Following tours and excursions are organized exclusively for the conference participants and their accompanying persons. Optional Tours, Excursions and Technical Tours may be canceled if the number of participants do not meet the minimum number required to operate the tour.

Tour 1 Sendai City (OP-1)

Monday, June 7, 1999 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

\2,000(yen)

This tour gives you a good overview of the city, and on the way will call at the site of Sendai Castle. the Zuihoden Mausoleum. From the site of Sendai Castle, of which only the walls remain, you will command a panoramic view of central Sendai. Zuihoden is a fine mausoleum built by the Date (dah-teh) family, the feudal lords who ruled this area for nearly three hundred years. Ichibancho-dori Avenue is the main shopping area in Sendai.

Departs 10:00 am from International Center. Approximately 2 hours.

Tour 2 Mt. Zao and Shiroishi Castle (OP-2)

Tuesday, June 8, 1999 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

\6,000(yen)

This tour rakes you to a nearby volcano in the area known as the Zao mountains. On top of one of these mountains, Katta-dake there is a beautiful emerald-green lake called Okama in the volcanic crater. You will enjoy the Japanese mountain scenery. On the way return to Sendai, the tour will stop by at Shiroishi, famous for the Kokeshi dolls. These wooden dolls are, unique to each region of their origin. Shiroishi Dolls are characterized by their large head, its lathe-drawn circular patterns on the top of the head and body and its hand-painted flower motifs that accentuate the doll's rich facial expression.

Departs 9:00 am from International Center. Returns to International Center by 5:00 pm. Lunch included.

Tour 3 Sake Tasting Evening (OP-3)

Tuesday, June 8, 1999 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

\6,000(yen)

Japanese rice wine, Sake, has variety and flavor which is as diverse as that of the grape wines. Quality of the rice used in sake-making affects the product, and the rice in Sendai, Miyagi area is known to be one of the best rice produced in Japan. A local sake-producer offers the use of their sake cellar for this enchanting evening to taste variety of sake with some local gastronomic specialties. Come and taste the sake and see if you can tell the difference.

Departs 6:00 pm from International Center. Buffet dinner included.

Tour 4 Matsushima (OP-4)

Wednesday, June 9, 1999 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

\5,000(yen)

Matsushima, meaning Pine-Tree Islands, is a picturesque beauty spot about 30 km north of Sendai, where there is a bay in which many small islands blend in with the contours of the landscape. It is famous in Japan not only for its beauty but also for the quality of its fishing, particularly oysters. The tour includes a boat cruise around the islands, after which you will visit the Zuiganji Temple, the finest example of a Zen temple in the Tohoku district of Japan. The main hall, with its wood carvings and paintings on the forest are representative of the Momoyama style.

Departs 9:30 am from International Center. Approximately 6 hours. Lunch included.

Tour 5 Hot Spring and Japanese Style Hotel (OP-5)

Thursday, June 10 - Friday, June 11, 1999

\15,000(yen) per person (for a Japanese style twin room)*

\14,000(yen) per person (for a Japanese style room for the group of three or more)*

Sendai is surrounded by hot spring resorts. This special one-night tour will take you to one of such places for a night stay in a Japanese style room with tatami mats and authentic futon mattresses. You will have a chance to dip in Japanese hot spring bath before enjoying the full-course Japanese cuisine. A totally Japanese experience that you will never forget.

Departs 6:00 pm from International Center.

Price includes full Japanese style dinner and breakfast. Transportation from and back to Sendai included. Limited to 20 participants.

* Japanese style hotel rooms are designed for group occupancy. Additional charges will incur for single occupancy of these rooms.

Technical Tours

Technical Tour 1

Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant and Ishinomaki Paper Mill (TT-1)

Friday, June 11, 1999 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

\4,000

This tour will take you out to the coastal cities of Ishinomaki and Onagawa at the rim of the Oshika Peninsula. Naturally formed harbor, these cities nests the industrial base of the region. We will stop at San Juan Bautista Park for lunch, where they have reproduced the wooden boat that headed for Rome from Sendai in 1613.

Departs 9:00 am from International Center. Full-day program. Lunch is not included.

Lab Visit

Open House at Venture Business Laboratory, Tohoku University

Friday, June 11, 1999 9:30 am - 3:00 pm

Sendai is the home of Tohoku University, where there is a renowned Venture Business Laboratory and Micromahchine Laboratory for sensors and micromachines research. The labs will be open to the conference participants on Friday, June 11 between 9:30 am - 3:00 pm for visits. More information about the open house will be provided at the conference.