Hokkaido to Tokyo-Fall Explorer

Transcription

1 Hokkaido to Tokyo-Fall Explorer October 18 th -27 th, nts/10days from: $3295 dbl/tpl $3795 single Along the Cassiopeia Road is named after the famous night train that operated between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Sapporo. This luxury train, the Cassiopeia, a Japanese version of the Orient Express made its debut in 1999 and completed its final journey on March 21 st, 2016 with the launch of the Hokkaido Shinkansen. While not quite the same path, join us on this unique tour as we journey from Hokkaido s northern capital, Sapporo to Japan s southern capital of Tokyo. Visit Sapporo, Otaru, Lake Toya, Hakodate, Aomori, Morioka and ending with three nights in Tokyo. There s no better time to appreciate nature than autumn, when the hills are set ablaze with trees making their slow transition into winter. Get yourself front row seats to nature s wildest show as she decorates the land in an explosion of glimmering gold, burnt-orange, and blood-red. It is a fall tour like no other, come join up on this unique 8-night journey Along the Cassiopeia Road. Itinerary/Details Day 1 October 18 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, Lobby 3, Makai Side for international departures at least 3 hours prior to the departure time. Day 2 October 19 th, 2018 Friday Chitose-Sapporo After clearing customs, we will be met by our local guide and board the charter bus to our hotel, The Century Royal Hotel, ideally situated in the heart of Sapporo, directly by the JR Sapporo Station. The drive time is approximately one hour.

2 The location of our hotel is simply second to none. Daimaru and Stellar Place both next door, with its neverending floors of shops and eateries are simply mind boggling and will have you shopping and eating to your heart's content. For the techies, Esta next to Stellar Place is a delight with its nine floors of high tech gadgets and other electronics. After check-in, the remainder of the evening is free. Your guide will give you suggestions for shopping and dining options. Accommodations: Century Royal Hotel Free Day 3 October 20 th, 2018 Saturday Sapporo (B) Please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off on a full day of touring. Welcome to Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, Japan s northernmost island. Sapporo began as a frontier town some 130 year ago, but now has an average population of 1.8 million. Prior to the establishment of the city, the area occupied by Sapporo was a quiet hunting and fishing ground home to many indigenous Ainu settlements. With the construction of a canal at the end of the Edo Period, early settlers established a village which then became a city in The morning begins visit 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 domburi 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. Enjoy free time here to shop for your favorite fish treats and have lunch on your own. Jogai Curb Market-Fish Market side street ramen shops Next, 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 1972.

3 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! We now make our way back to Sapporo and time at the Tanukikoji Shopping Street where you will have time to shop and enjoy lunch on your own. Your guide will take you for a stroll and point out the more popular shopping stores, UNIGLO, Tokyu Hands, Don Quijote and Daiso 108-yen store. This shopping arcade has been in operation since the frontier period and one of the best places to purchase Hokkaido souvenirs! Ten blocks long, this covered shopping arcade with over 200 shops offers everything from clothing, jewelry and souvenirs to nightclubs, cafes, and restaurants. If you didn t get a chance to pick up all your fish items at Jogai, no worries as the Nijo Market is close by to here. With over a 100-year history, this market is said to have developed in the early Meiji Period, when fishermen from Ishikari Bay started selling fresh fish there. Unique restaurants are also in this area. Arrival back at our hotel will be approximately 2:30pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. If you prefer to stay longer at Tanukikoji, your guide will give you direction on walking back or just take a short 10-minute taxi back, Accommodations: Century Royal Hotel free Day 4 October 21 th, 2018 Sunday Sapporo-Otaru-Lake Toya (B/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 8:30am as we journey off to Otaru and Lake Toya. The morning begins with a drive to Otaru and along the way a stop at 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. These cookies are the best souvenirs from Sapporo! The park consists of a free area with a shop, cafe, and restaurant and most interestingly, large windows so that you can observe the candy production process. The first glimpse of the building doesn t compare to the wonderland inside while outside it is complete with all sorts of winter decorations and illuminations. Now, off to Otaru and once there a visit at the Tanaka Sake Brewery, founded in Here, they brew sake in stone warehouses that has an atmosphere reminiscent of the good old days of Otaru. This group of stone building have been designated as historic by the city. Enjoy time here to see how sake is produced, sample the products and opportunity to purchase items in their gift shop. This area is known to produce some of Japan s best sake because to its access to clean spring water. Now, time to enjoy Otaru, one of Hokkaido s most popular spots for Japanese visitors. It is a romantic port town steeped in a rich history that dates to its glory days as a major herring center. Once the terminal station for Hokkaido s first railroad, today nostalgic warehouses and buildings still line the picturesque canal district. There are great options for foodies and if you re into music boxes or any kind of glass objects, this is the place!

