KURISUMASU SHOPPING, XMAS Lights & foliage Weekender November 20-25, nts/6 days fr: $1695 dbl/tpl $1950 single

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KURISUMASU SHOPPING, XMAS Lights & foliage Weekender November 20-25, 2018 4nts/6 days fr: $1695 dbl/tpl $1950 single In Tokyo before the malls and department stores there were shopping streets.

On these streets you would find green grocers, butchers, sake and rice sellers as well as local crafts, restaurants and street vendors selling delicious inexpensive food.

1 KURISUMASU SHOPPING, XMAS Lights & foliage Weekender November 20-25, nts/6 days fr: $1695 dbl/tpl $1950 single In Tokyo before the malls and department stores there were shopping streets. These streets were lined with merchants and it was where local folk shopped. On these streets you would find green grocers, butchers, sake and rice sellers as well as local crafts, restaurants and street vendors selling delicious inexpensive food. They anchored the neighborhood and sort of made for lively city life in old school Tokyo. This tradition continues today, while on a smaller scale, it is still the way of life for many Tokyoites. But, only the beginning as we are in peak foliage season and as such we have included visits to Tokyo s top viewing spots, Meiji Shrine, Meiji Jingu Gaien, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Imperial East Garden & Naritasan Park. There s more, the Shibuya Blue Grotto Illumination with its 400,00 blue LED lights reflecting brightly off the water s surface. Once here, you will most definitely be in the Christmas holiday spirit. Itinerary/Details Day 1 November 20 th, 2018 Tuesday Depart from Honolulu Hawaiian Airlines #855 Departs Honolulu 5:55 pm Arrive Haneda 10:00 pm + 1 International check in begins 3 hours prior to the departure time. Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines Terminal, Lobby 3. After check-in, proceed through TSA security check and meet up once again at the departure gate. Day 2 November 21 st, 2018 Wednesday Haneda-Tokyo After clearing Passport Control & Customs, meet our local English speaking guide at the exit. The drive time to our Tokyo hale for the next four nights, the recently renovated Sunshine City Prince Ikebukuro. The drive time is approximately 45-minutes. 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 10:00 am to 8:00 pm seven days a week. We are also less than a 10-minute walk from the Ikebukuro JR Station.

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 there is also a 24-hour super market, Seiyu.

Please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am. 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.

Tsukiji sits on some of the most valuable real estate in Tokyo. At some point in the future, the inner market will be moving to reclaimed land on Tokyo Bay.

2 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 there is also a 24-hour super market, Seiyu. Newly remodeled Sunshine City Prince Hotel & lobby Family Mart in hotel lobby Day 3 November 22, 2018 Thursday Tokyo (B/L) After breakfast at our hotel we will head out for a full day of touring. Please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am. 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 inner market will be moving to reclaimed land on Tokyo Bay. The 2020 Olympics are coming, and the city is preparing. 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. It is our first stop on tour and we will be here for 1.5 hours so that you have ample time to walk around and enjoy the outer market, visit knife-making artisan shops, tasting candies, nuts, and spices, and learning more about seasonal produce 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. If you finish early we encourage you to visit Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple, less than one block away. With an Indianstyle 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.

Tsukiji Fish Market From here we are off to Ameyoko Shopping Street, famous throughout Japan for its wide variety of products.

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.

It is quite the scene to just walk around through the very crowded and narrow streets. An awesome place to sightsee, shop and eat! We will remain here for 1.5 hr.

Ameyoko- best spot to find omiyage items After lunch we are off to Asakusa, the traditional, low-rise, down, and dirty Tokyo of yesteryear.

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.

Sensoji Temple dates to 645, but with the original destroyed in the air raids of 1945, today s building is a 1958 reconstruction.

3 Tsukiji Fish Market 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! We will remain here for 1.5 hr., so you can shop at leisure. Its noontime and time for lunch at a local restaurant. Ameyoko- best spot to find omiyage items After lunch 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. 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. No worry, we will have time to shop and taste some of the food treats along the way.

