Page 204 - 2022 & 2023 Adventures by Land & Sea

Itinerary and we’ll learn more about the history of these Please note: Alternative activities may be substituted for
instruments when we speak with the drum master some of the visits described above depending on weather
this morning. Then, we’ll travel to the Asakusa conditions and museum hours.

DAY 1 • Depart U.S. area, where we’ll stroll down streets that host more B,L,D — Hotel Recove Hakone or similar
Depart the U.S. today on your overnight flight to than 100 shops selling everything from kitchen

Tokyo, Japan. appliances to hand-cut glass. We’ll have lunch at a DAY • Bullet train • Express train
women-owned and operated sushi restaurant where to Kanazawa
DAY 2 • Arrive Tokyo, Japan we’ll learn about the Controversial Topic of gender Today, we ride our first shinkansen (bullet train),

Arrive at the Tokyo airport today. An O.A.T. discrimination in the world of sushi chefs, followed boarding in Odawara for the first leg of our journey.
representative will meet you and assist with the by free time this afternoon. Tonight, we gather for a At 200 mph, it remains among the fastest trains in
transfer to our hotel in Tokyo. There, we’ll meet Welcome Dinner. the world. Later, we’ll take a limited express train
our Trip Experience Leader and fellow travelers, B,L,D — Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio Tokyo Tamachi or similar to Kanazawa, enjoying a view of Japan’s rolling
including those who took the optional Tokyo: Ancient countryside and modern cityscapes.

& Modern Traditions or New! South Korea: Seoul & DAY 5 • Overland to Hakone • A Day in the B,D — Kanazawa New Grand Hotel or similar
Volcanic Jeju Island pre-trip extensions. Life of Minamiashigara Village

Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio Tokyo Tamachi or similar We travel to Hakone today, stopping along the way at DAY • Explore Kanazawa • Visit Kenrokuen
Minamiashigara Village to enjoy an immersive A Day Garden • Controversial Topic: Nuclear

DAY 3 • Explore Tokyo • Meet former sumo in the Life experience. We’ll visit a community farm energy with Fukushima survivor • Visit gold
wrestler • Explore Shinjuku before joining a local family for lunch. This afternoon, leaf factory • Omicho Market visit
Today, we’ll begin our first full day in Tokyo with a e’ll eet the aster of a local arate studio, or d , We’ll begin exploring Kanazawa with a visit to
visit to a restaurant owned by a former sumo wrestler. for a demonstration of this ancient martial art. Then, the Kenrokuen Garden, considered one of the
We’ll enjoy an interactive demonstration of this iconic we’ll visit a local children’s nursery before we resume
sport before engaging in conversation with a former our journey to Hakone, arriving in late afternoon. Watch this independent video to learn
wrestler who will share their experience with us—an B,L,D — Hotel Recove Hakone or similar
exclusive O.A.T. feature. After lunch at the restaurant, more about this adventure

you’ll have the freedom to explore on your own. You DAY 6 • Hakone • Wood workshop visit •
may wish to venture to Meiji Shrine, a Shinto holy Meet with local fisherman at Lake Ashi
place. Later in the evening, join your Trip Experience Today, we’ll visit a woodcraft shop to see intricately
Leader on an orientation walk around your hotel. carved, wooden inlaid pieces and learn how they’re
B,L — Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio Tokyo Tamachi or similar produced. Then, we’ll get to know a local fisherman
and understand the nature of this important industry
DAY 4 • Tokyo • Taiko drumming experience in Hakone. Afterward, we’ll visit one of the prominent

• Explore Asakusa • Controversial Topic: museums in the area. This afternoon, we’ll return to
Female sushi chefs & gender discrimination the hotel where you’ll have free time.
with sushi chef Yuki Chizui
After breakfast, we’ll take the subway to visit a watch video
taiko studio. Taikos are traditional Japanese drums,

Meet the people who call Japan home

Sumo Wrestler : Discover the traditional sport of sumo
wrestling on Day 3 when a former wrestler shares sumo
traditions and their past experience with us.
Taiko Drum Master : Learn about Japan’s traditional
taiko drums during a visit to a drum studio in Tokyo and a
conversation with the drum master on Day 4.
Minamiashigara Villagers : During our A Day in the Life experience on Day 5, visit
a community farm before sharing a meal and conversation with a local family.
Later, we’ll have a chance to meet the master of a local karate studio, or dōjō,
and visit a local children’s nursery.
Locals in Mountain Villages : On Day 9, you can join an optional tour to remote
mountain villages for the opportunity to meet with local craftsmen and learn
about longstanding traditions from members of the local community.
Family in Kanazawa : Tea—the ritual of preparing it and the drink itself—is an
essential component of Japanese culture. We’ll get to experience this staple like
the locals do when we visit a Japanese family at their home in Kanazawa on Day
10, where we’ll share tea with them and get a glimpse of their daily life.
Meet a local monk and participate in a tea ceremony at Senkoji Temple on Day 13.

204 Japan’s Cultural Treasures www.oattravel.com/jpn2022

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