4 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 free time to explore on your own and have a leisurely lunch 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. Later in the afternoon we will make our way to Lake Toya. The drive time is approximatively 2.5 hours and a stop will be made along the way. Arrival at our hotel will be by 5:30pm followed by dinner at 6:00pm. Accommodations for this evening are at the Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace, on the shores of scenic Lake Toya. After dinner, enjoy the open-air rock hot spring or the Japanese garden style bath. Accommodations: Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace free Day 5 October 22 nd, 2018 Monday Lake Toya-Hakodate (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off on another full day of touring with an arrival later this afternoon in Hakodate. The morning begins with a cruise on Lake Toya, a large caldera, 43 kilometers in diameter that was formed more than 100,000 years ago when a volcanic eruption diverted a stream, creating this massive pool. This lake is ice-free year-round due to geothermal heating, and trout and smelt fishing is plentiful.

5 The surrounding scenery is spectacular and best appreciated from the water. Let s board the pleasure-boat cruise and circle around this tranquil, picture-perfect lake with some islands. From here a ride on the Usuzan Ropeway to enjoy the views from Mount Usu, an active volcano, which has erupted four times in the past 100 years, most recently in the year Mt. Usu is a 737-meter high active volcano that was formed to the south of Lake Toya, Hokkaido, about 20,000 years ago. At the foot of the mountain, rose Showa-shinzan, a Special Natural Monument of Japan, during the period from 1943 to The two mountains are protected as part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Mount Usu and Lake Toya joined the Global Geopark Network as Toya Caldera and Usu Volcano Geopark, which is one of the three Global Geoparks in Japan. The 106-passenger gondola brings you close to the volcano's summit. The upper station's observation deck offers panoramic views of Lake Toya and neighboring Showa Shinzan. From a second observation deck a short walk away, there are views of the ocean and Mount Usu's largest crater, which was formed in an eruption in Next to Mt. Usu is Showa Shinzan, a volcanic lava dome in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. It is Japan s newest volcano with an interesting history. In 1944 the mountain suddenly erupted from a flat wheat plain causing earthquake shakes and squirting lava from the surface. In the space of a year the mountain grew to its current height of 398m and is still actively producing sulphur fumes today. As this occurred during the height of WWII, there was no official record of the growth kept. Considered an unlucky wartime omen, the volcano's existence was kept a secret from the Japanese public. Much of the information we now know about the volcano's formation comes from the local postmaster, Masao Mimatsu, who kept records of the mountain's growth during this period of secrecy. There will be free time to enjoy lunch on your own at restaurants and shops close by. This afternoon we make our way to Hakodate, Hokkaido s third largest city, located at the island s southern tip. As one of the first Japanese harbor cities to be opened to international trade after the ear of isolation, Hakodate has notable influence from overseas. Hakodate is best known for the spectacular views from Mt. Hakodate and its delicious, fresh seafood. Once here, a visit to the popular Konbukan Kelp Shop and Museum. In Japan, konbu is only gathered in Hokkaido and Touhoku. Long ago, konbu was gathered in Hokkaido and shipped all over the country using a water route called "Konbu Road". A total of 120,000 tons is produced every year within the country. 95% of that amount is gathered along the coastal lines of Hokkaido. In Japan, there are 45 different species of konbu. This facility has a planetarium-like movie theater, museum and a shop that sells a variety of kelp products. Kombu or kelp seaweed is a healthy and popular cooking ingredient in Japan. Here you will find almost all kelp products from kelp powder to candies, snacks, soup, and condiments. Don t forget to try the kelp tea while here. Next, via the Hakodate Ropeway to Mt. Hakadote, renowned for its view of the surrounding bay and city.