Asakusa and Nakamise Shopping Arcade From here we return to our hotel, arrival by 4:15pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is.

While it is a national holiday, stores and sightseeing spots are open. Ikebukuro offers plenty of entertainment, shopping, and dining opportunities.

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.

4 Asakusa and Nakamise Shopping Arcade From here we return to our hotel, arrival by 4:15pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is. Day 4 November 23, 2018 Friday 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. While it is a national holiday, stores and sightseeing spots are open. 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-meterhigh skyscraper with an observation deck on the top. The main tower is the second highest building in Tokyo. The Sunshine City 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 centre 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.

5 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-go-round, 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 location is one of their largest stores, so give yourselves time to explore each floor. Day 5 November 24, 2018 Saturday Tokyo-(B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 9:30am as we are yet another fun filled day! We are now off to one of Tokyo s most unique shopping streets, Sugamo Jizo Dori Shopping Street. Most Tokyo residents know of Sugamo as a ne er-visited stop on the Yamanote line if they know of it at all. Yet here lies one of the city s most interesting shopping streets. Think Center Gai or Takeshita Dori for your grandma. The average visitor to Sugamo s Jizo Dori is silver-haired but with a sparkle in the eye. Hordes of Japan s Greatest Generation flock to the district that postwar modernization forgot. This 800 meters long street with over 200 shops is one of the most famous shopping areas of Japan. The shops here sell clothing, traditional foods, domestic wares, and reading material that cater specifically to the older generation. Older people from all over Tokyo and surrounding areas come to Jizo-dori for their shopping. The place is popularly known as Harajuku for Grannies because of the large number of senior citizens that visit it. The most famous shops in Sugamo are the traditional cake shops and the clothing store Maruji. Maruji is popular for its red underwear that are coveted items among older women. These bright red undershirts and underpants, which are considered lucky, besides being warm and very comfortable. Maruji found it impossible to cater to the demand with just one shop, so now they have four stores at Jizo-dori. At the traditional cake shops, the most popular item is the shio-daifuku - which is a rice ball with a sweet red bean paste at the center for which Sugamo is famous. Two stores that we will be pointing out are Sugi Yohoen which stocks dozens of honeys, jams and juices, plus nihonshu (sake) infused with ginger. You can sample almost everything at the tasting counter. The other is Chirimen for cute, modern takes on furoshiki cloths and yukata, plus wallets, coffee mugs and other everyday items. Stroll around this unique area, experience the city of old in Sugamo and enjoy the Japaneseness" of this street. Sugamo becomes particularly lively on the 4th, 14th and 24th of every month when the temple holds a small festival. Being that today is the 24th, enjoy the extra festivities! It is the noon time hour and time for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we are off to visit Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Close-by to the Harajuku Station, Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park make up a large forested area within the densely built-up city. The spacious shrine grounds offer walking paths that are great for a relaxing stroll. Being that we are in the peak foliage period, enjoy this colorful viewing spot.

The shrine was completed and dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the passing of the emperor and six years after the passing of the empress.

On weekends, this is a popular spot for wedding ceremonies and being that this is a both a Saturday and holiday weekend, expect to enjoy viewing several beautiful wedding processions right in front

Meiji Shrine tori gate entrance, grounds, and popular sights of weddings on weekends From here, off to Meiji Jingu Gaien, a 300-meter-long avenue for a stroll under the tunnel of golden yellow

