Experience the beauty of autumn in Japan

Transcription

1 Experience the beauty of autumn in Japan Kyushu Fall Foliage Explorer November 7 th 15 th, nts/9days from: $3395 triple $3495 double $3695 single Non-stop to Fukuoka Hakata/Yanagawa/Nagasaki/Shimabara/Kumamoto Kirishima/Kagoshima/Yufuin & Beppu Wind chimes and icy colors are essential in summer. Then its autumn, when a host of goodies are harvested one after the other. Autumn in Japan is magnificent. It may even be more visually stunning than the cherry blossoms of spring, maybe. This Kyushu Fall Foliage Explorer is one you do not want to miss. The very best of fall foliage viewing spot are included with visits to Hakata, a gondola-like boat cruise on the Yanagawa River, onto Nagasaki, a welcoming, peaceful city boasing a colorful trading history, alluring churches, shrines and temples, and an East-meets-West culinary scene, all set prettily around a gracious harbor. From here, off to Kumamoto, in the center of Kyushu, deeply proud of its greatest landmark, Kumamoto-jō, the castle around which the city radiates and then the popular hot spring towns of Yufuin and Beppu before returning to Hakata. Come, join us on this on this small-group tour to Kyushu, limited to 25 members, Japan's southern- and westernmost main island, arguably its warmest, friendliest, and most beautiful, Itinerary/Details Day 1 November 7 th, 2018 Wednesday Depart from Honolulu Delta Airlines #599 Departs Honolulu 12:20 pm Arrive Fukuoka 5:50 pm +1

2 International check in begins 3 hours prior to departure. Please meet your Panda Travel representative in the main terminal at the Delta Airlines check-in area. Day 2 November 8 th, 2018 Thursday Fukuoka-Hakata After clearing customs, we will be met by our local guide and then the short bus ride to our hotel for the next three nights, Hotel Clio Court Hakata, adjacent to the JR Hakata Station. This youthful, user-friendly metropolis has a cosmopolitan charm, peppered with the flavors of its Asian neighbors. Hakata traces its trading history back some 2000 years, which continues today with visitors from Seoul and Shanghai. Among Japanese, the city is famed for its 'Hakata bijin' (beautiful women), SoftBank Hawks s baseball team and hearty Hakata ramen. Hakata may not burst with sights like Tokyo or Kyoto, but its friendly atmosphere, warm weather, and contemporary attractions art, architecture, shopping, and cuisine make up for it As far as our hotel location, it is difficult to find a more convenient spot, just steps from so many dining and shopping options. Tokyu Hands and Daiso are steps away while the ever-popular Don Quijote is a short walk away and open 24 hours! The remainder of the evening is. Accommodations: Hotel Clio Court Hakata Day 3 November 9 th, 2018 Friday Fukuoka-Hakata After breakfast, 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 at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Fukuoka, where more than 2 million people visit during the first three days of New Year. In this shrine, Sugawara-no Michizane, an excellent poet, particularly in Chinese poetry in the late 9th century, is enshrined as the god of academic achievements. During the entrance exam season, young people from all parts of Japan preparing for these examinations and their parents come to the shrine to pray for success and academic achievement. Michizane passed away in Dazaifu in 903, just a few years after being sent into exile. Shortly after his death the country was ravaged by natural disasters, and people came to believe that the calamities were caused by the wrathful spirit of Michizane, still angered by his unjust treatment. Offerings were made to the spirit of Michizane and the tradition of Tenmangu Shrines was begun. The Tenmangu Shrine in Dazaifu was built on the site of his grave. The entire length of the approach is lined with shops that cater to the shrine's visitors. Many of the shops sell umegae mochi, a specialty of this area. The shrine is rather large, stretching about 250 meters from one end to the other. After passing through the torii gate at the entrance, visitors will come across a pond that was built in the shape of the Japanese character for "heart". A path leads across two arched bridges and islands which represent the past, present, and future. Enjoy walking around as this is another perfect spot of fall foliage viewing.

