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Yo Basho / World of Basho |
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It is not the intention
of the ‘Basho’ itinerary to slavishly follow Basho’s path, nor to visit every one of his 40-45 stopping places, nor to don medieval garb and stride forth with staff and straw hat. Here in the 21st century, we can however get a sense of Basho’s journey, partly through visiting some of its inspirational locations and partly through pausing along the way
with 'Basho Moment' to infuse the journey with Basho’s poetry. |
| The Basho itinerary works at many levels : Cultural, Historical, Natural, Artistic, Literary. As most of the time will be immersed in everyday modern Japan, it is a terrific modern cultural journey in its own right. Contact with the natural landscape will redefine ‘Japan as urban’, as well as providing an excellent grounding for understanding Japanese garden culture, half a dozen impressive Japanese gardens being visited along the way. The itinerary is relaxed but persistent - there will be a huge amount to take in and it may not be until sometime afterwards that the disparate elements can be assimilated. |
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The roots of Japanese culture may also be traced through the long and honourable tradition of Japanese poetry. Apart from the reading of Narrow Road, Basho's poetry has been extensively researched and tastefully selected for reading at various key points along the way. There will also be formal sessions on Japanese poetry at the beginning, and the subject of poetry and Basho may arise formally and informally during the rest of the journey. Should they so desire, writers who join the tour may get together to exchange views. If a writer would prefer to write privately, that is to be respected. And if a client just wants to enjoy the journey and not write at all, then that is perfectly OK too. |
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Aki - the other aspect of Basho is that it takes place during the legendary beauty of the Japanese Autumn, which descends from North to South in Japan from mid-October to mid-November. If combined with the Garden Japan Tour which starts in Kyoto as the Basho itinerary ends there, it could lead to a spellbinding ‘Aki’ experience. |
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Narrow Road To The Depths
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| Saturday November 02 - Tuesday November 12, 2024 - 10 nts | ||
| Tokyo / Nikko / Yamadera-Matsushima-Hiraizumi / Kanazawa / Kyoto
Nov 02 - Nov 12, 2024 - 10 nts - Garden Japan – Kyoto / Okayama Tour Garden viewing commences Thur Nov 14 Details of Nov 2024 Tour Follow |
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Tour Budget Couples - Y146,950 + £350 / Singles - Y209,250 + £350 Check in Tokyo - Sat Nov 06 / Check Out Kyoto - Tues Nov 16 |
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Tour budgets are composed of Espirita fees in pounds and Yen expenses in Japan, mostly quite reasonable, especially the Japan Rail Pass. At the peak of High Season and with the great interest in Japanese culture, the 10 nts international standard accommodation accounts for 70%-75% of the Yen expenses. As some of the hotels we prefer to use are not open for bookings until six months beforehand, the 2021 budget will not be online until May/June 2021. The 2019 budget below should be a reasonable guide to costs. |
| Basho Yen 2019 | Sharing | Single |
| Accommodation - 10 nts | Y97,300 | Y159,600 |
| General Tour Expenses | Y20,000 | Y20,000 |
| 7 day JR Rail Pass | Y29,650 | Y29,650 |
| Total Yen | Y146,950 | Y209,250 |
| Espirita Fees | + £350 | + £350 |
| Optional Extra Night Tokyo | + Y10,400 | + Y15,030 |
| Convert to your own currency : www.xe.com |
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The 'General Tour
Expenses' in Japan, pay as you go in Yen, include temple, museum and garden entrance fees and local transport costs, plus the return train and taxi transfers from the Tokyo airports into Tokyo. The
'Total Yen' total includes a 7 day JR Rail Pass priced in Yen, plus 10 nts international standard accommodation – we reserve / you pay. Espirita Fees are included and are payable 2-3 weeks beforehand.
