Kyoto Culture & Kumano Kodo Trek April 4 19, 2017 Leader: Kris Ashton Dear Fellow CMC Member: Thank you for your interest in the Adventure Travel outing Kyoto Culture & Kumano Kodo Trek. To apply for a place on the outing, please contact the leader for a Participant Application. Complete the Application (including the signed Personal Risk Statement and Cancellation Policy) and return it to the trip leader. Please review the following items carefully as you consider applying for this trip: The group will have a maximum of 10 persons including the leader. There will be an English speaking guide accompanying us on the Kumano Kodo trek. Accommodation is double occupancy in both Western style and Japanese style rooms. Please see the detailed itinerary on the CMC website for accommodation details. Once you apply, you will be notified if you are accepted for the outing. Once accepted, submit a $500 deposit to the CMC to reserve a place ($350 is non refundable; see Cancellation Policy in the Application). Please do not send money before it is requested. The remaining balance is payable by November 4, 2016. The price of the trip includes: See attached summary of what is and is not included in the trip price. The trip begins in Kyoto, Japan and ends in Osaka, Japan. Participants will fly into and out of Osaka (recommend Kansai International Airport KIX) as there is no airport in Kyoto (or arrive in Kyoto from another location within Japan). You will need to arrive in Kyoto on or before April 4, 2017 Prerequisites for the trip are a good attitude, tolerance, and excellent physical conditioning as we will be walking 3 4 miles/day in Kyoto and doing C level hikes over a variety of terrains and elevations on the Kumano Kodo trek. The Kumano Kodo passes through dense forest and mountainous trails that could include dirt paths, exposed rocks, tree roots and stone steps. Shrines and temples are often located at the top of a hill, so there could be many steps up to the shrine. Do not be misled by the distances indicated on the itinerary the terrain is mountainous and difficult. Hikes will be between 3 13 miles (there are 2 short segments and 4 long segments). You should plan to bring a daypack that will carry equipment comparable to what you would bring on a typical day hike in the Pacific Northwest during the spring months (meaning it could be quite rainy). In addition to your day pack, you are allowed one piece of luggage (carry on size, as you will be carrying it on/off trains, subway, buses, and along sidewalks). Any bag larger than carry on size will not be transported on the Kumano Kodo trek section of the trip. NOTE: there is one night on the Kumano Kodo trek section where we will not have access to our luggage, so participants will need to have everything they need for that night in their daypack. 2017 Kyoto Culture & KK Trek Welcome Letter 2/26/2016
Kyoto Culture & Kumano Kodo Trek A visa is NOT necessary for US passport holders visiting Japan for a short term stay of less than 90 days and for the purpose of tourism and business. Attendance at the pre trip planning meeting is mandatory, as there will be much to discuss. Location will be the CMC office in Golden, and you will receive ample notice of the date and time. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, we can set up a virtual meeting link for you. Topics will include suggested equipment, packing, training, cultural notes, and security precautions. A selection of maps, handouts and guidebooks will be available for your review. Please let me know what questions you may have I am at your disposal! Kinkakuji temple (Golden Pavilion) in Kyoto Traditional geiko/maiko dance in Kyoto Along the Kumano Kodo trail Spring Festival at Hongu Taisha Japanese bath Japanese meal 2017 Kyoto Culture & KK Trek Welcome Letter 2/26/2016
Kyoto Culture & Kumano Kodo Trek A note about Japanese culture: There are certain Western behaviors and attitudes that, when demonstrated by us, could be extremely embarrassing to the people we will interact with. Please see the attached cultural notes and DO NOT sign up for this trip if you are uncomfortable with anything you read there. <Attach> 2017 Kyoto Culture & KK Trek Included/Not included 2017 Kyoto Culture & KK Trek Cultural Notes 2017 Kyoto Culture & KK Trek Welcome Letter 2/26/2016
2017 CMC Kyoto Culture & Kumano Kodo Trek Experience Japan at the peak of cherry blossom time! What s included in the trip cost: Kyoto: 4 nights, 3 full days, including: 4 nights' accommodation in a Western style hotel w/breakfast 2 dinners, including welcome dinner Guided walking tour, including Tofukuji temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine Guided evening walk in Gion area (hopefully we will see geiko and maiko) Kinkakuji temple visit Arashiyama Bamboo Forest visit Miyako Odori tea ceremony and dance performance (maiko/geiko dance) Path of Philosophy walk, Nanzenji temple and Shinnydo temple area visits All bus/subway/train travel within Kyoto to/from these events Train transportation from Kyoto to Tanabe (½ day) Tanabe: 2 nights, 1.5 full days, including: English speaking guide 2 nights' accommodation in a Western style hotel w/breakfast 2 dinners, including one Izakaya experience (traditional Japanese pub) Guided walking tour of Tanabe (local shrines, fish market, etc.) Organic garden tour with lunch in the garden (transportation by private bus) Ume factory tour and tasting (Ume is a local fruit from which many products are made) Bus transportation from Tanabe to Takijiri (start of Kumano Kodo trek) Kumano Kodo trek: 8 nights, 9 days, including: English speaking guide 8 nights' Japanese style accommodation including most meals 6 day trek on Kumano Kodo; visiting Kumano Sanzen (3 grand shrines) Spring Festival and Yunobori Shinto Festival in Hongu Taisha Traditional Boat Tour to Shingu; visit of Shingu; bus back All local transportation within the Kumano Kodo area Luggage transfer Train transportation from Katsuura (end of Kumano Kodo) to Osaka (½ day) Osaka: 1 night, ½ day, including: 1 night's accommodation in Western style hotel in Osaka Farewell dinner 2017 Kyoto Culture KK Trek Included/Not Included2/18/2016
