6nts/8days from: $3095 double/triple $3595 single

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1 #2 March 17-24, nts/8days from: $3095 double/triple $3595 single Japan has a rich history that stretches back thousands of years and the country's ancestors have left their imprint everywhere. It is a world apart a cultural Galápagos where a unique civilization blossomed, and today thrives in delicious contrasts of traditional and modern. The Japanese spirit is strong, warm, and incredibly welcoming. We begin in Osaka, Japan's third-largest city where things have always moved a bit faster, where people are a bit brasher and interactions are peppered with playful jabs and locals take pride in this. Osaka packs more color than most cities with its dazzling neon and vivid storefronts. Above all, it is a city that is a city that loves to eat: it's unofficial slogan is kuidaore ('eat until you drop'). At night, Osaka shines as it seems that everyone is out for a good meal and a good time. From here, we are off to Nara, Japan s first permanent capital with its centerpiece, The Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple and Nara Deer Park, Next, Kyoto, old Japan with its quiet temples, sublime gardens, and colorful shrines. Much more, as we have a visit to the Iga Ninja Museum and the Toba Aquarium, the largest in Japan with the most diverse collection of aquatic life, more than 30,000 aquatic animals from 1200 species. More, you say how about an evening visit to Nabana no Sato Spring Illumination with over 8 million LED lights, and a ride on a steam locomotive on our visit to Mejimura Village in the castle town of Inuyama. Our tour ends in Nagoya, the birthplace of Toyota and pachinko. With over two million inhabitants and Japan s fourth most populated city, Nagoya has cosmopolitan aspects including some fantastic museums, significant temples, and excellent shopping. Nagoyans take pride in the unpretentious nature of their friendly, accessible city. It s a perfectly balanced tour offering history and culture combined with time to explore, shop, and enjoy Japan s cuisine. Come, join us! Itinerary/Details Day 1 March 17 th, Sunday Depart from Honolulu Delta Air Lines #277 Departs Honolulu 1:52 pm Arrive Kansai 6:05 pm +1

2 Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Delta Air Lines check in counter, located in Terminal 2, originally known as the Main Terminal. We ask that you arrive and meet at a minimum of 3 hours prior to the departure time. Day 2 March 18 th, Monday -Kansai-Osaka 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 Cross Hotel, our hale for the next two nights. Our hotel ideally located, less than one block to the Dotonbori and right around the corner from the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade Street. The 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, directly across the street. Accommodations: Cross Hotel Osaka Day 3 March 19 th, Tuesday 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 Osaka Castle snacks & souvenirs view from top of castle perch 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 by 2:00pm. Once there the remainder of the afternoon and evening is. The Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade and Dotonbori Street are steps from our hotel. Famous Blade Runner Neon Shinsaibashi Shopping Dotonbori Street Accommodations: Cross Hotel Osaka Day 4 March 20 th, Wednesday Osaka-Nara-Kyoto (B)

4 After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am as we bid Osaka good-bye and journey on to Kyoto. The drive time is approximately one hour. Our luggage will be transported separately and meet up with us later this afternoon at our Kyoto hotel. 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

