida River Cruise, The Museum of Contemporary Art Onomatu Sumo Room Sumo Stable Meiji Shrine & Harajuku Attend Rehearsal of the Tokyo Philharmonic Japanese set lunch at Sakanaya Mohei Asakusa Asakusa Sensoji Temple and the Nakamise Shopping District Roppongi Hills Observation Deck Dinner on own at Roppongi Hills before returning to the hotel Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Japanese Set Lunch Accommodations: Central Tokyo Hotel Entrance Fees: Sumo Stable, Tokyo Philharmonic Rehearsal, Asakusa Sensoji Temple, Roppongi Hills Observation Deck

2 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Transfer from Tokyo to Hamamatsu by Shinkansen Bullet Train Hamamatsu Musical Instrument Museum Japanese Set Lunch at Nihokai Shoya Yamaha Piano Factory Transfer from Hamamatsu to Kyoto by Shinkansen Bullet Train Upon arrival at Kyoto Station, free for shopping and dinner on your own at Kyoto Station Transfer to your hotel Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Japanese Set Lunch Accommodations: Central Kyoto Hotel 2 nights, Bullet Train Entrance Fees: Hamamatsu Musical Instrument Museum, Yamaha Piano Factory Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony at Bikouen Kiyomizu Temple Japanese Set Lunch at Nishijin Onomiyasu Nijo Castle Fushimi Inari Shrine Exchange and performance at Heian High School Gion Corner Traditional Performing Arts Show Shabu-shubu Dinner at Gyuzen Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Japanese Set Lunch, Shabu-shubu Dinner Accommodations: Central Kyoto Hotel Entrance Fees: Japanese Tea Ceremony, Kiyomizu Temple, Nijo Castle, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Gion Corner Traditional Performing Arts Show Transfer from Kyoto to Osaka via Private Coach Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium Lunch on own at Naniwa Food Theme Park Performance at Osaka Expo Park Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade & Dinner on own at the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade Meals: Buffet Breakfast Accommodations: Osaka Hotel Transportation: Private Coach to Osaka & transfers to all activities Entrance Fees: Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium, Osaka Expo Park Transfer to Osaka Itami Airport OSAKA / CALGARY Flights Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Meals on Board Flight Transportation: Private Coach airport transfer

3 JAPAN ACTIVITES Edo-Tokyo Museum - The museum's permanent exhibition vividly illustrates the past of Tokyo (formerly Edo) through its exhibits and covers many features of the capital from the Edo Period to relatively recent decades. In an interactive way, visitors are able to experience and learn about various aspects of earlier Tokyo, such as the way of life of people, Edo Period architecture, cultural heritage, political climate, commercial situation and more. Through numerous models of towns, figurines and life-sized figures, the museum makes it interesting to find out about how towns were constructed in the past Odaiba District is a popular shopping and entertainment district on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. It originated as a set of small man-made fort islands (daiba literally means "fort"), which were built towards the end of the Edo Period ( ) to protect Tokyo against possible attacks from the sea and specifically in response to the gunboat diplomacy of Commodore Perry. The Rainbow Bridge connects Odaiba to the rest of Tokyo. The two story bridge is an iconic symbol of the bay and is especially beautiful during its nightly illumination. Odaiba has developed into one of Tokyo's most popular tourist attractions with a wide selection of shopping, dining and leisure options. Akihabara District - is a district in central Tokyo that is famous for its many electronics shops. In more recent years, Akihabara has gained recognition as the center of Japan's otaku culture, and many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district. Imperial Palace - The current Imperial Palace is located on the former site of Edo Castle, a large park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the center of Tokyo. Edo Castle used to be the seat of the Tokugawa shogun who ruled Japan from 1603 until It is now the residence of Japan's Imperial Family. Hama Rikyu Garden - is a large, attractive landscape garden in central Tokyo, alongside Tokyo Bay. Features seawater ponds which change level with the tides, and a teahouse on an island where visitors can rest and enjoy the scenery. It was originally built as a feudal lord's Tokyo residence and duck hunting grounds during the Edo Period ( ), but later served as a strolling garden and as an imperial detached palace before eventually being opened to the public in its current form. Sumida River Cruise This Water Bus runs from Asakusa to Hama Rikyu garden (45 minutes) along the Sumida River, one of the city's most famous rivers. Travelling by suijo-bus (water bus) down the Sumida River not only gets you a faceful of fresh air, but brings you closer to Tokyo s riverborne heritage. When you re hemmed in by concrete and glass, it s easy to forget that Tokyo s vibrant river systems are the arteries through which its commerce has traditionally flowed, from the Edo period to the present day. Ueno Park is a large public park in central Tokyo. The grounds were originally part of Kaneiji Temple, which used to be one of the city's largest and wealthiest temples and a family temple of the ruling Tokugawa clan during the Edo Period. The temple grounds were converted into one of Japan's first Western style parks and opened to the public in Roppongi Hills is one of the best examples of a city within the city. Opened in 2003 in the heart of Tokyo's Roppongi district, the building complex features offices, apartments, shops, restaurants, a hotel, art museum, observation deck and more. At the center of Roppongi Hills stands the 238 meter Mori Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the city at 54- stories. Roppongi Hills Observation Deck is located at the top of the Mori Tower. The Tokyo City View observation deck has high ceiling and glass walls that extend all the way around the building, giving visitors views of the entire city. The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo - This huge, city-owned showpiece opened in 1995 on reclaimed swampland in a distant part of Tokyo. The Museum houses a collection of around 3,800 works tracing the history of contemporary art. The museums definition of modern art is post-1945 fine art produced by new creative activities reflecting international trends. The collection includes avant-garde works from Japan and other nations. These help visitors understand contemporary art in an international perspective. The permanent exhibition includes over one hundred pieces from the collection, including works by Andy Warhol and Tadanori Yokoo, to help visitors appreciate trends in contemporary art.

