Locally Owned & OperatedSince 1985 — Mahalo Hawai‘i!1150 S. King Street, Suite 102

Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96814

593-0700or Toll-Free

1-800-551-1226www.nonstop.travel

2018 HAWAII TOUGEI CERAMIC JAPAN TOUR

9 Nights / 11 Days • Escorted from HonoluluMay 19 – 29, 2018 • Tour Manager: Gerald Nakasone

19 Meals (9 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 4 Dinners)COMPLETE PACKAGE!

INCLUDES ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE FROM HONOLULU, 9 NIGHTS

HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS, MEALS AND SIGHTSEEING AS

INDICATED ON ITINERARY, ALL TRANSFERS, TAXES & FEES

$4950*

Final Price will be determined, based on the actual number of

Fully Paid Tour Members:

15–19 Tour Members: $4,950*

20–36 Tour Members: $4,650*

* Fares are per person, USD based on double occupancy and INCLUDE ALL AIRLINE TAXES AND FEES. Airline fuel supplements, taxes and fees are subject to change and tour member is responsible for any increases. Some airline-imposed personal charges, including but not limited to baggage, priority boarding and special seating, may apply. For details visit www.exploreflightfees.com. After initial deposit, a $75 per person Non-Stop Travel (NST) Cancellation Fee may apply. Group departures may be cancelled, if there is less than (20) tour members. NST does not guarantee that all tour members will fly together with Tour Manager. Tour Manager assignments and “final” tour itinerary are subject to change. If not purchasing Hawaiian Airlines Group Air, an AIR CREDIT of $700 will be allowed. Final payment to NST for Air/Transfer portion must be made by cash, check or money order only. Final Payment Due: 02/28/18. Deposit: $250 per person. NST reserves the right to correct errors or omissions including but not limited to, fares, fees and surcharges at any time.

† Early Booking Discount is per person. Purchase of Non-Stop Travel’s complete Air & Land package is required. 011718

In Japan there are few pottery towns that have established their own sense of style. Japanese pottery developed into two aesthetic traditions where one follows the

teachings of wabi sabi and the other aims for a sense of perfection.

Wabi sabi comes from the teachings of Zen Buddhism and many great masters of pottery were priests back in the earlier days. Raku ware follows those principles and usually uses a color palette that matches earthen look. The design and decorations were partly random.

The other followed the process used in Chinese porcelain. These works were highly finished, brightly colored, complex, and balanced decorations. It is a style that focused on how the

final product looked. Pottery continued to thrive with the practice of tea ceremonies.

On this very special tour we explore:Bizen Yaki (Okayama Prefecture), Hagi Yaki (Yamaguchi Prefecture),

Shigaraki (Shiga Prefecture), Tamba-Tachikui Yaki (Hyogo Prefecture) & Kyoto Pottery (Kyoto Prefecture)

VISIT:Kyoto • Okayama • Hagi • Shiga • Tamba

EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT PER PERSON

SAVE $50BOOK BY FEBRUARY 15, 2018†

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:Toji Temple Flea Market • Bizen Yaki Museum • Fan Museum

Korakuen Garden • Kurashiki Bikan-Area • Hagi Castle • Hagiyaki Shiryokan Ishii Tea Bowl Museum • Hagi Uragami Museum • Yoshika Taibi Memorial Museum Miwa Gama (Kiln) • Shigaraki Cultural Park • Shigaraki Traditional Crafts Center Maruni Toryo Tool Shop • Tamba-Tachikui Pottery Village • Nobori Gama (Kiln)

Kiyomizu Temple • Nijo Castle • Kawai Kanjiro’s House & Kiln • Kyoto Pottery Center

OkayamaKurashiki Bizen

KyotoTamba ShigaHagi

Yamaguchi

Osaka

Bullet TrainBusJAPAN

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2018 HAWAII TOUGEI CERAMIC JAPAN TOUR DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

Day 1: Sat, May 19 – HONOLULU. Depart Honolulu via Hawaiian Airlines flt #449 at 2:45 pm.

Day 2: Sun, May 20 – OSAKA. Arrive Kansai International Airport at 7:20 pm. After entry formalities, walk to your hotel conveniently located at the airport. Enjoy your Welcome Dinner Buffet at hotel. HOTEL NIKKO KANSAI AIRPORT (1 Night) (D)

Day 3: Mon, May 21 – OSAKA – KYOTO – OKAYAMA. After a sumptuous breakfast buffet at your hotel, proceed by private motor coach to Kyoto. Enjoy the monthly Toji Temple Flea Market. The lively market is crowded with vendors on the plaza and in the park that surround the paid temple grounds. A wide variety of new and second hand goods are on sale, including clothes, tools, sculptures, kimono, antiques, pottery, toys, food and plants. Late in the afternoon, we catch the high-speed “Shinkansen” Bullet Train from Kyoto to Okayama. After checking into your hotel, walk over to the “SUPER AEON MALL” shopping center, where you will find a variety of shops and restaurants. HOTEL GRANVIA OKAYAMA (2 Nights) (B)

