5th International UNESCO
Conference on Geoparks

Field Excursions

 

Deadline for Field Excursion has been extended.

Deadline: February 4, 2012 ⇒ March 30, 2012

 

Joining the field excursion is only available to conference attendees.

 

A. Pre-conference Excursions

 

 

 

B. Mid-conference Excursions

<Important Notice>
Since below excursions reached the capacity, registration was ended.
  - B1 : Visiting Hot Springs and Active Fault
  - B2 : Exploring the Origins of Shimabara Peninsula

 

 

C. Post-conference Excursions

 

 

 

 

Overview of field excursions

 

A. Pre-conference Excursions

 

A1: Minami-Alps (Median Tectonic Line Area)

The Median Tectonic Line is the country's longest fault system, occurring through central to western Japan. In this field trip, participants will visit major outcrops of the Mesozoic strata along the tectonic line. Mountain hiking along the Minami-Alps Geo line, where the fracture zones appear as deep valleys, is also an attractive point of this tour.

 

 

A2: Muroto Geopark (Living with Land Upheaval)

Muroto Geopark (GGN) is located in one of the most geologically active margins, where ocean sediments were added successively to the land through plate collision. Massive earthquakes caused repeated uplifting in this region. In this tour, participants can get acquainted with the residents' and their harsh natural environment in which earthquake, tsunamis, and typhoons occur frequently.

 

 

A3: Cruising tour of the Amakusa Islands and Amakusa Goshoura Geopark

Amakusa Goshoura Geopark (JGN) is an island museum containing valuable fossils such as that of dinosaurs, ammonites, trigonia, and mammals. Participants can visit the Amakusa Islands, including this geopark, by boat cruise while admiring panoramic ocean views. The tour also features shell fossil hunting.

 

 

A4: Aso Volcano

Aso Geopark (JGN) offers a dynamic landscape that includes one of the largest calderas in Japan and volcanic cones inside the caldera. Participants can enjoy a vast grassy plain extending outside the caldera as well as the area's culture by visiting an ancient shrine dedicated to the volcano god. The active crater of Nakadake and caldera-forming volcanic deposits can been seen in this trip.

 

 

A5: Unzen Volcano Hiking

Unzen Volcano, which is the symbol of Unzen Volcanic Area Global Geopark (GGN), has erupted during 1990-95 to form a new lava dome at the summit. In this trip, participants can climb Unzen Volcano and approach to the base of the youngest dome. Hiking up the mountain offers a panoramic view of the Shimabara Peninsula and the beautiful azalea Miyama-Kirishima.

 

 

 

B. Mid-conference Excursions

 

One-day excursions around Unzen Volcanic Area Global Geopark. We will start from the conference venue in the morning, and ended at the conference dinner party hall in Unzen area.

Date:	May 14 (Mon)
Contact:	GEOPARKS 2012 OFFICIAL TRAVEL AGENT (geoparks2012@gmt.jtb.jp )
Cost:	Included in the conference registration fee.
Participants:	Participants: 600(MAX).Your preference may not be accepted when the number of entry reaches its limit.
Includes:	Transportation by chartered bus, snack lunch, beverages and guidebook.

 

 

Course Descriptions:

B1: Visiting Hot springs and Active Fault

We'll visit Chijiwa active fault which tells us a long history of Shimabara Peninsula and Obama-Unzen hot spa resort as manifestations of geothermal activity.
<Visiting geosites>
Chijiwa fault, Obama spa, Unzen Jigoku, Nita pass, Ruin of Onokoba elementary school.

 

 

B2: Exploring the Origins of Shimabara Peninsula

On Tatsuishi coast we can see Kuchinotsu group deposited between 2.5 million and 700,000 years ago. The debris flow of Unzen Volcano, which began its activity approximately 500,000 years ago, is also seen here. We also visit the remains of Hara Castle formed on the deposits of pyroclastic flows, which crossed the sea from Mt. Aso about 90,000 years ago.
<Visiting geosites>
Remains of Hara Castle, Tatsuishi Coast, Unzen Jigoku, Nita pass, Mizunashi River Memorial Park.

 

 

B3: Retracing the Shimabara Catastrophe and Heisei Eruption

We'll visit the geosites of the avalanche of rock debris caused by the collapse of Mayuyama and the Shinyake lava flow in 1792. The remnants of 1990-1995 eruption (Heisei eruption) can be also visited.
<Visiting geosites>
Senbongi Observatory, Taruki Height, Unzen Jigoku, Nita pass, Shimabara springs.

 

For more information about the visiting geosites, please see

http://www.geoparks2012.com/venue/uvagg.html

 

 

 

C. Post-conference Excursions

 

C1: Toya Caldera and Usu volcano Global Geopark and Mt. Apoi Geopark

Mt. Apoi geopark (JGN) features a low mountain composed of mantle rock peridotite, which was uplifted by plate collision. Its landscape includes alpine plants grown in the peridotite soil. In addition, a variety of marine products can be found here. After visiting Toya Caldera and Usu Volcano, you can feel "the root of the volcano" by climbing Mt. Apoi.

 

 

C2: Toya Caldera and Usu volcano Global Geopark

Usu is an active volcano situated inside Toya Caldera in a beautiful lake setting. A "Volcano Meister" will guide as you experience the "moving Earth" through landscapes that include lava domes, craters, grabens, and faults created through recent Usu activities along with remnants of buildings damaged by its eruptions. Relax and enjoy the hot springs at night.