4 Sumo Stable - The origins of sumo date back 2000 years and is based on strict rituals and traditions. This tour takes you to a real traditional Sumo Stable (Beya) where you are able to witness a real sumo wrestler training section. Meiji Shrine - is a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park make up a large forested area within the densely built-up city. The shrine was completed and dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the passing of the emperor and six years after the passing of the empress. Harajuku - is the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historic sights. The focal point of Harajuku's teenage culture is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, which are lined by many trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothes stores, crepe stands and fast food outlets geared towards the fashion and trend conscious teens. The Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra has the longest history and tradition of any orchestra in Japan, having been originally established in Nagoya in It is currently the largest orchestra in Japan with 166 members and is distinguished for its active and varied schedule embracing symphonic concerts, opera and ballet. Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra performs regularly at Tokyo's most distinguished Suntory and Orchard Halls and at Tokyo Opera City where it has its base. Asakusa Kannon Temple Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon) Temple, is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. It is one of Tokyo's most colorful and popular temples. The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple. Nakamise Shopping District - A shopping street of over 200 meters, called Nakamise, leads from the outer gate to the temple's second gate, the Hozomon. Alongside typical Japanese souvenirs such as yukata and folding fans, various traditional local snacks from the Asakusa area are sold along the Nakamise. The shopping street has a history of several centuries. Hamamatsu, a city where companies like Yamaha and Kawai produce a large number of reed organs, as well as being the base for these world class organizations, strove to establish itself as a "city of music," so to speak. ACT City Hamamatsu - Located right next to Hamamatsu Station, this distinctive landmark acts as a focal point for the performing arts, culture and industry. Its Main Hall holds Japan s first four-faced stage and its smaller Concert Hall is perfect for musical events. The building also houses an event hall, conference rooms, a hotel and various commercial facilities. ACT CITY Hamamatsu has five outdoor public spaces filled with light and greenery; Sunken Plaza, Music Square, Chopin Hill, Recreation Square, and the Sun Square. This is a space beneath the blue sky filled with tranquility, and is opened to the public where lively concerts can be enjoyed without the aim of making a profit. In addition, each outdoor facility exhibits various arts such as monuments and statues. At the top of the hill called "Chopin Hill", a part of Act City Open Space, stands the 2/3 scale replica statue of Frederic Chopin by Waclaw Szymanowski presented from Warsaw in 1994 to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Sister Cities in Music and Culture in I Hamamatsu Musical Instrument Museum - The building houses roughly 1300 instruments from around the world which are lined up on display in separate exhibits representing Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Japan. There is a system that allows visitors to listen to the sounds of each instrument on a set of earphones and also movies that introduce certain instruments such that even upon seeing one for the first time, people can learn about the way they sound and how they are played. In the "hands-on room," you can try playing a variety of instruments for yourself. Aside from drums, pianos, and guitars, rare and handmade instruments from Africa, Indonesia, and Mongolia are all at your disposal.