Day 4: Tue, May 22 – OKAYAMA – BIZEN – OKAYAMA. Today we visit the Bizen area. Bizen is named after the village of Imbe, Bizen in Okayama prefecture. It has a history of more than 1,000 years, which makes it one of the oldest pottery making techniques in Japan. It is made using either a mixture of two kinds of clays with different densities, or rough clay that has a rich deep reddish brown color because of its high iron content. Pottery pieces are placed in a climbed kiln and pine wood are used as fuel. Pine wood contains resin, which creates high temperature. Pine wood discharges too much smoke to be used for fireplaces, but is ideal for kilns. Enjoy your visit to the Bizen Yaki Museum and the Fan Museum. Make a stop at one of Japan’s “Top 3 Gardens,” Korakuen Garden. (B, L)

Day 5: Wed, May 23 – OKAYAMA – KURASHIKI – HAGI. First stop today is Kurashiki Bikan-Area. Scenery of the old days is still mostly preserved, with white earthen-walled warehouses and villas lined up along Kurashiki River, weeping willows swinging their branches over the river, and stone bridges. Boats carrying supplies used to ply the Kurashiki River. After a special mini-kaiseki lunch at Kurashiki Ryokan, it’s another Bullet Train ride to Yamaguchi. Checkout the Hagi Castle Ruins before checking into your ryokan (inn). Gather in the lobby for welcome drink and snacks. Enjoy a special dinner, featuring “Kenran Beef.” HAGI NO YADO TOMOE (2 Nights) (B, L, D)

Day 6: Thur, May 24 – HAGI. As with many of the major potteries in Japan, the origins of Hagi yaki can be traced back to the influx of Korean potters to Japan following military maneuvers abroad. In 1592, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a famous warlord and important historical figure, conducted a disastrous campaign on the Korean peninsula. His efforts were not entirely in vain however as he forcibly brought back Korean craftsmen, who under the patronage of the local lord Mori Terumoto, went on to produce wares which developed into Hagi yaki. Start the day with a visit to the Hagiyaki Shiryokan followed by visits to Ishii Tea Bowl, Hagi Uragami and Yoshika Taibi Memorial museums. We end the day with a visit to Miwa Gama (kiln). (B, L, D)

Day 7: Fri, May 25 – HAGI – KYOTO. After breakfast, we make way from Hagi to Kyoto via the Bullet Train. Walk to your hotel, conveniently located at the train station. Enjoy the abundance of shops and restaurants this evening. HOTEL GRANVIA KYOTO (4 Nights) (B, L)

Day 8: Sat, May 26 – KYOTO – SHIGA – KYOTO. Shigaraki, as one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns, is one of the oldest pottery producing places in Japan. Since it is near Kyoto and Nara, where the tea ceremony was born, Shigaraki tea ware developed naturally. With rich deposits of high quality clay, Shigaraki was an ideal location for potters as well. Enjoy visits to Shigaraki Cultural Park and Shigaraki Traditional Crafts Center. Shop for specialty ceramics tools at a leading specialty store, Maruni Toryo Tool Shop. (B)

Day 9: Sun, May 27 – KYOTO – TAMBA TACHIKUI – KYOTO. Tanbayaki has been produced in the village of Tachikui, Hyogo prefecture for over 800 years. Although counted as one of the ancient six potteries in Japan with Seto, Tokoname, Shigaraki, Bizen and Echizen, Tanba has certain characteristics which set it apart from its peers. A comparison of pieces from the Momoyama period (late 16th century) shows Tanbayaki to have a lighter, more refined feel, attributed in part to the fact that the natural glaze has a greenish tinge. These pieces, then fired in “Ana-gama” (cave kilns) are now referred to as “Old” Tanba. Visit Tachikui Pottery Village (Pottery Yokocho), The Museum Ceramic Art and Nobori Gama (kiln). (B, L, D)

Day 10: Mon, May 28 – KYOTO. Today is your free day. Your Japan-based tour guide is available to assist you throughout the day. Or an ideal day to have your friends and relatives visit you at your hotel. (B)

Day 11: Tu, May 29 – KYOTO – OSAKA – HONOLULU. Kiyomizu Temple is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto, and derives its name from the fall's pure waters. Nijo Castle can be divided into three areas: the Honmaru (main circle of defense), the Ninomaru (secondary circle of defense) and some gardens that encircle the Honmaru and Ninomaru. The entire castle grounds and the Honmaru are surrounded by stone walls and moats. Next stop is Kawai Kanjiro’s House and Kiln followed by a visit to the Kyoto Pottery Center. Transfer to the Kansai Osaka International Airport for our return flight home. Depart Osaka at 9:15 pm and arrive on the same day in Honolulu at 10:10 am. Aloha and Welcome Home! (B, L)

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