5 We will now enjoy a Japanese style lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon we are off to visit Byodoin Temple, founded in 1052 and is featured on the reverse of the Japanese ten-yen coin. This exquisite temple is in the city of Uji, a small city famed for its green tea, its World Heritage sites, and its association with the Tale of Genji the world s first novel. During the early years after the founding of Kyoto as the imperial capital in the 8th century, Uji became a retreat for court nobles, who built summer villas here. Byodo-in Temple is one of two World Heritage locations in Uji and rightly famous for its spectacular Phoenix Hall or Hoo-do. Phoenix Hall literally represents the mythical Chinese Phoenix (Ho-o) descending to earth, with the central hall the body of the bird, the lateral corridors its wings and the tail represented by the rear corridor. Above the central hall on the roof are a pair of male and female bronze phoenix. The temple houses numerous national treasures, including the Phoenixes after which the Hall is named, and the sole remaining Buddhist statues from the 11th century: the 52 Worshipping Bodhisattvas on Clouds, to name but two. The mythical phoenix motif is Chinese in origin and the bird was believed to be a protector of the Buddha. A scale replica of Byodo-in was built at the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains in Hawaii in The wooden temple is built entirely without nails and has been used as a popular backdrop for such TV dramas as Hawaii Five-O, Magnum, P.I and Lost. From here, we are off for a stroll in the Uji area. Uji is a beautiful city with several fascinating historic sites clustered on the banks of the fast-flowing Uji-gawa River. One if its major sites is Uji-bashi Bridge. A sign by the road proudly declares it to be one of the oldest bridges in Japan, which is partially true as a wooden bridge was first built here in 646. Since then, the Uji-bashi Bridge has been celebrated in art and literature, fought over in war, destroyed by fires and disasters. Time now to visit Byodo-in Omotesando Street. Uji is famous as a center of green tea production, and this quaint street is packed with shops selling tea and tea-related products. Here you can try tea-flavored dango dumplings, tea-flavored noodles, tea-flavored ice creams and tea-flavored donuts. Enjoy some time to explore the souvenir shops and eateries before we make our way to our hotel in Kyoto. The drive time to Kyoto is approximately 45 minutes and once there we will be checking into our hotle for the next two nights, New Miyako Hotel Kyoto, ideally situated directly across from the JR Kyoto Station and right around the corner from the AEON Mall. After checking in, our guide will be available to show you around the immediate area. Accommodations: New Miyako Hotel Kyoto Day 5 March 21 st, Thursday Kyoto (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off on a full day of touring. The morning begins with a visit to 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.

6 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. 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 Pavilion From here we are off to 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. While the rest of Japan has adopted modernity with abandon, the old ways remain in Kyoto. There is no better place to experience this feeling than with visiting two of Kyoto's most attractive streets are Sannenzaka and Ninen-zaka, a pair of lanes that lead down from Kiyomizu-dera Temple toward Nene-no-Michi Lane. The atmosphere of traditional old Kyoto is alive here.

7 Lined with beautifully restored traditional shophouses and blissfully of the overhead power lines that mar the rest of Kyoto, this pair of pedestrian-only lanes that make for some of the most atmospheric strolling in the whole city. In fact, it s here that you are most likely to be able to imagine what Kyoto looked like before modernity descended in full force. You ll find plenty of restaurants and teahouses to refresh yourself as you explore, including the single most atmospheric teashop in the city, Kasagiya. Souvenir shops selling Kyoto original goods like dolls and Japanese fans, Japanese restaurants using the reconstructed merchant s house, and ceramic shops stand side by side along the slope. The neighboring famous temples and shrines also attracting people here. Enjoy time here to explore and have lunch on your own. Now on to visit Kodaiji Temple, established in 1606 in the memory of Ttoyotomi Hideyoshi by his wife who is also enshrined here. He was one of Japan s greatest historical figures. We will be entering the temple s main hall which was originally covered in lacqer and gold but rebuilt in a more modest style after burning down in The building is surrounded on two sides by impressive gardens designed by leading contemporary masters. The gardens are lit up during special illumination shows in spring and autumn. One of the gardens is a rock garden consisting of a large field of raked gravel meant to represent the vast ocean. The other garden is an impressive tsukiyama style garden featuring a pond, manmade hills, decorative rocks and beautiful pine and maple trees, the latter of which turn brilliant shades of red and orange during foliage season. Within this garden stands the Kaizando (memorial hall) where Nene would pray for Hideyoshi and which now enshrines wooden images of both. Up on the hillside behind the temple lies a mausoleum for Hideyoshi and Nene. The interior is richly decorated with special lacquerwork, known as Kodaiji Makie, that features designs of powdered gold and silver set in lacquer, a technique that Kodaiji is famous for. After time here to explore, we will make our way back to our hotel, arrival by 4:30pm. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is. Accommodations: New Miyako Hotel Kyoto Day 6 March 22 nd, Friday Kyoto-Iga-Toba-Nagoya (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby 8:30am as we are off on a full day of touring. The morning begins with a drive to Iga, on the trail of ninja with a visit to the Iga Ninja Museum for a tour and show. These masters of secrecy and disguise were an actual part of Japanese feudal society, but the art of nijiutsu is not indigenous to Japan. The ancient discipline is rooted in spiritual principles from the Indian subcontinent Ninja rose to prominence in the 12th century as the nation s samurai class steadily gained power. A ninja s willingness to use poisons, sneak attacks and other guerrilla tactics that generally ran counter to the samurai s chivalrous, honor-driven code of bushidō (the Way of the Warrior) made them extremely popular as hired special forces operatives of their day.

