This document summarizes a 9-day Japanese language and culture tour for Merewether High School students from April 3-11, 2015. The tour will include visits to major cities and sites in Japan like Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Miyajima Island. Accommodation includes hostels and traditional ryokan-style inns. Independent exploration and optional activities are built into the itinerary. The estimated cost is $3,500 AUD plus additional expenses. Further details are provided on inclusions, required documents like passports, vaccinations, spending money, luggage and the payment process. Students are encouraged to join a Facebook group for the trip and direct additional questions to the teacher in charge.

1. Japanese Language and
Culture Tour
3rd – 11th April 2015
MEREWETHER HIGH SCHOOL

2. DAY 1 – SYDNEY TO TOKYO
FRIDAY 3RD APRIL 2015
• Assemble early evening at Sydney Airport
• Group check-in with G.E.T. representative
• Overnight flight with QANTAS from Sydney
to Narita (Tokyo)

3. DAY 2 – TOKYO
SATURDAY 4TH APRIL 2015
• Arrive at Narita Airport
• Enjoy a day of independent sightseeing
(i.e. Ginza area, Meiji Shrine, Asakusa Kanon Temple, Tokyo Tower,
Tokyo Dome, Akihabara district or Sumo training stall)
• Accommodation at Tokyo Central
Hostel (includes breakfast each morning)

4. TOKYO TOWER

5. GINZA

6. ASAKUSA TEMPLE

7. AKIHABARA DISTRICT

8. MEIJI SHRINE

9. TOKYO CENTRAL YOUTH HOSTEL

11. DAY 3 – TOKYO
SUNDAY 5TH APRIL 2015 (POSSIBLE OPTIONS)
OKONOMIYAKI
COOKING CLASS
$20 PP (approx)
MOUNT
FUJI
DAY
TOUR
$110 PP
(Approx)

12. DAY 4 – TOKYO TO KYOTO
MONDAY 6TH APRIL 2015
• Travel by shinkansen to Kyoto
• Check in for 3 nights ryokan-style accommodation
• Evening at leisure

13. MATSUBAYA RYOKAN

14. DAY 5 & 6 – KYOTO
TUESDAY 7TH – WEDNESDAY 8TH APRIL 2015
• Breakfast at the ryokan
• Independent sightseeing ( i.e. Kyoto Handicraft Centre,
Kofuku-ji & Todai-ji temples, Gion district, Kiyomizu temple, day visit to Nara
etc.)

15. KINKAKUJI

16. HEIAN SHRINE

17. NARA

18. DAY 7 – HIROSHIMA
THURSDAY 9TH APRIL 2015
• Catch the shinkansen to Hiroshima
• Check in for 2 nights hotel accommodation
• Visit Peace Park, A-Bomb Dome and Peace
Museum

19. NEW HIRODEN HOTEL - HIROSHIMA

20. PEACE PARK HIROSHIMA

21. DAY 8 - MIYAJIMA ISLAND
FRIDAY 10TH APRIL 2015
• Travel to Miyajima by rail and ferry

22. DAY 9 – DEPART JAPAN
SATURDAY 11TH APRIL 2015
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Travel by train to Kansai Airport
• Depart Japan on Jetstar overnight flight to Sydney

23. DAY 10 – ARRIVE SYDNEY
SUNDAY 12TH APRIL 2015
• Arrive Sydney Airport in the morning

24. TOUR COST INCLUSIONS
Estimated Tour Cost Includes:
•One way economy airfares with Qantas Airways (Sydney to Tokyo)
•One way economy airfares with Jetstar Airways (Osaka to Sydney)
•Prepaid airport/airline taxes and levies
•Meet & Greet on arrival in Japan
•2 x night’s accommodation at Tokyo Central Hostel with breakfast
•3 x night’s accommodation at the Matsubaya Ryokan, Kyoto with breakfast
•2 x night’s accommodation at the New Hiroden Hotel, Hiroshima with breakfast
•7 day Ordinary Japan rail pass
•1 x Rental Phone (for teacher)
•8% consumption tax and service charges in Japan

25. ESTIMATED TOUR COST
• $3500 (Approx)
• + travel insurance
• + spending money
• Will try and arrange bus to and from
Sydney Airport from MHS also

26. WHAT CAN AFFECT THE QUOTED PRICE?
Below are some factors that can affect this quoted price.
1)Prepaid airline airport taxes / levies and surcharges change. This
component is not fixed until entire airfare and tax amount is paid and the
group is ticketed by the airline.
2)Exchange rates – all land costs are calculated in local currency.
Exchange rate used in quote = 1AUD : 93JPY
3)Tour Numbers
4)Itinerary changes / availability of airfares / dates
•The final total tour cost will be advised 3 months prior to departure
taking into account final tour numbers, final tour itinerary, the current
exchange rate and any fluctuations in prepaid airline airport taxes and
levies

27. PASSPORTS
• Each passenger must have a valid passport.
• We recommend that your passport be valid for at
least 6 months after the date of return
• A photocopy of the details page of your passport
required as soon as possible
• If travelling on anything other than an Australian
passport, advise the school immediately
• www.passports.gov.au

28. VACCINATIONS / MEDICAL
• Suggest you visit your GP and discuss your
personal situation and your travel plans
• Please advise the school immediately of any
existing medical concerns, allergies or dietary
requirements.

29. SPENDING MONEY
• Spending money to cover personal expenses , eg,
snacks, drinks, laundry, souvenirs, phone calls, etc, at
the discretion of each family
• Entry fees into shrines, park etc e.g Peace Museum:
• Suggest take money in a couple of different forms –
some Japanese Yen in cash and travel money card or
‘cash passport ‘.

30. BAGGAGE AND PACKING
• Maximum check in luggage weight 20kg
• Maximum carry on luggage weight 7 kg – NB:
restrictions to carry on luggage regarding
liquids/gels/aerosols, sharps and flammable items
• All students must be able to manage their own bags:
there is a lot of transporting of luggage by foot and
public transport
• A suggested packing list will be provided before
departure

31. WHAT TO DO NEXT
• Deposit payment and passport copies to the school
• All cheques and correspondence to be made out
directly to the school
• Payment schedule as outlined by the school.
• All requests for information regarding the tour should
be directed to the teacher in charge.

32. TEACHER IN CHARGE
• Mrs Coreena Allen (Japanese Teacher MHS)
coreena.allen@det.nsw.edu.au
• Accompanying staff: Mrs Denise Hughes
• 1 other staff TBA
• FACEBOOK GROUP FOR TRIP:
JAPAN TOUR- MEREWETHER HIGH 2015
https://www.facebook.com/groups/315929525231484/

33. QUESTIONS ?