Summer School Break 2019

Transcription

1 Japan- Land of the Samurai #2 June 3-12, 2019 Summer School Break nts/10days from: $3095 dbl/tpl $3695 single The samurai were a special class in Japanese society. These revered warriors were highly respected for their strict dedication to their craft, the immense discipline required of a samurai and their indomitable fighting spirit. To many they were heroes. Although samurai do not have any official status in today's modern Japan, descendants of samurai families still enjoy a high esteem among the Japanese population and have remained an iconic symbol of courage, power, and masculinity for over 700 years of Japanese warfare history. Roads are an essential part of civilization. They help people travel and discover many different places. In Japan, during the Edo period the Tōkaidō (East Sea Road) was an important key artery for the ruling shogun dynasty to keep control over the country. Stretching along the Pacific Coast from Edo (Tokyo) to Osaka, two to three weeks on foot, was always an adventure. Does the Tokaido Road and the travelling life of a samurai sound exciting? Join us on this unique tour for not only have we included the best of cultural activities, but added in some fun experiences, a full day at Universal Studios Japan, the Narusawa Ice Cave, Ueno Zoo to see the Pandas and a full day in Tokyo! Itinerary/Details Day 1 June 3 rd, Monday Depart from Honolulu Hawaiian Airlines #449 Departs Honolulu 2:25pm Arrive Kansai 6:45 pm +1 Check in for international flights begin 3 hours prior. Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines international check in counter, Terminal 1, formally known as the Hawaiian Airlines Terminal, Lobby 3, Makai side. As Hawaiian Airlines has quite a few international flights departing around the same time; therefore, kindly arrive at a minimum of 3 hours prior to the departure time. Day 2 June 4 th, 2019 Tuesday Kansai-Osaka

2 On arrival at the Kansai Airport, please make your way to the baggage claim area and then proceed to customs clearing. On exiting customs, our local guide will be there to meet us for the drive to the Karaksa Hotel Osaka Namba, our hale for the next three nights. Our hotel ideally located, just a 5-minute walk to the Dotonbori and the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade Street. Our luggage will be shipped separately by truck and meet us on arrival at the hotel. Our bus is not able to park in front of our hotel as this main avenue does not allow. There will be a short walk from the bus drop off point to the hotel. Welcome to Osaka, Japan s 3rd most populous city and the working heart of Kansai. Famous for its down-toearth citizens and the colorful Kansai-ben (Kansai dialect) they speak, it's a good counterpart to the refined atmosphere of Kyoto. Primarily, Osaka is famous for good eating: the phrase kuidaore (eat 'til you drop) was coined to describe Osakans' love for good food. Osaka is also a good place to experience a modern Japanese city. It's only surpassed by Tokyo as a showcase of the Japanese urban phenomenon. If you would like a bite to eat or maybe wide awake, there are several 24-hour convenience stores within steps of our hotel and as well a 24-hour Don Quijite close by. Accommodations: Karaksa Hotel Osaka Namba Day 3 June 5 th, 2019 Wednesday Osaka (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off on a day of touring. The morning begins with a visit to Osaka Castle, one of Osaka s most popular landmark sights. Travel back in time almost 400 years to feudal Japan on the chaos and violence of an epic conflict the final one of the samurai era. In 1614 and 1615 hundreds of thousands of samurai blasting guns, shooting arrows, and wielding swords unleashed their force on the Osaka castle, inaugurating the downfall of the Toyotomi clan and sealing Tokugawa Ieyasu's position as Japan's undisputed master. Explore the fury of samurai warfare from gory beheadings to fierce sword fights. For days Ieyasu's forces barraged the castle's walls with fire from 300 cannon, causing fear and confusion. In January 1615 Hideyori finally signed a treaty, ending what became known as the Winter Siege, or Fuyu no Jin. But the truce fell apart, and the Summer Siege, or Natsu no Jin, began. Magnificent Osaka Castle has been destroyed and restored several times, with its most extensive refurbishment completed in As you walk around you can still marvel at its massive stone walls, goldleaf trim, copper roof, and panoramic views. There is also a fascinating on-site museum that chronicles its tumultuous history.

