CBT Japan

Earn 50.0 Mainpro+ credits from the winners of the National CME Program Award of the College of Family Physicians of Canada—and explore exotic Japan on the luxurious Diamond Princess.

October 7-16, 2018

50.0 Mainpro+ credits

Tuition $1,295 CDN (tax-free)

This CME respects your time. This workshop is certified at the highest level (three-credits-per-hour) by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Our 3:1 CME saves you an incredible amount of time (and therefore money) over 1:1 CME. Just have a look at the five-year benefit calculations. 

Vacation CME has many advantages over local CME. See what your colleagues are saying, and explore the case for it being four-credit-per-hour CME. 

Many physician leaders have been trained by CBT Canada over the past twenty years. Alumni include CFPC presidents (both national & provincial), department chairs, residency training program directors—and even a few doctors who are comfortable using drills & saws. For a compilation of testimonials, click here. 

Earlybird registration for the August 4-15, 2019 Japanese cruise aboard the Diamond Princess is now open. The CME is the 50.0 Mainpro+ credit CBT for Depression module. Contact Arlene to put together your complete vacation CME package (no extra cost). Call her at 877.466.8228 x 333 or email vacation@cbt.ca. 

The shipboard CME is the acclaimed "triple strength" CBT Tools module. Join us in Japan & you'll learn a multitude of ultra-brief CBT techniques to make your work much easier with both medical and psychiatric patients (cases).

Timing is essential to a well-lived life, and NOW is the time to visit Japan. The charms of Japan aren't "undiscovered" with the yen so low. Visitor statistics have gone logarithmic well in advance of the 2020 Olympics. Book your 2018 trip today!

There are four CME sessions. The first session is land-based, and will be held at the Sheraton Miyako on Sunday, October 7 from 8:30AM to 12:00PM. The subsequent three sessions are all aboard the Diamond Princess: Thursday, October 11 (7:30AM to 12:45PM); Friday, October 12 (7:30AM to 10:45AM); and Sunday, October 14 (7:00AM to 1:30PM, with a 45 minute break for lunch). The CME grand total is 16.75 hours, translating to 50.0 Mainpro+ credits. 

Our social gatherings include our All Aboard Cocktail Party on Tuesday, October 9 starting at 4:45PM. We also have private group excursion options in several ports, including in Tokyo, Nagoya and Busan. In addition, we'll be providing travel tips from our extensive experience in Japan throughout the journey to ensure you get the most out of your experience.

DAY 1.  Tokyo is the world's most populous city (~40 million) and has the sophistication to match. The Harajuku District is teaming with colorful "Harajuku Girls", whose fashions inspire teens and music videos around the world. Akihabara ("Akiba") is the center of Tokyo's electronics shops and otaku (anime & manga) culture. Shibuya's scramble intersection is considered the world's busiest, and is an experience you'll never forget. The Ginza District is recognized as one of the most luxurious shopping districts in the world, with flagship stores galore. The huge 175-acre Meiji Shinto Shrine begins with an entryway under a 40 foot high torii gate. The Tsukiji Fish Market is the world's largest, and is your best chance to find another bargain-priced $1.8 million bluefin tuna. The Yūshūkan War Museum houses the largest collection of Japanese WW-II artefacts, and is essential for any history buff. And on & on. You can get to it all on the Tokyo Metro, considered so reliable and safe that children as young as five use it to "commute" to school. And if any attraction has a queue, these days you may be relaxing in a self-driving chair.

DAY 3.  Toba is located at the northeast end of the Shima Peninsula, largely surrounded by the Ise-Shima National Park. Fishing villages like Ijika and Adako lining the coast supply the area with its famous abalone, oysters & other fresh seafood. Toba is the birthplace of cultured pearls, and the city's Mikimoto Pearl Island has a museum along with a popular show featuring ama (women pearl divers). The coast's Meoto Iwa Shrine (Husband & Wife Rock) are a worthwhile visit for all romantics. Toba Aquarium, with its 12 zones & 1.5 km of aisles, is one of the most visited attractions in Japan. Ise Grand Shrine is a vast complex of 125 "sub-shrines" and is Japan's most sacred Shinto site. If you're travelling with kids, consider a visit to Edo Wonderland, which features a samurai show and a ninja action performance. 

Bucketlistosis (noun): Angst (up to & including existential) precipitated by the knowledge that one is aging without having visited dream destinations. 
Treatment: One CBT Canada workshop annually. 

