ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 20, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Escorted tours from Ann Arbor, MI to Kyoto, Tokyo, Mt Fuji, and Nara will depart in late September 2004 to visit some of the finest gardens in Japan and attend the world's largest garden show: Pacific Flora 2004 International Garden and Horticultural Exhibition.
Dr. David Michener, Assistant Curator of the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens will lead the September 12-27 "Magnificent Gardens of Japan" tour and John Kosta, president of Huron Valley Travel, Ann Arbor, Michigan is escorting the September 26-October 11 itinerary. Each tour is limited to 25 travelers and there will be local bi-lingual guides for the entire trip.
Located on the shore of Lake Hamana near Hamamatsu in Japan, Pacific Flora is expecting to attract 5 million visitors from now through October. Covering an area of 140 acres, Pacific Flora 2004 features thousands of seasonal blooms in 180 garden beds highlighting flowers from around the world as well as terrace gardens, greenhouses and indoor exhibits.
Pavilions include a 3D theatre, a circular theatre with a 27-foot diameter water screen, Agricultural Pavilion, Horticultural Technology Pavilion, Kansai Yamamoto's Super Garden, a true to life replica of Giverny, Claude Monet's House and garden in France, and an American garden.
The Japanese Traditional Horticulture Museum features over 800 plant varieties grown in the Edo period, 300 bonsai including an 800 year old Juniper and various ikebana displays all under one roof.
In the International Exhibition Hall visitors wind their way through a labyrinth of passageways formed by massive walls of aromatic cedar wood blocks.
Here you can visit 14 individual art space areas highlighting interior decor, flower arrangements, artwork made with flowers, contemporary gardens and latest trends in interior gardens.
"This is the Super Bowl, if you will, of gardening and horticulture," Kosta said. We think people from around the country would like to see Japan's finest gardens and the world's largest garden show, truly a world class event. Travel in Japan can be a bit mind boggling, but this will be an extremely user friendly trip."
For details phone toll free 1 800 392-6689 or 734 761-1300, look on the internet at www.huronvalleytravel.com or email email@huronvalleytravel.com. The complete day-by-day itinerary can be found at www.huronvalleytravel.com/tours/japan.html
Details on Pacific Flora 2004 may be found at: www.flora2004.or.jp/english/