Kyushu Fall Explorer & the Saga International Balloon Fiesta October 30- November 07, 2018 7nts/9days from: $2795 dbl/tpl $2995 single Fall in Kyushu, unique after all Certain seasons really bring some places to life, early autumn in Kyushu is considered one of the prime times to visit. The days are dry, cooler temperatures all make for perfect touring weather. Autumn brings along a host of goodies to be harvested one after the other: chestnuts, matsutake mushrooms and persimmons. Cultural events abound, visual feasts: cosmos flowers in late September; autumn foliage from late October and then unique events including the Saga International Balloon Fiesta which we will be visiting. Come along, join us as we explore Japan s third largest island, beautiful Kyushu, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Japan Sea, and the East China Sea. Enjoy its warm and friendly people, great food and dynamic nature on this unique seven-night fall explorer tour. Itinerary/Details Day 1 October 30, 2018 Tuesday Depart from Honolulu Delta Airlines #599 Departs Honolulu 12:27pm and arrives Fukuoka 5:10 pm + 1 International check in begins 3 hours prior to departure. Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Delta Airlines ticket counter, main terminal After clearing security you will meet up once again at the gate area. Day 2 October 31, 2018 Wednesday Fukuoka-Hakata After clearing customs, we will be met by our local guide and then the short bus ride to our hotel for the next three nights, Hotel Clio Court Hakata, adjacent to the JR Hakata Station. Location, hard to find a more convenient spot, just steps from so many dining and shopping options. Tokyu Hands and Daiso are steps away while the ever-popular Don Quijote is a short walk away and open 24 hours! The remainder of the evening is. Accommodations: Hotel Clio Court Hakata
Day 3 November 1, 2018 Thursday Fukuoka-Saga (B/L) After breakfast, please meet you guide by 8:30am as we are off on a full day of touring and off to enjoy the Saga International Balloon Fiesta later this afternoon. Our morning begins with a visit at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Fukuoka, where more than 2 million people visit during the first three days of New Year. In this shrine, Sugawarano Michizane, an excellent poet, particularly in Chinese poetry in the late 9th century, is enshrined as the god of academic achievements. During the entrance exam season, young people from all parts of Japan preparing for these examinations and their parents come to the shrine to pray for success and academic achievement.michizane passed away in Dazaifu in 903, just a few years after being sent into exile. Shortly after his death the country was ravaged by natural disasters, and people came to believe that the calamities were caused by the wrathful spirit of Michizane, still angered by his unjust treatment. Offerings were made to the spirit of Michizane and the tradition of Tenmangu Shrines was begun. The Tenmangu Shrine in Dazaifu was built on the site of his grave. The entire length of the approach is lined with shops that cater to the shrine's visitors. The shrine is rather large, stretching about 250 meters from one end to the other. After passing through the torii gate at the entrance, visitors will come across a pond that was built in the shape of the Japanese character for "heart". A path leads across two arched bridges and islands which represent the past, present, and future. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and approached lined with shops on both sides From here, a Japanese lunch followed by a visit to the Yoshinogari Historical Park, an archaeological site here in the Saga Prefecture. The sprawling park covers a large settlement from the Yayoi Period (300 BC to 300 AD) where dozens of pit dwellings, elevated store houses and over 2000 tombs were unearthed. It is the largest and most important Yayoi Period site in Japan, and the best place to learn about this era of Japanese history. As well as being able to walk around the park and find out about the history of the area, there are workshops you can try out. Based on artifacts found on the site, these workshops include fire making, earthen flute making and stone pendant making with a choice of two types of stone. We are now off to the 2018 Saga International Balloon Fiesta. With over 100 hot-air balloons gathered here from all over the world and over 80,000 visitors over a five-day period, the festival boasts of being one of Asia s largest events. As we approach the Kasegawa riverbed, enjoy the view of the colorful balloons, large and small decorating the landscape- it must be the International Balloon Fiesta! First launched in 1978, the festival receives entrants from the USA, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Belgium, South Korea, and dozens of other countries. For Saga locals, this high-flying event has the poetic charm of fall. People often head out in a picnic mood to watch the sight of the balloons floating in the skies. We will be arriving by 3:00pm and remain here for two hours. This is the time of day that balloon competition takes place. Please keep in mind that weather conditions may affect schedules and competition.
