Hokkaido Fall Weekender Tour

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1 Hokkaido Fall Weekender Tour Columbus Day Omiyage Weekender Tour Sapporo, Otaru, Noboribetsu, & Jozankei Hot Springs October 4 th -10 th, nts/7days from: $2195 dbl/tpl $2395 single Shop, Sightsee, Eat, Fun- A perfect way to spend the Columbus Day holiday weekend! Early October in Hokkaido is the perfect time of the year for touring, the weather dry and cool, ideal for sightseeing, shopping and just about anything outdoorsy. This five-night tour is perfectly balanced to enjoy all that Hokkaido has to offer! We begin in Sapporo, Hokkaido s capital and one of Japan's most cosmopolitan cities. Its wide streets and tree lined boulevards give the city an almost European feel. Enjoy four nights at the Century Royal Hotel, best location, right by the JR Sapporo Station and direct access to underground shopping and dining. There s also a day trip to Otaru, a bustling merchant port in its heyday. Much of Otaru s iconic architecture from its glory days remain. There are great options for foodies and if you re into music boxes or any kind of glass objects, this is the place! Just the beginning as we have included Lake Shikotsu, Noboribetsu and an overnight in Jozankei Hot Springs. On the shores of Lake Shikotsu, enjoy the 42 nd Shikotsuko Momiji Matsuri (Autumn Leaves Festival). In Noboribetsu, time at the Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura Village and Jigokudani. In Jozankei, an onsen stay and an evening visit to the Jozankei Nature Luminarie. We have it all, sightseeing, onsen stay, 2 festivals, Jogai Fish Market, sake brewery visit, Nikka Whisky Factory visit, fruit picking experience, and a complete free shopping day in Sapporo. Come, join us on this fun filled Columbus Day Hokkaido Weekender Tour. Itinerary/Details Day 1 October 4 th, 2018 Thursday Depart from Honolulu Hawaiian Airlines #441 Departs Honolulu 12:55 pm Arrive Chitose 5:00 pm + 1 Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines Terminal at least 3 hours prior to the flight departure time. Day 2 October 5 th, 2018 Friday Chitose-Sapporo On arrival in Chitose, please make your way to the baggage claim area as we need to clear immigration and customs. luggage carts are available. We suggest that you use one as there is a short walk to our chartered bus. Our local English speaking Japanese guide will be there to meet us.

2 Accommodations for the first four nights are at the 4-star Century Royal Hotel, adjacent to the shopping zone in front of JR Sapporo Station. A quick ride down their elevator and you are in the heart of a dining and shopping mecca. The drive time from Chitose is under one hour. Our arrival at the hotel will be approximately 7:00pm, still time to go out for a stroll or dinner. Day 3 October 6 th, 2018 Saturday Sapporo (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 9:00am as we are off on a full day of touring. The morning begins with a visit to the Okurayama Ski Jump and a ride on the lift to its peak. This ski jump stadium was used at the Winter Olympics held in Sapporo in Once at the top enjoy time at the viewing lounge and the panoramic views of the city of Sapporo, the Ishikari Plain, and Ishikari Bay. It is also an ideal location to view the start line of the ski jump right before your eyes - looking directly down at the steep slope of the approach will certainly give you an idea of how the skiers are feeling when they begin their jumps! From here we make our way to the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market where every morning, the freshest produce and fish arrive. While this inner market where the fish auction takes place is not open to the public, you can enjoy the Curb Market. Open from 6am, it is comprised of approximately 60 stores selling a variety of items ranging from fruits to fresh and dried fish. Sushi and other reasonably priced dishes made with fresh seasonal ingredients are available. As soon as the bidding ends in the inner market, the products are made available at the Curb Market. Here you will have the opportunity to experience a meal of fresh local seafood, whether it be a donburi bowl or crab and salmon sushi Choose from the many restaurants along the edge of the market, a front-row view of your chef preparing freshly-cut stock. If ramen is to your liking, there is a group of ramen shops along one of the side streets. Choose one and enjoy a delicious bowl of Hokkaido s finest ramen. Jogai Curb Market-Fish Market side street ramen shops Once back in Sapporo, a visit to the Chitosetsuru Sake Museum & Brewer, established in It is the only sakagura (sake brewery) in Sapporo. Besides learning about Chitosetsuru s history, enjoy sake sampling, mainly ginjo, junmai and honjozo varieties. Visit their shop for sake gifts, seasonal products or maybe a dish or cone of sake ice cream. From here a stop at Tanukikoji Shopping Street, Sapporo s oldest covered shopping arcade, ten blocks long with over 200 shops. Here you will find old and traditional merchants selling kimonos, tea or incense side by side with modern stores specializing in computers and software or state-of-the-art electronics and digital cameras all of which lends it a bazaar-like quality. Some of the popular shops that Hawaii folks enjoy are all here, a multi-story 108-yen Daiso, as well 24-hour Don Quijote.