International flights, food and living expenses are not included. |
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| Pre Check-in – Friday November 05 Depending on availability, an extra night may be reserved Extra time may be spent in Tokyo after Tour and before the return flight Check-in : 14.00 Saturday November 06 – Meet in lobby Japan Rail Passes (+/- Passports) need to be handed over for tour ticketing. |
Tokyo - November
06-08, 2021 ( 2 nts ) |
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Written in a strong refined hand, this scroll of two line poems records one of the oldest known poetry contests, held by Hanshi Jo’o, the Mother of Emperor Uda |
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Nikko - November 08-09,
2021 ( 1 nt ) - ( Japan Rail Pass - Day 1 ) Arriving before lunch from Tokyo, we will leave our bags at the hotel and head out to the immense cultural and natural resources of Nikko - set in hilly woodlands and surrounded by large mountains, not for nothing did the Tokugawa Shoguns decide on Nikko for their final resting place. After a ‘Basho Moment’ by a surging river, we will spend that afternoon and most of the next day exploring the World Heritage Site and its surrounding landscape. A short Introduction to Japanese Poetry will take place that evening at the hotel in Nikko. |
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Yamadera / Matsushima / Hiraizumi- November
09-12, 2021 ( 3 nts ) Leaving Nikko late afternoon, we will transfer to a central hotel in Sendai as a base for the out of town trips to Yamadera, Hiraizumi, Tazawako and Matsushima over the following three days. |
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Yamadera
- after visiting the local Basho Museum, we will head up to the mountain top Buddhist temple of Risshaku-ji, with the view from its eyrie considered to be a ‘nationally-designated Place of Scenic Beauty’ and the location for one of Basho’s most famous poems : |
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Matsushima Bay - no less impressive with its 260 pine clad islands and celebrated as one of ‘The Three Views Of Japan’, we will pick up the Basho boat journey from Shiogama to Matsushima and then explore the various cultural and natural sites of Matsushima town and bay. |
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| Hiraizumi – with a delightful walk from the top of Chusonji down a large pine tree lined avenue, then on to the famous pure land garden of Motsoji, where 500 years before Basho arrived there, the all powerful Fujiwara clan was annihilated by Minamoto Yoritomo on his quest to conquer Japan and become Japan’s first shogun. A beautiful visit but, with Basho’s guidance, fundamentally a meditation on the impermanence of human glory. |
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Kanazawa - November
12-14, 2021 ( 2 nts ) Arriving in Kanazawa after an evening transfer from Sendai, we will spend the next couple of days exploring various cultural and natural options, not least the stunning DT Suzuki Museum and the spiritual powerhouse of Kenroku-en Garden. Kanazawa was spared from bombing in WW2 and there is still a well preserved old town. We then check out the out of the way Natadera temple, normally at peak viewing for Autumn colour. |
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Kyoto - November 14-16,
2021 ( 2 nts ) - ( Japan Rail Pass - Day 7 ) Though it has since slipped into genteel obscurity, Ogaki was a major cultural centre in Basho’s day, and was the final destination of Basho’s epic 'Oku' journey. En route to Kyoto from Kanazawa, we drop into the Basho Museum in Ogaki, the video presentation of Basho’s journey serving to bring together the ‘Basho’ journey of the preceding days, to arrive early afternoon at the hotel in Kyoto. Saga / Otsu / Kyoto - November 15, 2021 After completing the journey in 1689 and before moving into a new Basho Hut in Edo / Tokyo in 1692, Basho was mainly in and around the Kyoto part of Japan. Almost exactly as described in his ‘Saga Diary’, we can still walk with Basho through the bamboos of Arashi, and visit the ‘Hut Of The Phantom Dwelling’ in Otsu, where Basho spent the summer of 1690, reputedly writing up parts of Oku No Hosomichi. We will then bid farewell to Basho at his final resting place in nearby Gichu-ji. Departure – Tuesday November 16, 2021 Should the Basho Museum be closed on the Monday, we may visit Otsu on the Tuesday morning, back at the hotel by 13.00. For clients heading home or moving on elsewhere in Japan, check out Tuesday morning/leave bags in hotel/pick up bags pm. Similarly for those joining the last three days of the Garden Japan Tour in Okayama. Transfer to Okayama on the Tuesday evening for the hotel cost saving. Or check out on the Wednesday morning, spend the day in Kyoto, transfer to Okayama that evening, for an early start Thursday morning Garden Japan Tour, Okayama – November 17-20, 2021 (3/4 nts) For further details, please see the Garden Japan page.* This would require a 14 day Japan Rail Pass, which represents excellent value for the extra Y20,000, and permits 2 days free travel after Tour on Sat/Sun Nov 20/21, eg for a return to Tokyo. |
