Foreign Expeditions
Lighthouses of Japan
Izumo Hino Misaki
Dates
November 1, 2007 - November 13, 2007
Itinerary
November 1, 2007
Travel Day to arrive in Osaka/Kansai, Japan on November 2.
November 2, 2007
OSAKA
After our arrival in Japan, we will check into the Hotel New Hankyu. Dinner will be at the hotel. A short evening stroll around the city will be available for those interested.
November 3, 2007
OSAKA - KOBE
Breakfast at the Hotel New Hankyu, and then depart on the coach to Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine which was originally built in AD 211 to honor the goddess of sea voyages. Then we visit the impressive Osaka-jo Castle, built in 1583, stopping for lunch along the way. We will then travel to the Imazu Lighthouse, built in 1810 and then view the Kobe Lighthouse built in 1872. If time permits, we will also visit Kobe Daiichi Bohatei Lighthouse. After our arrival in Kobe, we will check into the Sannomiya Terminal Hotel and have dinner at a nearby restaurant.
November 4, 2007
KOBE - OKAYAMA
Breakfast at the Sannomiya Terminal Hotel, then we will visit the modern Kobe Maritime Museum. After, we will cross the longest suspension bridge in the world to reach Awajishima Island and visit the Esaki Lighthouse built in 1871. We are then off to Akashi for lunch and afterwards stop to visit the old Akashi Port Lighthouse originally built in 1657, and Ako Misaki Lighthouse built in 1963. We will then depart for Okayama, and check into the Hotel Granvia Okayama. Dinner will be at a nearby restaurant.
November 5, 2007
OKAYAMA - HIROSHIMA
Breakfast at the Hotel Granvia Okayama, then depart by coach to the manicured 28 acre Koraku-en Garden. After, we return to Okayama for lunch. Our next stops are the 1897 built Ohamasaki Lighthouse and museum as well as viewing Onomichi Lighthouse built in 1933. We then depart for Hiroshima, and check into the Hotel New Hiroden. Dinner will be at the hotel.
November 6, 2007
HIROSHIMA
Breakfast at the Hotel New Hiroden and then depart by coach to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, dedicated to the WWII atomic bomb destruction. After, we will visit the Ujina Lighthouse built in 1950 then return to Hiroshima for lunch. After lunch we head to the Hiroshima seaport to catch the passenger ferry to Miyajima Island for sightseeing. We will visit the Unesco World Heritage Site of Itsukushima Shrine built in AD 593 and the Momijidani Koen Japanese maple tree park which should be in its full autumn red-yellow-orange display. Returning by ferry to Hiroshima, we are staying at the Hotel New Hiroden again for the second night. Dinner will be at a nearby restaurant.
November 7, 2007
HIROSHIMA - TSUWANO - HAGI
Breakfast at the Hotel New Hiroden, and then we will head to the Hiroshima train station to catch a high-speed JR bullet train, and a limited express train for Tsuwano. If weather permits, we will visit the Tsunoshima Lighthouse. If not, we will drive into the mountains to the picturesque village of Tsuwano to visit Taikodani Inari Shrine. After lunch on your own, we will spend some time walking around Tsuwano to enjoy the serenity of the mountains and experience life in rural Japan. We then descend from the mountains by coach to the quaint fishing village of Hagi, and will visit the Toragasaki Lighthouse. After our arrival in Hagi, check into the Hagi Grand Hotel. Dinner will be at the hotel.
November 8, 2007
HAGI - MATSUE
Breakfast at the Hagi Grand Hotel. We will then depart by coach to visit the Hagi Samaurai residences. After Hagi, our first stop is Iwami Osakihana Lighthouse built in 1974. As we explore the Northwest coast of our route, a box lunch will be provided during the afternoon. We will then take the coach to the Yunotsu Lighthouse built in 1958, the modern Tachigami Lighthouse built in 1951, and Omisaki Lighthouse. Later, we will check into the Hotel Matsue Tokyu Inn. Dinner will be at the hotel.
November 9, 2007
MATSUE - IZUMO - YONAGO
Breakfast at the Hotel Matsue Tokyu Inn and then depart by coach to Izumo to visit the Hinomisaki Lighthouse built in 1903. After lunch, we then will follow the coast to the Mihonoseki Lighthouse built in 1898, and the Sakai Lighthouse. At the end of the day we will journey to Yonago and check into the ANA Hotel Yonago. Dinner will be at a nearby restaurant.
November 10, 2007
YONAGO - TOTTORI
Breakfast at the ANA Hotel Yonago, then time permitting, we will make a detour around Mt. Goenzan to see the colorful fall foliage en-route to the Nagaohana Lighthouse built in 1927. Our tour continues to the modern Sakenotsu Lighthouse and the Ajirosaki Lighthouse built in 1950. A box lunch will be provided this day. Later we will take the coach to Tottori and check into the New Otani Hotel. Dinner will be at a nearby restaurant.
November 11, 2007
TOTTORI - KYOTO
Breakfast at the Hotel New Otani, then depart by coach to visit the Kyogamisaki Lighthouse built in 1898. Time permitting, we will stop to view the modern Ine Cho Lighthouse from the opposite shore. A box lunch will be provided during the afternoon. We then depart for Kyoto where we will check into the Righa Royal Hotel. Dinner will be at a nearby restaurant.
November 12, 2007
KYOTO - OSAKA
Breakfast at the Righa Royal Hotel, and then depart by coach to the Unesco World Heritage sites of Sanjuusangendo Temple built in 1164 and the Kiyomizu-dera Temple Complex originally built in AD 798. We will stop for lunch in Kyoto, then visit the Kyoto Craft Center for some shopping and exploring, before heading out to visit the gilded Kinkaku-ji Zen Temple built in 1397. We will also visit the Kyoto Ryoan-ji Zen Garden. After sightseeing in Kyoto, we will return to Osaka and check into the Hotel New Hankyu. Dinner will be at a nearby restaurant.
November 13, 2007
OSAKA
Breakfast at Hotel New Hankyu. Proceed to airport for return flights home.
Double - $8,950
Single - $4,925
***Permission from the Japanese Coast Guard required for touring. We are attempting to obtain permission to access as many lighthouses as possible, many will be photo opportunities.
Back to International Tours / Expeditions