CME & Cultural Tour of Japan | doctors-on-tour

Introducing Japan... The Land of the Rising Sun...

Japan is a land of contrasts and this 12 night itinerary embraces these, combining exciting and innovative contemporary Japan with its traditional legacies. From imperial castles to snow-capped mountains and from Shinto shrines to modern boulevards, this is Japan.

Start in Tokyo, the capital since the late 1800’s and an endlessly rewarding city to explore. Visit the Meiji Shrine dedicated to a Japanese Emperor who died in 1912. Close by is Harajuku, the uniquely colourful youth fashion quarter with many bargains to be had. Take a river cruise to the old quarter of Asakusa, home of the city’s oldest Geisha district and colourful street markets.

From Tokyo, drive to Hakone National Park, a region of lakes and spectacular scenery including a Japanese icon, Mount Fuji best viewed from the Komagatake cable car. Stay in a wellness retreat where you can relax in a traditional Japanese onsen (natural hot spring water).

Next is the alpine town of Takayama nestled in the Hida Mountains of the Japan Alps National Park the journey to which will provide your first experience on a shinkansen (bullet train). There’s something magical about the streets of Takayama, with its elegant historic district dating back to the Edo period including sake breweries, colorful street markets and places to sample the region’s famous Hida beef.

Stop at the UNESCO town of Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses en route to Kanazawa, an Edo period city that showcases Japanese arts, crafts, and culture at its finest. Here, you’ll visit the famous castle, and the Nagamachi Samurai District, along with Kenrokuen Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan as well as participating in gold leaf painting which the area is famous for.

Continue West on the shinkasen to re-born Hiroshima in western Honshu and visit the sobering Peace Memorial Park as well as to neigbouring Miyajima, a picturesque jewel of an island in the Seto Inland Sea considered to be one of Japan's most scenic spots with its famous “floating” Itsukushima Shrine dating back to the 6th century.

Your final destination is Kyoto, Japan’s most beautiful city with 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites befitting of its status as the reigning cultural capital of Japan. Explore a sample of Japan’s most famous and beautiful temples and castles and preserved historical districts with their narrow streets and specialty shops where local crafts have been passed down over the generations. Experience traditional Japanese healing practices first hand with a Zazen meditation and shiatsu session as your tour comes to an end with a special dinner enhanced with a private Geisha and Maiko performance. If Tokyo is the door to Japan's future, Kyoto is a window on its mysterious past and is the highlight for many visitors to Japan.

Tour Highlights

• Learn the art of bonsai with a private bonsai master
• Participate in a traditional green tea ceremony with a Buddhist priest in a private temple
• Wander the Geisha district of Asakusa and visit Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, Senso-ji
• Ride the Komagatake ropeway (cable car) for a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji in the Hakone National Park
• Stay in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) to experience traditional Japanese lifestyle including a therapeutic bath in your private onsen (hot tub with mineral content)
• Taste legendary Hida beef and sip sake at a local brewery in Takayama surrounded by the Japan Alps
• Stroll through one of the country’s top 3 gardens at Kenroku-en Garden in Kanawaza and learn about Samurai culture
• Be humbled by the lessons of history in Hiroshima at the Peace Memorial Park and the ruined Atomic Dome (UNESCO)
• Delve into Kyoto, the marvelous cultural capital of Japan and home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Thrill to the speed of the Shinkansen (bullet train) as you travel between the various regions of Japan
• Experience a special Geisha and Maiko (apprentice Geisha) performance while dressed in a kimono at your Farewell Dinner 

CME Program / Group Medical Director: Dr. Steve Szarka, Hamilton, On.

(15+ CME hours focusing on both leading edge medical technology and traditional medial practices in Japan; Certificate of Attendance provided)

• Academic Conference in Tokyo with presentations by Canadian & Japanese medical experts & interactive discussions on current medical issues
• Visit Silver-Wing Shintomi Facility, a Special Nursing Home for the Elderly where participants will learn about the use of Cyberdyne (robotic medical) devices (Tokyo)
• Presentation on acupuncture (Kanawaza)
• Visit to a local hospital in Hiroshima to learn about the Japanese healthcare system and meet with local doctors.
• Introduction to Zazen meditation, with the session being led by a Buddhist monk (Kyoto)
• Shiatsu initiation with a Shiatsu Master (Kyoto)