Agape World
The itinerary for 2024 is coming soon...
The provisional Itinerary for 2019 trip below
Tue 27 Oct: Depart from Heathrow by Japan Air Lines (early in the morning)
Wed 28 Oct: Arrive at Haneda in early morning, fly to Nagasaki, Kyushu. Stay at a hotel in Nagasaki for three nights until 31st October, then transferred by coach to Hirado, north of Nagasaki.
In Nagasaki, we will visit Glover Garden, Nagasaki Peace Park, and various museums. There will be time to shop and eat out. If weather permits, we will take taxis to the mountain top for the million-dollar night view. A memorial service in Koyagi is being arranged. Our coordinator, Mr Ihara, sadly passed away recently, so we are in search of a Christian minister who will take the service.
Sat 31 Oct: After the memorial service, depart for Hirado (three hour coach journey). Arrive in the evening. First night, stay at a hotel.
On the second and third night, stay with host families. The people of Hirado are jolly, good-humoured and internationally minded, as they frequently receive foreign guests, especially Dutch visitors. Since my first visit to Hirado in 1986, Agape World made a lot of connections with this idyllic Island. Our hosts in Hirado will arrange all our activities.
The British heritage in Hirado is featured on p.3 in the AgapeWorld newsletter 43.
Tuesday 3rd Nov: Depart Hirado for Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan.
Mariko Sugino, the head of Agape World Kyoto, will organise our accommodation and visits to local sights.
My friends, Osamu and Yoko Abiko, who live in Singapore, has a house in Kyoto, which can accommodate up to six people. The Terry family are booked in with them, which leaves three more places. Welcome tea, breakfast and sukiyaki dinner for one night will be served at the house.
Both Osamu and Yoko love entertaining and introducing Japanese culture to visitors from overseas. They will guide us through Kyoto. It is the season when autumn leaves are beautiful.
Thursday 5th Nov: Depart Kyoto for Kiwa-Cho, Kumano City in Mie Prefecture, Keiko’s home town and where Agape World all started (please read the story on https://www.agapeworldreconciliation.org/ ). Stay for two or three nights at Seiryu-So, the only hotel in Kiwa-Cho (http://www.ztv.ne.jp/irukaspa/).
The hills around Kumano in autumn are spectacular with tangerines and oranges. We may even have time to go tangerine picking! We will visit Iruka High School on Friday, the breath-taking Toro gorge, and the Mine museum. The mountains will be magnificent in red and gold.
Saturday 7th November:
A memorial service at the Iruka Boys’ Memorial Grave, followed by lunch together with the local people at Seiryu-So hotel. After lunch, the host families (subject to confirmation) will take us to each home where we will stay overnight.
Evening Meal: BBQ at Keiko's brother’s home
Sunday 8th Nov: Take a local train to Nagoya, then catch a Shinkansen or ‘Bullet Train’ to our final destination Tokyo
Monday 9th Nov - Wed 11th Nov, Visiting Keio University in Tokyo, one of the top independent universities in Japan, a courtesy call to the British Embassy (subject to confirmation), the British Commonwealth War Cemetery in Hodogaya, Yokohama. Also include dinner at a shabushabu restaurant, and shopping with our Agape World friends.
Thursday 12th Nov: Leave Tokyo by JAL, arrive at Heathrow on the same day
Photograph: the reception in Kumano City during the Pilgrimage 2003
On the Agape World's Pilgrimage of Reconciliation, you will have plenty of opportunities to visit war cemeteries, attend memorial services (see the photo below), meet and mingle with local people. There will be a chance to try on kimono, the traditional Japanese clothing.
The 2020 pilgrims was to be accompanied by Keiko, Daniel (Keiko's son), Harue from the UK, and Dr Jinsai (part of trip in Japan).
The itinerary was provisional. The estimated cost for 2020 was £4,000 p.p.
Photograph: A Memorial Service at Shingu Church, in Wakayama Prefecture, during our Pilgrimage in 1992
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