Kanto s Fall Foliage Tour November 8 th -15 th, 2018 6nights/8days fr: $2595 dbl/tpl $2995 single Koyo, is the autumn season in Japan where the leaves start to lose their green and people across the nation flock to enjoy the last few temperate days and sights of breathtaking foliage before winter sets in. Spending a day indulging in the array of colors brought on by the changing leaves is a pastime as old as the spring counterpart of viewing cherry blossoms. Join us won t you as we capture the best of this region, a brand-new itinerary for 2018. Our touring days include Kawagoe, known as Little Edo, Nagatoro, a small but scenic town deep in the mountains of western Saitama, Kusatsu Onsen, one of Japan s most famous hot springs, Matsumoto, most famous for one of Japan s most beautiful castles and then catch the bullet train to Tokyo which needs no introduction. From the incredible countryside fall vistas to some of Tokyo s best shopping streets, this tour is one you won t want to miss. Itinerary/Details Day 1 November 8 th, Thursday Depart from Honolulu Hawaiian Airlines #855 Departs Honolulu 5:55 pm Arrive Haneda 10:00pm +1 Check in for international flights begin 3 hours prior to departure. Please check in with your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines Terminal, Lobby 3, Makai side. Day 2 November 9 th, Friday 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. Sleep well for tomorrow we have a full day of touring. Accommodations: Hotel JAL City Haneda Tokyo free Day 3 November 10 th, Saturday Haneda-Omiya-Kawagoe (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off on a full day of touring ending in Kawagoe later this afternoon.
The morning begins with a drive to Saitama for a visit to the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, the world s first publicly run museum dedicated to bonsai art. The collection includes more than 120 bonsai masterpieces and bonsai-related artifacts such as bonsai pots, miniature suiseki landscape stones and bonsai-themed art. The museum, located in Bonsai Village" here in Omiya is a mecca for bonsai lovers and where some of the best bonsai nurseries exist. Many of the bonsai trees on display here are over than 100 years old with some over 500 years old. One significant piece is more than 1,000 years old! Enjoy some free time here to take in the beauty. From here, we are off to we journey off to Kawagoe, less than one-hour drive from Tokyo, but considered the most Japanese of all destination. This historic town, lined with gabled buildings and tiled roofs, truly captures the image tourists young and old expect to find when visiting Japan. Once here, we will first be visiting Hikawa Shrine, a historic shrine that dates to the 6 th century. The Torii gate, one of the most beautiful in Japan, at 15 meters tall, acts as the entrance. The grounds are filled with a variety of trees and plants, some over 500 years old. At the back of the main temple, there are two large sacred zelkova trees (a type of elm) that are said to be over 600 years old. If you walk along the stone paths surrounding these trees in the shape of the number 8, it is said that you will gain spiritual powers. Enjoy viewing autumn colors as we walk around. Known as the love shrine, Hikawa is famous for its power of love and marriage, a popular spot for traditional Japanese wedding ceremonies. We might just get lucky enough and see a bride wearing a shiromuku, a pure white kimono. A must do while here is walk through the Ema Tunnel where wooden prayer plates dedicated to the shrine are hung in the shape of a tunnel. The way the light shines through the ema creates a beautiful sight. On every plaque, the prayers long for love and an ideal family. Other kinds of omamoris (Japanese amulets) available here include a red pencil, designed after the red string of fate. The more you use it, the closer your fated person gets to you. This charm can only be found here. Others include fishing for carp fish with a magatama (curved bead) wrapped inside or the doll flow where this human-shaped doll is placed in the water and you let it pass through the rope. This is said to protect from evil and illness. From here, close by, historic Kawagoe town, often known as Little Edo. The people of Kawagoe have preserved their city for all to experience this historic castle town. We begin with a walk along the main street of Kurazukuri, lined with traditional warehouses constructed in a style called kurazukuri, maintaining the style of the Edo period. Many of the warehouses are now artisan stores selling traditional crafts, antiques, and gift stores. Among the artisan shops is Machikan, a sword and knife manufacturer that has been in operation for generations. We will also be stopping at the great bell tower, Toki No Kane (Bell of Time), originally built between 1624 and 1644. This exact replica is historic in its own, dating back to 1894, a year after the Great Fire of Kawagoe. Currently, the bell can be heard four times a day,6:00, 12:00; 15:00, 18:00. Also on tap, the Candy Street, a small backstreet alley where a dozen stores sell old-fashioned sweets and snacks. Kawagoe is famous for its sweet potatoes. Here you will find sweet potato chips, ice cream, coffee, and even sweet potato beer, brewed at the local Koedo Brewery. It is a must stop especially if you have a sweet tooth. Enjoy free time here to explore and enjoy lunch on your own at many of the storefront vendors or restaurant dining.
