December 26, January 2019 Kyoto/Kobe/Nara/Osaka/Universal Studios Japan 6nts/8days fr: $3095 triple $3195 double $3795 single

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1 in Osaka 12/26-1/2/19 Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto & Nara Small Group Tour-maximum 21 December 26, January 2019 Kyoto/Kobe/Nara/Osaka/Universal Studios Japan 6nts/8days fr: $3095 triple $3195 double $3795 single Traveling to Japan during New Year s is a great opportunity to capture a rare glimpse into the modernization of traditional Japanese culture. It is a time when most Japanese people return home to partake in traditional ceremonies and festivities. On this very special Omiyage Weekender Tour, experience and be part of that tradition. This six-night tour includes 3 nights each at the New Miyako Hotel Kyoto and Cross Hotel Osaka. Both hotels offer up the ultimate in location over this New Year holiday. If shopping is on your list, we have it covered, a full afternoon & evening in Kyoto, Kobe Harborland UMIE, time at two of Kyoto s most attractive streets, Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zakao, and another free afternoon in Osaka. Our last day, the AEON Mall near the Kansai Airport, so you can enjoy the bargains to be had. For sightseeing enjoy a day trip to Kobe including a sake brewery visit and Kobe beef lunch, Kyoto s highlights include Golden Pavilion, Kiyomizu Temple and Sanjusangendo Temple, and in Osaka, a full day at Universal Studios Japan. Our Festival of Lights includes visits three events, Kobe Illuminage, Osaka Castle Illuminage and Kaiyukan Aquarium Illumination. On New Years Day, it s all about tradition beginning with hatsumode, the years first visit to a shrine. We will be visiting Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine for the traditional prayer at the main hall and purchase lucky charms for a fortunate new year. Itinerary/Details Day 1 December 26 th, Wednesday Departure from Honolulu Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines Terminal, Lobby 3, Makai side at least 3 hours prior to the departure time. Hawaiian Airlines #449 Departs Honolulu 1:40 pm Arrives Kansai 7:00 pm + 1

2 Day 2 December 27 th, Wednesday Kansai-Osaka (D) After clearing customs, our local English speaking guide will meet us for the bus ride to Kyoto and our hale for the next three nights, New Miyako Hotel. A bento dinner box will be served on the bus for you to enjoy. After checking in if you need any small items, the Kyoto JR Station is directly across the street offering a variety of shops that remain open late and as well as 7-11 convenience store that is open 24 hours. Welcome to Kyoto, the cultural gem of Japan, where history meets modernity. Beyond the temples and shrines, Kyoto is also renowned for its preservation of Japanese culture. Many unique handicrafts and special religious rites originated here and are still practiced to this day. Lovers of history will feel right at home in Kyoto, but fans of architecture, gardens, Eastern religions, and art will have plenty to see as well. After more than a millennia, Kyoto remains the heart of Japanese history and culture. Accommodations: New Miyako Hotel Kyoto Day 3 December 28 th, Friday Kyoto (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off on a full day of touring. The morning begins with a visit at Kyoto s famed Golden Pavilion. Be it capped by snow in winter or set against a lush green background in summer, nothing is as symbolic of Kyoto as Kinkaku-ji's golden reflection shimmering across the rippled surface of the pond before it. Kinkaku-ji is one of Japan's best-known sights. The original building was built in 1397 as a retirement villa for Shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. His son converted it into a temple. In 1950 a young monk consummated his obsession with the temple by burning it to the ground. The monk's story was fictionalised in Mishima Yukio's The Golden Pavilion. In 1955 a full reconstruction was completed that exactly followed the original design, but the gold-foil covering was extended to the lower floors. The temple is set in three stories. The 1st floor is Shinden-zukuri, the palace style. It is named Ho-sui-in. The 2nd floor is Buke-zukuri, the style of the samurai house and is called Cho-on-do. The 3rd floor is Karayo style or Zen temple style. It is called Kukkyo-cho. Both the 2nd and 3rd floors are covered with gold-leaf on Japanese lacquer. The roof, upon which the Chinese phoenix settles, is thatched with shingles. The entire temple is surrounded by a beautiful garden with a pond in the front called the Mirror Pond. The stones in the pond give a representation of the Buddhist era.

