Download Ophthalmology in Japan

The Torii Shrine near Hiroshima
Ophthalmology in Japan
28 February – 11 March 2017
Wander through the soaring Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto
Japan is a fluid, fascinating study of
extremes. Ancient history jostles with neon
modernity, rigid tradition with explosive
counter-culture and Zen serenity with
heaving humanity. This enthralling tour
takes you to the heart of both historic and
modern Japan while exploring Japanese
approaches to ophthalmology practices.
Visit prestigious university departments
and eye hospitals and a private clinic,
meet Japanese ophthalmologists and
hear specialist lectures from tour leader
Christopher Liu throughout. Gain real
insight into ophthalmology in Japan, while
experiencing many other facets of this
country. For every face of Japan, there is
another waiting to be seen, so that each
visitor comes away with their own vision of
this genuinely extraordinary land.
metropolis, starting with a visit to the
fascinating Edo Museum, which preserves the
400-year history of Tokyo and its precursor,
Edo. Wander through the historic Asakusa
neighbourhood and visit the ancient Buddhist
Senso-ji Temple. Gaze out across the seemingly
endless sprawl of Tokyo from the soaring
heights of the Skytree before cruising along the
Sumida River to the tranquil Hamraiku Garden.
Spend time wandering through this urban oasis
and take tea in a traditional teahouse. In the
evening there is a welcome dinner at Gonpachi
in upmarket Ginza district.
Arrive in Tokyo and spend the first afternoon
settling in at your leisure.
Tokyo is a vast city encompassing a multitude
of distinctive personalities. The next morning
experience the ancient history of this modern
Tokyo by night
great emphasis on living well. This is the city
that invented both the sushi conveyer belt
and okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes) and is
crammed with thousands of restaurants, from
the gourmet to street stalls, making eating
here an event in itself. Visit Osaka Castle,
the impressive Floating Garden Observatory
and the neon extravagance of the Namba’s
entertainment area. Visit a private ophthalmic
clinic in the evening.
Senso-ji Temple - the oldest temple in Tokyo
Visit the Ophthalmology Department of Kyorin
University School of Medicine the following
morning, while partners visit the Tokyo National
Museum. In the afternoon experience more
of Tokyo’s great variety with a visit to trendy
Harajuku, followed by a visit to the Ukiyo-e
Ota Memorial Art Museum with its superb
woodblock print collection. Continue to the
imposing Meiji Shrine and then the shopping
mecca of glitzy Ginza.
The following morning make a professional
visit to Kindai University Medical School Eye
Department, before boarding the bullet train to
Hiroshima. Check into your hotel and hear a talk
on overcoming corneal blindness in the evening.
Hiroshima is, of course, a town with a
cataclysmic past that is today a powerful
symbol for world peace. Visit the moving Peace
Memorial Park and Museum, with its many
poignant exhibits. In the afternoon take a cruise
on the inland sea past the vivid red Torii Shrine
set in the sea, denoting that the entire island of
Board one of Japan’s sleekly efficient bullet trains
the next morning to a slower, more traditional
part of Japan - Kanazawa. Here you will visit the
Samurai Quarter, including the old pharmacy,
the Samurai House and gardens, the Yuzen Silk
Centre and the Kubani Kutaraki Pottery Centre
before returning to relax at the hotel.
Visit Kenrokuen Garden the following morning,
one of Japan’s most beautiful traditional
gardens. Explore the Geisha Quarter in the
afternoon, including the Ochaya Bunkakan Sake
House, the Kaikaro Geisha House, the exquisite
gold leaf house and the Gold Museum. Hear an
evening lecture on modern cataract surgery.
Board the wonderfully named Thunderbird train
to Osaka the next day. Spend the afternoon
exploring this vibrant centre of commerce,
famed for its ancient history as Japan’s first
capital, but also for its colour and energy, its
food and its down to earth residents, who place
The Gold Room of a geisha house in Kanazawa (top);
Osaka Castle (above)
North
Korea
Sea of
Japan
Kanazawa
2
Kyoto
5
South
Korea
Hiroshima
4
Japan
North Pacific
Ocean
1 Tokyo
3
Osaka
East
China Sea
Philippine
Sea
Miyajima is sacred. Explore this exquisite island
which is covered in virgin forest, as felling trees
is forbidden on the island - as is giving birth or
dying – and watch the sunset before returning
to Hiroshima for dinner.
Depart Kyoto for your return flight the
following day.