 

 

C3: Itoigawa Geopark (Area of Cultural Border and the Oldest Jade Culture)

Itoigawa Geopark (GGN) is home of the world's oldest Jade culture.
Also Itoigawa Geopark sits at the northern terminus of the great fault line, the Itogiawa - Shizuoka Tectonic Line, which not only geologically but also culturally separates east and west Japan.
500 million years of earth's history and people's lives are well represented in this Geopark.

 

 

C4: Izu Oshima Geopark

Izu Oshima geopark (JGN) is a small basalt island topped by a caldera. The central cone in the caldera, Mt. Mihara, provides a panoramic view of abundant parasitic cones, neighboring islands, and Mt. Fuji. You can feel the dynamic activity of this volcano through the beautiful cliffs of volcanic ash accumulation and lava flows. Pleasant and unique guides enhance the natural environment.

 

 

C5: Oki Islands Geopark

The base of Oki Islands is a remnant in the Japan Sea after its formation by the separation of Japan from the Asian continent. Many varieties of rock including gneiss, obsidian, and mantle nodes reflect the unusual origin of the islands. The western island group, an old caldera formed in the sea, offers beautiful sea cliffs to enjoy along with picturesque scenery and unexplored natural resources.

 

 

C6: San'in Kaigan Geopark (Geological Features, Natural environment, Peoples' Lives, Related to the Formation of the Sea of Japan)

San'in Kaigan geopark (GGN), belonging to three prefectures, offers landscapes formed by the movement and the volcanic activity accompanied by opening Sea of Japan. Significant geosites include sea caves, footprint fossils of animals, columnar joints, scoria cones, sand dunes and oriental white storks. A guided boat tour and relaxation in a rural hot spring are included in this trip that also covers visit to geosites and museums.

 

 

 

C7: Tour of Geosites of the Amakusa Islands and Amakusa Goshoura

In addition to the features described in A3, Ueda ceramics are featured along with a trip to Jusanbutsu Park and dolphin watching.

 

 

C8: Kyushu Volcanoes (Kumamoto Aso - Kirishima - Sakurajima)

After enjoying the trip to Aso (same as described in A4), you will visit Kirishima geopark (JGN), which features an active volcano containing many volcanic cones in addition to a variety of landscapes, including fumaroles, crater lakes, waterfalls, springs, and gorgeous azaleas. Visiting to Sakurajima, one of the most active volcanoes in Japan is scheduled in the last day.

 

 

C9: Unzen Volcano Hiking

See description in A5.

 

 

C10: Jeju Island Geopark, Korea

Jeju, an island formed by recent volcanic activities, offers well-preserved diverse volcanic landforms and unique geological features that form beautiful natural landscapes that also hold particular scientific value. In this field trip, you can visit and experience most of the geomorphologic features in Jeju Island including a lava tube, Manjang Cave, Seongsan Sunrise Peak, volcanic columns, a lava dome, and the World Heritage area.

 

 

TOUR CONDITIONS

All tours may be canceled when the number of participants fail to reach min pax.
Places to visit are subject to change with or without notice.

Transportation: chartered motor coach
Notice: The tour will not be covered by accident or liability insurance. Every participant is strongly advised to obtain the appropriate insurance coverage in his respective country prior to joining the tour
Tour Conditions:
Please refer to the details on the following URL.
URL: http://www.jtbgmt.com/tourconditionagtorgcd/index.html
English-speaking guide services

 

 

APPLICATION AND PAYMENT

Participants wishing to reserve tours should complete the Application Form via Website to reach JTB GMT no later than March 30. (Confirmation sheet will be sent by JTB GMT.)
Application should be accompanied by a remittance covering total tour fare due JTB GMT.

No reservation will be confirmed in the absence of this payment. Personal checks are not accepted. All payment must be in Japanese yen. If the remittance covers more than one person, please inform us the name of each participant.
Payment should be in the form of:
- One of the following credit cards:
1. VISA 2. MasterCard 3. Diners Club 4. AMEX 5. JCB
- A bank transfer to JTB Global Marketing & Travel Inc. (Message: GPK2012)
Account at The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. Shin-Marunouchi Branch (swift code: BOTKJPJT)
1-1-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8114 Japan (Account number: 4760343)

 

 

CANCELLATION

In the event of cancellation, written notification should be sent to JTB GMT. The following cancellation fees will be deducted before any refund is made.

Tours:	10 - 8 days before the departure of one day tours--	20% of tour fare
	7 - 2 days before ----------------------------------------	30% of tour fare
	1 day before ----------------------------------------------	40% of tour fare
	Prior to starting time on departure,or After departure or failure to attend without notice ----------------------	100% of tour fare

 

 

OFFICIAL TRAVEL AGENT

JTB Global Marketing & Travel Inc.

Convention Center (GPK2012)	Fax:	+81-3-5495-0685
2-3-11 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku,	Phone:	+81-3-5796-5445
Tokyo 140-8604 Japan	E-mail:	geoparks2012@gmt.jtb.jp

 

C-10(Jeju Island Geopark, Korea) of application :

E-mail: ymjeon@jeju.go.kr