From here, off to our hotel for the evening, Hotel New Otani Saga, in the heart of Saga, close to the Saga Castle. Along the bank of an ancient moat, the location makes for a perfect evening or morning walk. It is also a short walk to the Saga Station. Accommodations: Hotel New Otani Saga Day 4 November 2, 2018 Friday Saga-Nagasaki (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 8:30am as we are off on a full day of touring and ending in Nagasaki. There may be prettier cities in Japan than Nagasaki, but there is none where beauty and tragedy are so intertwined, where a walk through the streets makes one alternately smile at the colorful carp in the canals and gasp at a plaque recording the city's wrenching past, where the hot springs in the surrounding hills -- the delight of countless tourists -- are also filled with memories of torture and death. Largely obliterated by the atomic bombing of Aug. 9, 1945, three days after the destruction of Hiroshima, Nagasaki has been rebuilt on the rubble and ashes of the old city. Set against a hillside overlooking a great natural harbor, Nagasaki is now a sprawling city of 440,000 on the southern island of Kyushu. Temples and mansions set among gardens on the hill preside over the bustle of office buildings and noodle shops on the winding streets below. Most of Nagasaki's historical sites and monuments are within walking distance of the center of the city, while a couple of miles away on the other side of town is a cluster of sights related to the bombing, including the new Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, which gives powerful testimony to one of the pivotal events of the 20th century. This morning we make our way to Okawachiyama, an artisans village located in modern Imari City limits that has been producing its own unique pottery for centuries, and it has historically kept is methods a secret, even from the people living in Imari. The secretive nature of Okawachiyama reached such a degree that it came to be known as the village of secret kilns. The drive time is approximately 1.5 hours. Okawachiyama is wonderfully pretty, with mist dripping permanently over the steep hills that hem the village together. A ceramic arched bridge marks its entrance, and a clear stream banked by sculptured walls splashes down a gully. Several historical sites, including a noborigama (climbing kiln), have been restored, and old-fashioned shops cluster neatly together along a narrow road that winds steeply uphill. Here you will find over 30 excellent workshops and display rooms. Choices range from the contemporary, attractive designs of workshops Taiichiro and Fukuda, to yuppified wares for modern dining at Imari Towan. Choshun-gama is the town s only workshop dedicated solely to making celadon wares. We have allowed for 1.5 hr. here so that you can leisurely explore and shop. Okawachiyama Village
Next, we are visiting China on the Park where you can experience pottery and porcelain designs. This establishment dates to the end of the last century when the Fukugawa factory was chosen to provide the Imperial household with porcelain. This large and modern style facility contains a factory, galleries, shops, and a restaurant. It is here that we will enjoy our lunch. After lunch we are off to Nagasaki and the travel time is approximately one hour. Along the way we will be stopping at the Kasutera (Honey Cake) Factory in Isahaya. Now a specialty of Nagasaki, the cake was brought by way of Portuguese merchants in the 16 th century. The name is derived from Portuguese Pao de Castela, meaning bread from Castile. This popular Japanese sponge cake is made from 4 basic ingredients-sugar, eggs, bread flour and honey. It has assumed a distinctly light Japanese flavor and texture over the centuries. They are available several flavors such as honey, chestnut, and green tea. From here, off to Nagasaki and our hotel for the evening, Hotel New Nagasaki, just a 3-minute walk from the JR Nagasaki Station. A wide variety of dining and shopping options are just steps away. Our arrival will be approximately 4:45pm and the remainder of the evening is. What should you eat in Nagasaki? Its most famous dish is champon. A couple of other options includes saraudon that combines the meat, seafood, vegetables, and sauce of champon, but served on a plate, or sara, over crispy dry fried noodles or Turkish Rice, named after the country. It consists of a pork cutlet, dry curry mixed into rice, and a small serving of spaghetti, all on the same plate. Accommodations: Hotel New Nagasaki Day 5 November 3, 2018 Saturday Nagasaki-Kumamoto (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 8:30am for a full day of touring ending the day in Kumamoto. This morning we begin with a visit to the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Park and Museum, built on a low hill to the north of the hypocenter of the atomic bomb blast. It was created to represent the wish for world peace and a vow that such a tragic war would never be repeated. The park features the 9.7-meter-high Peace Statue symbolizing the Nagasaki citizens' wish for peace. Sculptor Seibou Kitamura, a Nagasaki native, created this statue as a symbol of the divine love and mercy of Buddha. The raised right-hand points to the heavens to signify the threat of atomic weapons while the left arm is raised horizontally to represent the wish for peace. The figure's eyes are lightly closed in prayer for the souls of the atomic bomb victims. Every year on August 9, the anniversary of the atomic bombing, a peace memorial ceremony is conducted in front of this statue and a peace declaration is made to the people of the world. The park also features the Fountain of Peace, which was built in remembrance of a little girl who wandered in search of water. You can also view a row of monuments contributed by various nations that form the zone of symbols of world peace. From here we are off to Yume Saito, a shopping center at bayside. There are over 100 shops here. You will have time for lunch on your own and shopping. This afternoon we dive to Shimabara port, approximately two hours including a rest stop. Once here we will be catching the Kumomoto Ferry. It is approximately 30 minutes and our bus will also be traveling along with us on the ferry. Once here, off to our hotel for the evening, the Kumamoto Hotel Castle, located in the heart of Kumamoto City, across from Kumamoto Castle and nearby to the city s shopping and entertainment district. Arrival will be by 5:15pm and the remainder of the evening is.
