Kanto Summer Break Explorer 2019

Transcription

1 Kanto Summer Break Explorer 2019 June 3 rd -10 th, nts/8days from: $2495 double/triple & $2895 single Asakusa Birds Eye View of Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Join us on this fun filled Summer Break Kanto Explorer tour as we travel to Japan s Kanto region. Tokyo, a city that prides itself on constant renewal and reinvention; it seriously never gets old. It has everything you can ask of a city, and has it in spades: a rich, cosmopolitan dining scene, more cafes, and bars than you could visit in a lifetime, fantastic public transport, and grassy parks plus it's clean and safe. Really, what's not to love? This is a perfectly balanced tour, enjoy the very best of Japanese culture along with some of the top spots for the younger family members. For culture we have included a day trip Kamakura where you can see the Great Buddha, Tsukiji Fish Market, Ameyoko, Asakusa, the Edo Tokyo Museum, iconic Tokyo Tower, and Meiji Shrine where we can watch traditional wedding processions. For the young and young at heart there a full day at Disneyland Tokyo, CUPNOODLE Museum, Ueno Zoo to see the pandas, experience the Shibuya Crossing and see Hachiko Dog statute, the Samurai Museum, Harajuku, and Shimokitazawa, the bohemian hood where Tokyo's cool kids gather. For flower lovers, a visit to Hase Temple in Kamakura, a famous spot to view hydrangeas and a walk amongst a grove of 1,500 irises at Meiji Shrine. The best part yet, no changing hotels, one great hotel, the recently renovated Sunshine City Prince Hotel in a great spot for the entire six nights. Did we mention a full last day to shop in one of the best areas, Ikebukuro or go off and sightsee on your own. Oh, yea, at a great price! Itinerary/Details Day 1 June 3 rd, 2019 Monday Depart from Honolulu Hawaiian Airlines #855 Departs Honolulu 6:20 pm Arrive Haneda 10:05 pm + 1

2 Check in for international flights begin 3 hours prior. Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines international check-in counter located in Terminal 1, formally known as the Hawaiian Airlines Terminal, Lobby 3, Makai side. Day 2 June 4 th, 2019 Tuesday Haneda-Tokyo On arrival in Tokyo, please make your way to the baggage claim area and then proceed to customs clearing. On exiting customs, our local guide will be there to meet us for the drive to our recently renovated hale for the next 6 night, The Sunshine City Prince Hotel. The lobby of the hotel connects to a huge shopping and entertainment mecca with four towers, including a 240-meter-high skyscraper with an observation deck on the top. Sunshine City is typically open from 10 am to 8 pm seven days a week. We are also less than a 10-minute walk from the Ikebukuro JR Station. The third floor of the mall is practically all restaurants and stays open until 9:30pm. There is 24-hour Family Mart convenience store right off the lobby in case you would like to pick up food, snacks, or beverages. Within a 5-minute walk is a 24-hour super market, Seiyu. Newly remodeled Sunshine City Prince Hotel & lobby Family Mart in hotel lobby Day 3 June 5 th, 2019 Wednesday Tokyo-Kamakura-Tokyo (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off on a full day of touring beginning with a drive to Kamakura. The drive time is approximately 1.5hr. Kamakura became the political center of Japan, when Minamoto Yoritomo chose the city as the seat for his new military government in The Kamakura government continued to rule Japan for over a century. It remained the center of Eastern Japan for some time before losing its position to other cities. Today, Kamakura is a very popular tourist destination. Sometimes called the Kyoto of Eastern Japan, Kamakura offers numerous temples, shrines, and other historical monuments. Once here we will be visiting Hase Temple, a beautiful hillside Buddihst Temple, famous for its hydrangeas, which bloom along the Hydrangea Path in June and July. Enjoy 2500 hydrangea of 40 different species along the path up the hill. From the top you will enjoy marvelous ocean views as well as Kamakura City. Next, a visit to the Great Buddha of Kamakura, a bronze statue of Amida Buddha, which stands on the grounds of Kotokuin Temple. With a height of meters, it is the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan.