3 Golden Temple & grounds From here we are off to Kiyomizu Temple, always a popular stop on any Kyoto tour. There is work currently going on and some areas may not be accessible. The approach to the temple is lined with a wide variety of shops offering many perfect omiyage items that will be treasured for friends and family. You can also enjoy a variety of snacks and food items here. Kiyomizu Temple and Approach From Kiyomizu-dera Temple, wander down onto Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, two of Kyoto s most attractive streets and instantly fall in love. Traditional buildings, winding streets, gentle slopes, wide stairs flanked by trees and interesting shops, all make for a picturesque backdrop. Enjoy free time here to shop and have lunch on your own. Nex, we are off to Sanjusangendo Temple, famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The temple was founded in 1164 and rebuilt a century later after the original structure had been destroyed in a fire. Measuring 120 meters, the temple hall is Japan's longest wooden structure. The name Sanjusangendo (literally "33 intervals") derives from the number of intervals between the building's support columns, a traditional method of measuring the size of a building. In the center of the main hall sits a large, wooden statue of a 1000-armed Kannon (Senju Kannon) that is flanked on each side by 500 statues of human sized 1000-armed Kannon standing in ten rows. Together they make for an awesome sight armed Kannon are equipped with 11 heads to better witness the suffering of humans and with 1000 arms to had better help them fight the suffering. Note that the actual statues have only 42 arms each. Subtract the two regular arms and multiply by the 25 planes of existence to get the full thousand. While photography is not allowed inside, if you have not yet visited here, guaranteed you will consider this one of the highlights on this tour.

4 Now, we make our way back to our hotel, arrival by 3:00pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free to shop and sightsee on your own. With the Kyoto JR Station just across the street and AEON Mall right around the corner from our hotel, you will not need to travel far to find all the omiyage treasures to bring back. Accommodations: New Miyako Hotel Kyoto Day 4 December 29 th, Saturday Kyoto-Kobe-Kyoto (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am as we are off on a full day of touring beginning with a drive to Kobe. The drive time is approximately one hour. Perched on a hillside sloping down to the sea, Kōbe is one of Japan's most attractive and cosmopolitan cities. It was a maritime gateway from the earliest days of trade with China and home to one of the first foreign communities after Japan reopened to the world in the mid-19th century. Once here, we begin with a visit to the Kobe Shushinkan Brewery for a tour, sampling, and time at their gift shop. From here we are off to Kobe Port Tower and Meriken Park. The park is dotted with a collection of modern art installations and fountains. It is home to some of the city's more iconic contemporary architecture such as the red Kobe Port Tower and the Kobe Maritime Museum. The 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake devastated the park but has now become a popular spot for locals and tourists again. A small memorial in the park commemorates the many victims who were killed in the port during the earthquake. A short section of damaged waterfront has been left unrepaired as a reminder of the earthquake's tremendous destructive power. Close by stands the Kobe Port Tower, a unique, red-painted steel structure that has become a symbol of the port and the city. Built in 1963, the tower stands 108 meters tall and visitors may take an elevator up to its five top floors. Two of the floors house a restaurant and a rotating cafe, while the other three house observation decks that provide 360-degree views of the city from approximately 100 meters above ground. We will be visiting here today. Now time for lunch and when in Kobe, the lunch to have is Kobe beef. Let s enjoy! After lunch, enjoy free time at Kobe Harborland UMIE, a shopping complex in Kobe Harborland which consists of three parts: Mosaic, South Mall and North Mall. Mosaic offer more restaurant options while South and North Mall offers a variety of shops and department stores.

5 Sake Brewery Visit Typical Kobe Beef lunch From here we are off to the Kobe Illuminage at the Kobe Fruit and Flower Park. In the morning, the park serves as a flower park and fruit picking area; however, at night, beautiful illuminations light it up. The whole park will be lit up and decorated with various illuminated displays, which simply looks spectacular. The illumination begins at 5:30pm and we expect to be there just as the lights go on. It is a truly a magical visit! Kobe Illuminage at the Kobe Fruit and Flower Park After free time to enjoy the light show, we make our way back to Kyoto and our hotel. The arrival back will be approximately 7:15pm and the remainder of the evening is free. Accommodations: New Miyako Hotel Kyoto Day 5 December 30 th, Sunday Kyoto-Nara-Osaka (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am as we make our way to Nara and then onto Osaka for the remaining three nights of our tour. Once in Nara, we begin the day with a visit to its premier attraction, Todaiji Temple and its Great Buddha (Daibutsu), Japan's largest bronze Buddha. When Emperor Shomu ordered construction of both the temple and Daibutsu in the mid-700s, he intended to make Todaiji the headquarters of all Buddhist temples in the land. As part of his plans for a Buddhist utopia, he commissioned work for this huge bronze statue of Buddha. It took eight castings to complete this remarkable work of art. At a height of more than 15m (50 ft.), the Daibutsu is made of 437 tons of bronze, 286 pounds of pure gold, 165 pounds of mercury, and 7 tons of vegetable wax. However, thanks to Japan's frequent natural calamities, the Buddha of today isn't quite what it used to be. In 855, in what must have been

