Japan Trip
Ronnie Seldin
price of Japan Travel Bureau). I have been taking students (I teach
Shakuhachi professionally, full-time, for the past 27 years..For more info,
visit my website at: www.sparklingbeatnik.com/seldin
Šor send me an email at : Nyog...@nyc.rr.com ), and anyone who is
interested in going to Japan every year since 1980. Many people return over
and over again. The tour is not only for Shakuhachi players/enthusiasts, but
there will be traditional japanese music on the tour. I close it at 9
people, so that we can change the itinerary, or so people can do different
things on different days (I have many people aiding me in Japan.
Tenri Tours 2000
May 19- Leave from JFK Airport to Itami Airport ,Osaka, Japan..
May 20- (In transit over the International date-line)..Arrive in Itami
Airport in the evening..Take a Bus to Tenri (a small , beautiful village in
Nara Prefecture).Stay at the TOHON TSUMESHO for the next 5-nights having
Breakfast and Dinner at the Tsumesho..
May 21- Spend the day getting used to Japan..Shop on Hondori..Take the first
two Besseki...We may visit the famous ethnic folk Museum- the Sankokan,
May 22- On this day we will see the oldest Shinto Shrine in Japan (ISE NO
KAMI JINGU), and walk on the oldest mountain road in Japan (YAMA NOBE NO
MICHI)..
We will also listen to 2 more Besseki Lectures..
May 23- We will leave for a day trip to Kyoto ,after Breakfast. Guided on
this day by Kurahashi Yoshio-Sensei, we will go to the Ennichi (Temple Sale)
at Kitano-Jinja..At this Japanese "Flea-market" , one can find true bargains
on kimono, scrolls, pottery, traditional instruments, etc.. We will return
to Tenri for dinner. Kurahashi Yoshio-Sensei will be our guide on this day
May 24- Is the day of the monthly festival in Tenri.. In the afternoon we
will visit the city of Nara, the first capital of Japan. In addition to
seeing the "sacred-deer", we will also visit the DAI-BUTTSU (the largest
wooden Buddha in the world- housed in the largest wooden structure !!..)..We
will also visit an art Museum of National treasures.
May 25-On this day we will go to Kyoto (where we will be staying at SORYO
BUN-KYOKAI). On the way there we will visit UJI -the birthplace of the
Tea-Ceremony, and also where we can get the best tea in Japan..We will visit
on of the oldest tea-Shops..We will also visit two Zen-Buddhist Temples
(BYODO-IN, and the "koto"-Temple)..In the evening we will visit HON DAIGO..
May 26- On this day we will visit two of the most famous gardens in Japan-
Katsura Rikyu and Shugaku-in.. They are both former Imperial Villa's, and
are exquisite..
May 27-We will visit the Buddhist Temple TOFUKUJI, as well as visiting the
downtown Kyoto area..There will probably be a traditional Japanese Music
Concert in the evening.
May 29- We will go to Kyoto Handicraft center as well as Heian Shrine (and
view the beautiful gardens behind the shrine)..In the evening we will have a
farewell party..
May 30- We will go to Tokyo where we will get settled in at Tohon
Dai-Kyokai..
May 31-
From June 1st -June 5th we will do the following activities in Tokyo..I'm
not sure yet which of the days will get the exact activities, so I will
arbitrarily (for the most part) assign them to each day...
June 1- is the monthly date for the Nyusha-Sai Ceremony at Tohon Grand
Church..We will be welcomed..We will also visit the famous ASAKUSA Shopping
area near Tohon..
June 2- We will perhaps visit the Art Museums in Ueno Park, and there will
be a concert at HON-NAKA Bun Kyokai in the afternoon/evening..
June 3- We will go to the Grand Kabuki (Kabuki-za) today..It is a
magnificent experience that lasts over 4 1/2 hours!!
June 4- On this day we will all go to the small village of Hitachi-Shi in
Ibaraki Prefecture..There we will visit a Shakuhachi maker (Sadao
Chinone),have a feast with him, and look at his farm, and work-studio. In
the late afternoon, we will perform in a Concert..
June 5- is our last day in Japan..It is a day for special interests..We may
visit the great Shakuhachi teacher AOKI-REIBO, or there can be more Temples,
AIKIDO -DOJO's, or something else.. And of course we must pack, and have
another farewell party !!
June 6- We return to New York, arriving before we left!! (Due to the
International Dateline!!..)