8 They became particularly active during the Sengoku (Warring States) Period of continuous tumult and conflict spanning some 150 years from the middle of the 15th century, when feudal daimyo lords would tap ninja to spy on their enemies and carry out nighttime raids. Ninja back then were also known users of gunpowder, which they had managed to manufacture without the usual necessary ingredients from abroad. Their knowledge of this military game-changer was a closely guarded secret and most ninja homes were replete with nooks and crannies wherein both the black powder itself and any information regarding its creation and use could be safely stored and protected. The front half of the Iga-Ryu Ninja Museum is a perfect example of a ninja house a dwelling that looks typical from the outside but hides a host of secrets within. Though the house comprises a mere three tatami-floored rooms looking out over carefully raked dry gardens with pleasing selections of greenery, there are hidden passages and the ability to disappear behind doors in the blink of an eye. Watch as a costumed ninja figure is found hiding in a crawl space between floor levels. Then, in the corner of a bare alcove, with a flip of a latch, reveals a passageway that leads out from beneath the family altar and emerges in a well. Meanwhile, at the back of the house, lifting the bases of sliding shoji-screen doors exposes sandpits for hiding scrolls and other valuables. Nearby, when an ordinary-looking floorboard is levered up, a cache of swords and shuriken (throwing stars) sparkle below. Ninja would often adopt disguises typically as one of seven general identities, ranging from farmers or itinerant priests to acrobats. Though it was easiest to hide weapons in the folds of a priest s robe or a farmer s attire, it seems they often strapped their shuriken to their shins, where they were both easy to grab and could deflect blows to a vulnerable part of the body. Now, lunch time at a local restaurant. From here we are to Toba, a small town with a heavy-weight aquarium, Toba Aquarium, boasting the largest number of species of sea creatures in Japan. Come discover the amazing variety of sea creatures as you step into the mysterious underwater world awash with thrills and excitement. This aquarium features several spectacular themed zones, including Ancient Sea, Jungle World, Waterside in the Forest and Polar Sea. One of the areas is dedicated to the sea life in the waters around Ise Bay and the Kumano-Nada Sea. Take a trip to the Marine Mammal kingdom to view fun-loving sea lions and seals. Get up close to the dugong at the Mermaid Sea as this is the only location in Japan to witness this legendary creature which is often mistaken as Mermaids. The latest addition is the Weird Living Creatures Research Centre, where you will find fascinating organisms that you have never seen before! From here we are off to Nagashima to enjoy the Nabana no Sato Spring Illumination, a collaboration of blooming spring flowers and light show. Our arrival will be after 5:00pm so that we can enjoy the colorful night illumination of more than more than 8 million LED lights. Now, off to our hotel for the last two nights on tour, The Royal Park Canvas Nagoya. The drive time is approximately 45 minutes. Our arrival will be by 7:00pm. The hotel is ideally located, just a 5-minute walk to the JR Nagoya Station offering a variety of shops and dining options. Accommodations: The Royal Park Canvas Nagoya Hotel Day 7 March 23 rd, Saturday Nagoya-Inuyama-Nagoya (B)

