Details of our tours

Art & Culture in Japan and Unseen Japan: Kyūshū island art & culture provide unique opportunities to join a small group of like minded people exploring Japan’s exciting cultural and artistic heritage.

Most tours to Japan leave the visitor bewildered by the cultural difference and complexity of artistic expression. By providing a context for understanding the history of Japan these tours will enhance the participants’ appreciating of the art and culture.

With more than thirty years experience of Japan, much of this as an internationally recognised Japanese art curator and historian, your tour leader Dr Gary Hickey will provide lectures and tours that will ensure a fuller understanding and appreciation of this fascinating country.

Number of Days: 13 days (12 nights + overnight airplane)

Timing:

Autumn 2010 (November, dates to be confirmed)
Spring 2011 (March-April, dates to be confirmed)

Cost:

Land content only
With Standard Single Room $7000 AUD
With Standard Twin Share Room $6000 AUD
Note: These costs are based on November 2009 costs and may change slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.

Tour includes:

12 nights accommodation + breakfast; 14-day JR (Japan Rail) pass; entrance fees; public transport in Japan; luggage transfer where required; lunch X 2 + dinner X 1; lectures and site talks.
Not included in Tour Price:

• Comprehensive travel insurance
• Daily lunch and dinner not indicated in the itinerary
• All beverages

Overnight stays:

Art & Culture in Japan: Tokyo; Kyoto (or near Kyoto) and Hiroshima

Unseen Japan: Kyūshū island art & culture: Fukuoka, Nagasaki, hot springs resort tbc

Highlights:

Art & Culture in Japan: Tokyo National Museum, Engakuji temple, Miyajima Shrine, Hōryūji Temple, Tōdaiji Temple, Byōdō-in Temple, Kiyomizu Temple, Himeji Castle, Kinkakuji Temple, Ryōanji Temple, Nijōjō Castle.

Unseen Japan: Kyūshū island art & culture: Fukuoka National Museum, Dazaifu Tenman-gū Shrine, Kaiden-in Zen Buddhist temple, ceramic producing districts of Arita and Imari, Samurai houses, The old Dutch trading enclave of Dejima island in Nagasaki harbor, Chinese-inspired Buddhist temples in Nagasaki, hot springs in Beppu and Yufuin.

Lectures:
There will be regular lectures and discussions in order to provide a background for the various site visits.

Fitness Level:
These tours require walking on site visits and whilst traveling by public transport (bus and train). Public transport in Japan can often be very crowded.

To register your interest and ask any question please go to Registration Form or you can telephone us on
(03) 5258 2954 or mobile 0439 391 485.

Please note: These itineraries may be changed to accommodate unforeseen events.

To reserve a place:

Download this Registration Form for our tours as a PDF file (also available at Contact us) and send to:
Art Tour Japan, 6 Norman Crescent, Point Lonsdale, VIC, 3225.

A deposit of $350 AUD by cheque made out to ‘G & H Hickey’ should accompany your completed Registration Form.

The deadline for the Registration Form & deposit for the 2010 Autumn tour is 1 August 2010 and for the 2011 Spring tour it is 15 December 2010.

If we cancel the tour because of insufficient numbers (minimum 10 members) then the deposit money will be refunded in full.

Balance is due by 1 September 2010 for Autumn tour and 15 January 2010 for the Spring tour.

Cancellation by the participant less than 60 days prior to departure will incur a fee of 50% of the total price. For booking cancelled within 14 days of departure, there will be no refund.