November 08 - November 18, 2011

  KYOTO

One of the world's great cultural assets, the legendary beauty of the gardens of Kyoto has been developed and refined over many centuries.  Whether for the festive delights of Cherry Blossom viewing in April or for the spectacular autumnal colours in November, World Spirit visits Kyoto's gardens when at their very best. 

During 5 days of expert, informative, but relaxed, guiding, the main strands of the Japanese Garden tradition will be pursued and revealed,  As well as the tantalising mystique of the gardens themselves, the tour is also a journey to the very heart of Japanese design and aesthetic - essential for all those wishing to 'add a Japanese touch' to their own homes and gardens.

With 2,000 temples, palaces and gardens, and many other aspects of a rich cultural heritage, the extra few days in Kyoto for personal exploration and relaxation serve to balance the overall journey.  Seeing the gardens also involves seeing Japan, nothing can convey how good it feels to be in such a well mannered, orderly, virtually crime free society.  Single travellers should worry not - Japanese people are extremely helpful and personal safety is at an optimum.

Now in our tenth year in Kyoto, we have good long term relations with a reasonably priced international standard hotel in central Kyoto, ideally situated for getting to various temple and garden sites spread around a large, modern city.  

TOTAL BUDGET
(excludes international flights)

Includes: transfer to and from Osaka Kansai airport to hotel, room only hotel accommodation, guide, temple and garden entrance fees, local transport, Guide fees and service charge.
See details below

Kyoto 10 Nights:
Singles - 2010 & 2011 (excl. int'l flight)
Y137,500 + £300 
Sharing - per person
2010 (excl. int'l flight)
Y112,500 + £290
2011 (excl. int'l flight)
Y125,500 + £290 

The tours will introduce participants to a varying menu of the principal gardens of Kyoto, as well as visiting some lesser-known gems.  Based on excellent relations with the professional gardening world in Kyoto, visits to gardens not normally accessible to the public are able to be arranged.

Robert a working landscape gardener with many fine gardens to his credit, is former Chairman of the Japanese Garden Society of Great Britain, and editor of its journal, has written numerous articles in various publications and has recently published 'Japanese Gardens in a Weekend'. He has already conducted many successful tours to Kyoto.

Japanese Garden Design Service

Tour Style & Structure - Our Tours are informal but well organised - we don’t believe in a jam packed itinerary with a continuous running commentary Out of the 10 days in Kyoto, 5 days will be ‘Guide Days’, leaving the hotel at about 8.00-8.30 am and returning at about 5.00-6.00 pm. In any April or November period, the ‘Free Days’ will tend to be at the beginning of the first tour, and at the end of the second tour. 

Whilst visiting the gardens, the important thing is to relax, take in and enjoy their unique atmospheres and, whilst Robert Ketchell will clarify function, design, species, etc on site, comment will also take place before or after visiting the gardens - over green tea or lunch, whilst travelling between sites, or, in the case of larger groups, at debrief sessions at the hotel. Ample time is available during the rest of the tour to explore the rich artistic and cultural heritage of Kyoto, and to venture further afield on a wide variety of day trips.

Being based in one place for 10 days saves on the most expensive aspect of Japan - cost of travel - 2 ½ hrs on the Shinkansen ‘Bullet’ train costs about £90-95 / $130-135. Those who wish to visit other areas should obtain a Japan Rail Pass, purchasable from official Japan Tourist Offices only outside Japan. As it is easier to recover from the journey and jet lag in one place, it is probably best to extend your journey after the Tour of Kyoto.

Group size - The maximum room allocation per group is 11, permitting a maximum group size of 16. For everybody's benefit, we will try to manage group sizes to 10-12 maximum.


Garden Schedule- To catch special garden openings and other events not publicised in advance, we do not finalise our garden visiting schedule until the month before the Tour.

  Flight Reservations - As the Tours are accessible internationally, we do not provide international flight options. A Tour place is deemed to have been reserved when confirmation of a flight booking is received. However, we do have reasonable knowledge of best routings and prices, and the first step should be to contact us for general logistical advice on flights and to confirm the exact time of arrival at the hotel. In some cases, we can generate a flight proposal for you at a reputable discount flight agent, which you would be responsible for confirming by credit card payment.


Osaka Airport - unless travelling elsewhere in Japan, for convenience and cost saving, all flights should arrive and depart from Osaka Kansai Airport.