3 From here we are visiting Kuromon Market, one of the main food markets in Osaka. With more than 190 years of history and tradition, this very popular market is known by locals as "Gastronome" and "Osaka' s Kitchen". All kinds of fresh food items are available at this market, fully satisfying the hunger of the people of Naniwa (Naniwa is the old name for this area). Eat-in shops for sushi or fresh seafood over rice, also grilled fish, shellfish, meat, and other food being served in or outside of shops give off mouth-watering aromas. 600 meters long with over 170 stalls, Kuromon Market offers not only fresh fish and food items, but a complete range of household goods and yes even appliances. From here we are off to Konamon Museum, for a hands-on experience making wax samples of takoyaki, an octopus filled snack sold on Osaka street corners. After your experience, enjoy a six piece of freshly made takoyaki. Just a short walk and we are back at our hotel. Once there the remainder of the afternoon and evening is. The Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade and Dotonbori Street is close by from our hotel. Famous Blade Runner Neon Shinsaibashi Shopping Dotonbori Street Accommodations: Karaksa Hotel Osaka Namba Day 4 June 6 th, 2019 Thursday Osaka-Universal Studios Japan-Osaka (B) After breakfast, meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off to send a full day at the ever-popular Universal Studios Japan. Your entrance ticket in included. Arrival will be at approximately 9:00am and our departure is scheduled for 6:00pm. Once back at our hotel, the remainder of the evening is. Accommodations: Karaksa Hotel Osaka Namba Day 5 June 7 th, 2019 Friday Osaka-Nara-Kyoto (B/L)

4 The morning begins with a drive to Nara for a visit Todaiji Temple and Nara Deer Park. The drive time is approximately 1.5 hours and between the visits, lunch is included, Japanese at a local restaurant. Nara, the ancient capital city in the Kansai region of Japan. Throughout 2010 the city celebrated its 1300th anniversary. Centuries before anyone had heard of Delhi or Shanghai or London or Paris and long before anywhere called Kyoto (let alone Tokyo) existed Nara was the first permanent capital of Japan, and the place where the country began to establish itself as a Buddhist kingdom. If you think of Japan as a land of bullet trains and J-pop in Shinjuku storefronts, come to Nara a city filled with rolling hills, ancient temples, and 1,200 entitled deer roaming its old streets. Once here, we begin at Nara's 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 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. Now, right next door, Nara Deer Park, home to hundreds of ly 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 been designated a natural treasure. You can purchase deer biscuits to feed them. The deer bow immediately when they see you have food. Nara Deer Park Todaiji Temple The Great Buddha We will now enjoy a Japanese style lunch at a local restaurant.

5 This afternoon we will be visiting Fushimi Inari Shrine, an important Shinto Shrine in Kyoto and famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds. The approach to the shrine is lined with many colorful shop and food stalls. Grab a snack as you walk along or maybe some omiyage to bring home. Fushimi Inari Shrine Now to our hotel for the next two nights, New Miyako Hotel, ideally located right across the street from the JR Kyoto Station and just around the corner from the AEON Mall. There are so many dining and shopping options to enjoy tonight. Our arrival will be by 4:00pm. Accommodations: New Miyako Hotel Kyoto Day 6 June 8 th, 2019 Saturday Kyoto (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off on a full day of touring Kyoto. Kyoto is old Japan, made up of quiet temples, grand gardens, and colorful shrines. While the rest of Japan has adopted modernity with abandon, the old ways remain in Kyoto. Our morning begins with a visit to 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 fictionalized 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.

