gunmajet.net

Don't you love cute monkeys? Don't you love it when cute monkeys do things like people do?
C'mon. Admit it. You know you do.

Good, now that you've admitted it you should sign up for this sweet trip to world famous Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano Prefecture. There you can see monkeys bathing in their own private onsen, playing around in the snow, and in general being cute and delightful.

http://www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/english/top/english.html - check out the live monkey cam!

Monkey appetite satiated, the caravan will head down in to Nagano city to see the famous Zenkoji temple. Many of your schools probably have class trips out to it - that's how big of a deal it is! Temple appetite satiated, the caravan will return safely home.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenkoji

To keep costs down, this will be a driving event - which means we need drivers! If you want to go and have a car, speak up as soon as possible! If we don't have drivers, we can't go! (or at least we can't go for cheap) Don't worry, it's not hard to get to and the roads aren't dangerous. It's just a bit up the expressway into Nagano.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the trip, it'll be cost variable as well. Expect around 10,000 (but probably less) for the whole day out - this will include meals, admission to the park, plus gas, tolls, and the all important omiyage. Depending on how full your car load is and how cheap you are, you might be able to spend half that.

Trip Details:
Things to bring: warm clothing (the onsen is in the mountains, there's going to be snow), shoes that you don't care much about (they're probably going to get dirty...hiking boots may be more ideal, but if you don't have any or don't feel like wearing them, I have it on good authority that trainers/running shoes will suffice [A JET last year wore sandals there - not recommended]), camera, cash, snacks (for you NOT for the monkeys!)

Don't bring: anything in a plastic bag. The monkeys love them and will just tear them out of your hands, or at least tear the bag through and dump all its contents on the ground.

Meet at Takasaki station at 7:30a on February 11th.

Please e-mail gajetpres[at]gmail.com if you'd like to come along and we'll organize car pools. Drivers! Please, please, please! RSVP via comments section or on facebook by February 4th.

When : Dec. 13 (Sat) ’08
Where : Takasaki Stn – Mt. Kannon – Haruna Shrine – Lake Haruna – Takasaki Stn
Fee : ¥2,500/adult, ¥2,000/child (Grade school student or younger), Lunch included
Full Quota : 40 (Participants should be able to communicate in English.)
How to Apply : Fill in the application form on the back and bring/mail/fax/e-mail it to us. Payment should be made in advance with cash or bank transfer. We will send you a ticket after the payment is confirmed. (Application is accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.)

I went on this bus tour last year and had an absolute blast. This one is actually catered toward English speakers this time. You do need to apply on your own.

Venue: Norn Skijo, Minakami, Gunma-ken

Hi fellow Gunma JETs, it seems people are not interested in an overnight stay
to enjoy two days of skiing/snowboarding with a decent party, but perhaps the
financial situation dictates otherwise.

So, I suggest a one day trip to either Norn in Minikami. The ski resort have offered us
a special discount price of 2,500yen for all day lift pass (half price!!!). So, the ball
is in your court. If you are interested, please notify me of which venue you prefer, and
also if you require to rent any equipment or clothing. I have suggested Saturday 15th
of March, so any feedback is welcome. Just remember the season is coming to an end!

I look forward to seeing you all on the slopes...

If there are any problems with getting there, please drop me a line and I'll try to arrange a drive with a group. Note, sign-up on GAJET forum is essential to receive special
discount for lift-passes. Anyone just turning up on the day will have to pay full price!

--- The FINAL List ---
Sean Barry
Helen Auer
Beth Miller
Glenn Baisden,
Mami Shizawa,
Masaki Fujikura
Sanja Ilic
Aileen Lin
Calvin (What's your surname?)
Meaghan Leary
Melissa Mok
Erin Kessler
Kelli Scott
Daniel Pumbien
Scott Fukayama
--- The List Ends ---

Organized by the Gunma International Association.

