2019 Niigata Sake Festival, Sado Island & Tokyo In Hot Water-Onsen &sake Dream Tour March 4-14, 2019 Small Group Tour-Maximum 24!

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1 2019 Niigata Sake Festival, Sado Island & Tokyo In Hot Water-Onsen &sake Dream Tour March 4-14, 2019 Small Group Tour-Maximum 24! 9 nights/11 days from: $3995 dbl/tpl $4395 single Book Early-Save $50 per person! Come, join us for the 15 th annual Niigata Sake no Jin, or Battle of Sake attended by approximately 100 sake producers from across the Niigata Prefecture. This region is well known for its high-quality rice and rice wine. Little visited and often overlooked, Niigata is a beautiful remote region with fabulous sights, great food, and excellent countryside landscapes -deserving much more attention than it gets. 200 miles northwest from Tokyo, the Niigata-Sado Island region offers a very different experience to the hustle and bustle of the Tokaido seaboard. Not so quick, as we have also included 2 onsen stays and Nagano to visit the Jigokudani Monkey Park for the unique experience of seeing wild monkeys bathing in a natural hot spring. Yet, there is more, 3 nights in Tokyo so that you can experience that big city feel and do all your omiyage shopping. We ll be visiting Tsukiji, Ameyoko Shopping Street, Asakusa, Suzamo Jizo Shopping Street on fair day, a free day, and a visit to Shinjuku Gyoen Park to view the approximately 300 plum trees in bloom plus much, much more. Itinerary Day 1 March 4 th Monday Depart from Honolulu Hawaiian Airlines #855 Departs Honolulu at 5:05pm - Arrives Haneda at 10:05 pm + 1 International check-in begins 3 hours prior to the flight departure time. Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines terminal, Lobby 3, located on the Makai end of the building. Day 2 March 5 th - Tuesday Haneda After clearing customs, our local English speaking guide will be waiting and join us for the short drive to our hotel, Hotel JAL City Haneda Tokyo. If you arrive hungry, their restaurant is open until midnight. There is also a 24-hour convenience store directly across the street. Accommodations: Hotel JAL City Haneda Tokyo free Day 3 March 6 th Wednesday Haneda-Niigata (B)

2 After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am. The morning begins with a drive to Tokyo Station where we will be boarding the bullet train, Max Toki 317 to Niigata, departing at 10:40am with an arrival at 12:43pm. Our luggage will be sent by truck to Niigata and meet up with us later at our hotel. We suggest that you may want to pick up a bento at the Tokyo Station before boarding the train and enjoy lunch along the way. On arrival in Niigata, we are off for an afternoon of touring which begins with a visit to Niigata Senbei Okoku, a museum, factory, and gift shop where you can watch the artisans as they make the senbei, each producing 2,000-3,000 per day. In total, approximately 4 million are produced here per day. As the largest rice producing prefecture, Niigata the production of rice confectionery is also the largest in Japan. Here at Senbei Okoku, which means the kingdom of rice crackers, enjoy the opportunity to try roasting rice crackers by hand, then eat the freshly baked crackers. Don t forget to drop in at the souvenir shop as they offer a wide variety of items as well as original items that can only be purchased here. Niigata Senbei Okoku From here, a visit to the Northern Culture Museum, an open-air museum, the legacy of eight generations of the Ito Family, one of Japan's largest landowners. Enjoy time to walk around and explore this gathering of traditional Niigata structures which include homes, storehouses, teahouses, and event temples. 26 of the buildings have been designated as Important Cultural Heritage. The main mansion with over 60 rooms features calligraphy, ceramics, lacquer ware and documents related to Ito Family s history. Among the exhibits are Egyptian, Grecian, Assyrian, Chinese antiquities as well as Japanese art. This is a great spot to see classic Japanese architecture and enjoy viewing a beautiful traditional walking garden. We now make our way to our hotel for the evening, Hotel Italia Ken, in the Furumachi District of Niigata, once a flourishing geisha quarter during the Edo Era. Furumachi, which literally means Old Town is considered one of the three most prestigious areas in Japan for geisha, along with Gion in Kyoto and Shinbashi in Tokyo. Our arrival will be by 5:00pm and after check-in, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free.

