EXCURSION
All Closed. Sorry.
Wednesday Afternoon Excursion (July 10) – JPY 4,500 (approximately equivalent to USD 40)
- City bus tour: Hokkaido Jingu Shrine, Odori Park, Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium, Mt. Moiwa etc. (40 people) - closed
- City walk with Sushi lunch (40 people) - closed
- Harbor city and Stained Glass Museum (Otaru) (40 people)
- Whiskey Distillery (Yoichi) (40 people) – closed
- Volcano and Lake in Shikotsu area - Hiking
(20 people) – closed
- Hokkaido Museum - Nature, history and culture of Hokkaido (40 people) - closed
- Arte Piazza Bibai - Kan Yasuda sculpture park (40 people) - closed
Registration for Wednesday Afternoon Excursion
The first-come-first-served policy will be applied. You will receive an email to inform about the payment of the fee.
Arte Piazza Bibai - Kan Yasuda sculpture park (40 people)
- Start at noon
- Duration: 4 hours (including the time of departure from the venue of the Congress and before the end of the tour)
- Price: TBA
- Includes a local guide and interpreters
The Arte Piazza Bibai, the Bibai Art Plaza, is a sculpture park in the mountains where forty sculptures of Kan Yasuda, an internationally renowned sculptor, are exhibited. The project was initiated by the City of Bibai and Kan Yasuda in 1992 to revitalize the city with arts and cultural promotion, as well as to preserve old architectures and the surrounding nature. Bibai, once one of the largest coal mining cities, has been suffering from critical depopulation. Above all, the feature lies in Kan Yasuda's sculptures. In minimal forms in white marble and black bronze, they profoundly harmonize with the nature, while attracting people. They are often described as organic or sacred presence providing cheer and tranquility. The 70,000 square meter (17 acre) park of woods and lawns, surrounded by mountains and a river, enjoys seasonal changes of nature as well. The Arte Piazza Bibai has long presented its pioneering vision for people, nature and arts. It is realized by Kan Yasuda's outstanding sculptures which embrace the essential of arts: people recognize, or remind them of, the meanings of time and space within themselves.
Hokkaido
Museum and Historical Village of Hokkaido- Nature, history and culture of
Hokkaido
(40 people)
- Start: at noon
- Duration: 4 hours (including the time of departure from the venue of the Congress and before the end of the tour)
- Price: TBA
- Includes interpreters and tickets
Hokkaido Museum, aka Mori no Charenga, is a museum introducing the nature, history and culture of Hokkaido. The museum investigates and researches the relationship between the natural environment and people, the culture of the Ainu people and their way of living, and the lives of immigrants from Honshu. It also collects and preserves materials that represent a precious treasure of the people of Hokkaido, and conducts exhibitions, educational activities and events.
Harbor city and Stained Glass Museum (Otaru) (40 people)
- Start: at noon
- Duration: 4 hours (including the time of departure from the venue of the Congress and before the end of the tour)
- Price: TBA
- Includes interpreters and tickets
Otaru is a historical harbor city and port in Hokkaido. The city has flourished with herring fishing and was once the center of the economy of Hokkaido. In the current time of the history, there are many historical buildings such as stone-made western style architecture to old Japanese style architecture that can be found in Otaru Canal area where is fun to walk around. Recently Otaru Art Base is a new sightseeing spot, in where four historical buildings built during the early 20th Century, when Otaru prospered greatly, form the stage on which excellent artwork and crafts from Japan and around the world are exhibited in atmospheres unique to each building and time period.
Whiskey Distillery (Yoichi) (40 people)
- Start: at noon
- Duration: 4 hours (including the time of departure from the venue of the Congress and before the end of the tour)
- Price: TBA
- Includes a local guide and transfers.
The Yoichi Distillery is one of the oldest whiskey distillery in Japan since 1934 built by Masataka Taketsuru. Masataka Taketsuru, the first Japanese who mastered whisky making in Scotland, valued the climate and natural features of the north. Yoichi, the place chosen by Masataka was close to the sea, surrounded by mountains on three sides and in many ways similar to Highland in Scotland. A cold climate with an appropriate humidity, crisp clean air and fresh water - everything necessary for his ideal whisky was available. The proximity to the sea is one of the distinctive features of Yoichi. The sea breeze gives a briny hint to the whisky during the maturation.