Pre-Convention Tour by Val & Ron Ontell

Val and Ron Ontell, who ran trips to Britain, Ireland, and Australia connected to previous Worldcons, are organizing a trip to Japan in conjunction with Nippon 2007.  Currently scheduled to run from August 21 (travel day to Japan) through August 30 (prior to the opening of the con), the tour will include Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kanazawa, Takayama, and Masumoto.

Among the sights included are Osaka Castle, Nijo Castle, Ryoanji Temple, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, the Great Buddha in Nara, the Old Imperial Palace, the Kyoto Cooking School, an exclusive performance of MIKO (Shinto girls), the Ishikawa Prefecture Crafts Museum (including the locally famous Kanazawa Haku gold leaf), Kanazawa�s Kitchen (a 300 year-old open air market), and much more.  Visit a local family for tea and get a firsthand glimpse of Japanese life at home by talking with the family and experiencing Japanese culture first hand.  A Shabu-Shabu (Japanese style fondue) dinner is among the five included dinners.  Eight breakfasts and a lunch are also included.  Minor changes to the itinerary are possible until the tour is a 'go.'

A pre-tour add-on segment to Kurashiki and Hiroshima (including Miyajima Island (to see the Itsukushima Shrine with its floating Tori Gate) arrives via bullet train in Osaka on August 20 and connects with the main tour in Osaka on August 23.  Three breakfasts and a dinner are included in this segment.

The core tour will cost approximately $2387, depending upon exchange rates at the time the tour becomes a "go."  A Single Supplement will be approximately $492.  With the ad-on, the entire tour will cost approximately $3469, with a $594 single supplement.  Included in these prices are:

• Superior tourist-class hotels, applicable taxes, service charges, state and local taxes, tips to baggage porters and hotel staff.
• 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 5 dinners on the core tour: an additional 3 breakfasts and a dinner on the add-on.
• Sightseeing in an air-conditioned motorcoach with local guides where applicable.
• Group airport transfer on arrival and departure.
• Professional tour director throughout.

Not included are:

• AIR FARE, airport taxes (where applicable), excess baggage. o Sample Air Fare from LAX - Core Tour: $1155, incl. tax. With Add-On: $1198, incl. tax.
• Meals not included in the itinerary.
• Personal items and souvenirs.
• Tips to motorcoach driver, tour director, and local guides.

Currently, Tokyo is not included, as many fans prefer to see it on their own during the con. However, it is possible to arrange day trips to Mt. Fuji, the Imperial Palace, the Meiji Shrine, Nakamise Shopping Arcade, the Ginza, and a cruise of Tokyo Bay, and the Great Buddha in Kamakura.