We are now off to our hotel for the evening, Kawagoe Tobu Hotel, about a 5-minute walk from Kawagoe station and close-by to Kawagoe Old Town Street. Our arrival will be by 4:00pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Accommodations: Kawagoe Tobu Hotel free Day 4 November 11 th, Sunday Kawagoe-Nagatoro-Kusatsu (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we make our way to Nagatoro, a small but scenic town deep in the mountains of western Saitama Prefecture to visit Tsukinoishi Momiji Park, a popular spot to view the vibrant yellow, red, and orange leaves of the striking Momiji, Japanese maple trees. The drive time is approximately one hour. Next, a ride on the Hodosan Ropeway as we travel up Mt. Hodo, offering some of the most spectacular views back to the east, across town, over the Arakawa, the river flowing through Nagatoro s center and the peaks far off into the distance. Once back, we are off to lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon we make our way to Kusatsu Onsen, one of Japan s most famous hot spring resorts. The drive time is approximately three hours and a rest stop will be made along the way. Once here, we will check in to our onsen hotel for the evening, Yorokobi no yada Takamatsu. This traditional Japanese inn surrounded by lush greenery and mountains is especially known for excellent indoor and outdoor baths. Our arrival will be by 5:00pm, followed by dinner at 6:30pm. After dinner the remainder of the evening is free. The Yubatake, (hot water field) is one of the resort s main sources of hot spring water. After bubbling to the surface at a temperature of more than 70 degrees Celsius, the hot spring water is cooled down in the yubatake's wooden conduits by a few degrees before it gets distributed to the various ryokan and public baths. Accommodations: Yorokobi no yada Takamatsu free- Japanese style rooms Day 5 November 12 th, Monday Kusatsu-Matsumoto (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am as we are on another another full day of touring. The morning begins with a Yomomi and Dance Show. It is a short 30-minute performance, a unique opportunity to see local women stir the waters with large wooden paddles to cool it down while singing folk songs. There is also the opportunity for you to try your hand at it, if you care to. Lunch time is approaching, and we will make a stop at the AEON Mall in Sakudaira for some time to have lunch on your own and maybe do a little shopping. This afternoon, an always fun hands-on experience, apple picking at a local farm. 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.