3 Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and approached lined with shops on both sides Now, lunch time, Japanese set menu at a local restaurant. This afternoon we are off to Yamagata City, surrounded by hundreds of canals navigable in gondolas, is commonly known as the Venice of Kyushu. It flourished as a castle town under the Tachibana clan and is also famous as the home town of renowned tanka poet Kitahara Hakushu. He lived during the periods of Meiji, Taisho, and Showa, leaving his great footmarks on Japan s modern literature as a port. Once here we will visit Yanagawa Tachibana-Tei Ohana, which was the residence of Tachibana Family, the feudal lord of Yanagawa clan dating back to the Edo Period. In 1738, the 5 th feudal lord of Yanagawa, built a villa in this region which was once called Ohanabatake. Since then locals have come to admire the area which came to be called Ohana. In 1909, Kanji Tachibana, the 14th lord, completed the residence which includes Western and Japanese buildings as a guest house for VIPs. Following the war, the Tachibana family made use of the former residence to operate the restaurant inn of Ohana. The garden, Shoto-en, which is faced by the 100-tatami mat Japanese-style Ohiroma great hall and the living room, is a Japanese-style garden that was built to resemble Matsushima, one of the Three Views of Japan, and is currently nationally designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty, elegantly established with 280 black pines, 1500 garden stones and 14 stone lanterns centering around a pond. Enjoy this fall foliage viewing site. Before leaving here, a must do is to enjoy one of the town s famous river boat rides on a gondola-like Donko boat manned by a boatman using a pole to guide it down the Yanagawa River. Sit back and enjoy the breathtaking scenic views of this riverside town in its autumn colors. We now make our way back to Hakata, arrival by 5:30pm and the remainder of the evening is. Our location by the Hakata Station offers many shopping and dining choice. The popular 108-yen Daiso and Tokyu Department Store are just a few steps away. Accommodations: Hotel Clio Court Hakata Day 4 November 10 th, 2018 Saturday Hakata-Nagasaki (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:00am as are off on a full day of touring that ends in Nagasaki. Our morning begins with a drive to Yobuko, a small town that faces Genkai Sea connecting to the Sea of Japan. Its main industry is fishing, especially squid which remains the most popular item in most restaurants, served up as sashimi or in a variety of dishes.

4 Our stop here today is to visit and spend time at the Yobuko Morning Market, one of Japan's three major morning markets with a history dating back to the Taisho period. Fresh fish and seafood caught from the Japanese Sea is the highlight of the scenery. The market stalls are run by local elderly ladies. With their heart-warming conversations, they give the market an atmosphere overflowing with charm. Other items sold here include vegetables and souvenirs. If you are up for a snack, the recommended dishes include squid dried overnight, squid dumplings, tempura and squid sashimi. The drive time here is two hours and a rest stop will be made along the way. Next, we are visiting China on the Park where you can experience pottery and porcelain designs. This establishment dates to the end of the last century when the Fukugawa factory was chosen to provide the Imperial household with porcelain. This large and modern style facility contains a factory, galleries, shops, and a restaurant. It is here that we will enjoy our lunch. After lunch we are off to Nagasaki and the travel time is approximately one hour. Along the way we will be stopping at the Kasutera (Honey Cake) Factory in Isahaya. Now a specialty of Nagasaki, the cake was brought by way of Portuguese merchants in the 16 th century. The name is derived from Portuguese Pao de Castela, meaning bread from Castile. This popular Japanese sponge cake is made from 4 basic ingredients-sugar, eggs, bread flour and honey. It has assumed a distinctly light Japanese flavor and texture over the centuries. They are available several flavors such as honey, chestnut, and green tea. Once in Nagasaki we will be visiting the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, a remembrance to the atomic bombing of Nagasaki by the United States of America 9 August 1945 at 11:02:35 am. An B-29 bomber dropped the bomb here just three days after the first attack on Hiroshima. The fierce blast wind, heat rays that reached several thousand degrees, and deadly radiation generated by the explosion devastated the city, killing 74,000 people, and wounding another 75,000. The survivors also suffered, and still suffer, extensively from the mental and physical damage of the atomic bomb. The museum exhibits extensive materials, both print and reproductions, on the actual bombing and latest nuclear weapons, aiming to contribute to the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of lasting world peace. From here, off to our hotel for the evening, Hotel New Nagasaki, just a 3-minute walk from the JR Nagasaki Station. A wide variety of dining and shopping options are just steps away. What should you eat in Nagasaki? Its most famous dish is champon. A couple of other options includes saraudon that combines the meat, seafood, vegetables, and sauce of champon, but served on a plate, or sara, over crispy dry fried noodles or Turkish Rice, named after the country. It consists of a pork cutlet, dry curry mixed into rice, and a small serving of spaghetti, all on the same plate. Accommodations: Hotel New Nagasaki Day 5 November 11 th, 2018 Sunday Nagasaki-Shimabara-Kumamoto-Kirishima (B/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off on a full day of touring. The morning begins with a visit to the Nagasaki Peace Park, built on a low hill to the north of the hypocenter of the atomic bomb blast. It was created to represent the wish for world peace and a vow that such a tragic war would never be repeated. The park features the 9.7-meter-high Peace Statue symbolizing the Nagasaki citizens' wish for peace. Sculptor Seibou Kitamura, a Nagasaki native, created this statue as a symbol of the divine love and mercy of Buddha. The raised right-hand points to the heavens to signify the threat of atomic weapons while the left arm is raised horizontally to represent the wish for peace. The figure's eyes are lightly closed in prayer for the souls of the atomic bomb victims. Every year on August 9, the anniversary of the atomic bombing, a peace memorial ceremony is conducted in front of this statue and a peace declaration is made to the people of the world. The park also features the Fountain of Peace, which was built in remembrance of a little girl