6 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. Golden Temple & grounds From here we will be visiting Nijo Castle, built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period. His grandson completed the castle's palace buildings 23 years later and further expanded the castle by adding a five-story castle keep. The wide moat, massive stone walls, and heavy yet elaborate gates are still impressive, and were the only fortifications the inhabitants felt necessary, so firm was their grip on power. The grounds are large and contain several lovely gardens as well as groves of plum and cherry trees. The palace building itself is imposing, yet upon closer examination, is rich in decorative detail. Inside the palace are several masterpieces of Japanese art, most notably the painted screens of the main chamber. In this room, the shoguns met the daimyo (high-ranking warlord-administrators) who sought an audience. The screens were painted by artists of the Kano school and employ rich colors and large amounts of gilt to depict flowers, trees, birds, and tigers. They were meant to impress. Also, in the palace are the famous "nightingale floors," which were designed to squeak when stepped on and thus alert guards to any intruders. From here we are off to the Festival of Ages Building (Tonitoni), a new cultural shopping area in Kyoto s Okazaki district. It is on the grounds of Heian Jingu Shrine which we will be visiting this afternoon. The Festival of the Ages is held on October 22nd to commemorate the founding of Kyoto over 1000 years ago. When this date is written in Japanese, it looks as though it could be read as 'tonitoni', hence the unique name of the shopping center. The distinct interior was put together by up-and-coming artists so that you could enjoy a simulation of Kyoto's famous Festival of the Ages any time of year! Everything from quality food and sweets to alcohol to sundries; Tonitoni boasts over 30 stores and is the talk of the town! Enjoy time here to shop and have lunch on your own. This afternoon s touring begins with a visit to Heianjungu Shrine, a relatively recent addition to Kyoto's collection of sacred places but still a very impressive shrine featuring elegant, richly-colored buildings surrounded by large gardens in the four cardinal directions. Its architecture has a distinctive Chinese influence noticeable throughout Built in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the founding of Heian Kyo (Kyoto), and dedicated to the Emperors Kammu and Komei, the first and last Emperors to rule Kyoto, the buildings are a partial replica of the Imperial Palace of the Heian Period. The vermillion-lacquered Otenmon Gate and Daigoku-den (main hall) are especially beautiful. The gardens which we will be visiting are representative of Meiji Period garden design and have a rich variety of flowers that change with the four seasons.

7 We will be entering through the grand Ōtenmon Gate into the outer sanctuary, a sprawling open space surrounded by look-out towers with a large ritual hall directly ahead. The torii gate leading up to the Heian Shrine is one of the largest in the country, towering overhead at a height of about 24 meters. The Shin en Garden took two decades to create and was designed by Ogawa Jihei, the seventh-generation head of the Ogawa gardening tradition, who was also known by the professional name of Ueji. Hailed as the forerunner of the modern Japanese garden, he incorporated occidental style into the more traditional Japanese gardening world and created gardens that skillfully blended water and stone with the use of wide space. Finished in the early 1900s, this strolling-style garden is famous for its cherry blossoms in spring, irises in summer, and gorgeous pond views from the roofed Taihei-kaku (Bridge of Peace). Last on todays schedule is an enjoyable hands-on experience, handkerchief painting at the Kodai Yuzen and Gallery, founded by the long-established kimono store "Kodai Yuzen Co., Ltd.", to show the public, the beauty and tradition of Kyoto Yuzen dyed garments which also includes an exhibit featuring an array of kimonos. We now make our way back to our hotel, arrival by 5:00pm. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is. Accommodations: New Miyako Hotel Kyoto Day 7 June 9 th, 2019 Sunday Kyoto (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:00am as we are off to Mt. Fuji area and then to Tokyo. We will be walking across the street to the JR Kyoto Station to catch the bullet train to Shizouka Station. Departure is at 8:58am on Hikari 460 and arrives at Shizuoka Station at 10:32am. Our luggage will be shipped separately by truck and meet up with us later at the hotel. On arrival, time for lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon s touring begins with a visit to the Narusawa Ice Cave, located at the entrance to the Aokigahara Jukai (or Sea of Trees) forest. After being designated as a natural monument in the 1920s, it is now considered a geological wonder. More than 1,100 years ago, a volcano on Mount Fuji erupted and the lava flowed down between ancient volcanoes creating this two-tunnel cave. The cave experiences temperatures of three degrees Celsius and is covered with ice all year-round, even at the height of summer. During April, the cave s icicles have been known to grow up to three meters long and almost half a meter wide. The cave itself is 150 meters in length, although the route down is short. It only takes a few steps to experience this natural phenomenon s cooler climate. From here, a visit to Kubota Icchiku Kimono Museum, located near Lake Kawaguchi with majestic views of Mt. Fuji. The museum is an artist s paradise. It was built by the artist Kubota Itchiku and highlights his priceless creations. He was a textile artist who dedicated his whole life to reviving and mastering the lost art of

