Subject: Re: [baidarka] Aleut Culture Camp
From: Mitchell James (redcedar1@mac.com)
Date: Thu Apr 06 2006 - 15:54:44 EDT
GO TIGERS!!! (That's Hanshin Tigers, for you American baseball fans...)
Brian, I am so totally jealous of you RIGHT NOW!!! Amagaseki, of
course. Now, do you know Shiro Ozaki? And the rest of you, tune in,
OK? Japan is not that far away; in fact, it is a very easy trip to
some of the GREATEST kayaking ever! More on this in a minute.
Shiro runs Horizon Kayaks in Naruto, which is kayak heaven. Brian,
all you need to do is get to Osaka Station (downtown, not Shin
Osaka) and take the Tokushima bus to Naruto (two hours, under 4000
yen). Shiro will pick you up at the bus stop. Don't take the train,
it winds through Takamatsu and costs a mint (12000 yen). You can, of
course, drive across Awajishima but it will cost more than the bus.
Shiro can show you all around Shikoku, either by land or sea. He is a
great guide, instructor, and kayak shop owner. www.e-horizon.jp. Look
it up, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
SHIRO: expect a call from Brian Huffaker. He is also a baidarka person.
Shiro has spent lots of time in the Pacific Northwest visiting kayak
builders, including myself and Corey. He has a couple of my paddles
over there, including one he built himself.
OK, for those who have not been there... fly to Kansai (Osaka, KIX).
From Seattle, you can get a round trip for $600 if you watch
carefully (try www.cheapflights.com). Then you take a two-hour bus
(limousine bus!) directly from the front door of the terminal to
Naruto, for about $40. Hotel rooms are about the same as here, $40-80
per night in a "business hotel" (a Japanese version of Motel 6). You
will love the food. It is so easy. Shiro has everything there waiting
for you.
One more tip: if you want to see more of Japan while you are there,
be sure to buy a JR Pass (Japan Rail) BEFORE you go. You cannot buy
it there. Contact your local Japanese consulate for info. The JR pass
is definitely worth it, a 7-day free ride anywhere in the country on
the bullet train (shinkansen). Cost here is about $250. The Green
Pass is a guaranteed last-minute reserved seat in total comfort, the
regular pass is a bit cheaper and almost as good. You might have to
wait a train, and seating is similar to Southwest Airlines. Watch out
for the smoking cars... other than that, these trains are just amazing.
James Mitchell
15325 Redmond Way, C-113
Redmond WA 98052 USA
Email: redcedar1@mac.com
Phone: 425-273-0884
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