3 The spirit of the old entertainment district is still much alive in this area around Furumachi. There are a variety of fascinating shops, eateries, and pubs to enjoy this evening. Our local guide will also be available to offer suggestions. Accommodations: Hotel Italia Ken Free Day 4 March 7 th Thursday Niigata-Sado Island (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we make our way to Sado Island, off the coast off the coast of Niigata Prefecture and is one of Japan's largest islands. Due to its remote location, the island served as a destination for political exiles. The three most prominent figures sent into exile to Sado were the former Emperor Juntoku, the Buddhist monk Nichiren and the founder of Noh, Zeami Motokiyo. While no longer a place of exile, traces of the culture and religion that these forced residents brought with them remain today. We will be taking a ferry ride to Sado Island from the Port of Niigata. Our bus will also be traveling with us. The travel time is approximately 2.5 hours. On arrival in Sado, time for lunch, Japanese style at a local restaurant. Our afternoon of touring begins with a visit to Sado Rekishi Densetsukan, the Sado history museum. The museum exhibits the cultural history of Sado Island, using intriguing displays with animatronic puppets that reenact historical events and local legends. Many displays center around Sado's history as a place of exile and introduce three of the island's most prominent, involuntary visitors: the former Emperor Juntoku, the Buddhist monk Nichiren and Zeami, the founder of Noh. Other exhibits depict some of Sado's local legends, while a separate corner of the museum is dedicated to the late local artist Sasaki Shodo, who was appointed a living national treasure for his invaluable skills as a metal casting artist. From here, a fun tarai bune (tub boat) ride. It is a traditional Japanese fishing boat found mainly on Sado Island and used for catching abalone and other mollusks. The design originated from need to fish in the narrow coves formed by earthquakes. Now they are used only in six small fishing villages, having survived due to their low cost and durability. These tub boats are made of local sugi (Japanese cedar) and madake (timber bamboo). The construction is the same as Japanese coopering, except that the bottom of the tub boat is slightly concave, and the boats are oval. The planking is doweled together with bamboo nails, but the braided bamboo hoops are what really hold these boats together. The braiding of the hoops is now an extremely rare skill. Each hoop is comprised of four 45-foot long strips of bamboo. The hoops are pounded onto the hull and each must fit precisely since the hull is slightly tapered.

4 Now, off to our hotel for the evening, Hotel Mancho, an old established Japanese inn located in a scenic spot facing Aikawa Bay. From open-air bath, enjoy the sunset as it sinks into the Japan Sea and glows in many colors reflecting in the clouds and waves, as well as the fishermen's fires on the waves. Claiming the wealthiest farmer in Sado as an ancestor, Hotel Mancho was established in It stands at the seashore in Aikawa, facing the setting sun. The hotel offers an in-house art gallery displaying many exhibits, including Buddha statues that have been collected over generations, and the writings of three people with "shu" in their name (Katsu Kaishu, Tesshu Yamaoka and Deishu Takahashi), who are famous for their superb handwriting and lived at the end of the Edo Period. Our arrival will be by 5:15pm, followed by a Japanese dinner at 6:30pm. After dinner, enjoy the onsen. Accommodations: Hotel Mancho Free- Japanese style rooms Day 5 March 8 th Friday Sado Island-Niigata (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we journey back to Niigata by bus. The morning begins with a visit to the the Sado Gold Park, a hands-on facility is a hands-on facility on the old site of Nishimikawa Gold Dust Mine. This mine dates back over 1,000 years and while no longer in operation you can get an idea of what the gold mining process looked like. You will also have an opportunity to try your hand at panning for gold. Who know, you might just hit the jackpot. From here, off to visit the Sado Kinzan Gold Mine, the remains of a once flourishing large gold and silver mine on the island, annually producing nearly 400 kg of gold as well as smaller amounts of silver and copper. The mine was in operation throughout the Edo Period. and served as a major source of funding for the Tokugawa Shogunate which directly controlled Sado Island and its mines. Sado Gold Mine Now, time for lunch, Japanese lunch at a local restaurant.