8 Tsujigahana silk dyeing, a traditional dye technique, used to decorate elaborate kimonos during the Muromachi period ( ). Itchiku Kubota was 20 years old when he first encountered tsujigahana. After suffering through a hard prison life in WWII he came back and began to study tsujigahana. He devoted the remainder of his life to this. 29 years later, in 1977, he had his first exhibition Itchiku Tsujigahana" at the age of 60. Its beauty and high-quality technique gained reputation and the exhibition was also held abroad. It went around cities like Paris, New York, and London. He also has received various awards. In 1994, Itchiku Kubota Art Museum was opened. His works are exhibited in the main building of the museum. This building has a complicated wooden structure using Hiba trees (cypress family) more than 1000 years old. Both traditional artisanal techniques and modern log cabin methods are used to construct the building. The building has an open ceiling and the wooden structure is visible. There also are a Japanese tea house and a cafe where you can enjoy the view of a waterfall as well as tea and sweets, and a gallery with a collection of glass beads. Enjoy the beautiful traditional artworks and enjoy walking in the garden and on the path to take full advantage of the beautiful natural environment of the museum. If it is a clear weather day, enjoy incredible views of Mt. Fuji from the museum grounds Kubota Icchiku Kimono Museum We are now off to Tokyo, Japan s capital, and the world's most populous metropolis. Tokyo dazzles with its traditional culture and passion for everything new. Such is the joy of a city that prides itself on constant renewal and reinvention; it seriously never gets old. Tokyo has everything you can ask of a city, and has it in spades: a rich, cosmopolitan dining scene, more cafes, and bars than you could visit in a lifetime. The drive time will be approximately 2 hours. Accommodations for the next 3 nights will be at the recently renovated Sunshine City Prince Hotel, in the heart of Ikebukuro and just a few minutes walk form the JR Ikebukuro Station. Arrival at the hotel will be approximately 6:00pm. The lobby of the hotel connects to a huge shopping and entertainment mecca with four towers, including a 240-meter-high skyscraper with an observation deck on the top. Sunshine City is typically open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm seven days a week.

9 There is a 24-hour Family Mart located right off the lobby in case you would like beverages, some hot and cold food items or just a snack. For dinner, the 3 rd floor of the Sunshine City Mall offers numerous options and the restaurants remain open until 9:30pm. Newly remodeled Sunshine City Prince Hotel & lobby Family Mart in hotel lobby Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel Day 8 June 10 th, 2019 Monday Tokyo (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 8:30am as we are off on a full day of touring 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.

10 Tsukiji Outer Market 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. Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple 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 time here to explore on your own. Ameyoko Shopping Street It s lunch time and we off to a local restaurant so that you can enjoy a buffet lunch.