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Flights & Transfers Clients should research and purchase an ‘multi city ticket’ which permits arrival in Tokyo and departure from Osaka Kansai Airport, the nearest to Kyoto, the final destination of the Tour. From Tokyo Narita Airport, take the Keisei Railway to Tokyo Ueno station from where it is a short taxi ride to the hotel in Asakusa. From the hotel in Kyoto, it is a short taxi ride to Kyoto station for the Kansai Airport Express. Both transfers take about an hour and a half. Flight Prices - there is increasing pressure on flight prices at the peak times of April and November, especially as the date of travel gets closer. Ideally, prospective clients should book April Tour flights by early September, and November Tour flights by early April. If booked 7- 8 months in advance, flight prices to Japan can be quite reasonable, with economy fares to Osaka of £550-650 on Lufthansa - KLM - Air France - $800-900 from West Coast USA. From 6-7 months before Tour, flight prices can start increasing into the £650-£850 range. China Southern, China Eastern, Air China, Asiana, Korean Air & Cathay Pacific are well worth considering and may have more convenient flight times. Japan Rail Pass - The itinerary has been based on the excellent value of a 7 day Japan Rail Pass, saving about Y25,000 as against buying the tickets in Japan. JR Passes can only be purchased outside Japan and must be purchased pre Tour, up to 3 months before its first day of use. On purchase, you will receive a voucher confirming payment which, with your passport, has to be exchanged for the actual pass at one of the JR Pass Offices at most large train stations in Japan. Normally we do this on behalf of the group. JR Pass vouchers and Passports need to be handed over for processing ideally at check in on Saturday, November 06. The start date of the Pass will be Monday November 08. For those considering pre-Tour travel in Japan, the Tour use of the Pass ends on Sunday November 14. The purchase of an extra 7 or 14 days on the JR Pass needs to be carefully calculated beforehand. Train tickets in Japan are priced by the kilometer and as a rough guide, Tokyo - Kyoto return is about the same price as a 7 day rail pass. Train schedules may be planned and train fares calculated online at : www.hyperdia.com Those considering the Garden Japan 3 day Okayama Tour, should purchase a 14 day all Japan Rail Pass, saving a large amount on both Tours with, in theory, three full days of free rail travel post Tour. Travel Elsewhere in Japan - Whereas we fully assist with queries on flight schedules for Japan, and with transfers to and from Tour, we are Tour Operators and not Travel Agents so we do not get too involved with client travel plans elsewhere in Japan. Should, as can happen, a few days extra are added onto your schedules, then clients need to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements. As this will happen at peak season in Japan, and as many hotels do not release rooms and prices until 6 months beforehand, extra accommodation should be reserved 4-6 months in advance. As there are some very small hotel rooms in Japan, close attention should be paid to room size - in square metres and stated on most online booking sites. All street signs, travel directions and announcements on public transport are in English. Accommodation Accommodation throughout the Tour is at mid-range international standard hotels which, at current exchange rates, are well priced. It varies from hotel to hotel, but the norm is to pay for one’s room at check-in. Room rates are charged by the head in Japan with less of a saving for those in a Twin or Double room. Room Sharing - Espirita does not offer the sharing of rooms by people that do not know each other beforehand. Group Size - The maximum group size is 8-10 persons. We often have small sized groups of 6-8 persons
Economy Room Option - our hotels have been selected to avoid tiny Japanese hotel rooms and to offer daily laundry services ( Drop 10:00 / Return 18:00 ) in order to reduce baggage weight. At some of the hotels, it may be possible to apply for smaller rooms without views and which might save £10-£100 per person over the Tour. Interested parties should apply. |
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Tour Guide : Matsuo Basho |
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| Tour Coordinator : Stewart Wills. The Founding Director will facilitate the Basho journey. Since reading 'The Tale of Genji' in 1981, Stewart has had a life long interest in Japanese poetry and often reads haiku in the Temples & Gardens of Kyoto. Poetry from 'Genji' made its way into 'Shishu', the film about Japanese Garden culture and into the 'Love Haiku' greetings cards. Sen no Rikyu's poems were used in 'Sen Shin An', a recent film about Tea Culture. Stewart initiates and designs the Poetry & Writing programme in Loutro, Crete - sometimes participating. A songwriting tendency occasionally comes to the surface. |
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| Two films on
Japanese Culture, one at Cherry Blossom time, the other in the Autumn. For general viewing, for viewing whilst in Japan……… |
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Shishu- Intuition and Feeling In The Japanese Garden - 53 mins |
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Sen Shin An - the other world of Tea - 67 mins |
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'Tokyo Morning' - documentary music video - 4mins 40secs |
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