3 The statue was cast in 1252 and originally located inside a large temple hall. However, the temple buildings were destroyed multiple times by typhoons and a tidal wave in the 14th and 15th centuries. So, since 1495, the Buddha has been standing in the open air. The Great Buddha rises serenely from its base, with gorgeously draped garments that you can hardly believe are forged from bronze. The serene expression is so evident; you feel the peace the artists intended to convey. The Great Buddha of Kotoku-in is an iconic image that represents Japanese culture. It is not just big, but beautiful. This Great Buddha or Daibutsu as is commonly called is a National Treasure and one of the centerpieces of the city's cultural heritages. For a small donation, you are permitted enter the Buddha and see from the inside how it was cast. Take a few moments to enjoy this unique experience. Just steps away is Komachi dori shopping street where you will have time to walk around, shop for souvenirs and enjoy some delicious snacks and foods. This is a good spot for lunch on your own. One must stop here is at Kamakura s famous cookie store for a sample. These dove-shaped butter cookies make for a great Kamakura souvenir and omiyage gift. The dove motif was inspired by the plaque above the main prayer hall at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine, where the character for "Hachi" is shaped to look like a dove. From here we make our way to Yokohama, for a stop at the always favorite, Cup Noodle Museum. The museum shows the history of instant ramen noodles using a combination of exhibits and hands-on workshops. It was opened by the Nissin Food Company, whose founder invented instant ramen noodles in 1958 as a fast and convenient food. Enjoy time to walk around, a short film introducing the history of instant noodles, together with unconventional exhibits such as a replica of the shed where instant noodles were invented and a visual timeline of instant noodle products from around the world. A small collection of modern art pieces is also on display. No visit here is complete without experiencing the hand-on workshop where you can create your own original cup noodle by mixing and matching a variety of soup flavors and toppings as well as designing your own cup. Feeling a little hungry, drop by the Noodles Bazaar Food Court, designed to look like an Asian night market complete with the sounds hawkers and traffic. The noodles bazaar serves eight different noodle dishes and canned drinks from around the world. The small portions cost 300 yen and are a fun way to sample a variety of flavors.

4 From here we make our way back to Tokyo and our hotel, arrival by 6:15pm. The remainder of the evening is. Day 4 June 6 th, 2019 Thursday Tokyo (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 8:30am as we are off on a full day of touring Tokyo! If you've ever dreamed about melt-in-your-mouth, out-of-this-world sushi, then you might have heard of Tsukiji, the largest fish market in the world. Most of Tokyo, and even high-end sushi restaurants in Hong Kong and San Francisco, gets their fish from this cultural landmark near the center of Japan's capital city. Tsukiji sits on some of the most valuable real estate in Tokyo. At some point in the future the market will move to reclaimed land on Tokyo Bay, but for now, enjoy the charm of this unique spot. Opened in 1935, Tsukiji sprang to life after the Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed most of Tokyo in It has since become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. Every morning sightseers start lining up at 3 a.m. to watch the frozen tuna auction. The more expensive fresh tuna auctions where a single Bluefin once sold for nearly $1.8 million- are privately conducted. If you re a foodie, love markets, enjoy photography or simply like visiting unique places then you ll probably love Tsukiji. After a good stroll around the market, there s nothing like a sushi breakfast to complete the experience. There are plenty of sushi shops make sure to choose one where you see locals dining. If you don t feel like sushi, there are other options including ramen, donburi and more. Tsukiji Outer Market If you finish early we encourage you to visit Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple, less than one block away. With an Indian-style exterior, was built in 1617 near Asakusa, but was burnt down in a huge fire that swept through Edo (Tokyo) in The Temple was then rebuilt on the present site, but destroyed again by the Great Tokyo Earthquake of The current main building was built in 1934.The main building possesses a distinctive ambience not found in other Japanese temples, due to its variety of architectural styles.