Transfer to Kyoto - By rail from the Railway Terminal, right next to the International Arrivals Terminal - and well signed in English. The Y 6,000 for the express return fare to Kyoto Station is included in the budget. As check in at the hotel does not start until 1.00 pm, and as most flights from Europe travel through the night and arrive between 8.00-10.00 am, there is actually no hurry to get to the hotel.  When you get to Kyoto, you could spend an hour or two, orientating and checking out events at the main Kyoto Tourist Office (9th floor of Isetan department store in the station building) or you could leave your bags at Kyoto Station and spend the day sightseeing, before checking into the hotel late PM.

All street signs, travel directions and announcements on public transport are English.


Extra Day - Alternatively, an extra day may be added by leaving one's bags at the hotel in Kyoto before check-out time 11.00am, spending the day in Kyoto, and then taking an evening train to stay at one of the hotels near Kansai Airport for the last night.


Last Night - most European flights depart Osaka Kansai in the morning, 10.00-12.00 am, which means an early start from the hotel in Kyoto to catch the 6.15-6.45 am train. 


Excess Baggage - regrettably the meticulous character of the Japanese also extends to the matter of charging for excess baggage - you are more likely to get charged at Osaka Airport than just about anywhere else in the world. Charged at £35-40 1 $50-60 per kilo for European destinations, a 5-7 kilo excess, that is often waived elsewhere, can give you a very unwelcome parting gift.


Flight Costs - Flights to Japan have never been cheaper.  Normal discounted economy fares to Osaka are £550-600 on Lufthansa/KLM/Air France etc from Europe - and $800-900 from West Coast USA.  China Southern through Shanghai, Korean Air & Austrian Air offer even cheaper options for those in no hurry.


Travel Insurance - all persons are required to have valid and comprehensive travel insurance policies, covering cancellation of flights, lost luggage etc etc, and with at least £2m for medical costs, with a 24 hour medical contact telephone service and with provision for repatriation in case of emergency. To properly assist you in an emergency, details of the policy numbers and personal contact numbers will need to be submitted.

Transfer to Hotel in Kyoto - (Y1,500-2,000) The return taxi fare from Kyoto Station to the hotel  is included in the quoted budget figure.


Hotel in Kyoto - 10 nights international standard accommodation is included in the budget.

Single  (excl breakfast): 2009 - Y9,450 per night     2010 - Y10,900 per night
Sharing (excl breakfast): 2009 - Y7,350 per night    2010 - Y8,500 per night

Payment by cash / travellers cheque / credit card on the day of arrival is the preferred system of payment in Japan and China - one should always be in credit with the hotel.

All hotel rooms are on the small side in Japan, but these are neatly appointed and well priced.  In addition to room en suite bathroom, there are traditional style single sex Japanese bath house on the ground floor - highly recommended at night.

Normal Western style buffet breakfasts are available, but as lunch tends to be taken whilst visiting the gardens, and as one tends to eat late in the evening, that can lead to three full meals per day.  Alternatively, there is a mini-breakfast for Y400 from the hotel coffee shop.  All rooms have a small fridge and a Japanese style kettle with small cups - please bring your favourite teas, coffee and snacks, so juices, fruit and cereals stored in the rooms make 'room snack breakfasts' possible. 

The hotel is in the Shijo Karasuma central part of Kyoto, with good connections North-South and East-West by bus, subway or suburban trains.  Bicycles are also an excellent way of getting about Kyoto. Local facilities - situated in a 'lived in' part of town, there are numerous modern city facilities within easy reach, including 24 hour mini-markets and 24 hour internet access. In our final correspondence 2-4 weeks before departure, we provide detailed information with maps of Kyoto and of facilities in the area local to the hotel.

Room Sharing - is not offered to persons that do not know each other beforehand.


Also included in quoted budgets:

Local Transport - Y 6,000-10,000 approx. ( depending on size of group).
All modes of transport will be employed, depending on cost and convenience. In some cases, city buses and subways will be the most effective, and all clients will need to purchase a Y3,000 multi-trip travel card at the start of the Tour. For trips out of town, hiring mini-buses will be best, at approximately Y5,000 per person per day, or less per part day.

Temple & Garden Entrance Fees Y 10-14,000 approx.
Entrance fees normally vary from Y300-500, but 'Special Openings' are not to be missed, and cost approx.Y800. At 3-4 garden visits per day, this cost can mount up over the Tour.