Visit the Radiation Institute at Hiroshima
University the next morning, before taking the
bullet train to Kyoto, Japan’s capital of high
culture. Settle into your hotel and have dinner
at a local restaurant.
Kyoto was the imperial capital between 794
and 1868 and with its hundreds of temples and
gardens it remains the cultural centre of Japan.
Visit the shimmering medieval Golden Pavilion
and garden and magnificent Nijo Castle, before
taking a walking tour through its raked pebble
gardens, sensuously contoured temple roofs
and Shinto shrines and food and craft markets
in old Kyoto.
Visit the Kyoto Prefectural University of
Medicine Eye Hospital the next morning,
or spend the time at leisure. Continue your
exploration of this graceful city in the afternoon
with a walk through the towering bamboo
forest of Arashiyama, and take tea at the
Okochi Sanso Villa with its lovely gardens. In
the evening enjoy a delicious shabu-shabu
farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
The Hiroshima Childrens’ Shrine (top);
The Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion in Kyoto (above)
Itinerary
28 February – 11 March 2017
B = Breakfast
L = Lunch D = Dinner
3 nights Tokyo - 2 nights Kanazawa - 1 night Osaka - 2 nights Hiroshima - 3 nights Kyoto
28 Feb (Tue) Tokyo
Am
Arrive and transfer to the hotel
1 Mar (Wed) Tokyo
Am
Pm
Eve
D
B D
Visit the Edo Museum and visit the historic Asakusa neighbourhood and Senso-ji Temple
Visit to the Skytree for spectacular Tokyo views. Cruise along the Sumida River to the Hamraiku Garden. Explore the gardens and take tea in a
traditional tea house
Welcome dinner at Gonpachi in Ginza
2 Mar (Thur) Tokyo
B
Am
Pm
Visit the Ophthalmology Department of Kyorin University School of Medicine. Partner programme to Tokyo National Museum
Visit Harajuku and the Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Art Museum and see the woodblock print collection. Continue
to the Meiji Shrine and on to the upmarket Ginza district
3 Mar (Fri)
Tokyo / Kanazawa
Am
Pm
Bullet train across Japan to Kanazawa
Visit the Samurai Quarter including the old pharmacy, the samurai house and garden, the Yuzen Silk Centre and the Kubani Kutaraki pottery. Return to hotel
4 Mar (Sat)
Kanazawa
Am
Pm
Eve
Visit Kenrokuen Garden
Visit the Geisha Quarter (Higashichaya Old Town) including the Ochaya Bunkakan Sake House, Kaikaro Geisha House, a gold leaf house and the
Gold Leaf Museum
Lecture: “An Update on Modern Cataract Surgery”
5 Mar (Sun)
Kanazawa / Osaka
Am
Pm
Eve
Thunderbird train to Osaka
Visit Osaka Castle, the Floating Garden Observatory and the Namba area
Visit a private ophthalmic clinic
6 Mar (Mon) Osaka / Hiroshima
Am
Pm
Eve
B D
7 Mar (Tue) Hiroshima
Am
Pm
Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum
Cruise on the Inland Sea past the Torii
Shrine to Miyajima Island for sunset
8 Mar (Wed) Hiroshima / Kyoto
Am Pm B D
B D
Visit the Radiation Research Institute at Hiroshima University
Bullet train to Kyoto
B
9 Mar (Thur) Kyoto
Am
Pm
Visit the Golden Pavilion and its garden and Nijo Castle
Sightseeing tour on foot to food and craft markets (walk down Nishiki and Teramachi-dori) and old Kyoto
B D
10 Mar (Fri) Kyoto
Am
Pm
Eve
Visit Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Eye Department or at leisure
Walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Visit the Okochi Sanso Villa for a Japanese tea ceremony and explore the gardens
Farewell shabu-shabu dinner at Torataro
B
11 Mar (Sat) Kyoto
Am
Depart Kyoto for airport and onward flight
B
B
B D
Visit Kindai University Medical School Eye Department or at leisure
Bullet train to Hiroshima
Talk: “Overcoming Corneal Blindness”
Geisha girls in the streets of old Kyoto
The vibrant city of Osaka
Hotels
Tokyo - Villa Fontaine Shiodome
A sleek, soaring hotel with an excellent
location in the business district, near Ginza and
overlooking the river and Hamarikiyu Gardens.
The décor is contemporary and sophisticated,
with well sized rooms for Tokyo, and there is a
stylish bar and a gym.
