Discover Japan Beyond the Postcards
Extend your convention experience with a journey to dive deep into the Japanese culture and spirit. Explore sites of peace and resilience, witness traditional artistry, and experience iconic cultural landmarks.
Day 1 (13th February) – Nagasaki: Japan’s First Cosmopolitan City
Depart for Nagasaki after the Closing Ceremony
Visit the Atomic Bomb Museum and Ground-Zero to bear witness to history, exploring the museum’s powerful permanent exhibit featuring photographs taken immediately after the atomic bombing, alongside artifacts that survived the explosion
Enjoy a Communication Dinner at the hotel, designed to offer a unique opportunity to communicate and connect with local residents
Overnight in Nagasaki
Included Highlights:
- Scenic drive through Kyushu’s mountainous landscapes.
- Guided tour of the Atomic Bomb Museum and Ground-Zero
- Light lunch on the bus
- Dinner with local delicacies at the hotel
Day 2 (14th February)-Nagasaki: The Legacy Project
What is the Legacy Project?
In Nagasaki, the Legacy Project at the Peace Park is a meaningful initiative where visitors can contribute to the city’s message of peace. It specifically involves the donation of paper cranes (senbazuru), often folded by individuals or groups from around the world, as a symbol of hope and a wish for a nuclear-free world. These cranes are displayed at the Children’s Peace Monument, inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young victim of the atomic bombing who folded cranes in hope of recovery. Participating in this programme allows visitors to tangibly join in Nagasaki’s enduring plea for global peace.
Continue your exploration of historic Nagasaki by visiting the Nagasaki Peace Park, a powerful symbol of world peace erected after the tragic atomic bomb explosion in 1945. Reflect before the majestic Peace Statue, admire monuments gifted by 17 nations, and find solace by its beautiful fountain.
Let’s donate the paper cranes folded by participants of the 2026 WFTGA convention to the Nagasaki Peace Park, participating in theLegacy Project to signify a collective wish for peace from guides worldwide.
Step back in time at historic Dejima, Nagasaki’s fascinating fan-shaped artificial island built by local merchants under the Shogun and discover what was once Japan’s only gateway to the world and home to the Dutch East India Company.
Discover the Twenty Six Martyrs Museum, dedicated to the perpetual memory of those who sacrificed their lives for faith and journey through the history of Christianity in Japan.
Immerse yourself in Nagasaki’s unique international past at Glover Garden, an open-air museum from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Nagasaki Port with Mount Inasa, a landmark of Nagasaki City.
Overnight in Nagasaki
Enjoy the exciting Nagasaki night life bustling with preparations for the upcoming Lantern Festival at your leisure.
Included Highlights:
- Legacy Project
- Guided tour of Nagasaki Peace Park, Dejima museum, Glover Garden, and Twenty-Six Martyrs Museum
- Traditional Japanese lunch with local delicacies
Day 3 (15th February)- Saga: The Global Legacy of Arita Porcelain
Explore Arita, the birthplace of Japanese porcelain, which became highly revered for its beauty in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries and is still produced to this day.
Visit the Kyushu Ceramic Museum to delve into the fascinating world of porcelain, its unique history and the amazing Shibata collection.
Stroll along the atmospheric Tonbai Wall Paths, uniquely constructed from broken ceramics, and visit Touzan Shrine to see its torii-gate and other objects made from porcelain.
Travel to the city of Karatsu and admire the beautiful Pine Grove and Karatsu Castle from the bus window.
Overnight in Karatsu
Included Highlights:
- Guided tour of Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Izumiyama Quarry, Touzan shrine and the Tonbai Wall Path
- Time to go shopping for Arita Porcelain at China on the Park or Arita Cera
- Lunch with local delicacies
- A beautiful view of the dense Pine Forest and the crystal-clear sea in Karatsu which are ripe with legend
- Dinner with local delicacies
Day 4 (16th February)-Hiroshima: A Place of Reflection and Resilience
Depart from Karatsu by coach for Fukuoka
Board the Shinkansen at Fukuoka’s Hakata Station, and enjoy a classic Japanese railway lunch box (Ekiben) as you begin your journey.
Travel from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima Island, a sacred World Heritage Site famous for its iconic “floating” torii-gate of Itsukushima Shrine and its serene natural beauty.
Return to Hiroshima city to visit the Peace Memorial Park, a powerful testament to the city’s resilience, the horrors of war and the importance of peace.
Explore the park’s significant landmarks, from the moving Children’s Peace Monument to the Victims Memorial Cenotaph, culminating in a visit to the striking Atomic Bomb Dome, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Spend the evening in Hiroshima downtown at your leisure
Overnight in Hiroshima
Included Highlights:
- One-hour ride on world’s top class bullet train, Nozomi
- 10-minute ferry ride to Miyajima Island with a breath taking view of its giant floating torii-gate
- Itsukushima Shrine, a beautiful red Shinto shrine built in the middle of the sea
- Another World Heritage Site in Hiroshima, Atomic Bomb Dome
- A truly profound and emotional journey coming from the world’s last city to endure an atomic bombing, Nagasaki, to the world’s first, Hiroshima.
Day 5 (17th Feb Tuesday) -Kyoto: Where Ancient History Captivates the World
Depart for Kyoto by Shinkansen.
Visit Kyoto’s magnificent Golden Pavilion (Rokuonji Kinkaku) by chartered coach – a truly breathtaking sight, its brilliant gold leaf façade appearing to shimmer and dance upon the surrounding pond
Enjoy the local cuisine and refined atmosphere of Kyoto at a traditional restaurant for lunch.
Discover anju-sangen-do, a Buddhist temple renowned for its awe-inspiring main hall and deeply spiritual atmosphere.
Conclude your journey with a farewell gathering, bringing all participants together to celebrate this incredible experience.
Included Highlights:
- The unforgettable Rokuonji Kinkakuji and its dramatic history
- One thousand Buddha statues at Sanju-sangen-do. You might even find one statue which looks like you.
- Memorable farewell gathering
Included Services:
- Accommodation: 2 nights in Nagasaki, 1 each in Karatsu and Hiroshima in handpicked hotels
- Transportation: Private coach from Fukuoka to Nagasaki, Saga and back to Fukuoka. Shinkansen (bullet train) to Hiroshima and to Kyoto
- Guided Tours: Expert English-speaking local guides at each destination.
- Meals: Daily breakfast and lunch (2 local lunches, 2 light lunches and 1 selected traditional lunch in Kyoto), 2 dinners (Communication Dinner in Nagasaki and local dinner in Karatsu)
- Entrance Fees: All admissions to museums, parks, shrines and temples
- Legacy Project in Nagasaki Peace Park
Extend your Tour in Kyoto or to Tokyo
Optional guided tours or self-tours in Kyoto or other destinations, such as Tokyo, taking place after the Post-Programme concludes, will be offered soon.