b'A RAIN OF RUIN Scan here FROM THE AIRfor the full itineraryTHE DEFEAT OF JAPAN: THE TOKYO FIREBOMBING, OKINAWA AND THE ATOMIC BOMB29 SeptemberHistorical Background12 October 2025In the spring of 1942, Japan reached its zenithan empire that stretched 28 Septemberacross twenty million square miles and seven time zones. But this behemoth 11 October 2026 would not survive. By 1945, the American forces, having battled across the Pacific, closed in on the Japanese homeland. In April, American troops 13 days landed on Okinawa in what would prove to be one of the most hellacious Expert Historian: fights of the Pacific War, an 82-day slugfest that would claim the lives of as many as 150,000 civilians. To counter this threat, Japan unleashed storms James M Scott of kamikazes, monsoons of metal and flesh that rained down on American Activity Level: 2 warships. Nightly raids by the Americas awesome new B-29 Superfortresses meanwhile incinerated Tokyo and dozens of other cities. All of this paled, however, from the war-ending attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that During this 12-night, 13-day tour we travel theushered the world into the nuclear age.The culmination of these catastrophic length of Japan from the sub-tropical islandsfinal months of war would ravage the Japanese homeland and lead Emperor of Okinawa and Kyushu, through mainlandHirohito to announce his nations surrender at noon on August 15, 1945. Japan to Tokyo with stays en-route at Naha, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Hiroshima and Kyoto. The itinerary has been carefully designed to provide in-situ expert narrative and analysis to stimulate conversation and debate on the decisions, motivations, controversies, and consequences of pivotal and dramatic events. And whilst the focus of our tour is predominantly the closing months of World War Two, we will absorb plenty of Japanese culture and cuisine as we explore magnificent shrines, stroll through awe- Day 0Fly LondonTokyo or own arrangements to Haneda airport hotelinspiring gardens, dine at local restaurants, travel aboard Japans legendary ShinkansenDay 1Arrive Tokyo Haneda Introductory talk and drinks (D)Bullet trains and enjoy well-positioned four- Day 2 Okinawa Landing Beaches Fly Tokyo-Okinawa Hagushi beaches, Chibichiri star hotels. and Simuku Gama Caves Naha for 2 nights (B,L,D)Day 3 The Shuri Defence Line Kazuku Ridge, Maeda escarpment/Hacksaw Ridge,Japanese HQ at Shuri Castle, underground complex and museum in theformer Japanese Naval headquarters (B,L,D)Day 4 Final Moves Buckner Monument, Peace Memorial and museum, HimeyuriMuseum Fly to Kagoshima for 1 night (B,L,D)Day 5 Kamikaze! Kamikaze airbase Chiran, Kyushu Travel to Nagasaki for1 night (B,L,D)Day 6Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, Ground Zero Travel to Hiroshima for2 nights (B,L,D)Day 7Peace Memorial Park, Peace Memorial Museum, Atomic Bomb DomeReturn ferry to Miyajima Island and Itsukushima Shrine/ Torii Gate (B,L,D)Day 8Kure Self Defence Force and Maritime museums Train to Kyoto for 2 nightsWalking tour of historic centre (B,L,D)Day 9Kyoto Rokuon-ji temple complex including Kinkaku-ji/Temple of theGolden Pavilion Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Nijo Castle (B,D)Day 10Firebombing Train to Tokyo for 3 nights The Centre of the Tokyo Raids and ESSENTIALSWar Damage (B,L,D)4-star hotels, meals as indicated,Day 11Japan at War Yushukan War Memorial, Yasukini Shrine, Showa Museum in drinks with dinner, all entrance fees, Tokyo Battleship Mikasa in Yokosuka (B,L,D)tour manager and expert historianDay 12Tokyo Great Kanto Earthquake Museum, The Imperial Palace Gardens, throughout, all internal travel,NHK broadcast museum, General MacArthurs office (B,L,D)optional travel from UK. Day 13Departures Return flights home, or perhaps extend your stay in Japan (B)56 www.theculturalexperience.com I info@theculturalexperience.com I UK0345 475 1815 I USA(toll-free) 877 209 5620 www.theculturalexperience.com I info@theculturalexperience.com I UK0345 475 1815 I USA(toll-free) 877 209 56205926 TCE BROCHURE 2025-26_Aug25.indd 56 22/08/2025 13:35'