Kanazawa - ANA Crowne Plaza
A comfortable, upmarket hotel with a very
good location in the centre of the tourist area in
Kanazawa, the ANA Crowne Plaza offers several
restaurants and bars on various levels.
Kyoto - Granvia Kyoto
With an unbeatable location, Hotel Granvia
Kyoto is an integral part of the JR Kyoto Station
Building Complex, a striking architectural
masterpiece which also includes a department
store, museum, musical theatre and a vast
underground shopping mall. Rooms are
comfortable and well sized and there are many
restaurant and bar options.
Osaka - Hilton Osaka
As you would expect from a Hilton hotel, the
Osaka Hilton is comfortable, stylish and well
equipped with facilities including an indoor pool
and fitness centre, restaurant and conveniently
central location.
Hiroshima - ANA Crowne Plaza
Close to the river and within a ten minute stroll to
the Peace Memorial Park and the A-bomb Dome,
this hotel has an excellent location and provides
comfortable rooms, if slightly dated décor.
Hiroshima
Tour Leader
The cost of the tour is £3,688
per person
Christopher Liu is a consultant ophthalmic
surgeon and Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer
based in Brighton. Born in Hong Kong,
Christopher came to England aged 15 to study
before entering medical school in London. He is
widely travelled and enjoys introducing western
delegates to exotic cultures. He has led the
Royal College of Ophthalmologists study tour
to China in 2004 and 2014, Egypt 2006, Syria in
2007 and Cuba in 2012.
Christopher has been president of the Medical
Contact Lens and Ocular Surface Association,
British Society for Refractive Surgery and the
Southern Ophthalmological Society. He is
Honorary Secretary of the United Kingdom
and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive
Surgeons and Council Member of the Royal
College of Ophthalmologists.
Travel in Japan
Apart from airport transfers, all transport
on this tour is based on Japan’s excellent
public transport system. The group will
travel between cities by bullet train.
Transport within cities is by metro and
bus. All hotels are walking distance from
the railways stations. As travel is by
public transport, a good level of fitness is
important for all participants.
As there is limited space for luggage on
the bullet trains large bags will be sent
separately ahead of the group by overnight
transfers. The cost is included in the tour.
The large bags will be mailed from Tokyo
to Kanazawa, Kanazawa to Hiroshima
and Hiroshima to Kyoto. As the service
is overnight on those dates, participants
will use hand luggage for the nights of 2
March, 5 March and 8 March.
The cost includes:
• The services of a tour leader (Professor
Christopher Liu)
• 11 nights’ accommodation in twin-bedded
rooms with private facilities in medium grade and first class hotels
Single supplement: £490
• Breakfast daily
• Seven dinners
• All admission fees
• Services of specialist English speaking
national guide
• All transport services, tips and taxes in Japan
The cost excludes:
• International flights
• Meals not mentioned
• Drinks with meals except welcome and
farewell dinners
• All optional excursions, tours and visits
• Travel insurance
• Visa, if required
Flights to and from Japan are not
included with this package. We
can help organise these flights please contact us if you would like
us to do so.
Origami cranes
About Us
To travel with us is to dig below
the surface, revealing the deeper
destination. Of course, you will visit
the great historical sites; marvel at
the wonders of architecture and
engineering; be moved by the riches
of culture and art; and experience
the most spectacular landscapes in
the world. What we also do is make
sure that you see the country as it is
today, giving you privileged access
that independent travel and other
tour companies rarely get close to.
We give you a variety of experiences,
from the sublime to the humble, in
the company of intelligent, curious,
like-minded people. And while we
can be worthy, we also make sure
that you have a lot of fun.
All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays in
this brochure are financially protected by the
ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be
supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask
for it and check to ensure that everything you
booked (flights, hotels and other services)
is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions
for further information or for more information
about financial protection and the ATOL
Certificate go to:
www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate
Jon Baines Tours (London)
Hyde Park House, 5 Manfred Road,
London, SW15 2RS
Tel: +44 (0) 207 223 9485 / 5618
Email: [email protected]
www.jonbainestours.co.uk
Jon Baines Tours (Melbourne)
PO Box 68, South Brunswick,
Victoria 3055
Tel: +61 (0) 3 9343 6367
Fax: +61 (0) 3 9012 4228
Email: [email protected]
www.jonbainestours.com
A geisha in traditional dress in Kyoto; (top) Serene Kenroku Garden in
Kanazawa; Tokyo skyline with Mt Fuji in the distance; Old Kyoto (above)