This tour is provided for both foreign residents and Japanese volunteer interpreters to give foreigners an opportunity to explore Gunma and to give Japanese people and opportunity to communicate with English speaking people. The low price of 2000 Yen includes all travel expenses (lunch, admission fees and insurance). Applications will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

Schedule:
8:20 ~ 8:40 Sign In
8:40 Leave Takasaki Station
10:10 ~ 10:40 View the Autumn leaves at Takatsudo Gorge
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/salutchloe/diary/200611180000/
11:10 ~ 12:00 Karakura Doll Museum
(collection of mechanical dolls)
12:30 ~ 13:30 Lunch at Hotel Fusejima
http://www.fusejima.com/dining/index.htm
13:30 ~ 15:00 Mikazuki Village
(Edo period Japan complete with a ninja house )
http://www.sukima.com/15_kantou/20mika.htm
15:30 ~ 16:00 Daiko-in Temple
(Mum Festival)
http://www.pref.gunma.jp/cts/PortalServlet?DISPLAY_ID=DIRECT&NEXT_DISPLA...
17:00 Return to Takasaki Station

Cost: ¥3,600

If you're going home, this will be your last chance to be a part of the excitement of a live sumo match. Come drink and talk with friends as titans clash below you. It will be on the second to last day, so the drama will be high. If you have never seen a 150kg man fly through the air, you must come on this trip.

-----

Sorry, I didn't update this along with the group email posts. The advanced ticket reservations already passed. But people can still try to get seats if they show up to the tournament really early. They will sell out quickly, so it will take some luck.

SIGN-UPS SO FAR:
-----------------------------
Aileen Lin + friends
Alana Baxter
Clark Quigley
Daniel Simmons
Jackie Fung
John Gregerson
Julie Hale
Mako Miyamoto
Noli Ergas
Scott Boyd
Scott Fukuyama + Naomi

Tokyo's not just the crowded megalopolis everyone imagines it to be. For example, it is surprising just how close the mountains of Meiji-no-mori-Takao Quasi-National Park are to the city. They are not huge mountains, but the accessibility of forested trails just an hour west of Shinjuku may surprise the nature-lovers among us who look on Tokyo's urban sprawl with barely concealed distaste. Why not celebrate the coming spring equinox holiday (Wednesday, March 21) with a day jaunt around Mt. Takao?

This is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of day trip -- you can do what you like without feeling pressure to wander around in a big group. Mt. Takao has plenty of varied attractions: you can hike, relax, visit the monkey park, explore an 8th-century temple, etc.

THE PLAN: Plan to get an early start and arrive at Takao-san-guchi station by 10am. From the station, we will head straight for the hills. Mt. Takao is only 599m high. Its main numbered trails are roughly two miles long and while steep in parts, include numerous chances to rest on the way, as well as sneak peeks at Mount Fuji and the surrounding mountains. The Mount Inari Path is one of the longer ones, but less crowded, and includes beautiful spring or fall foliage.

Less ambitious hikers can ride the cable car or chair lift that takes passengers about halfway to the peak. Cars leave about every 15 minutes from Kiyotaki Station and Sanroku Station (for the chair lift), which are a three-minute walk from the train. The cars and lift operate from 8 a.m. until early evening; one-way tickets for adults cost 470 yen, or 900 yen for a round trip. The five-minute ride in the cable car has a pitch of 31 degrees, one of the steepest rides of its kind in Japan.

After alighting, interested parties may wish to visit the monkey park on the mountain's south slope (400 yen for adults, 200 yen for children). Here, there are dozens of Japanese monkeys as well as guides who can explain how they socialize.

Others may wish to start marching up through the forest thick with oak and evergreen trees. Trail No. 1 is quite scenic as you pass through Joshin Gate, past maples and cedars, to Yakuoin Temple, about 20 minutes from the cable car. Built in 744 to commemorate the Buddhist saint Gyoki, the graceful yet imposing temple is dedicated to the Buddha of healing, and its waters are used by worshipers in their meditations.