Guide Fees - £250/$400 approx. per person - depending on the size of groups.
£250 for groups of 6 or under - reducing to £225 for larger groups on single Tours and for 16 clients overall on double Tours.

World Spirit Service Charge - £50 Single Room - Sharing Room £40 per person.

 Non Standard Bookings: A fee of £10 will be levied for reservations at the hotel on dates other than the publicised Tour arrival and departure dates.


Budget Based on Room only rates at the hotel, including train and taxi transfer to and from Osaka airport, Guide Fees and Service Charge- plus estimated costs for local transport and garden entrance fees - but excluding food, guest lectures, travel insurance and flights.

Note -  Although these amounts are ‘budgets’ and not fixed prices, as we are now in our tenth year in Kyoto, we are reasonably confident about these statistics.  In some case, clients have noted that the Tour has worked out less than budget.


Payment -  Non-refundable deposit upon reservation - Single : £20/$40 - Sharing: £30/$50. Clients pay in the normal way for their own hotel bills, train & taxi airport transfers and local transport & garden entrance fees in Kyoto.   Guide Fees and the Service Charge are paid , to World Spirit by cheque, dated to the last day of the Tour, upon receipt of the invoice in our final correspondence 2-4 weeks before departure .


Food - surprisingly good value for basic fare at small local restaurants. Typical tray meals with a rice or noodle dish, pickles, soup and tea should cost Y700-1000. Making full use of the kettle and fridge in the room, one should allow Y2-3,000 per day for 'Basic Food', but don't deprive oneself of at least some of the gastronomic delights of Japan - for standard western restaurant prices or less, one can get a fabulous 8-9 course meal.

Climate and Seasons in Kyoto   The most important  point about climate and garden viewing in Kyoto is to go in April or November - any day at this time of year is a good day  A perfect cherry blossom or autumn maple day is not so important The main thing is to avoid the hot humid weather at other times of the year.


Cherry Blossom Viewing ( hanami )  - the exact time is, of course, climate dependent.

Traditionally, cherry blossom is at its peak in the second and third week of April    If there is a warmer than normal winter, it will tend to peak in sheltered city microclimates in early  April, and in outlying districts in the following two weeks.

April 2000 - blossoms peaked in Kyoto April 6th-10th, falling on a warm day c. April 12th, but they were coming to their best on April 13-14 on the way to Ohara in the North. By April 14th-15th, blossom trees were starting to reach their best in Arashiyama, in the hills surrrounding Kyoto.   The cherry blossoms at the castle of Hikone were at their peak on April 17th-20th.   A visit on April 9th to one of the most famous cherry blossom trees in Japan, near Ouda, was fruitless - its buds remained firmly closed.   Trees in the various hill temples are at their best later in April.   Spring 2002 - ‘cherry blossom’ all over by the end of March was the earliest for 53 years, leaving one with the gracious beauty of the delicate bright green tracery of maples coming into leaf.

Temperatures in early April vary from a warm muggy hint of summer  to being damn freezing - though generally dry and pleasantly warm, rain at some stage is to be expected. Warm summery temperatures are to be increasingly expected as the month progresses.

Maple viewing - just as variable as ‘hanami’ and dependent on preceding Autumn temperatures     For maximum autumn effect, it needs to be beginning to get cold.

November 2001 - T-shirt weather of 20-25°C in the last week of October, changed to fresh, cool, occasionally rainy conditions from the beginning of November through until departing on November 18  Fukui, 90 minutes north of Kyoto, was bitterly cold on the night of November 15   Maple trees began to ‘turn’ November 6th, were at full effect November 11th-14th in Northwest Kyoto and  Southeast of the city centre, on November 17. In November 2002, the maples turned about 7-10 days earlier than 2001.


Only once in Japan ? - It is impossible to choose which is better between the Cherry Blossom and the Maple Viewing seasons - from the natural and the social point of view, they are both amazing experiences - at the core of the Japanese ethos.   Ideally, one should plan to visit Kyoto twice, in both Spring and Autumn.   Seasoned observers, having witnessed both, tend to prefer the subtler, gentler radiances of the Autumn effect.


Dress sense - the variable temperatures and conditions of both April & November suggest flexible layer based clothing.   One is more or less out of doors all day - none of the temples, where many of the gardens visited are based, have heating.  One needs a folding umbrella, shoes without laces to ease repeatedly taking them on and off, loose clothing and a second pair of thick socks for walking about without shoes on cool days.

Dress code in Japan tends to be slightly more formal than present standards in the West.

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