5 This afternoon our touring begins with a visit to Toki Forest Park where you will have the opportunity to see the rare Japanese Crested Ibis, or Toki in Japanese. Once a very widespread breed in Japan, it is very rare to see one of these birds today. Currently, the park has about seventy birds in the park for visitors to observe and learn about. The park houses an exhibition hall that focuses on the crested ibis and its history in Japan. It also contains various enclosures, mostly off-limits to the public, where crested ibises are being bred and a few other varieties of ibis are kept. A short walk away from the rest of the park is the Toki Fureai Plaza, a semi-natural enclosure with a toki family on display. Since 2008, Toki Forest Park has been reintroducing crested ibises into the wild. Today, several hundred toki are living in the wild again, with more birds being released every year. As a result, it is now possible again to spot crested ibises around the rice fields of Sado Island with some luck. Now, back to the ferry port for the ride to Niigata. Again, our bus will be traveling along with us. On arrival, back to our hotel, Hotel Italia Ken for the next two nights. Our arrival will be by 7:00pm and after checking in, join your guide in the lobby for a buffet dinner at our hotel. Accommodations: Hotel Italia Ken Free Day 6 March 9 th Saturday Niigata (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:30am as we are off to the 15 th annual Niigata Sake no Jin. We will remain here until 2:00pm so that you can enjoy a leisurely day at the festival. The best thing about tasting all these sake at one place on the same day is to be able to compare the fine nuances of their varied taste. The beauty of sake flavors is very much like a snowflake falling on your palm. It has an ethereal beauty about it, but it vanishes just as you are appreciating it, leaving you wanting more. With a clear color and crisp flavor, Niigata sake specially scores high on this quality. This is what also makes it an amazing companion to fruit liqueurs such as Umeshu. Started in 2004 based on the famous Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, the Niigata Sake no Jin has grown ever more popular year to year. Sake lovers from all over Japan and overseas flock here for this two-day event, over 100,000 visitors. With a sake cup in hand, walk around from booth to booth, tasting and purchasing delicious sake. Every brewery showcases their proud productions in cold and hot varieties. Niigata specializes in sake made from polished rice which is fermented slowly in the harsh winter, using the purest sources of water that have been gifted to this region by Mother Nature. Today, you will have the opportunity to enjoy over 500 sake from approximately 90 brewers, all from the Niigata Prefecture. As you walk around, the fresh aroma of onigiri, sushi, roasted fish, ramen, Motsu-ni (a pork dish using miso and sake) and many more delicacies fill the air. They all make for a perfect accompaniment with sake. If you see a long line, it is definitely for one of these delicious fares. As you enjoy your time here, there are many other products and items that can be purchased. Sake byproducts such as sakasuke and sakekasu are available as well as traditional and modern designed sake cups or you can even try your hand at traditional Japanese pottery.

6 There are also various stage shows, contests, and seminars on sake tasting and sake accompaniments throughout the event. You just might get lucky and be serenaded by traditional sake songs sung by the kurabito (brewers) during the production process. After quite a unique day, we make our way back to our hotel, arrival by 2:30pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Accommodations: Hotel Italia Ken Free Day 7 March 10 th Sunday Niigata-Nagano (B/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 9:00am as we journey off to the mountain-ringed prefectural capital of Nagano. It has been a place of pilgrimage since the Kamakura period, when it was a temple town centered on the magnificent Zenkō-ji, which still draws more than four million visitors per year. Please prepare a small overnight bag as our larger items will be sent to Toyko and meet us on arrival at the hotel. Our first stop today is at Fruits Land Shirone Grape Garden for a fun strawberry picking and eating experience. They organically grow many varieties of fruit. Aside from strawberries, they also have grapes, peaches, pears, figs, blueberries, and kiwis. Next, we are off to Teradomari Fish Market where you will find many shops selling fresh seafood lined up on the road along Teradomari Beach. The aroma of grilled seafood skewers from the storefronts will whet your appetite, and the incredible selection is very popular. Enjoy some free time to browse and have lunch on your own. We are now off to Nagano. The drive will take approximately 2.5 hours and a rest stop will be made along the way. Once in Nagano, at approximately 4:30pm, check-in at our hotel, Issano Komichi Biyu No Yado. A Japanese Dinner at the hotel is set for 6:00pm. This ryokan is in the center of Yudanaka. After dinner relax in the large communal bath with jacuzzis or in the open-air bath and enjoy mother nature's nutrients as you soak in the mineral Onsen, just like the Snow Monkeys. Accommodations: Isaano Komichi Biyu No Yada Free- Japanese style rooms

7 Day 8 March 11 th Monday Nagano-Matsumoto-Tokyo (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 8:30am as we make our way to Matsumoto and Tokyo. The morning begins with a visit to the Jigokudani Monkey Park, home of the world-famous "snow monkeys". Over 160 Japanese Macaque monkeys inhabit the area and despite the harsh conditions (snowcovered for one-third of the year) and the rough cliffs and hot springs bursting from the ground, the area is paradise for the monkeys. The reason is that same hot spring water collects in pools that the monkeys enjoy bathing in. You will be able to enjoy this unique experience of seeing wild monkeys bathing in a natural hot spring. The monkeys live in large social groups, and it can be quite entertaining to watch their interactions. Accustomed to humans, the monkeys can be observed from very close and almost completely ignore their human guests. From here, we journey to Matsumoto, the second largest city in the Nagano Prefecture and most famous for Matsumotojo, one of Japan's most beautiful original castles. The drive time is approximately 1.5 hours and a rest stop will be made along the way. Once in Matsumoto, lunch time, Japanese style at the Ishii Miso Factory. Founded in 1868, Ishii Miso makes miso the way they always have aging it in cedar barrels for 3 years. They pride themselves in only using soybeans and rice grown in Japan as well as local spring water. After lunch and a factory tour, maybe enjoy a come of miso ice cream and/or time to browse their gift shop for miso items. This afternoon s touring includes a visit to Matsumoto Castle, one of the most complete and beautiful among Japan's original castles. It is a "hirajiro" - a castle built on plains rather than on a hill or mountain. It is unique for having both a secondary donjon and a turret adjoined to its main keep. The castle structures, in combination with their characteristic black wainscoting, give off an air of grandeur and poise. Matsumoto Castle was damaged in a 5.4 magnitude earthquake on June 30, The quake caused approximately ten cracks in the inner wall of the main tower and therefore our visit here will only include the castle s exterior. From here, off to the Matsumoto Station for the Limited Express Train (Azusa 24) to Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. the departure is at 3:15pm and arrival at 6:07pm. Once there, our charted bus will provide the transfer to our hotel, Sunshine City Prince Hotel, home for the next three nights. Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel Free The lobby of the hotel connects to a huge shopping and entertainment mecca with four towers, including a 240-meterhigh 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. A 24-hour Family Mart located right off the lobby in case you would like beverages, some hot and cold food items, or a snack. Our hotel has a direct access to the Sunshine City Mall. There are a variety of dining options available, mostly on the 3 rd floor and these restaurants are typically open until 9:30pm. After checking in, our guide will be available to show you around.

