This document provides an overview and itinerary for a tour of major sites in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and the island of Shikoku from May 6-21, 2021. It includes descriptions and photos of major attractions like Tokyo Skytree, Sensoji Temple, Korakuen Gardens, Itsukushima Shrine, Hiroshima Peace Park, and Kinkaku-ji Temple. Cultural activities like udon making, indigo dyeing, and washi paper crafts are also highlighted. The tour aims to showcase the natural beauty and cultural heritage of both large cities and rural areas across Japan.

1. Welcome to our
“Splendours of Shikoku Spring
Tour “Including, Tokyo, Kyoto,
Hiroshima and Miyajima
6th May – 21st May 2021
Photos Courtesy of Jan Hutton, JNTO, Otsuka Museum of Ceramic Art,
Jeff Stirling, Keith Craig and Ian Ferguson.
All photos © Kiku Consulting 2020

2. Tokyo Sky Tree – tallest stand alone radio tower in the world.
© Copyright Kiku Consulting

3. Tokyo Tower
Icon of the
Tokyo skyline
© Copyright Kiku Consulting

4. Hozomon – Entrance gate to Sensoji Temple in Asakusa - Tokyo
© Copyright Kiku Consulting

5. Wax food models on display - Tokyo
© Copyright Kiku Consulting

6. Jizo Statues – Zojo-ji Temple - Tokyo© Copyright Kiku Consulting

7. Ameyocho Markets - Tokyo

8. Shinkansen (Bullet trains) Tokyo Station© Copyright Kiku Consulting

9. Korakuen Gardens - Okayama

10. Korakuen Gardens - Okayama

11. Korakuen Gardens of Okayama

12. Okayama Castle also
known as “Crow
Castle” due to its
black exterior.

13. Bikan District of Kurashiki
© Copyright Kiku Consulting

14. Beautiful vine
covered building –
Kurashiki Bikan
District
© Copyright Kiku Consulting

15. Seto-ohashi Bridge connecting Honshu and Shikoku – over 13kms long

16. Konpira Shrine – It is the Guardian of the Sea
Many fisherman and sailors visit here.

17. Udon
Noodle
making -
Cultural
activity

18. Ritsurin Gardens - Takamatsu

19. Yayoi Kusama’s Yelllow Pumpkin – Naoshima Island

20. NNaruto Whirlpools – can be up to 25meters in diameter

21. The following 2 photographs are of rooms of the OTSUKA MUSEUM OF ART.
“The Otsuka Museum of Art is a “Ceramic board masterpiece art museum”
with the largest exhibition space in Japan (total floor of 29,412 square
meters), built to commemorate the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Group’s 75th
anniversary in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture. Inside there are more than
1000 replicas of priceless masterpieces of Western art selected by a
committee of 6, from ancient murals to modern paintings, and collection from
more than 190 art museums in 25 countries worldwide. These masterpieces
are reproduced to their original size using special techniques by the Otsuka
Ohmi Ceramics Co., Ltd. Unlike the paintings in art books or textbooks, visitors
will be able to appreciate the true artistic value of the original works, and
experience art museums of the world whilst being in Japan.
Furthermore while the original masterpieces cannot escape the damaging
effects of today’s pollution, earthquakes and fire, the ceramic reproductions
can maintain their color and shape for over 2000 years, and this is a large
contribution in the nature of preserving the history of cultural treasures. This
is a ground- breaking experiment where we have reproduced “Guernica’,
which can no longer be moved, and El Greco’s high altar panels, which have
been dispersed during the war. The Otsuka Museum of Art can be considered
as the world’s first and only ceramic art museum, both technically and
philosophically.
Ichiro Otsuka, Director General, Otsuka Museum of Art

22. A photograph of one of the exhibits in the Otsuka Museum - Shikoku

23. A
Photograph of one of the exhibits in the Otsuka Museum - Shikoku

24. Awa Odori – Traditional dancing

25. Cable car to Onsen – Kazurabashi Hotel – Iya Valley

26. Natural Onsen – Hotel Kazurabashi – Iya Valley

27. 12 Tatami mat room – Kazurabashi Hotel – Iya Valley

28. Indigo Dyeing -
Cultural activity

29. “Peeing Boy “ – Shikoku Mountain Range

30. Oku-Iya Vine
Bridge – Iya
Valley

31. Kazura Vine Bridge
Iya Valley - Shikoku

32. Ayano Tsukimi – the Scarecrow Master of Shikoku

33. A display of Scarecrow Dolls at Nagoro-Shikoku

34. The past lives on in Wakimachi

35. Japanese washi paper - Cultural activity

36. Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama – said to be Japan’s oldest hot spring with
a 3000 year history

37. Itsukushima Shrine and famous torii gate – Miyajima Island

38. Famous floating torii gate – Miyajima Island

39. Beautiful view of floating torii gate and Itsukushima Shrine - Miyajima

40. Miyajima’s famous rice scoops

41. Hiroshima’s famous oysters

42. Peace Park - Hiroshima

43. Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima Peace Park

44. Hiroshima Castle

45. UNESCO World Heritage Kinkaku-ji “Golden Pavilion” - Kyoto

46. KIBUNE – 45 minutes from Kyoto

47. Magnificient Bamboo
Groves – Arashiyama
Kyoto
© Copyright Kiku Consulting

48. Heian Jingu Torii in Kyoto - one of the largest and tallest gates in Japan
© Copyright Kiku Consulting 2017

49. Beautiful dry sand garden “Sea of Silver Sand” at Ginkaku-ji - Kyoto
© Copyright Kiku Consulting

50. beautiful tradition – Kyoto``

51. SAYONARA
さ
ようなら