5 who wandered in search of water. You can also view a row of monuments contributed by various nations that form the zone of symbols of world peace. We are now off to Shimabara, the drive time approximately two hours and a rest stop will be made along the way. Once here, we will be stopping at Michino-eki-Mizunashi Honjin Fukae, a park located at one of the affected sites of the eruption of Mt. Unzen in 1991, which left an avalanche of earth, debris, and volcanic ashes around the area. The park was created as a reminder to future generations of the damage left by the volcanic catastrophe. It houses a volcanic museum, and the site of 11 houses half-buried under a pile of debris and pyroclastic flow from Fugendake, one of the Mt. Unzen's highest peaks. The Mount Unzen Disaster Memorial Hall is an excellent museum that was built to commemorate the volcano's 1990s eruption and ensuing disaster. The museum uses hands on displays and videos to educate visitors about how volcanoes work and how they affect the lives of those who live around them. The highlight of the exhibition is the eruption simulator, an immersive film that tries to simulate a pyroclastic flow using motion and heat. This roadside station area offers a variety of eating spots, enjoy time to explore the park and have lunch on your own. Now, off to catch the Kumomoto Ferry. It is approximately 30 minutes and our bus will also be traveling along with us on the ferry. Once here, off to Kirishima, an active volcanic mountain range that lies on the border between Miyazaki and Kagoshima Prefectures. It is made up of mountains, highlands, volcanic lakes, and hot springs, offering good hiking through beautiful mountainous surroundings. The drive time is approximately one hour. The mountains of Kirishima play an important role in Japanese mythology. They are said to be the site where the god Ninigi no Mikoto, grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu, was sent to rule over the earth and establish the lineage of Japanese Emperors. At the top of Mt. Takachiho-no-mine you can see the spear sunk in the mountaintop, which Ninigi no Mikoto used to descend to earth. Once, here we will be checking into our hot springs hotel, Kirishima Hotel, boasting four types of hot springs (sulfur spring, alum spring, salt spring and iron spring) all in a garden setting. Enjoy the breathtaking atmosphere of a Japanese cedar garden illuminated in an array of lights in the evening, featuring a cedar tree over 100 years old. Our arrival will be by 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 6:30pm. After dinner, the remainder of the evening is. Accommodations: Kirishima Hotel -Japanese style rooms Day 6 November 12 th, 2018 Monday Kirishima-Kagoshima-Kumamoto (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am. Our luggage will be sent on to Hakata and meet up with us in two days. Please bring along a small overnight bag with enough items for 2 days. The morning begins a drive to Kagoshima, just a short drive to visit Kirishima Shrine, the shrine for mountain worship was built around the 6th century. Originally it was at the foot of the sacred mountain Takachiho-no-mine but repeatedly burnt down due to volcanic eruptions and was moved to the current location. The current shrine buildings are reconstructions made in 1715 and has been designated as Important Cultural Property of Japan. According to Japanese myths, Ninigi no Mikoto, grandson of the queen of gods Amaterasu, governed the area, which is now attracting attention as a location with strong mystical energy in recent years. Especially a sacred tree that has lived 800 years is said to be the ancestor of Japanese cedars across southern Kyushu and believed to have great powers to answer prayers.