DAY 4.  Osaka is Japan's second largest city after Tokyo. Any cruise-based visit should begin with a tour of the impressive Osaka Aquarium, located immediately adjacent to the ship. Hideyoshi's immense Osaka Castle houses an informative museum—where you can dress up like a samurai for some photos. The surrounding 250 acre castle park has a magical tea house surrounded by over 500 cherry trees. Osaka is a shopper's paradise, featuring the flagships of many of Japan's department stores, along with Shinsaibashi, a covered arcade with over 1,000 shops. The ancient Sumiyoshi Shrine dates back to the 3rd century (i.e., before the introduction of Buddhism). Dotonbori is Osaka's mind-blowing entertainment district (TripAdvisor's #1 of 964), filled with animatronic restaurant signs (and yes, some serve fugu). Ancient Kyoto (Japan's capital for over 1,000 years) is an easy day trip from Osaka, and it has an unbelievable 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

DAY 5.  Iwakuni is a major center in Japan's Seto Inland Sea. The famous & fun five-arched Kintai Bridge is the city's icon. With some luck, you'll see ukai cormorant fishing in the Nishiki River below (video). Kikko Park is a sanctuary for the gentle albino serpent, the Japanese goddess of wealth. Nearby snake-free Ogasawara Tea Garden is located in a zen-like bamboo grove. Iwakuni Castle is located 200m above the city atop Mount Shiroyama and houses an impressive collection of weapons & armour from 1608. Attractions in the Hiroshima area (one hour by ultra-reliable train) include the expansive Peace Park (with must-see A-Bomb Dome), and Miyajima's famous floating torii & petable Sika deer. 

Traveling solo?  If the cruise line's "single supplement" is deterring you, Arlene may be able to help. Call (877) 466-8228 x 333 or email vacation@cbt.ca for details. 

DAY 6.  Hakata is the port of Fukuoka, where Japan handily repelled the Mongols in 1274 & 1281. Fukuoka's hundreds of open-air food stands (yatai) seat 7-8 people, many overlooking the water. A 1,000 year old banyon tree shades the Kushida Shrine, which houses artefacts related to the exuberant annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa race. Shofukuji was the first Zen temple ever built in Japan (in 1195 by the Buddhist priest Eisai). Uminonakamichi Seaside Park is a vast family-oriented area with playgrounds, aquarium & zoo, amusement park, and cycling trails through vast fields of cultivated flowers. Momochi is Fukuoka's modern waterfront with attractions including the hands-on Robosquare, with over 200 robots. 

DAY 7.  Busan is a microcosm of Korea, one of Asia's most venerable and sophisticated cultures. It's hard to tell today, but as the UN Cemetery can attest, South Korea's 2nd largest city was the scene of bitter fighting during the Korean War. In today's Busan, modern high-rise towers and the Shinsegae "destination department store" (the world's largest) dwarf ancient Buddhist temples and the serene grounds of Yongdusan Park. The popular southeastern beaches provide spectacular views of fantastically shaped ocean rocks and mountainous islands. Be sure to sample the local "dongnae pajeon" (Korean pancakes with green onions). And of course keep an eye out for PSY performing his Gangnam Style dance throughout town! 

DAY 9.  Nagoya is Japan's 3rd largest metropolitan area after Tokyo & Osaka. Located in the center of the main island of Honshu, Nagoya is close to Kyoto (35min), the Kiso Valley (60min), and Lake Biwa (80min). A good visit starts with the mighty donjons of Nagoya Castle, built by the first Tokugawa shogun. Opened in 2011, Japan Railway's museum has 39 trains (including shinkansen & maglev), mind-blowing train dioramas, and a variety of kid-friendly train simulators. Toyota has three excellent museums, including Kaikan, which focuses on new technologies & plant tours. Nearby Meiji Mura is an extraordinary collection of over 60 buildings from the Meiji Period (1868-1912) that followed the end of Japan's 250 year sakoku (i.e., isolationist policy). For an interesting lunch, try hitsumabushi (freshwater eel served four ways). Nagashima Resort is a major vacation destination, with features including a superb outdoor onsen (hotspring) complex and massive flower park. 

A CONFESSION:  We're unabashedly in love with Japan! The warmth of the Japanese people, and the aesthetic refinement that permeates almost everything is truly extraordinary. Please consider staying with us for a few days before the cruise at the Sheraton Miyako.