Accommodations for tonight are at the Matsumoto Marunouchi Hotel, a short walk from Matsumoto Castle and the popular shopping streets of Nawate and Nakamachi. Some of the rooms offer a view of the castle while others allow for a grand view of the Japan Alps. Our arrival will be by 5:00pm and once checked-in, the remainder of the evening is free. A wide variety of shops and dining options just steps from our hotel. Accommodations: Matsumoto Marunouchi Hotel free Day 6 November 13 th, Tuesday Matsumoto-Tokyo (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am for a full touring day, our destination, Japan s capital, Tokyo. Our luggage will be transported separately by truck and meet up with us later today in Tokyo. The morning begins with a visit to Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's premier historic castles, beautiful among Japan's original castles. It is a "hirajiro" - a castle built on plains rather than on a hill or mountain. Matsumoto Castle 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. The contrasting black and white plaster of the exterior stands out boldly against the magnificent backdrop of the Japanese Alps. Built with many unique architectural elements, Matsumoto Castle also features a moon viewing pavilion, indicative of the lifestyle of the feudal lords. The grounds of the castle come alive in color in the spring with cherry blossoms. Now to enjoy time at Nawate dori, a nice old fashion shopping street close by to the castle. Lined with around 50 shops that vary from antique dealers and 'dagashi' candy stores to stylish bakeries and designer boutiques, the frog-themed street makes a great place to stroll when seeing the castle. Walking along you will experience the feel of city s history as a castle town. 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 cone of miso ice cream and/or time to browse their gift shop for miso items. We now make our way to the Matsumoto Station for the bullet train ride to Tokyo departing on the Super Azusa 22 at 1:47pm and arriving at Tokyo s Shinjuku Station at 4:34pm. We will be met by our charter bus for the transfer over to our hotel. Accommodations for the last two nights on tour are at the Sunshine City Prince Hotel, ideally situated in the Ikebukuro section of Tokyo. The hotel is less than a 10-minute walk from the Ikebukuro JR Station. 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 local guide will show you the many options available for dining and shopping, all steps from our hotel. Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel free Day 7 November 14 th, Wednesday Tokyo (B/L) 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 the Imperial Gardens East Gardens, a part of the inner palace area and opened to the public in 1968. Designed from part of the original castle compound, these lovely free gardens allow you to get close-up views of the massive stones used to build the castle walls, and even climb the ruins of one of the keeps, off the upper lawn. The number of visitors at any one time is limited, so it never feels crowded. With fall in the air, enjoy time to walk around and take in the autumn colors. From here we are off to Ameyoko Shopping Street, famous throughout Japan for its wide variety of products. The name "Ameyoko" is a short form for "Ameya Yokocho" (candy store alley), as candies were traditionally sold there. Alternatively, "Ame" also stands for "America", because a lot of American products used to be available there when the street was the site of a black market in the years following WWII. You can get just about EVERYTHING here, clothes, bags, cosmetics, fresh fish, dried squid, and spices are sold along Ameyoko. It is quite the scene to just walk around through the very crowded and narrow streets. An awesome place to sightsee, shop and eat! Enjoy some free time here to explore on your own. 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 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 8 November 15 th, Thursday Tokyo-Haneda (B) After breakfast, enjoy a complete free day to sightsee or show until you drop. We have extended the checkout time from the rooms until 8:00pm. We ask that you kindly meet your guide in the lobby by 7:30pm with your bags so that we can depart for the Haneda Airport promptly at 8:00pm. 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. Sunshine City Mall has four towers including a 240-meter-high skyscraper with an observation deck on the top. The main tower is the second highest building in Tokyo. The Sunshine City Prince Hotel is housed in one of the smaller towers at the complex. The lower levels of Sunshine City are a monstrous maze of shops and tourist attractions, as well as a theatre. The tower s elevator is an attraction in its self, being the fastest in the world it takes only thirty-five seconds to reach the top. The highlight of the ride would have to be the illuminated dolphins and unicorns, ambient music and beautifully dressed lift operators making the trip to the top an interesting journey. The centre 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 center has a series of kittens as mascots and there are plenty of them to choose from in the gift shop. Some of the food parks include Ice Cream City and the Tokyo Dessert Republic. Then for the Gyoza lover, there is Ikebukuro Gyoza stadium, the list goes on with dozens of tasty attractions. There is a small fee to enter the complex and then the fun begins. There are various carnival amusements at Namja town too, like a haunted house, merry-go-round, and video shooting games. Make sure you go hungry as there is so much to try across the two jammed packed floors of food and adventure. One store no visitor to Japan should miss is Tokyu Hands, a shop that can only be described as a cross between a hardware store and a hobby shop. It is a great place for gift shopping, as many of the items for sale can t be found outside Japan. This store is one of their largest and has a rather odd attraction Hawaiian Airlines #856 Departs Haneda 11:55 pm Arrive Honolulu 12:15pm (same day)