Deposit of $500 due 3 months ahead (June 15); space for you will only be held when we receive your deposit.

Final payment due 6 weeks before (August 1). 

Only a modest amount of luggage can be accommodated in vans.

Most activities will require only easy or moderate walking. A couple of activities (e.g., backstage tour at OSF) require many stairs. We cannot ensure full accessibility, we're sorry to say.

Refunds:  If the trip falls through for any reason, we will refund any money we do not lose in deposits we pay.  If you back out, we will again refund what we can, with $100 non-refundable.  The refund will be higher if we can fill your seat.

Konko-Kyo church is in San Francisco's Japantown.  It is a new religion (19th century) of Japan, regarded as a sect of Shinto. They believe in the interrelation of all things. This congregation is currently led by Rev. Joanne Tolosa, American-born.

On the Konko faith

Fo Guang Shan is a Buddhist order, founded in Taiwan in 1967.  In Taiwan they have an impressive temple and monastery, open to the public, with grounds, large museum, and theme park.  They very graciously hosted the 2006 IARF International Congress.  In San Francisco, they have a small temple and library in a large storefront on a main street.  About the Taiwan monastery

Rissho Kosei Kai is a large lay Buddhist organization based in Japan.  The IARF became truly international when RKK joined, following the friendship of UU President Rev. Dana Greeley and RKK founder Rev. Nikko Niwano.  There are several RKK congregations in the US, with religious leadership supplied by Japan.  The San Francisco area congregation has a lovely church in the coastal town of Pacifica. 

More about Rishho Kosei Kai 

Tsubaki Grand Shrine is an ancient Shinto shrine in Japan, with a small but beautiful outpost in mountainous Washington.  The American-born, non-Japanese priest, Rev. Koichi Barrish, studied at the shrine in Japan for many years before he was ordained.  He manages the elaborate practices of the Shinto priesthood with the help of his wife and one shrine assistant, while also building a far-flung congregation and educating Americans about Shinto.  He will spend a few hours with us, in lecture, discussion, and ceremony. More about Tsubaki in America or see their Facebook page.

Unitarian Universalist: The Portland church will represent this major member group in the US.  One of our largest congregations, with Rev. Bill Sinkford, past president of the UUA, as senior minister, will host us Portland.  They have a bed and breakfast program, raising funds for the church, and a soup supper plan, at which we will be joined by one of their choirs, rehearsing that evening.  We are invited to stay for the rehearsal and the choir's social time following.  Minister of Music Mark Slegers has been very helpful.  More about this church or go to uua.org to learn about the faith.

As We Travel:  Several meals have been planned for, including the welcome dinner--a Dungeness crab feast at an Asian restaurant--and the soup supper at the Portland church, as well as lunch at the Shinto shrine.  For other meals, we will find suitable restaurants as we travel, with each person paying his/her own check.  Breakfasts are included, so if the lodging doesn't include breakfast, the tour leaders will pay the check.  This trip will be a cooperative venture, including the tour guiding!  At most sites, hosts will explain the faiths and programs, but in addition we will be asking some of you to learn some background of the faiths and pass along your information to the group before we arrive.