5 Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple From here we are off to Ameyoko Shopping Street, famous throughout Japan for its wide variety of products. The name "Ameyoko" is a short form for "Ameya Yokocho" (candy store alley), as candies were traditionally sold there. Alternatively, "Ame" also stands for "America", because a lot of American products used to be available there when the street was the site of a black market in the years following WWII. You can get just about EVERYTHING here, clothes, bags, cosmetics, fresh fish, dried squid and spices are sold along Ameyoko. It is quite the scene to just walk around through the very crowded and narrow streets. An awesome place to sightsee, shop and eat! Enjoy some time here to explore on your own. Ameyoko Shopping Street It s lunch time and we off to a local restaurant so that you can enjoy a buffet lunch. This afternoon, a special treat with a visit to the Ueno Zoological Gardens, established in 1882, it is the oldest zoo in Japan. It is now home to over 3,000 animals from 400 different species. Our visit here today is to see the zoo s highly popular giant panda cub, Xiang Xiang. It is the zoo s first baby panda since Xiang Xiang has taken Japan by storm. Born to mother Shin Shin and father Li Li in June 2017, Xiang Xiang is Ueno Zoo s symbol of adorableness (or as the Japanese would say in a high pitch, Kawaii! ). You will have the opportunity to watch her munching on bamboo shoots and nuzzling her mother. This bright-eyed cub has been the object of major media attention, with visitors clad in panda paraphernalia flocking to see her since her first public appearance. We will remain here for 2 hours so that you can enjoy leisure time in the zoo. We now make our way back to our hotel, arrival by 4:30pm. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is. Day 5 June 7 th, 2019 Friday Tokyo (B)

6 After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:00am as we are off to enjoy a full day at Tokyo Disneyland. Please return to the designated spot by 6:00pm for the return to our hotel. Arrival back by 7:00pm and the remainder of the evening is. Day 6 June 8 th, 2019 Saturday Tokyo (B) Please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am as we are off on a full day of touring. The morning begins with a visit to the Tokyo Edo Museum, which showcases the history of Tokyo during the Edo Period. Almost every facet of life in old Tokyo is on show at the Museum in a compelling and memorable way. There are numerous intricately constructed and minutely finished scale models, reconstructed historical buildings that can be walked through, and a wealth of realia from over the ages presented close-up, sometimes even hands-on. As you enter, the first exhibition is a scene replicating old Edo, which includes crossing a life-size replica of the Nihonbashi Bridge. From here you look out over a vast space that resembles more an indoor version of a theme park than a traditional halls-and-corridors museum. The extensive Edo section of the museum follows into modernized pre-war Japan - again presented in compellingly real detail and atmosphere. Especially recommended is the section dealing with Tokyo during the Second World War. Enjoy time here to explore on your own. Tokyo Edo Museum Next, we are off to Asakusa, the traditional, low-rise, down, and dirty Tokyo of yesteryear. Although on the surface it s ye olde Japan, this was the first part of the capital to have significant western influence. It was even the site of Japan s first cinema. Attractions in the area include one of Tokyo s most historic temples Sensoji, and the impressive Kaminarimon Gate that marks the entranceway to the temple. Also, you can t miss Phillip Stark s Golden Poo on the roof of the nearby Asahi Breweries headquarters. Sensoji Temple dates to 645, but with the original destroyed in the air raids of 1945, today s building is a 1958 reconstruction. At the top of the steps, as a mark of respect, clap twice and bow your head. It s also customary to make a small offering by tossing coins into the wooden rack. The Five Storied Pagoda was built in 1973 and amongst others; it stands in honor of comedians! Standing 54 meters high, reinforced with concrete and steel, and like all pagodas, running down the center is a giant pillar of Japanese Cypress tree wood.

7 Once through the gate you ll be in Nakamise Shopping Arcade. The street is lined with colorful, lively stalls selling traditional knick- knacks, festival foods, and rice crackers. There are over 50 shops along this shopping street. We will remain here for 1.5 hrs. to allow you time to enjoy the area, have lunch on your own and do some omiyage shopping. From here, we are off to Shimokitazawa, the bohemian hood where Tokyo's cool kids gather. Whether you re into history, art, music, shopping, or just strolling, Tokyo is never shy on places to satisfy your creative needs. But there is one area in Setagaya ward, just two stations away from Shibuya and Shinjuku, where you can get it all in a single stroll: welcome to Shimokitazawa! With its bohemian vibe and laid-back atmosphere, the area smacks of urban modern cool, with numerous hipster coffee shops, laneways full of secondhand and vintage fashion, hole-in-the-wall eateries, recorded music outlets and live music venues. It has the verve like no other in Tokyo. The neighborhood s somewhat retro feel is attributed to its long history. Originally a farming community, Shimokitazawa transformed into a residential district after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1921 when Tokyo inhabitants migrated to the countryside to escape the dangers of a future disaster. After surviving air raids in WWII, the area was transformed into a US second-hand market for soldiers during the occupation period. Remnants of this market still exist today. The 1970s saw the arrival of the hippy youth which eventually transformed the area into the bohemian paradise it is today. Next on our list is a visit to Shibuya Crossing and shopping area, rumored to be the world s busiest, this intersection in front of Shibuya Station is famously known as The Scramble. It s an awesome spectacle of giant video screens and neon, guaranteed to give you a 'Wow I'm in Tokyo!' feeling. People come from all directions at once sometimes over a thousand with every light change yet still manage to dodge each other with a practiced, nonchalant agility. It's a brief stop, just so you can experience the crossing and stop by for a photo at the Hachiko Dog statute. Come meet Tokyo's most famous pooch, Hachikō. This Akita dog came to Shibuya Station every day to meet his master, a professor, returning from work. After the professor died in 1925, Hachikō continued to come to the station daily until his own death nearly 10 years later. The story became legend and a small statue was erected in the dog s memory in front of Shibuya Station. We now make our way back to our hotel, arrival by 5:30pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is. Day 7 June 9 th, 2019 Sunday Tokyo (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am as we have a full day of touring on tap. We begin the morning with a visit to the iconic Tokyo Tower. While it is no longer the tallest structure in Japan, nor a fullfledged broadcasting tower, it is still one of the most popular places for tourists to visit and an icon of the capital, attracting about 2 million visitors annually.