9 After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am as we are off on a full day of touring. The morning begins with a drive to Inuyama, literally meaning dog mountain, not far from Nagoya and most famous for its small, but beautiful castle. Inuyama Castle is one of Japan s oldest wooden castles still in its original state, having survived the turmoil of war and disasters over the years. Once here, we will be visiting Meijimura Village, one of Japan s more outstanding open-air museums with over 60 buildings from the Meiji Period. This era followed the end of Japan s feudal age and its architecture is characterized by a strong influx of Western architecture. This theme park like museum is in a vast wooded area next to Iruka Pond and one of the most visited openair museums in Japan. Few of the buildings constructed in the Meiji Period survive in Japan today, as most of them were destroyed during the war or lost to city redevelopment. A collection of representative buildings from across the country have been relocated here to preserve the period's architectural and cultural heritage. Among them are the entrance hall of Tokyo's old Imperial Hotel and Kyoto's St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral. Other attractions include the former Kanazawa Prison, Sapporo's telephone exchange, Mie's prefectural office, Nagasaki's foreign settlement, as well as hospitals, sake breweries and schools. Some buildings have been converted into cafes, candy stores or traditional game stalls for visitors to enjoy. There is also a village bus which runs the length of the village, as well as a tram and a steam locomotive which we will ride on today. There are also performances on site by a kabuki troupe in the Kurehaza Theater and sake tastings in Kyoto's former Nakai brewery. Enjoy time here to explore and have lunch on your own at various spots along your way. From here we are off to visit Inuyama Castle Town, a spot where you can feel the history of a small Japanese town. This castle town is close by to Inuyama s national treasure, Inuyama Castle. Many traditional old townhouses and mansions can be seen along the streets. It is a perfect spot for a stroll around cafes that use old townhouses and shops selling chic accessories and traditional handicrafts. Get into the Edo mood, a castle town specialty like some handmade goheimochi or a dango dumpling in one hand. After time to enjoy the area, we make our way back to Nagoya, arrival by 4:00pm. Once back, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is for shopping and exploring the city center on your own. Accommodations: The Royal Park Canvas Nagoya Hotel Day 8 March 24 th, Sunday Nagoya-Airport (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:30am. It may well be our last day on tour, but for sure we will make the best of every minute before our flight home later this evening. The morning begins with a visit to Marunaka Center Market, a fresh food market within walking distance of Nagoya Station. With about 50 stalls specializing in fresh fish, meat, vegetables, and other items, enjoy some time to explore. Around the market you will find a a cookware and cooking knife shop, a Japanese sake store, and restaurants.

10 From here, we are off to visit Nagoya Castle, built in the beginning of the Edo Period as the seat of one of the three branches of the ruling Tokugawa family, the Owari branch. As such, it was one of the largest castles in the country, and the castle town around it ultimately grew to become Japan's fourth largest city. Most of the castle buildings were destroyed in the air raids of The current reconstruction of the castle keep dates from 1959 and contains a museum with exhibits about the castle s history. The park surrounding the castle keep features two circles of moats and impressive walls with corner turrets which is particularly attractive during cherry blossom season which we may just be lucky to catch a glimpse of. Next, a visit to Osu Kanon Temple, a popular Buddhist temple originally built during the Kamakura Period ( ) in neighboring Gifu Prefecture. The temple was moved to its current site in 1612 after the original temple had been repeatedly damaged by severe flooding. The current buildings are 20th century reconstructions. The main object of worship at the temple is a wooden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, which was carved by Kobo Daishi, an instrumental figure in Japanese Buddhism. Underneath Osu Kannon's main hall is the Shinpukuji Library which contains over 15,000 classic Japanese and Chinese texts. Among these texts are several national treasures and important cultural properties, including the oldest copy of the Kojiki, a chronicle of the early history of Japan including its mythological origins. Close-by is the Osu Shopping District, a huge and popular shopping area with over 1,200 shops and restaurants. All kinds of shops, including electrical appliance shops, secondhand clothing stores, restaurants and cafes are open. The mall is always crowded with people and filled with energy. Enjoy time here for lunch on your own as well as shopping. Our last stop before the airport is at the AEON Mall Tokoname, with over 180 shops. The mall is home to one of the largest manekinekos in the world; Otafuku (which means lots of good fortune), who bestows good luck upon everyone who visits. Manekinekos are displayed in Japan as talismans whose raised paw, it is said, draws in money and customers. Make sure you don't forget to get your picture taken together! Now, off to the Chubu International Airport to begin the check-in process for our flight home. Delta Air Lines #612 Departs Nagoya 9:40 pm Arrive Honolulu 9:59 am