3 After free time to shop, back to our hotel. The arrival time will be approximately 5:00pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Day 4 October 7 th, 2018 Sunday Sapporo-Lake Shikotsu-Noboribetsu-Sapporo (B) After breakfast please meet your guide by 9:30am as we are off to Lake Shikotsu and Noboribetsu. Once at Lake Shikotsu, enjoy free time at the 42 nd Shikotsuko Momiji Matsuri (Autumn Leaves Festival). While the date is not yet set for 2018, it is usually held on the 2 nd Sunday of October which coincides with the Monday holiday. As it is covered with Japanese linden, painted maple, mountain maple, rowan, and Ginkgo forests one can view the autumn foliage from all over the lakefront including various spots such as the observation decks or roads around the lake and from on board the sightseeing boats. The view of the autumn foliage at Mt. Eniwa, Mt. Fuppushi, Mt. Tarumae, and Mt. Monbetsu is particularly spectacular. From here we are off to Noboribetsu and a visit to the Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura Village, a history theme park highlighting the Edo Period, one of the most attractive era in Japanese history. Step back in time to enjoy traditional games, activities, theaters, street performances and more. The charm of ancient Japan is abundant as you mingle with the Ninja and Oiran courtesans so symbolic of the Edo Period. Enjoy free time here as well as lunch on your own. Next, off to visit Noboribetsu Jigokudani, or Hell Valley, a spectacular, valley just above the town of Noboribetsu Onsen, which displays hot steam vents, sulfurous streams, and other volcanic activity. It is a main source of Noboribetsu s hot spring waters. While the autumn color season usually peaks in mid-october, some early foliage should be visible adding further color to the already spectacular scenery. From here, we make our way back to Sapporo. The drive time will be approximately 1.5 hours, arrival by 6:30pm. Once back the remainder of the evening is free. Day 5 October 8 th, 2018 Monday Sapporo-(B) After breakfast, enjoy a complete free day here is Sapporo for shopping and or sightseeing. Day 6 October 9 th, 2018 Tuesday Sapporo-Otaru-Jozankei (B/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we bid Sapporo good-bye and journey off to Otaru and Jozankei Hot Springs. The morning begins with a drive to Yoichi and a visit to the Nikka Whisky Factory. Here you can enjoy tasting their fine products and browse through their gift shop. The company was founded by Taketsuru Masataka, known as the