6 From here, off to our hotel for the evening, Four Points by Sheraton Hakodate, ideally located, city center, one-minute walk to the JR Hakodate Station. Our arrival will be by 6:30pm and the remainder of the evening is free. Accommodations: Four Points by Sheraton Hakodate free Day 6 October 23 rd, 2018 Tuesday Hakodate-Aomori (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 8:30am as off on a full day of touring. Please prepare a small overnight bag as our luggage will be sent along by truck and meet up with us in Tokyo. The morning begins with a visit to the Hakodate Morning Market. It spans for four city blocks and is held daily from 5am-12noon. Here you will find a cluster of some 300 shops tempting visitors with an array of delectable fresh Hakodate produce. Seafood, vegetables, fruits, and sweets are just some of the edibles available for purchase. Enjoy shopping at the market and be sure to check out the live crabs and shellfish in their massive tanks. Next, a visit to visit to Goryokaku Park & Tower, a five-cornered fort, Japan s first Western-style fort. The fort was completed in 1864 after 7 years of construction work. Hijikata Toshizo and Enomoto Takeaki fought against the new Meiji government here and it was the last stage of the Boshin War. It has the distinction of being only one of 2 European-style forts built in Japan. The architectural style is an eclectic mix of Japanese and European. The star-shaped fort has been developed into a park and is well-known for its 1,660 beautiful cherry trees. From the observation platform of the 107-meter high Goryokaku Tower in the park, you can get a bird s-eye view of the Goryokaku and the surrounding area. From here we are off by bullet train, Hayabusa 22 from the Shin Hakodate Hokuto Station to the Shin Aomori Station. The departure is at 12:44pm and arrival at 1:340pm. A box lunch will be provided on board the train for you to enjoy. Once we arrive in Aomori, an afternoon of touring is on tap. We begin at the Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse, which highlights some of the most spectacular Nebuta floats from Aomori's annual Nebutamatsuri. Housed in a unique buiding covered in red metel slats along the waterfront district, this museum is dedicated this annual August festival. The museum attempts to capture the spirit of the festival and gives visitors a taste of its lively atmosphere, history, and traditions. Upon entering the second-floor entrance to the exhibitions, visitors are presented with the sights of the festival along a red corridor lined with photos and images from the Nebuta Matsuri's 300- year history. Lanterns in the shape of red goldfish, another symbol of the festival, hang along the corridor where the recorded sounds of taiko drums, flutes, and voices play. From here, a visit to the A-Factory, a market-style shopping center selling all local products such as sweets, processed goods, fresh vegetables, and fruits. The most featured facility in A-FACTORY is the apple cidre (cider) factory which makes cidre and juices using Aomori grown apples.

7 Besides the Cidre Factory, the first floor has several restaurants while the second floor features a galette specialty shop, French style crusty cake made with buckwheat. It is said that it goes perfectly with the cider. Now off to our hotel, Minamida Onsen Hotel Apple Land, where you can enjoy an apple bath which is said to be good for the skin. It is also said that the delicate sent of the apple is relaxing for the mind and body. Our arrival will be by 5:30pm and after time to freshen up, join us for dinner at the hotel at 6:30pm. After dinner, the remainder of the evening is free. Accommodations: Minamida Onsen Hotel Apple Land room free- Japanese style Day 7 October 24 th, 2018 Wednesday Aomori-Morioka-Tokyo (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 8:00am as we journey off to Morioka and then onto Japan s capital, Tokyo. The morning begins with a visit to Hirosaki Castle, a hirayama-style Japanese castle constructed in Located in Hirosaki Park, this castle original five-story keep burnt down in 1627 after being struck by lightning. Rebuilt in 1810, the present three-story keep is the only one in the Tohoku Region that was not rebuilt in the modern era and among only a handful in all of Japan. While being one of Japan s best cherry blossom viewing sites, the fall colors are equally as beautiful. With approximately 1,100 maples and 2,600 cherry blossom trees we hope to enjoy autumn foliage s brilliant colors. From here, off to Tsugaru Neputa Village which houses some former Neputa floats from the Neputa Festival held in August. The village also offers a variety of opportunities to experience Tsugaru traditional crafts. Today, we will enjoy a hand-on Tsugaru kite making experience. Next on the agenda is lunch, included in today s touring, a Japanese lunch. This afternoon, a drive to Morioka, approximately 2.5 hour, including a stop along the way. Once here we will be taking the bullet train, Hayabusa 24, from Morioka Station to Tokyo s Uneo Station. Our departure will be at 3:50pm and arrival in Tokyo at 5:58pm. Once in Tokyo, our charter bus will take us to our hotel, Sunshine City Prince Hotel in the Ikebukuro section of the city. After check-in, join us for dinner at the hotel. The lobby of our 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, in case all you want is a light dinner bento to bring back to the room.

8 After dinner, the remainder of the evening is free. Newly remodeled Sunshine City Prince Hotel & lobby Family Mart in hotel lobby Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel Day 8 October 25 th, 2018 Thursday Tokyo (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off to tour 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. 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.

9 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! Enjoy some free time here to explore on your own. It s lunch time and we off to a local restaurant so that you can enjoy a buffet lunch. After lunch, we are off to Kappabashi-dori where a humongous Chef's head greets you, the heart of Kitchenware Town, a restaurant and kitchen supply shopping district located between two major touristy areas. Here you can find bargains on cups, bowls, trays and other pottery, lacquerware bento boxes make terrific jewelry cases along with seat cushion covers, chopsticks and sashimi knives. At the Kamata knife shop, located along the main thoroughfare (you can't miss this place there's a giant knife painted on the sign above the shop door), you can have your name engraved on the blade in kanji. The last stop today is at 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.

10 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. We will remain here for 1.5 hrs. to allow you time to enjoy the area as well as shop. Asakusa and Nakamise Shopping Arcade From here we make our way back to our hotel, arrival by 5:30pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel Day 9 October 26 th, 2018 Friday Tokyo (B) After breakfast, enjoy a complete free 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. 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 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.