6 The shrine was completed and dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the passing of the emperor and six years after the passing of the empress. The shrine was destroyed during the WWII, but was rebuilt shortly thereafter. On weekends, this is a popular spot for wedding ceremonies and being that this is a both a Saturday and holiday weekend, expect to enjoy viewing several beautiful wedding processions right in front of your eyes. Meiji Shrine tori gate entrance, grounds, and popular sights of weddings on weekends From here, off to Meiji Jingu Gaien, a 300-meter-long avenue for a stroll under the tunnel of golden yellow foliage created by 146 gingko trees. It is considered one of the most beautiful place in Tokyo for autumn foliage with its stunning yellow colors. Lastly, on our day, but not the least, a stop at the Shibuya Blue Grotto Illumination, taking its inspiration from Italy's Grotta Azzura (Blue Cavern), this illumination represents one of the newest additions to Tokyo's ever popular winter sparkle. Famous for its beautiful cherry blossoms during the spring, you will be able to witness the spectacle of the Naka River being magically transformed into a giant Blue Cavern with over 400,000 blue LED lights reflecting brightly off the water. From here, we make our way back to our hotel, arriving approximately 7:00pm and the remainder of the evening is. Day 6 November 25, 2018 Sunday Tokyo-Narita (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am as we are off on a full day of touring before our flight home later this evening. The morning begins with a visit to Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, one of Tokyo s's oldest and best Japanese gardens, built in the early Edo Period at the Tokyo residence of the Mito branch of the ruling Tokugawa family. Like its namesake in Okayama, the garden was named Korakuen after a poem encouraging a ruler to enjoy pleasure only after achieving happiness for his people. This garden is an excellent spot to view fall foliage as some 480 Japanese maple trees turn rich orange and red. Many consider it to be the second most popular foliage viewing spot in Tokyo. Koishikawa Korakuen attempts to reproduce famous landscapes in miniature, using ponds, stones, trees, and manmade hills to replicate both Japanese and Chinese scenery. A network of walking trails leads around to viewpoints. It truly remains a beautiful natural escape from urban Tokyo. From here we are off to the Imperial Palace East Garden, another gorgeous foliage viewing spot. The gardens are part of the inner palace area that is open to the public, and the best time to do so is in autumn!

7 The East Gardens also include the remains of Edo Castle s moats, bridges, gates, walls, and guardhouses from the Tokugawa Shogun era that ruled Japan from the castle from 1603 to Edo Castle was one of the greatest engineering feats in history. Its outermost moat once enclosed a vast area that extended beyond the current site of Tokyo Station. Its inner moats had great stone walls that towered over Edo. The sea was moved to protect the castle from tsunami and storms. Forts on artificial islands were built in Tokyo Bay to protect the castle from ships. While the castle is gone, burned down in 1873 and demolished, the current Imperial Palace used many of the Castle's moats and walls in its design. Now, as it gets closer to the lunch hour, a visit to the antenna shops in Yurakucho. Local governments created these shops to promote their regions through food, souvenirs, and tourist information. Represented regions include Hokkaido, Kansai, Akita, Aomori, and Okinawa. Enjoy time here to shop and lunch on your own. In addition to the antenna shops two of Japan s more popular shops, Loft and Muiji are steps away. The 2 nd floor at Muiji has a wonderful cafeteria dining area, perfect for lunch. We now make our way closer to Narita for our flight home this evening, but the day is still young as we are off to visit Naritasan Shinshoji, built in the year 940 around its main sacred object of worship, a statue of the Buddhist Fudo Myoo deity. Kobo Daishi, the founder of the Shingon Sect and one of the most important figures in Japan's religious history, is said to have carved the statue. Beside the temple, part of the fun visiting here is its store lined approach, Omotesando. This lively street offers a variety of restaurants and shop that have been selling traditional crafts, food and souvenirs to pilgrims and tourists for centuries. It s also our final fall foliage viewing spot. While Naritasan Park is a beautiful park throughout a year, it becomes absolutely gorgeous in autumn with its red and yellow leaves. Now, off to the Narita Airport to begin our check-in for the flight home. Hawaiian Airlines #822 Departs Narita 9:00 pm Arrive Honolulu 9:10 am

HALLOWEEN OMIYAGE SHOPPING WEEKEND!

HALLOWEEN OMIYAGE SHOPPING WEEKEND! October 27 th - November 1 st, 2018 4nts/6 days from: $1795 dbl/tpl $1995 sgl Join us on this very special Halloween weekend Omiyage tour to Tokyo. city life in old