8 Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel free Day 9 March 12 th Tuesday Tokyo (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 8:30am as we are off on a full fund day touring some of Tokyo s spots. The morning begins at Tsukiji Outer Market. 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 inner market where the early morning fish auction takes place, will move to reclaimed land on Tokyo Bay. The outer market that we will be visiting will not move. 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. Tsukiji Fish Market From here we are off to Ameyoko Shopping Street, famous throughout Japan for its wide variety of products.

9 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. Ameyoko- best spot to find omiyage items 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 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. No worry, we will have time to shop and taste some of the food treats along the way. Asakusa and Nakamise Shopping Arcade

10 We now make our way back to our hotel, arrival by 4:30pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel Free Day 10 March 13 th Wednesday Tokyo (B) After breakfast, enjoy a complete free day. 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 sops 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 and has a rather odd attraction

11 Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel Free Day 11 March 14 th Thursday Tokyo-Haneda (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 10:30am. It may be our last day on tour, but we have a full touring day ahead of us before the flight home later this evening. Our morning begins with a visit to one of Tokyo s most unique shopping streets, Sugamo Jizo Dori Shopping Street often referred as the "Harajuku of seniors". 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. 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.

12 Stroll around this unique area, experience the city of old in Sugamo and enjoy the Japaneseness" of this street. Being that today has the number 4 in it, there will be many more street vendors that come out to sell their goods. Enjoy lunch on your own here. Sugamo Jizo Dori Shopping Street From here, a visit to the Samurai Museum in the Shinjuku section of the city. The samurai has been an iconic symbol of courage, power, and masculinity for over 700 years of Japanese warfare history. Finally, the gripping soul of the samurai can be felt at the Samurai Museum. Their belief, Reputation grudged shows that samurai is not a simple soldier; they highly valued honor above life. The beauty of samurai spirit is shown in Japanese swords and their costumes. The museum, on two floors, provides a near-authentic ambience of historical Japan during the Sengoku period. The museum's founder, Tetsuro Koyano, spent over five years painstakingly gathering a wide array of samurai costumes, head gear, guns, swords, and other related equipment, with a mission to not only impart a comprehensive knowledge of Japanese historical warfare to both locals and foreigners, but also to revive the soul of the samurai. Displayed under dramatic lighting are more than 70 examples of samurai armor, kabuto helmets and weapons gathered here from Japanese and foreign collections. Detailed descriptions for each display are given in English. The highlight is a chance to have yourself photographed in a samurai costume of your choice. Enjoy the Sword show at 2:00pm! Now, off to Shinjuku Gyoen Park to view the ume plums blossoms from approximately 350 trees. Established as an imperial park about 100 years ago, Shinjuku Gyoen houses three gardens with Japanese, English, and French themes to them. With over 10,000 trees including cherry and maple, as well as many varieties of roses and camellias, the park is beautifully decorated all four seasons. Shinjuku Gyoen Park

13 From here, we are off to Odaiba Diver City Shopping Center, located on the artificial island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay, a popular sightseeing spot for people from all over the world. Diver City is quite large, with seven floors of shopping, dining, and entertainment. Almost any type of retail store you can think of can be found within this mall. The shops are very diverse, including some unique Japanese souvenir shops. Enjoy free time here to shop, browse and have dinner on your own. We will meet by 6:30pm for the short drive to the Haneda Airport. Once there, we will begin the check-in process for our flight home. Hawaiian Airlines #856 Departs Haneda at 11:55pm- Arrives Honolulu at 12:50am