11 This afternoon, off to Asakusa, the traditional, low-rise, down, and dirty Tokyo of yesteryear. Although on the surface it s ye olde Japan, this was the first part of the capital to have significant western influence. It was even the site of Japan s first cinema. Attractions in the area include one of Tokyo s most historic temples Sensoji, and the impressive Kaminarimon Gate that marks the entranceway to the temple. Also, you can t miss Phillip Stark s Golden Poo on the roof of the nearby Asahi Breweries headquarters. Sensoji Temple dates to 645, but with the original destroyed in the air raids of 1945, today s building is a 1958 reconstruction. At the top of the steps, as a mark of respect, clap twice and bow your head. It s also customary to make a small offering by tossing coins into the wooden rack. The Five Storied Pagoda was built in 1973 and amongst others; it stands in honor of comedians! Standing 54 meters high, reinforced with concrete and steel, and like all pagodas, running down the center is a giant pillar of Japanese Cypress tree wood. Once through the gate you ll be in Nakamise Shopping Arcade. The street is lined with colorful, lively stalls selling traditional knick- knacks, festival foods, and rice crackers. There are over 50 shops along this shopping street. Enjoy time here. We now make our way back to our hotel, arrival by 4:30pm. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is. We now make our way back to our hotel, arrival by 4:30pm. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is. Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel Day 9 June 11 th, 2019 Tuesday Tokyo (B) After breakfast, enjoy a complete day in Tokyo to do whatever you please. Everything on your shopping list can be found. 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

12 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. 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 centre has a series of kittens as mascots and there are plenty of them to choose from in the gift shop. Some of the food parks include Ice Cream City and the Tokyo Dessert Republic. Then for the Gyoza lover, there is Ikebukuro Gyoza stadium, the list goes on with dozens of tasty attractions. There is a small fee to enter the complex and then the fun begins. There are various carnival amusements at Namja town too, like a haunted house, merry-go-round, and video shooting games. Make sure you go hungry as there is so much to try across the two jammed packed floors of food and adventure. One store no visitor to Japan should miss is Tokyu Hands, a shop that can only be described as a cross between a hardware store and a hobby shop. It is a great place for gift shopping, as many of the items for sale can t be found outside Japan. This store is one of their largest. Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel Day 10 June 12 th, 2019 Wednesday Tokyo (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:30am. While it is our last day on tour, we still have much to see and do before our flight home later this evening. The morning begins with a visit to the Tokyo Edo Museum, which showcases the history of Tokyo during the Edo Period. Almost every facet of life in old Tokyo is on show at the Museum in a compelling and memorable way. There are numerous intricately constructed and minutely finished scale models, reconstructed historical buildings that can be walked through, and a wealth of realia from over the ages presented close-up, sometimes even hands-on.

13 As you enter, the first exhibition is a scene replicating old Edo, which includes crossing a life-size replica of the Nihonbashi Bridge. From here you look out over a vast space that resembles more an indoor version of a theme park than a traditional halls-and-corridors museum. The extensive Edo section of the museum follows into modernized pre-war Japan - again presented in compellingly real detail and atmosphere. Especially recommended is the section dealing with Tokyo during the Second World War. Enjoy time here to explore on your own. Tokyo Edo Museum Now, off to lunch at a local restaurant and then a special treat with a visit to the Ueno Zoological Gardens, established in 1882, it is the oldest zoo in Japan. It is now home to over 3,000 animals from 400 different species. Our visit here today is to see the zoo s highly popular giant panda cub, Xiang Xiang. It is the zoo s first baby panda since Xiang Xiang has taken Japan by storm. Born to mother Shin Shin and father Li Li in June 2017, Xiang Xiang is Ueno Zoo s symbol of adorableness (or as the Japanese would say in a high pitch, Kawaii! ). You will have the opportunity to watch her munching on bamboo shoots and nuzzling her mother. This bright-eyed cub has been the object of major media attention, with visitors clad in panda paraphernalia flocking to see her since her first public appearance. From here we make our way towards the Narita area and off to spend some quality late-minute shopping time at the ever-popular AEON Mall Narita. Enjoy time for last-minute shopping. You might even want to pick up a freshly made bento to take along to the airport. Now, off to the Narita Airport, arrival by 6:0pm and we begin the check-in process. Hawaiian Airlines #822 Departs Narita 9:00 pm Arrive Honolulu 9:25 am

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