Page 5 - Japan 11 Day Sample Itinerary

Japanese culture, refined over generations of isolation, is steeped in the ancient, fascinated by the brand-new, and schooled in the ephemeral. Here ‘East meets West’. Japan has a long history of absorbing advanced cultures from the Asian Continent from ancient times through the Middle Ages. Later it began to assimilate elements of th Western civilization from the latter half of the 19 century. By selectively assimilating these many cultural influences, the country has successfully added rich new dimensions and depth to its indigenous culture. This marvelous harmony between the refinement of things and concepts ‘Oriental’ blended with the leading-edge technology and the often ultra-modern urban lifestyle you find in Japan today is truly proof of a long and eloquent history. Magnificent Buddhist temples and those which embody the essence of understated architectural elegance through the elimination of almost all decorative features. Quiet and stately Shinto shrines rest amid dark green woods… Japan has them. Many date back well over 1,000 years. Shinto is an ancient, indigenous religion unique to Japan, with emphasis on ancestor worship and harmony with the natural world. Buddhism, brought in from the Asian Continent way back in the sixth century teaches spiritual enlightenment and salvation. Both continue to be prime and moving sources of inspiration, culturally and esthetically, for the Japanese even today. The Buddhist images enshrined and the gardens are splendid pieces of art. Japanese gardens are world- renowned as refined reproductions of nature’s beauty all confined within a limited space. Overnight: Peninsula Hotel – (2) Deluxe Rooms