6 a whopper of an earthquake, the statue lost its head. It was repaired in 861, but alas, the huge wooden building housing the Buddha was burned twice during wars, melting the Buddha's head. The present head dates from Be sure to walk in a circle around the Great Buddha to see it from all angles. Behind the statue is a model of how the Daibutsuden used to look, flanked by two massive pagodas. Behind the Great Buddha to the right is a huge wooden column with a small hole in it near the ground. According to popular belief, if you can manage to crawl through this opening, you'll be sure to reach enlightenment. You can also get your Englishlanguage fortune for 200 by shaking a bamboo canister until a wooden stick with a number comes out; the number corresponds to a piece of paper. The wooden structure housing the Great Buddha, called Daibutsuden, was also destroyed several times through the centuries; the present structure dates from It is the largest wooden structure in the world, but only two-thirds its original size. On the walk to and from Todaiji Temple the path is via Nara Deer Park, home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. Considered in Shinto to be messengers of the gods, Nara's nearly 1200 deer have become a symbol of the city and have even been designated as a natural treasure. Nara's deer are surprisingly tame, although they can be aggressive if they think you will feed them. Special crackers are available to purchase from vendors if you would like to feed them. Now, time for a Japanese lunch at a local restaurant. The Great Buddha Deer around Nara Park After lunch we make our way to Osaka, arriving at approximately 2:15pm. Welcome to Osaka, Japan's third-largest city. Ultra-urban, hard-working Osaka is an unabashed antidote to the fashion-forward frenzy of Tokyo and the prim propriety of Kyoto. This longtime capital of commerce is filled with down-to-earth citizens speaking colorful Kansai-ben (Kansai dialect) and neon-clad streetscapes bursting with over-the-top 3D signage. Most of all, Osaka is famous for good food. The phrase kuidaore ('eat 'til you drop') is heard so frequently here that it's practically the city motto. Delicacies from okonomiyaki (savory pancakes) to conveyor-belt sushi were invented here and continue to thrive. After checking in to our hotel, Cross Hotel Osaka, enjoy an afternoon of shopping along the Shinsaibashi covered shopping arcade. Just about every store you want to shop at is located here. Our hotel is ideally located just around the corner from the shopping arcade.

7 Cross Hotel Osaka Do not wander off too far as we have a special treat in store tonight, a night tour of Osaka including the Osaka Castle Illuminate. Please meet your guide in the hotel lobby by 7:00pm. This light & sound show is a rare treat that attracts over 600,000 spectators, bringing crowds to witness the spectacular 3D projection mappings onto the castle monument. 3D mapping has often been used at illumination events to recreate visual entertainment. Objects portrayed onto a screen can be anything, even natural landscapes, and buildings, etc. Now just imagine Osaka Castle, one of Japan s most famous and historic castles, as an enormous screen displaying 3D images. The beautiful and dynamic images will surprise you. Our return to the hotel will be approximately 9:00pm. It s still very early for Osaka folks and they will be out in numbers, right around the corner from our hotel. Do try and get out for a bit and enjoy the neon lights of Dotonbori. These neon lights and the Blade Runner-esque nightscapes are literally out of this world and should be experienced. Hungry, no worries, many, many dining options are available, be it a quick bowl of ramen at an outdoor stall or sit down for a crab dinner, it s all here. Not finished shopping yet, well there are not one, but two Don Quijote stores open 24 hours a day. One is located right across the street from our hotel and the other is not too far behind. Accommodations: Cross Hotel Osaka Day 6 December 31 st, Monday Osaka-Universal Studios Japan -Osaka (B) Happy New Year s Eve! After breakfast, please meet your guide by 8:00am as we are off to enjoy a fun filled day at Universal Studios Japan. Your entrance ticket is included on our tour and we will depart back at 5:00pm, allowing you plenty of time to explore. Once back at our hotel, the remainder of the evening is free and lucky we right in the heart of the New Year countdown. Just step out from our hotel, the Dotonbori will be one of the best spots in all of Osaka to ring in the New Year, Japan style!