The peak is often crowded with picnickers and photo buffs, and understandably so. On clear days, central Tokyo to the east seems to levitate in the distance, while the mountains to the west give a taste of Japan's rugged interior and the majestic Mount Fuji.

Descending on trail No. 6, we will pass Biwa-taki, a delightful waterfall.

When we return to the train station, you may wish to stop at one of the several soba shops near the station. Takahashi-ya, a two-minute walk from the station, offers filling dishes at reasonable prices. When you've had your fill of Mt. Takao, hop on the train and make your way back to Gunma!

[NOTE: The above information is a hodgepodge of heartily plagiarized information previously published in the Lonely Planet "Hiking in Japan" guide and a recent article in the New York Times travel section.]

Three years ago the Takasaki International Relations Society sponsored its first bus trip outside of Takasaki and Tokyo was the destination. That year 80 smiling faces filled two buses for a memorable trip that got rave reviews in spite of the inclement weather and began what has become an eagerly awaited yearly tradition. After traveling to Oze in 2005 and Fuji in 2006, the bus trip is returning to Tokyo, where we Gunmanians can unleash our cabbage, mountain wind, strong women, and a "danbei" here and there of our Gunma dialect.

The exact itinerary is still in the planning stages, but we'll definitely hit Asakusa's famous Sensoji temple. A riverboat cruise, visit to a beautiful Japanese garden, Tokyo Tower, the National Parliament building, and a museum are all other candidates. More details will be posted shortly.

TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE. There are two purchasing options: (1) Purchase in person at the Takasaki International Relations Office, second floor, Takasaki City Hall. (2) Pay at the post office. (a) Contact the Takasaki International Relations Office with your name, address, phone and nationality. (b) An easy fee-free post office payment form will be mailed to you. This can be used for payment at any post office in Japan.

Hello everyone, to celebrate my birthday, I'm planning a trip to Tokyo Disneyland as I have never been to Disneyland before! So, I am hoping some of you guys and gals might be interested in helping me celebrate and also show me the wonderful things to see there. Everyone is welcome, just let me know you are interested and if we have enough people I'll see can we organise a group discount. Payment details and meeting details to follow, my email and contact details are below...

Zazen Experience

Limit of 20 people, first come, first serve, must sign up before the 22nd of November. It's 300￥.

Basically it's a tour of some of the historical buildings in the middle of Takasaki (Takasaki City Hall, the big tower you've probably all seen, was build on the former site of a castle from the Edo period, so there are other historical sites nearby).

The day ends with some Zen meditation at Choshoji temple.

(This is a transcript of an event advertised in the "Takasaki and You" newsletter that is sent to the Takasaki ALTs. I've decided to post the events in the newsletter for GunmaJet as people outside of the city may want to attend.)

Sunday, November 12th 2006

Come join a fun-filled tour to Kurabuchi, the beautiful mountainous part of Takasaki neighboring Nagano Prefecture.
HIKE: First is a 4 km hike along a historical trail that includes explanations of the dozens of “traveler guardian deities” that line the course.
BBQ: The hike will be followed by an absolutely delicious BBQ sponsored by the Kurabuchi Exchange Association that includes yakitori, grilled trout, wild boar stew, barbequed wild boar (yakiniku), udon, oden, and 1 free drink.
Apple Picking: You can choose to get some tasty souvenirs by picking apples at a private apple grove, or…
Hot Spring: You can choose to relax Japanese-style in a onsen.
ALL OF THIS IS ONLY 2500yen, including transportation to/from Takasaki City Hall by chartered bus!

Tour limited to the first 80 people who reserve their seat.
ONLY 3 SEATS LEFT AS OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11th
Payment will be required in advance to hold your seat. Will email different payment options when you sign up - including convenient fee-free payment via any post office.

Sponsored by the Takasaki International Relations Society - but don't worry, we don't make anyone sing or dance or get up on stage here. Just participate and enjoy the event like a normal human being. Non-normal people also welcome.