Asia Answers 400 108 th Ave NE, Suite 401 Bellevue, WA 98004 info@asiaanswers.com SEATTLE MARINERS EARLY BIRD TAIPEI PROGRAM ITINERARY Day 1 14-Mar Thu Seattle departure Day 2 15 Mar Fri Taipei arrival Touring Welcome event Day 3 16-Mar Sat Optional Taroko Gorge tour Day 4 17-Mar Sun Taipei departure Tokyo arrival Day 3 18-Mar Mon Optional Exhibition game at 7:05pm Day 4 19-Mar Tue Tokyo Highlights tour Day 5 20-Mar Wed Optional Hakone Tour M s vs. A s game at 6:35pm (tentative start time) Day 6 21-Mar Thu M s vs. A s game at 6:35pm (tentative start time) Day 7 22-Mar Fri Tokyo departure Seattle arrival Day 1: Thursday 14 March, US departure Depart Seattle for Taipei on BR 25 at 1:20am (check in by 11:20pm on 13 March) Day 2: Friday 15 March, Taipei Arrive Taipei at 5:20am Meet with your guide in the arrival hall and transfer to your hotel by private coach. (30 minutes). Check in to your hotel, morning at leisure 1:30pm Meet your guide in the lobby for an afternoon Taipei Highlights tour on which you will visit Longshan Temple, Democracy Plaza, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall and Taipei 101. This evening, your welcome event will be at the original Din Tai Fung restaurant. Overnight in Taipei, Gloria Prince Hotel
Add: 369, Linsen N. Road, Zhongshan Dist., Taipei Tel: +886 2 2581 8111 Day 3: Saturday 16 March, Optional Taroko Gorge Tour Opt to add a day tour to Taroko Gorge National Park, Taiwan s foremost tourist draw, which encompasses an incredible range of landscapes. Among the park s unforgettable sights are the looming Qingshui Cliff on the Pacific coast, the twisting vistas of the Tunnel of Nine Turns, and the dramatic hanging bridges of Swallow Grotto. The few buildings here make the most of the topography, particularly the Eternal Springs Shrine which hugs a lush green hillside next to its namesake springs. Enjoy a leisurely walk on the well-marked trails in the gorge or visit several spots where you can take great photographs. It s a great family-friendly day trip from Taiwan. Hotel pick up is at 7:00am, and drop off is at 9:30pm. Day 4: Sunday 17 March, Taipei departure Tokyo Arrival Depart your hotel at 12:20pm for Taipei airport. Depart Taipei on BR 196 at 3:20pm Arrive Narita at 7:20pm Meet with your guide in the arrival hall and transfer to your hotel by private coach. (90 minutes). Add: 1-6-1 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Tel: +81(0)3-3980-1111
Day 5: Monday 18 March, Tokyo Day at leisure for optional touring. Optional exhibition game at 7:05pm Mariners v. Yomiuri Giants Day 6: Tuesday 19 March, Tokyo Sightseeing At 9:00am meet your guide in the hotel lobby for Tokyo Highlights tour by private coach. Begin your exploration of Tokyo with a visit to Meiji Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji and a popular place for traditional Japanese weddings. After visiting the shrine, you will pass by private coach through the adjacent Omotesando shopping street, a broad tree lined avenue home to the flagship stores of the world s top fashion brands and your guide will take you to the Roppongi ward by private coach where we will visit the Roppongi Hills Observation Deck. The 238 meter tall Mori Tower is the centerpiece of the Roppongi Hills complex in Tokyo s Roppongi district. The tower houses the entrance to the excellent Mori Art Museum and the Tokyo City View observation deck. On a clear day, you can see Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree and even as far as Mt. Fuji. Lunch at a local restaurant After lunch, continue to visit to Asakusa, Tokyo s old town where you can soak up the atmosphere of what Tokyo must have been like hundreds of years ago. Visit Sensoji, also known as Asakusa Kannon and Tokyo s oldest temple. The Broadway leading up to the Temple is called Nakamise and this shopping street has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and souvenirs for centuries. Return to hotel at 4:30pm.
Day 7: Wednesday 20 March, Optional Hakone Tour Opening Series Game 1 Day at leisure, or add optional Hakone day tour 8:00am Depart to Hakone by private coach. Throughout the day you will have a chance to get a glimpse of Mt Fuji, however please keep in mind that she is a notoriously shy mountain and it needs to be a clear day. First stop in Hakone will be the Hakone shrine. This Shinto shrine was very popular among Samurai during the twelfth century and is hidden away in a dense forest. In fact, the shrine is so well hidden that it would be easy to miss were it not for its magnificent torii gates. Lunch at a local restaurant First stop in Hakone will be Hakonemachi where you will board a Pirate Boat taking you to Togendai. Both are ports on the shores of Lake Ashi, which is in fact an enormous volcanic crater created by an eruption 3,000 years ago. *In case of bad weather, Pirate Boat departure may be subjected to rescheduling or cancellation. After arriving in Togendai we will continue your journey via Rope Way heading towards Owakudani. The first thing you will notice when arriving in Owakudani is the smell of sulfur coming from this active volcano. There are walking trails around Owakudani that lead to steam vents and bubbling pools. The eggs they sell in Owakudani are boiled in the volcano s natural hot springs and are said to prolong life by seven years! *Owakudani is generally accessible by ropeway, however as this area is an active volcanic zone, hiking trails may be closed due to volcanic gasses. People with respiratory problems should consult their physician before visiting the area. 5:45pm Tour ends at Tokyo Dome Stadium Travelers who do not take the Hakone tour will make their own way to Tokyo Dome. 6:35pm Seattle Mariners vs Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome Make your own way back to your hotel after the game.
Day 8: Thursday 21 March, Tokyo Opening Series Game 2 Day at leisure, or add optional Tokyo day touring. 6:35pm Seattle Mariners vs Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome Transfer back to hotel under own arrangement. Day 9: Friday 22 March, Tokyo Departure Seattle arrival Morning at leisure 10:00am Meet with your guide for a departure for Narita by private coach (90 minutes) Arrive at airport and flight check in. Depart Narita on BR 197 at 2:00pm Arrive Taipei at 5:05pm Depart Taipei at 11:40pm Arrive Seattle at 7:10pm