What s not included in the trip cost: Required travel (cancellation/interruption/etc.) and travel medical insurance RT airfare to/from Osaka; approximately $1400 Ground transportation from Osaka airport to Kyoto; approximately $30 Beverages aside from tea served with meals Pharmacy/medical costs Optional components of temple visits Bus/subway/train within Kyoto when on your own Activities within Kyoto when on your own Souvenirs, gifts, etc. 7 lunches, 2 dinners Alternative transportation (bus, taxi, etc.) on Kumano trek if you take it Ground transportation from Osaka hotel to airport; approximately $10 Personal gift for our Kumano Kodo guide (tipping is not the custom in Japan); a homemade, personal gift of something edible is the best 2017 Kyoto Culture KK Trek Included/Not Included2/18/2016
2017 CMC Kyoto Culture & Kumano Kodo Trek Experience Japan at the peak of cherry blossom time! Cultural Notes Shoes Do not wear your outside shoes inside the house or accommodation. There is always a place to remove your outside shoes and change into slippers that are provided by the accommodation. Do not wear ANY shoes into a room where the floor is covered with tatami mats or carpeting. Take the shoes off at the doorway. There are special slippers for the toilet. Leave your house slippers outside the door and put the toilet slippers on. DO NOT wear the toilet slippers outside of the toilet this is extremely offensive. Bath The bath in Japan is not for bathing it is for soaking. The bath water is kept clean because it is only for soaking and not bathing. It is not changed between uses. Before entering the bath you must wash completely first, using the facilities provided in the room (handheld shower or bucket of water, soap/shampoo, etc.) NEVER use soap/shampoo in the bath. Be careful to not splash wash water into the bath. Generally you sit on a low stool to wash there aren t really stand up showers. The bath is communal and public. You may be in there with other people. It is possible that there could be people in there of both genders. You cannot wear any towel, clothing, swim suit or trunks into the bath. Do not put your head under the bath water or let your hair touch the water. It is permitted to wrap your hair with a towel but the towel should never touch the water. Never put a towel in the bath water. Toilet You will never encounter a dirty toilet or toilet room. The toilet is almost always in a separate room. Toilet sounds are offensive and so you may encounter toilet seats with music. Toilets (the seat, really) are equipped with bidet like features and a warm dryer. Do no leave any trace of anything in the toilet. There is always a brush nearby to clean it. Dirty toilets are extremely offensive. Close the door when you are finished using the toilet. Blowing your nose Blowing your nose in public is considered offensive. If you need to blow your nose do so in the toilet. Never use a handkerchief. Always use a single use tissue and dispose of it in a trash can. 2017 Kyoto Culture & KK Trek Cultural Notes 2/19/2016
Noise Japanese people are very quiet for the most part and find noise (and noisy people) offensive. Never talk on your mobile phone on any public transportation (bus, subway, train, etc.) Speak at a whisper what Americans would consider a low voice is loud to Japanese and would embarrass them or be offensive. Complaining It is not done in Japan and is considered offensive. They have a saying that goes something like can t do anything about it so shut up. Please don t complain. Ever. About anything. Food and drink You may get a lot of food. It is not polite to leave any of it behind on your plate even a single grain of rice. If you don t like a lot of food then learn how to say not so much food, please in Japanese. It is considered impolite to take a drink of your beverage before the host or leader has made a toast. Kampai is the typical toast. Tipping and gifts Tipping is not done in Japan and is considered offensive. Instead, it is considered polite to offer a small gift that is beautifully wrapped to your host, guide, etc. For our trip I am asking each person to provide a small gift to our Kumano Kodo guide only. Japanese homes are quite small with little space, so gifts of things are awkward. Instead, give a gift of something edible (candy, chocolate, etc.). The best gift is something that you ve made yourself. Of course Japan has candy and chocolate but I understand it is quite expensive, so this is always a good choice for a gift. Gifts from home are better than gifts bought there (and will cost less). The wrapping is more important than the content of the gift. Take a moment to create a visuallypleasing gift wrapping. Look on the internet for ideas or have your gift wrapped at the place you buy it in Japan. Color has particular meaning in Japan so research this a bit and be sure your gift is appropriately wrapped. Note: Japanese people may feel compelled to give you a gift in return, which would typically be better than the gift you gave them. Then you have to return another gift (better), etc. and soon this can spiral out of control. In our case we won t be anywhere long enough for this to happen but just be aware of it. In general Japanese people are extremely polite and gentle and so we should be too. Please don t sign up for this trip if you expect things to be the way they are here in America. 2017 Kyoto Culture & KK Trek Cultural Notes 2/19/2016