Rev. Shuko Katayama (center) of Jifukuji Temple in Kesennuma explained about the tsunami disaster to the participants of Cultural News tour in June 2012. Rev. Katayama conducted 150 funerals of the temple members after the disaster. (Cultural News Photo Archive)
Cultural News will send “People to People Tour” to Tohoku disaster areas of Japan from April 10-14. This is a rare opportunity to meet local people and hear their first hand stories about the disaster. English translation will be provided.
The tour group will stay at ryokan style Kesennuma Hotel Kanyo, and charter 10-passenger van for three days.
Approximately cost for the four-day tour in Tohoku is $900 including Shinkansen ticket.
Air transportation arrangements from Los Angeles to Tokyo are at their owns by participants.
A few spaces are still available. For more information, contact Shige Higashi at (213) 819-4100 or email higashi@culturalnews.com.
Itinerary of People to People Tour to Tohoku, April 10-14
April 10, from Tokyo to Kesennuma
In the morning, the tour will take a Shinkan-sen and local train ride to Tokyo to Kesennuma, central location of the tsunami disaster area.
We will stay Kesennuma Hotel Kanyo for four nights. Breakfast is included by hotel fees.
In the afternoon, the tour will meet local people to hear about children’s life.
April 11, All day tour by charter van (10 passengers)
In the morning, the tour will visit a workshop for mentally handicapped in Rikuzen-Takata. We will meet the president of the facility.
In the afternoon, the tour will visit a local school to hear about children’s life.
April 12, All day tour by charter van (10 passengers)
In the morning, the tour will visit a Buddhist Temple at Kesennuma’s Hajikami area where over 2,000 home, 50% of all household, were destroyed. We will meet a head priest of the Hashikami’s temple, who conducted 150 funerals of the temple members after the disaster.
In Minami-Sanriku cho, the tour will pay tribute to victims of tsunami disaster at the ruin of civic center buildings.
In Onagwa, we will visit an after-school program run by a Tokyo-based non-profit organization.
The tour will return to the hotel in Kesennuma after 9 pm.
April 13, All day tour by charter van (10 passengers)
In the morning, the tour will visit Ryori area in Sanriku-cho of Ofunato city, and observe works of wakame seaweed processing. We will meet people of fisherman’s association and people of local chamber of commerce.
We will visit Masako Unoura at her father’s home in Ofunato. On March 11, 2011, Los Angeles resident Masako happened to visit Kesenmuna and survived the tsunami. Masako is a Ofunato native.
April 14, Returning from Kesennuma to Tokyo
In the morning, the tour will leave Kesennuma, and take a local and Shinkan-sen to Tokyo. Around the noon, we will arrive at Tokyo Station.