Japan Sister City Exchange- 30th Anniversary

Our Sister Rotary Club in Japan – Higashi-Hiroshima Rotary Club – has provided the itinerary below for any of our members who are able to participate in their May 2017 celebration.  Due to limited flight and hotel space, we  (Miyuki Lee & Carol VanCamp – co-chairs for this excursion) are asking that those who would like to participate let us know by Dec.1st, 2016.  Our hosts are requesting that we limit the number of attendees to no more than 15 or 16, so we suggest that we should start with only club members and their spouses or significant others to make sure we are able to accommodate everyone who wants to participate.  For those who were not at this week’s meeting, they are also inviting members of their other Sister Club from Taiwan, so that’s why they are trying to limit the numbers from each club.

Just as a reminder, all participants will be responsible for:

• Your own travel costs both to and from Japan and within the country (trains or flights)
• All of your hotel rooms both in Higashi-Hiroshima and elsewhere you may go

Also, we are suggesting that we make plans to meet our hosts upon arrival at the Higashi-Hiroshima Train station, which can be accessed from any airport by train.  Rail passes can be purchased in advance that will allow travel on a weekly basis throughout the country.  Locally, there are several travel agents who can assist with securing the rail passes and making flight and/or hotel reservations once you know your itinerary and the designated hotel in Higashi-Hiroshima (Naomi Menor at Naomi’s World Travel Service is one of the).  Many of us will be flying into Kansai Airport (KIX) in Osaka because it’s centrally located for those who want to travel to other places in Japan.  Depending on your flights, you may need to arrive in Japan the day before to make sure you will have ample time to get trains Higashi-Hiroshima.  At the hotels, airport and train stations, there are many English-speaking people to assist you.

As additional details become available, we will let you know, but for now, please let us know if you are planning to participate  (Carol – 938-0828 or Miyuki (345-3680).

Itinerary:

Host:  Higashi Hitoshima RC;  Sister RC exchange committee, Chair: Yoji Hakushima

Sister Clubs:  Nansei RC & Hilo Bay RC

5/19 Friday:  Welcome at designated meeting place

5/20 Saturday:

• 9 am:  meet at hotel
• 10 am: short sightseeing for 2 hours (pottery tour) 
• Lunch 
• 2:30 pm: arrive at Heiankaku
• 3 pm: Ceremony 
• 5 pm: dinner
• 7 pm: social
• 8 pm: back to hotel 

5/21 Sunday 

• 10 am: depart from Higashi Hiroshima
•  Hukilau experience (shore seine)
• Lunch with fresh fish
• Evening:  Onomichi sightseeing, time? 
• 5 pm: Farewell dinner (Roan?)

5/22 Monday-- Farewell