Dobu what?! AJET trip to Doburoku Festival, Oct 14th

You may have caught wind of this event from last week's leaked top secret memo. To summarize the event, one of the most picturesque places in all of Japan hosts a giant drinking party, complete with entertainment. Shirakawa-go village should not be missed, and this is the village at it's prime. Check out Gavin's description below!

WHAT: Shirakawa-go Doburoku Festival

WHEN: Sunday Oct 14th, leave 8:30 from JR Gifu, return ~8:30 to JR Gifu (flexible return time)

WHO: 30people max. Anyone and everyone is welcome!

COST: 3500yen (for all transportation costs, does not include anything else)

RSVP: to gifu_ajet@yahoo.com with: NAME KEITAI #

**Meet at VdF at 8:00.

The vans will leave from the front of Pururu Plaza at 8:30 (just to the NW of the station).

**We plan to leave Shirakawa-go at 6:00 and return about 8:30. We have vans, so times can be staggered if people want to leave earlier or later which we will discuss Sunday. Since people will be scattered all day, we request now: please meet at the vans on time to leave!

**Bring: comfy shoes, camera, jacket, money for food/sake bowl/souvenirs/etc.

A note from Gavin du Plessis, Hida resident, and lover of the doburoku:

"There are two reasons why people should absolutely go to the doburoku festival, so please forward this on.

One, Shirakawa-go is a World Heritage site. Secondly, you drink the festival! Shirakawa-go is the traditional Japan visitors expect. Experience a Japan without electric wires dangling across the roads, ugly concrete buildings blighting the landscape, and pachinko parlors assaulting your senses with neon and noise.Shirakawa-go is a small, clean village of thatched roofs nestled in a glorious valley. It's a step back in time. A twenty-minute walk from the main festival takes you to a postcard perfect lookout. You should walk it, if not for yourself, for the folks back home. Give them perfect postcard pics of Nihon. Secondly, when else are you ever going to be served unlimited quantities of sake by beautiful maidens (or for the ladies, from the fire brigade)?
It's this simple: you buy a small round red plate-cup thing (pardon the technical jargon) for 400yen. Hell, buy two. It's one-of-a-kind omiyage (it comes in a cute little box no less). Hang around in the temple yard enjoying the festivities and atmosphere. Then, the generous men and woman of this little town come out and serve you hand and foot as an honored guest. And, trust me, they aren't stingy; the booze lasts longer than you do. Also, this is doburoku! A sweet milky sake you're not going to come across often. I call it Oliver Twist booze because you'll hold your plate up high and ask again and again, "Please, sir. I want some more." And as if that's not enough, there are onsens, karaoke, dancing, mock battles and ceremonial parades.

So in summary. You get treated like a feudal lord in ancient Japan. You could watch the anime or you could live it.

And that's my two cents. I hope to see you all there."

Indeed. Send your RSVPs in now before it's full!

Your Gifu AJET Family,
[Adam, Chisako, Daniel, Doug, Erin, Ernest, Fiona, Gavin, Matsunami, Nicole K., and Nicole T.]