11 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 center 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 store is one of their largest and has a rather odd attraction. Do you just love finding the latest Kit Kat flavors? Take time to visit the recently opened Kit-Kat Chocolatey, at the Seibu Department Store, Ikebukuro train station and shop at the world's first Kit-Kat boutique. Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel free Day 10 October 27 th, 2018 Saturday Tokyo (B) After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed last morning at the hotel to pack all the omiyage and treasures you have collected on this trip. Please meet your guide in the lobby by 11:00am. It is our last day on tour, but we still have much to see and do before our flight home later this evening. Today we will be visiting a couple of Tokyo s most unique shopping streets, Sugamo Jizo Dori Shopping Street and Yanaka Ginza. 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. Almost 1km in length, the Jizo Dori arcade has over 200 shops specializing in all manner of goods for the silver generation. You ll find comfy shoes and clothes in droves, many at Takeshita-like bargain prices.

12 Some stalls sell the latest and greatest hearing aids, while others hawk designer walking canes. Japan s love of brand-name fashion evidently knows no age. As one might suspect, health-related products feature high on the shopping lists of the elderly; on Jizo Dori, you ll find at least eight drugstores, two pharmacies and three kampo apothecaries. Don t let the bizarre potions displayed in the windows put you off. These traditional Chinese recipes have undergone a few thousand more years of R&D than those painkillers in your purse. Those with a sweet tooth might try the herbal ice cream. Sugamo is a clearinghouse of all things traditional primarily, food. One shop after other offers Japanese confectionaries, rice crackers, green tea and cooking ingredients. Samples of traditional sweets and savories abound, try shio-daifuku rice balls with sweet red bean paste and a sprinkle of salt. These are Sugamo s answer to the crepes of Harajuku. But even more than the foodstuffs, Sugamo is best-known for is red-hot granny panties. Aka-pantsu are said not only to improve the wearer s health and vigor, but also ward off evil spirits and bring happiness. So, what s the reasoning? Well, for starters red is considered auspicious. The Japanese also believe that the center of a person s well-being is in the lower back/belly region. So, keep your midsection warm and protected, and be rewarded with strength and happiness or so they say. To pick up a pair of aka-pantsu, swing by any of the area s several outlets of Maruji. Also on offer are red boxer shorts, long johns, body warmers and socks. Some items even sport a Sugamo logo or zodiac sign. 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. From here we are off to Yanaka Ginza, one of the last remnants of Tokyo s past. With more of Tokyo being modernized and rebuilt to make room for its ever-growing population, enjoy the opportunity to explore Yanaka before it s gone forever. While not a big shopping street, Yanaka Ginza is prized for it atmosphere of how life was back during the Edo Period. There are approximately 70 shops along this 175-meter-long street. What s also special about Yanaka Ginza is that you can find old and new crafts, old and new food, as well as souvenirs and gifts. A Western-style bakery that boasts an oven made with stone from Mount Fuji stands next to a shop that sells traditional Japanese sweets. There s a shop entirely devoted to items handcrafted from bamboo, a tiny stall where you can get T-shirts custom-printed with illustrations of various animals, and a shop that sells traditional wooden and straw-rope sandals. What s also special about Yanaka is the window it offers on everyday life of the neighborhood. Yanaka Ginza sells everything practical that locals could need. Some of it is familiar: a drugstore, small grocery, fish shop, butcher, and clothing and handbags from the cheap to the fashionable. As well, you will find unique offerings, a shop that sells just pickled vegetables and another offering various kinds of fish paste. Enjoy free time here to walk around, shop, browse and have lunch on your own while experiencing everyday life in a Japanese neighborhood.

13 Two shops we recommend you consider stopping at are Mammies Apple Pie Shop and directly across the street is a wonderful recycled kimono shop. The quality of the fabric and prices are incredible. Now, off to visit the Miraikan National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. Miraikan means hall of the future, and exhibits here present science and technology that will shape the future. Enjoy learning about advanced science, including earth environment, robots, space, and life science, through hands-on exhibitions and interaction with a science communicator. Remember to catch the robot demonstration, Asimo at 11:00am. The humanoid robot Asimo seems almost real and for sure you do not want to miss out. From here we are off to Divercity Shopping Center where you can enjoy time for shopping and lunch on your own. Don t forget to take a moment and get a photo in front of the Gundam Statue. This new Unicorn Gundam is 24 meters in height whereas the original was only 18 meters. Enjoy time here for some last-minute shopping as well time to enjoy a leisurely dinner on your own. We will be departing for the airport at 7:30pm. Hawaiian Airlines #856 Departs Haneda 11:55 pm Arrive Honolulu 12:30 pm