5 Yamaha Piano Factory - Hamamatsu is home to many musical corporations and was the first city in Japan to manufacture pianos. In Japan, Torakusu Yamaha, the founder of Yamaha Corporation, succeeded in making the first Japanese piano in Today, Yamaha is the biggest piano manufacturer on earth and has so far supplied the world with a cumulative total of roughly 6.3 million pianos. Kyoto is one of the most culturally rich cities in Asia. Home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, over 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, this ancient city showcases the heart and soul of traditional Japan. Kyoto boasts an array of world class gardens, majestic festivals and delicate cuisine, all of which make much of the rhythms of nature and the changing of the seasons. Japanese Tea Ceremony - Chado or Sado (referred to as "tea ceremony" and/or "the way of tea") is a traditional ritual influenced by Zen Buddhism. Powdered green tea (matcha) is ceremonially prepared by adding hot water and mixing it with a bamboo whisk. Then it is served in a stylized manner by a kimono-clad woman in a Japanese tea room. Kiyomizu Temple - "Pure Water Temple" is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto, and derives its name from the fall's pure waters. In 1994, the temple was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. Kiyomizudera is best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. Behind Kiyomizudera's main hall stands Jishu Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deity of love and matchmaking. The Otowa Waterfall is located at the base of Kiyomizudera's main hall. Its waters are divided into three separate streams, and visitors use cups attached to long poles to drink from them. Each stream's water is said to have a different benefit, namely to cause longevity, success at school and a fortunate love life. Nijo Castle - was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period ( ). His grandson Iemitsu completed the castle's palace buildings 23 years later and further expanded the castle by adding a five story castle keep. Its palace buildings are arguably the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era, and the castle was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in Fushimi Inari Shrine - Fushimi Inari Taisha is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Fushimi Inari Shrine has ancient origins, predating the capital's move to Kyoto in 794. At the shrine's entrance stands the Romon Gate, which was donated in 1589 by the famous leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Traditional Performing Arts Show - Gion Corner is a place where you can take in seven kinds of Japan's traditional performing arts all on one stage: Kyo-Mai Dance, Flower Arrangement, Tea Ceremony, Gagaku Court Music, Kyogen Theatre & Bunraku Puppet Theatre. With a population of 2.5 million, Osaka is Japan's third largest and second most important city. It has been the economic powerhouse of the Kansai region for many centuries. Osaka was formerly known as Naniwa. Before the Nara Period, when the capital used to be moved with the reign of each new emperor, Naniwa was once Japan's capital city, the first one ever known. Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine - "Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine" is one of Japan's oldest shrines. Founded in the 3rd century before the introduction of Buddhism, it displays a unique style of shrine architecture, called Sumiyoshi-zukuri, which is free of influence from the Asian mainland. Sumiyoshi-zukuri is characterized by straight roofs (as opposed to the curved roofs commonly built in later centuries) which are decorated by two sets of forked finials (chigi) and five horizontal billets (katsuogi). Leading to the entrance of the main shrine grounds is the beautiful Sorihashi Bridge, which creates a uniquely high arch over a pond.

6 Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium - Within the Tempozan Harbor Village at the center of the Bay Area you will find, housed in a structure of remarkable design, the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, one of the largest aquariums in the world. Consisting of 15 water tanks centered on a single huge tank holding 5,400 tons of water, it is home to 580 species and 30,000 marine animals from the Pacific Rim everything from strangely delightful jellyfish, to playfully chortling sea otters, to dolphins, penguins, and even a pair of majestic giant whale sharks, the largest fish on earth. Naniwa Food Theme Park - A food theme park where Osaka s finest gourmet restaurants with a long history are clustered to serve curry, kushi-katsu, takoyaki, etc. All the food represents the food culture of Kansai. The Kuishinbo yokocho (gastronomy alley) is a re-make of downtown Osaka of the 70 s when the Expo 70 World Fair was held. Expo 70 Commemorative Park in Osaka was built on the site of the Japan World Exposition 1970 and is about 260 Hectares. In the huge park, there are a some facilities of the Expo 70, such as the Japanese Garden and the Japan Folk Crafts Museum, Osaka. Parking lots at that time were converted into sporting facilities and recreation spots. The site of theme pavilions is forests and seasonal flower gardens now. The park is known as a cultural park embracing natural environment. The park has five areas; the Japanese Garden, the Natural and Cultural Gardens, cultural institution area, sports and recreation area, and parking area. Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade - Shinsaibashi Suji is one of Osaka's oldest and busiest shopping destinations which runs about 600 meters in length. Shinsaibashi Suji's collection of brand name shops, chain stores, independent boutiques and variety of restaurants makes it popular with nearly every kind of shopper.

A Balancing Act Tours Japan Cultural Tour to Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka 7 Nights 9 Days ITINERARY SUMMARY

A Balancing Act Tours Japan Cultural Tour to Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka 7 Nights 9 Days ITINERARY SUMMARY Days 1 & 2 Day 3 Overnight Flights to Tokyo Welcome to Tokyo! Tour Guide will greet you at the airport