6 The splendor of Kirishima Shrine s decoration is outstanding. It is referred to as The Nikko of the West in comparison with the gorgeous architectural style of Nikko Toshogu in Tochigi. Columns and joists are vermilion lacquered and decorated with many richly-colored reliefs. In fall, red leaves create an impressive and vivid scenery in harmony with the glamorous building. At the entrance of the approach, there are a tourist information office and a foot bath. How about resting your weary feet while discussing travel plans? The shrine is also renowned for its beautiful autumn leaves. Autumn leaves decorating the sides of the approach create fantastic scenery. Enjoy viewing the fall colors as you walk around. Next, a visit to the Senganen and Shoko Assemble Museum. Sengan-en is a traditional Japanese garden and stately home that has been passed down in the Shimadzu family for over 350 years. The garden boasts spectacular views of active volcano Sakurajima, and the house provides a glimpse into the lifestyle of a powerful feudal lord. Sengan-en and the surrounding area was fundamentally important in the modernization of Japan. It was here that Western industrial technology was introduced to Japan, studied, and used in the creation of modern factories. The spectacular gardens, streams, bridges, water falls make for a breathtaking view of the autumn colors. The Shoko Shuseikan Museum building was originally built as a steel factory for Lord Shimadzu in Objects from the 700-year history of the Shimadzu family, the war between Satsuma and England and traditional industries like Satsuma cut glass are on display here. At the cut glass factory next to the museum, you can see the work and beauty of Satsuma glass. Now, lunch time and a stop at the Ichibangai Shopping Street where you can enjoy time to shop and have lunch on your own. From here, we are off by bullet train to Kumamoto, Sakura 410 departing at 3:38pm and arrives at the Kumamoto Station at 4:34pm. Once there, a short walk over to our hotel, the New Hotel Kumamoto, just across from the station and the heart of the city. A variety of shopping and dining options are just steps away and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is. Accommodations: The New Hotel Kumamoto Day 7 November 13 th, 2018 Tuesday Kumamoto-Yufuin (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off on another full day of touring. The morning begins with a stop at Kumamoto Castle, one of the most impressive castles in Japan. With large castle grounds and a variety of buildings, Kumamoto Castle offers its visitors one of the most complete castle experiences in Japan. Only a few structures have survived the centuries since the castle's construction in 1607 intact. The castle keep and most other buildings are modern reconstructions, but the reconstructions are mostly of a high quality and new buildings are continually being added. With about 800 cherry trees, the castle becomes a popular cherry blossom spot usually in late March and early April. The construction of Kumamoto Castle in the early 1600s took seven years, and it was designed by the feudal lord (daimyo) who ruled the area, Kato Kiyomasa. Kato was an experienced warrior, and he used his knowledge to build fortifications that were highly regarded for their strategic effectiveness. Less than 50 years after its construction, the castle and surrounding area were taken from the Kato clan and given to the Hosokawa clan which ruled the area from Kumamoto Castle for the next two centuries. A few years after the Meiji Restoration (1868), the castle played a pivotal role during the Seinan Civil War, during which the famous samurai Saigo Takamori led an uprising in Kyushu against the new government. Kumamoto Castle was the main