4 father of Japanese whiskey. He studied whisky making techniques for several years in Scotland before bringing the trade to Japan. This site was chosen for its clear water, brisk air, and rich peat. Taketsuru believed that the conditions in Yoichi best resembled those found in Scotland and would be perfect for recreating Scotch whisky. The traditional distillation process that he brought over is largely unchanged today. Nikka whiskies have been recognized to rank among the world s best single malt whiskies. Now, a fun fall time experience, fruit picking at the Yamamoto Fruits Farm. The farm is spread out over a small mountain and grows seasonal fruits including grapes, apples, and pears. You will be handed a pair of scissors and knife along with a brief explanation on how to cut the grapes or pluck the fruits. From here you are off on your own at this all you can eat experience. Enjoy your fruitful day! Now, off to Otaru. From old days, when they sailed trading boats from Honshu-mainland to Hokkaido, this city played important roles as the center of trade or commerce, not to mention fishery in Hokkaido. Walking along the main streets, you find a charming and nostalgic city filled with historic architecture. Here you will find the old remnant of Otaru s major industry, glassware shops. Glass buoys were used to light up fishing boats at night to attract herrings. A glass industry flourished in Otaru to support the herring trade. When the herring fishing industry declined in the 1950s, the makers of glass buoys diverted their business to produce refined glassware, as the demand for buoys plunged. The result today are numerous glass shops, which now carter mainly to souvenir hungry tourists. If you think that blown glassware is only made in Venice, then you are wrong. The city is renowned for its glassworks, music boxes, and sweet shops that can be found lining Sakaimachi Street. As you near the end of Sakaimachi Street, look and listen when you come to the vintage steam clock at the front of the charming Music Box Museum. The nostalgic atmosphere inside the main building of the museum takes you back in time. The museum houses almost 15,000 music boxes, ranging from matchbox sized souvenirs to precisely tuned masterpieces. The Music Box Museum has something for everybody, from The Beatles to the latest J-pop hits. We will enjoy a hands-on music box making experience. Another must stop is at the Kitaichi Glass Shop where you can enjoy looking and shopping for beautiful glassware. How about making glassware on your own with the help of the artisans? Another famous landmark in Otaru is the Kitakaro confectionary shop. The cake and confectionery store is a popular stop for tourists and locals alike. There is a cult like following of its famous honeyed wheeled layered cakes and there are good reasons why. The layered cakes are delicate and the honey flavored intense, but not too sweet. Sit and enjoy at the small café right in the store. Coffee, tea, and ice cream are also available. Enjoy a leisurely lunch on your own at one of many restaurants just steps away. Otaru is well known for its beer, and Otaru Beer, next to the canal, is a popular restaurant with a medieval Germanic theme. If sushi is more to your liking, a stroll down to Sushi-dori Street is well worth your time. You will find a collection of some 20 sushi restaurants. From here we are off to Jozankei. The drive time is approximately one hour and once there, check in at our onsen hotel, Jozankei Grand Hotel Zuien followed by dinner at 6:00pm. Over two million people visit the Jozankei Hot Springs area each year and is one of the most popular onsen districts in Hokkaido. Known as Sapporo s back Parlor in that its proximity to Sapporo, only a one-hour drive. The history of the Jozankei Hot Springs dates to 1866, when Miizumi Jozan, an ascetic monk, discovered the hot springs and opened a healing spa. While there are 56 hot spring sources in the Jozankei district, this area is also known for its scenic beauty, offering picturesque views during every season. This evening after dinner, a walk to the Jozankei Nature Luminarie, an event involving magical light performances that first began in 2016 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Jozankei Onsen. The event venue stretches from the walking path of Futami Park along the onsen resort town s gorge to Futami Suspension Bridge, which stands as a symbol of Jozankei. The unique light performances provide the town with a completely different look than in the

5 daytime, including a corridor of light enveloped in faint light, the light forest where flowers of light bloom, and delicate imagery that lights up the suspension bridge. Jozankei provides the perfect natural backdrop for this event because of the fragrance of the surrounding forest, flowing river, and sounds of insects. Once back, enjoy the large open-air bath on the 2 nd floor while enjoying the views or the in-door bath on the 1 st floor. Accommodations: Jozankei Grand Hotel Zuien - Japanese/western beds Day 7 October 10 th, 2018 Wednesday Jozankei-Chitose (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 9:30am as we are off on a full day of touring. It may be our last day on tour, but there is still much to see and do before our flight home this evening. The morning begins with a visit to Houheikyo Dam, one of the best spots to viewing autumn foliage and only 10 minutes from our hotel. While early in the foliage we may get lucky and see some of the spectacular autumn colors. This locality is rich with beautiful scenery and not matter the season, it does not disappoint. From here we make our way to Sapporo with a stop at the AEON Mall Sapporo Hassamu where you will have free time for last minute shopping and lunch on your own. One last touring stop before we make our way to the Chitose Airport, a visit to the Shiroi Koibito Park, a theme park by Ishiya, a local chocolate company. The company s flagship product is the Shiroi Koibito cookie, which consists of two thin butter cookies and a layer of white chocolate in between. It is one of the most famous souvenirs from Hokkaido. The park consists of a free area with a shop, cafe and restaurant and a paid area with various chocolate related exhibits and, most interestingly, a few large windows through which you can observe the cookie production process in the factory. Do take time to climb the red grand staircase to the second floor of museum. It is several rooms all filled with toys, sport memorabilia, posters, and home articles from yesteryear. From here we make our way to the Chitose Airport. The drive time will be approximately.5 hours. Once there we will begin the check-in process with Hawaiian Airlines. Hawaiian Airlines #442 Departs Chitose 8:00 pm Arrive Honolulu 8:50 am

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