8 Opened in Opened in 1958, Tokyo Tower will be standing for a second Olympics when Tokyo hosts the games in Perhaps most known for its distinctive steel framework, this self-supported steel structure, modeled after the Eiffel Tower in France is lighter and taller. At night, the tower is lit up by 176 floodlights, orange in winter and white in summer. Tokyo Tower From here, a visit to Meiji Jingu Shrine, located right in the middle of one of Tokyo`s most popular areas is an amazing urban oasis, Meiji Jingu. It is a shinto shrine that is dedicated to the souls of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. After the Emperor s death in 1912, the Japanese Diet passed a resolution to commemorate his role in the Meiji Restoration and the construction of a shrine where his soul would be enshrined was undertaken. The area around an iris garden in Tokyo where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken had been known to visit was chosen as the building s location. With the passing of the resolution, construction began in 1915, formally dedicated in 1920 and finished in When you enter the grounds of the shrine, probably the first thing that will get your attention is the, torii (the traditional gate to a Shinto shrine) you pass under. It is enormous and majestic, completely impossible to miss. There are three torii in total between the Harajuku entrance and the main building. But once you pass under the first one, you enter the forest which blocks out the sights and sounds of the city. While walking along the path to the shrine you will pass huge barrels of sake. These barrels are donated every year by Meiji Jingu Nationwide Sake Brewers Association to the enshrined deities at the shrine, and they make for a great photo opportunity for the visitor. About five minutes past the sake barrels you`ll come to the entrance of the main shrine area, from where you can see the Mode Gakuen building far behind in the distance. The two buildings really contrast each other. Mode Gakuen, an icon of the modern age and Meiji Jingu an icon of ages past, but still relevant in the modern era as it one of the main places for News Years prayers and is still very culturally important. On weekends, this shrine is very popular for its weddings and being that today is Sunday, we hope to see one or more traditional wedding processions. Keep your eyes out and camera ready! Another highlight of today s visit is for a walk along the iris groves here at the Meiji Shrine Garden. This beautiful garden is open to the public in the month of June. There are about 1500 iris plants of 150 different kinds of irises in the "Iris Garden". Their blossoms are counted every day by the staff. The splendor of the iris flowers in full bloom has become well known both in Japan and abroad. Enjoy the viewing!