8 Accommodations: Cross Hotel Osaka Day 7 January 1 st, Tuesday Osaka- (B) Shinnen Akemashite Omedetou Goziamasu! After breakfast at our hotel, please meet your guide by 10:00am as we are off on a very special New Year s Day in Japan. The day begins with joining the crowds in the traditional celebration of doing hatsumode, the year s first visit to a temple or shrine. At the shrine, there is the opportunity to pick up one s official fortune and burn the important objects you picked up at the temple the previous year in a big bonfire. Some of the area s most popular temples and shrines draw many thousands of visitors. We are off to celebrate at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, one of Japan s oldest and most visited shrines during hatsumode. More than 2 million visitors fill the temple over the first few days of the New Year. You can experience a festive atmosphere with food stands and many people lining up for a prayer at the main hall, purchasing lucky charms for a fortunate new year and disposing of their lucky charm from the previous year. From here, a visit to Shinsekai, an old neighborhood located next to south Osaka City's downtown "Minami" area. At the district's center stands Tsutenkaku Tower, the nostalgia evoking symbol of Shinsekai. Designed as an entertainment district in the early 20th century Shinsekai was originally modelled after the cities of New York and Paris. Opened in 1912, Shinsekai literally means New World and because of its modern image the area quickly became a popular tourist attraction. Paris was chosen as the model for Shinsekai's northern half, while the southern portion was built to imitate Coney Island in New York. Tsutenkaku Tower, modeled after Paris' Eiffel Tower, scrapped during WWII, but reconstructed soon afterwards in The current tower is 103 meters high, with the main observatory at a height of 91 meters. A new open-air deck on top of the main observatory was opened in late Presently, the tower has a variety of souvenir shops and amusements along with two observation decks on the 4th and 5th floors from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city. The tower also features a Kinnikuman Museum, dedicated to a popular manga character, and on the 3rd floor there is a diorama model of the original Tsutenkaku and Luna Park. Close-by is Janjan Yokocho, named for a stringed instrument that girls once played to lure customers into bars, this covered shopping arcade features bargain clothing stores, souvenir shops and eating venues.

9 Janjan Yokocho is particularly well-known for its kushikatsu restaurants which serve deep fried skewers of breaded meat and vegetables. Washed down with a cold beer this is a particularly enjoyable way to enjoy Shinsekai culture. Enjoy time to wander around this old neighborhood and have lunch on your own. From here we are off to the Tempozan Marketplace and Kaiyukan Aquarium, one of Japan s most spectacular aquariums, world-renowned for its innovative presentation. Kaiyukan shows the aquatic animals of the Pacific Rim at their most vibrant and dynamic, by recreating the natural environment of their habitats. At the Tempozan Marketplace you will find a variety of shops as well dining options. The choices range from their food court to sit down restaurants. After time on your own enjoying the aquarium, meet up outside and let s enjoy the Kaiyukan Aquarium Illumination that begins at 5:00pm. The lighting display incorporates some of the fish, whales and other sea life featured at the aquarium as well as some adorable penguins. The centerpiece to the display is a series of archways, which light up as you walk under them. The last of these archways is said to be something of a fortune teller. If you re a couple then the color of the final gate as you pass under it determines how compatible you are likely to be, with red being the best, and blue the worst. From here, we make our way back to our hotel and after time to freshen up, let s join up for a New Year s dinner buffet at a local restaurant within walking distance. Accommodations: Cross Hotel Osaka Day 8 January 2 nd, Wednesday Osaka-Kansai (B) After breakfast, enjoy free time until our departure towards the Kansai area at 2:30pm. Check-out time from the rooms are at 12:00 noon. The hotel will store our bags which after our departure will be sent separately by truck to the airport and meet us on arrival. Some of the shops will be open by 10:00am allowing for some last-minute shopping. Once on the road to Kansai, a stop for at the AEON Mall close-by to the airport for two hours of free shopping time. The mall also features a supermarket offering some great dinner bento options to bring along to the airport and enjoy before our flight home tonight. Hawaiian Airlines #450 Departs Kansai 9:20 pm Arrives Honolulu 9:25 am (same day)

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