7 garrison of government troops in Kyushu, and Saigo attacked the castle in early Despite being outnumbered and losing many buildings, the government forces were able to withstand Saigo's two-month siege, forcing the rebel forces to retreat. The castle suffered serious damage in the 2016 earthquake. Many roof tiles fell, foundations were damaged, walls crumbled, and entire structures collapsed. While the inner grounds are closed to the public, it is possible to see and enjoy the massive fortress from the outside. While the hope is to repair the main keep within two years, the rest of the grounds are expected to take up to 20 years to be fully repaired. In the Edo Period a bustling town sprawled at the foot of Kumamoto s formidable castle. Today, that town looks quite a bit different, but you can still find a taste of the old days at Sakura-no-baba Josaien, an Edo-themed complex just down the hill from Kumamoto Castle which we are off to next. Every visitor s first stop should be the Wakuwaku-Za, an interactive history display on the complex s west side. Despite the rather odd name (wakuwaku in Japanese means exciting), Wakuwaku-Za provides a great introduction to life in a castle town. The bottom floor has many video displays, most of which relate the story of Kato Kiyomasa and the Hosokawa family. While most of the displays on the ground floor deal with the Edo Period, a few cover the Satsuma Rebellion, a Meiji-era revolt in which Kumamoto Castle played a pivotal role. Renegade samurai under the leadership of former Imperial supporter Takamori Saigo besieged the castle in the winter of The castle garrison resisted and stood its ground and Takamori s army eventually retreated two months later. Upstairs, staff members put on quasi-historical performances incorporating, among other things, ninja and samurai. Don t leave the complex without first taking a wander through the shopping district. What you ll find here is more than just typical tourist trinkets expect local products like Kumamoto s lotus root stuffed with spicy mustard and satellite stores for independent wineries in the prefecture. There are plenty of options to find the perfect gift. Enjoy some time to shop. As we make our way to Yufuin, a stop at the Aso Milk Farm for a visit, lunch and small kine shopping. It is a working farm with livestock that includes cows, hogs, sheep, and goats. You are welcome to roam the grounds - stop in and watch the cows crunching their hay, buy some carrot sticks for the sheep and enjoy the ducks cavorting in the pond. We will be having lunch at one of the restaurants here which features local products. Now, off to the hot springs town of Yufuin and our onsen hotel for the evening, Hotel Yufuin Sansuikan, a proper Japanese spa inn, less than a 10-minute walk from Yufuin Station. Our arrival will be by 4:30pm, followed by dinner at 6:30pm. After dinner, enjoy time. The hotel offers both an indoor and outdoor bath. The open-air hot spring rock bath "Hinode Onsen" is a sodium chloride spring with its source on the hotel grounds. You can soak away your travel fatigue while enjoying the view of Beppu Bay. Accommodations: Hotel Yufuin Sansuikan - Japanese style rooms Day 8 November 14 th, 2018 Wednesday Yufuin-Beppu-Hakata (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am as we make our way back to Hakata via Beppu, one of Japan s most famous hot spring resorts, producing more hot spring water than any other resort in the country. Once in Beppu, a visit to Beppu Jigoku Meguri, eight spectacular hot springs. The name, Jigoku (hell), was derived from the fact that the site is unapproachable, because of fumarolic gas of around 100 degrees. Thermal mud and hot springs have been gushing tremendously from the ground for over 1,000 years. There are 8 jigokus in total at Beppu consisting of the cobalt blue ocean hell, Umijigoku, deep-red blood pond hell Chi-no Ike Jigoku as well as Oniishi Bozu Jigoku (Onishi Shaven Head Hell), Yama Jigoku (Mountain Hell), Kamado Jigoku (Boiling Hell), Oniyama Jigoku (Demon Mountain Hell), Shiraike

8 Hell (White Pond Hell) and Tatsumaki Jigoku (Geyser Hell). Its onsen eggs (eggs boiled in the hot spring) and Jigoku Mushiyaki Pudding (Pudding steamed in the Hell) are popular for visitors. Now, lunch at a local restaurant is included in today s itinerary. Along the way to Hakata, a fun beer factory tour and tasting experience at the Sapporo Beer Factory, located on the outskirts of Hita City. This factory boasts of being one of the most advanced beer factories with state-of-the-art manufacturing plants. Arrival back in Hakata by 5:30pm and once checked in at our hotel, the remainder of the evening is. Accommodations: Hotel Clio Court Hakata Day 9 November 15 th, 2018 Thursday Hakata-Fukuoka (B) After breakfast, enjoy a complete day to sightsee on your own or shop til you drop. We have arranged for a late check-out from our hotel and therefore you have access to your room until our departure for the airport later this evening. Please meet back in the hotel lobby by 4:30pm with your bags as we will now make our way to the airport and begin the checkin process. Delta Airlines #598 Departs Fukuoka 7:35 pm Arrive Honolulu 8:40 am (same day)