9 We are now off to one of the more youthful spots, Harajuku, the area around Tokyo's Harajuku Station. It is the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles while also offering some historic sites and shopping for adults. The focal point is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, which are lined by many trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothes stores, crepe stands and fast food outlets geared towards the fashion and trend conscious teens. Being that it is a Sunday, you can experience teenage culture at its most extreme. This is the day when many young people gather around Harajuku Station and engage in cosplay ("costume play"), dressed up in eccentric costumes to resemble anime characters, punk musicians, etc. Enjoy some time to stroll around and enjoy the area. There is a Daiso, a 107yen shop half way up Takeshita Dori that always a great shopping spot. By the way, the crepes make for a wonderful as a snack, do try one! Our last stop this afternoon, a visit to the Samurai Museum in the Shinjuku section of the city. The samurai has been an iconic symbol of courage, power, and masculinity for over 700 years of Japanese warfare history. Finally, the gripping soul of the samurai can be felt at the Samurai Museum. Their belief, Reputation grudged shows that samurai is not a simple soldier; they highly valued honor above life. The beauty of samurai spirit is shown in Japanese swords and their costumes. The museum, on two floors, provides a near-authentic ambience of historical Japan during the Sengoku period. The museum's founder, Tetsuro Koyano, spent over five years painstakingly gathering a wide array of samurai costumes, head gear, guns, swords, and other related equipment, with a mission to not only impart a comprehensive knowledge of Japanese historical warfare to both locals and foreigners, but also to revive the soul of the samurai. Displayed under dramatic lighting are more than 70 examples of samurai armor, kabuto helmets and weapons gathered here from Japanese and foreign collections. Detailed descriptions for each display are given in English. The highlight is a chance to have yourself photographed in a samurai costume of your choice. We will also enjoy a sword show while here. Now, back to our hotel, arrival by 5:00pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is. Day 8 June 10 th, 2019 Monday Tokyo (B) After breakfast, enjoy a complete day in Tokyo to do whatever you please. There is still much to enjoy and quite a bit to do right at your door step. It s our last day on tour and a great opportunity for shopping here at the Sunshine City Mall and the entire Ikebukuro area. Everything on your shopping list can be found. By the way, we have arranged for a late check-out from our rooms and you will have access to them until we check out later this evening for the drive to the Haneda Airport. Please meet your guide in the lobby with your luggage by 7:45pm as we will be departing by 8:00pm. Ikebukuro offers plenty of entertainment, shopping, and dining opportunities. It is the battle ground between the Tobu and Seibu conglomerates which operate large department stores on each side of the station. Recently it has also seen fierce competition from two of Japan's largest electronic retailers, Bic Camera and Yamada Denki. Enjoy time at Sunshine City, a huge shopping mall connected to our hotel. It has four towers including a 240-meter-high skyscraper with an observation deck on the top. The main tower is the second highest building in Tokyo. The Sunshine City

10 Prince Hotel is housed in one of the smaller towers at the complex. The lower levels of Sunshine City are a monstrous maze of shops and tourist attractions, as well as a theatre. The tower s elevator is an attraction in its self, being the fastest in the world it takes only thirty-five seconds to reach the top. The highlight of the ride would have to be the illuminated dolphins and unicorns, ambient music and beautifully dressed lift operators making the trip to the top an interesting journey. The center opened in 1978 and is Tokyo s oldest City within a City. It sits on land that was once occupied by Sugamo Prison. The Sunshine International Aquarium is a popular attraction where there are plenty of great underwater exhibits to entertain the whole family. There are the usual sharks, stingrays, tropical fish and sea life, but the most popular exhibits are the penguins, seals and sea otters which are well worth the entry fee. The aquarium sits on the 10th Floor, which gives it the title of the world s highest aquarium. There are feedings at the aquarium every hour and one of the largest tanks holds over 120 tons of water. The seals do performances during the day. Another great family attraction is the planetarium, where you can learn about the solar system and the universe. The Cosmic Safari takes visitors on a journey to see the wonders in outer-space. The Bunka Kaikan building is home to the Ancient Orient Museum which has an amazing collection of artifacts and is well worth a look. The Sunshine City complex is also home to the Namco Namja Town. Namja Town is a collection of food theme parks and other interesting dining establishments. The centre has a series of kittens as mascots and there are plenty of them to choose from in the gift shop. Some of the food parks include Ice Cream City and the Tokyo Dessert Republic. Then for the Gyoza lover, there is Ikebukuro Gyoza stadium, the list goes on with dozens of tasty attractions. There is a small fee to enter the complex and then the fun begins. There are various carnival amusements at Namja town too, like a haunted house, merry-goround, and video shooting games. Make sure you go hungry as there is so much to try across the two jammed packed floors of food and adventure. One store no visitor to Japan should miss is Tokyu Hands, a shop that can only be described as a cross between a hardware store and a hobby shop. It is a great place for gift shopping, as many of the items for sale can t be found outside Japan. This store is one of their largest. Hawaiian Airlines #856 Departs Haneda 11:55 pm Arrive Honolulu 12:35 pm