Depart from the US on individual flights. 

Arrive Tokyo Narita and transfer to downtown hotel for a free evening. 

Accommodations: Parkside Hotel

Today the group travels by Shinkansen (bullet train) to Sendai and then on by local train to Shiogama. After a visit to Shiogama shrine they travel by boat to Matsushima, considered one of the three most beautiful areas of Japan.  Continue on by train to Narugo to check in to two small hotels.

Touring starts today with hot spring baths in the morning, then breakfast and SE's.  After a bus ride to Nakayamadaira, we visit a lacquer master for a demonstration then lunch and a hike through a nearby gorge.  There is free time in the town then travel back by train to Narugo.

After the breakfast routine we travel by bus to Basho house, where we learn about one of Japan's most famous poets and philosophers. We have a country stroll and a visit to a potter's studio.  We arrive back at Nyutou for baths, dinner and sharing. 

After breakfast and morning SE's, the group travels by train to Kakunodate.

The look on people’s face when they realized that John-Roger and John Morton had arrived was one of delight and joy. All welcomed the two Travelers and their traveling companions with open arms and warm hearts.

The participants apparently hadn’t been informed of when J-R and John would arrive, making it a pleasant surprise when their taxi’s showed up where the group was shopping at Ando’s store in the small northern Japanese town of Kakunodate.

A chill was in the air, and sporadic bursts of rain were typical on this first day with the Travelers, but that didn’t hinder the group in exploring the ins and outs of Japanese culture.

Our first stop was the home of the Sato family and their beautiful 200 year old house. We then crossed the street to Andoya, a local miso and soy sauce making business which has been run by the same family for 300 years and is located in an exquisitely polished wooden complex.

The group was taken into the treasure filled room where the family’s weddings took place, and Ando-san shared with us wisdoms that had been passed down through her family. One interesting note is that this particular family was matriarchal since the business was passed down through the women of the family, and some of the men would marry into the family and the business.

Ando-san shared with the group the traditional code by which the merchants lived. First, they were to work every day. Second, they were to work with joy. If they couldn’t do it with joy, then they were directed to change what they did for their job, as long as they worked with joy. Finally, they were to keep their business strong and pass it down to their children. Though they would pass the business down to the children, she said that the elders should spend their money and not leave it to their children (which brought wild laughter from our group).

She also shared some on the process of getting married, especially how it was done in the past. One fun artifact that was in the wedding room was a case full of arrows. These arrows were used during the Samurai time, their feathers were taken from eagles, and their worth is approximately $10,000 each.

The next part of the day was spent touring the Samurai district. Kakunodate is one of the few places that has preserved actual Samurai houses and artifacts since the collapse of the system. The Samurai system was abolished during the 1860s, but seeing the ancient armor, the swords and the various tools brought the ways and lives of the Samurai back to life.

When we visited one of the lower class Samurai’s house (the lower class Samurai were the foot soldiers), we had the privilege to see a demonstration by one of three living masters at this specialized craft of basket making. The shoppers in our group really seemed to like the baskets, buying a lot of what the master had made.

Then came a banquet of local specialties for lunch, set in a 300 year old farm house.

Lunch was followed by free time before boarding the buses and heading back to the hotel for a hot spring bath, another banquet dinner and a wonderful sharing session with our Traveler, John Morton.

After breakfast we travel to the mountains to visit a caldera lake, followed by lunch and hiking.  We arrive at our hotel in the last afternoon in time for dinner and Traveler sharing. 

After the morning routing of baths, breakfast and SE's we walk to Hanamaki Temple for 24 hours in a traditional zen temple. 

After finishing up at the temple the group travels by train to the small, coastal town of Tono. The afternoon allows time for biking or walking touring.  This evening at our inn we are entertained by a local group of dancers with participants joining in the fun.  Sharing with the Travelers afterwards. 

This morning we started our touring with a 3-hour scenic train ride and then a walking meditation.  Arriving at the hotel in the mid-afternoon for a relaxing evening of sharing with the the Travelers after dinner. 

Today was the last day touring with the Travelers through northern rural Japan, and with it came many blessings. We started out the morning by visiting Jounji, a Zen temple in the town of Taro. In 1884, the town was hit by a devastating Tsunami wave that killed nearly the entire population. Almost everything was destroyed, and the temple on the side of the hill was the only thing left standing in the town. It was hit with another Tsunami in 1934, after which was built a grand Tsunami wall separating the open sea from the town. In fact, these great cement Tsunami walls and wave breakers in the ocean are now common among the pacific coastline of northern Japan.

Upon arriving at the temple, we were given a very warm welcome by Takahashi-Sensei (the head monk) and his son. Takahashi-Sensei was very sweet, and received us with openness and acceptance. He sat us down and proceeded to give us each some green tea and a sweet made from rice and azuki beans, yet shaped like a pink flower. He shared his story with us about how he had done many jobs in the world for many years. Though his father had been a priest, he didn’t decide to become one until he was in his thirties.

As the monk spoke, a three year-old boy ran around the temple playing with different people in our group. This little boy was very cute, and seemed to be the one really in control of the situation. He would go up to the head monk and to the monk’s son during the sharing session and talk to them. It was beautiful to behold the loving freedom that this little boy was allowed. The little boy made many friends among our group.

The monk let us demonstrate our spiritual practices with him. Steve Beimel called in the light in Japanese, and then the group chanted the ani-hu. The monk shared with us that he could see the loving in our eyes, and he kept repeating that. At the end of the event, the monk shared with us of his dream to go to Las Vegas, see a Diana Ross concert and have her sit on his lap during the concert. Our group laughed with him at this dream and we all shared in the joy that was present.

From the temple we took a train to Kitayamazaki where we boarded a chartered boat. Our group was given a tour of the rugged coastline of Rikuchu Kaigan national park. It was great to take in the beauty of our natural surroundings and to experience the sheer might and magnificence of the tree lined cliffs as we observed how the light and shadows played on their walls.

After the boating excursion, we arrived back at the hotel at which time many people went on a nature walk with John, who gave a truly remarkable talk about the environment. When the walk finished, we ate dinner with the purple sunset in the background.

As with every night before, the Travelers once again graced us with a sharing session that words cannot describe. The great revelation of the evening was when J-R’s kimono opened up below the belt. Indeed, it kept opening causing much hooting and laughter. What the Travelers do for us…

Our trip ended on a loving note, and the Travelers parted from the main group the next day. Thus, this adventurous travelogue comes to a close.

On the road correspondent, Nathaniel, signing out until next time.

Today, after our final day of morning baths, breakfast and SE's we travel via trains to Tokyo and have a free evening. 

After a whirlwind tour of Tokyo we leave for the airport by Narita Express train for our early evening flight back to the US.