Accommodations: Kumomoto Hotel Castle Day 6 November 4, 2018 Sunday Kumamoto-Beppu (B/D) Please meet your guide by 8:30am as we are off again on a touring day. The morning begins with a visit to Suizenji Park, a spacious Japanese style landscape garden, best enjoyed by scrolling along a circular path. It was built by the Hosokawa family in the 17th century. The garden reproduces the 53 post stations of the Tokaido, the important road, which connected Edo with Kyoto during the Edo Period, in miniature form, including a small Mt. Fuji. From here a visit to Kumamoto Castle, one of the most impressive castles in Japan. With large castle grounds and a variety of buildings, Kumamoto Castle offers its visitors one of the most complete castle experiences in Japan. Only a few structures have survived the centuries since the castle's construction in 1607 intact. The castle keep and most other buildings are modern reconstructions, but the reconstructions are mostly of a high quality and new buildings are continually being added. With about 800 cherry trees, the castle becomes a popular cherry blossom spot usually in late March and early April. The construction of Kumamoto Castle in the early 1600s took seven years, and it was designed by the feudal lord (daimyo) who ruled the area, Kato Kiyomasa. Kato was an experienced warrior, and he used his knowledge to build fortifications that were highly regarded for their strategic effectiveness. Less than 50 years after its construction, the castle and surrounding area were taken from the Kato clan and given to the Hosokawa clan which ruled the area from Kumamoto Castle for the next two centuries. A few years after the Meiji Restoration (1868), the castle played a pivotal role during the Seinan Civil War, during which the famous samurai Saigo Takamori led an uprising in Kyushu against the new government. Kumamoto Castle was the main garrison of government troops in Kyushu, and Saigo attacked the castle in early 1877. Despite being outnumbered and losing many buildings, the government forces were able to withstand Saigo's two-month siege, forcing the rebel forces to retreat. The castle suffered serious damage in the 2016 earthquake. Many roof tiles fell, foundations were damaged, walls crumbled, and entire structures collapsed. While the inner grounds are closed to the public, it is possible to see and enjoy the massive fortress from the outside. While the hope is to repair the main keep within two years, the rest of the grounds are expected to take up to 20 years to be fully repaired. In the Edo Period a bustling town sprawled at the foot of Kumamoto s formidable castle. Today, that town looks quite a bit different, but you can still find a taste of the old days at Sakura-no-baba Josaien, an Edo-themed complex just down the hill from Kumamoto Castle which we are off to next. Every visitor s first stop should be the Wakuwaku-Za, an interactive history display on the complex s west side. Despite the rather odd name (wakuwaku in Japanese means exciting), Wakuwaku-Za provides a great introduction to life in a castle town. The bottom floor has many video displays, most of which relate the story of Kato Kiyomasa and the Hosokawa family. While most of the displays on the ground floor deal with the Edo Period, a few cover the Satsuma Rebellion, a Meiji-era revolt in which Kumamoto Castle played a pivotal role. Renegade samurai under the leadership of former Imperial supporter Takamori Saigo besieged the castle in the winter of 1877. The castle garrison resisted and stood its ground and Takamori s army eventually retreated two months later. Upstairs, staff members put on quasi-historical performances incorporating, among other things, ninja and samurai.
Don t leave the complex without first taking a wander through the shopping district. What you ll find here is more than just typical tourist trinkets expect local products like Kumamoto s lotus root stuffed with spicy mustard and satellite stores for independent wineries in the prefecture. There are plenty of options to find the perfect gift. Enjoy time to shop and have lunch on your own. This afternoon we make our way to Beppu, one of Japan's most famous hot spring resorts, producing more hot spring water than any other resort in the country. Along the way we will be stopping at the Aso Milk Farm for a visit and rest stop. It is a working farm with livestock that includes cows, hogs, sheep, and goats. You are welcome to roam the grounds - stop in and watch the cows crunching their hay, buy some carrot sticks for the sheep and enjoy the ducks cavorting in the pond. If you are hungry, the farm boasts both a bakery with sweets and breads as well a restaurant featuring local products. Now, off to the hot springs town of Beppu and our onsen hotel for the evening, Beppuwan Royal Hotel. Arrival will be by 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 6:00pm. After dinner, enjoy time. The hotel offers both an indoor and outdoor bath. The open-air hot spring rock bath "Hinode Onsen" is a sodium chloride spring with its source on the hotel grounds. You can soak away your travel fatigue while enjoying the view of Beppu Bay. Inside is a large communal bath equipped with a sauna and an outdoor hot spring stone bath offering views over Beppu Bay. Accommodations: Beppuwan Royal Hotel - Japanese style rooms Day 7 November 5, 2018 Monday Beppu-Fukuoka (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 8:30am as we journey back to Fukuoka. The morning begins with a visit to Beppu Jogoku Meguri, the "hells" of Beppu, eight spectacular hot springs for viewing rather than bathing. Five of the hells are in the Kannawa district and two in the more remote Shibaseki district. These hot spring sites are natural wonders that shouldn t be missed. Each igoku is distinctive, with billowing steam, spewing hot clay mud, or gushing high temperature hot water, rich with iron oxide. This hellish spectacle will leave you with a better appreciation of the earth s powers. From here a stop at Hitamameta Street for time to enjoy lunch on your own and shop a bit. This afternoon as we make our way to Fukuoka, a fun stop at the Kuncho Sake Brewery, built in 1703, this brewery museum is home to total of five separate breweries still in operation. Enjoy a factory tour, tastings, and time to shop at their on-site souvenir shop. Arrival back in Fukuoka and our hotel will be approximately 4:15pm. Once checked-in the remainder of the evening is. Accommodations: Hotel Clio Court Hakata
Day 8 November 6, 2018 Tuesday Fukuoka (B) After breakfast, enjoy a complete day to shop and explore the city. Fukuoka is Kyushu s largest city and Japan s sixth largest, made up of two former towns, the Fukuoka castle town on the west bank of the Naka-gawa and Hakata on the east. The two towns merged in 1889 as Fukuoka, though the name Hakata is still widely in use. As an example, it s Fukuoka Airport but Hakata Station. Whatever you call it; this youthful, user-friendly metropolis has a cosmopolitan charm, peppered with the flavors of its Asian neighbors. Hakata traces its trading history back some 2000 years, which continues today with visitors from Seoul and Shanghai. Among Japanese, the city is famed for its 'Hakata bijin' (beautiful women), SoftBank Hawks s baseball team and hearty Hakata ramen. Fukuoka may not burst with sights like Tokyo or Kyoto, but its friendly atmosphere, warm weather, and contemporary attractions art, architecture, shopping, and cuisine make up for it. Accommodations: Hotel Clio Court Hakata Day 9 November 7, 2018 Wednesday Fukuoka-Airport (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 9:30am as we tour this area before making our way to the airport later this afternoon. The morning begins with a visit to the Hakata Doll Hall Shogetssudo for a doll painting experience. This is one of Hakata s specialties in Fukuoka, the Hakata Doll, a traditional clay doll that originated here around 17th century. The dolls come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and themes, some of which are cute and adorable, while others are masculine From here we will be visiting Kushida Shrine, the most important shrine in this area and said to have been founded in 757 when Hakata was the point of arrival and departure for trade and diplomatic missions between Japan, China, and Korea. This grand tutelary shrine of Hakata is widely known, and people warmly refer to it as Okushida-san. From early to mid-july the shrine hosts the Yamakasa Gion Matsuri, the biggest festival in Fukuoka. On the last day of the matsuri seven teams from the seven neighborhoods of Hakata race carrying giant floats called kazariyama. Each of the floats are decorated with traditional figures and scenes and are up to 10 meters tall and weigh1 ton. One of the huge floats is on permanent display in the shrine grounds. From here a stop at Fukuoka Tower, the tallest seaside tower in Japan. Built in 1989 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Tower stands 234 meters tall and is by far the city's highest building. It has three observation decks, that can be reached by high speed elevators: one at 116m, a café lounge deck at 120m and the highest at 123 meters above the ground. The view from the observatory deck at the top is simply breathtaking. You can look out over to see the magnificent sea, and various islands speckled over the blue picturesque ocean. And on the other side, a view of the city. Fun fact: Fukuoka Tower was supposedly destroyed in the 1994 film Godzilla vs. Space-Godzilla where Godzilla pushes over the tower. Well, we should not expect anything else from Godzilla. He loves causing carnage after all! Now, off to the Fukuoka Airport to begin our check-in for the flight home.
Delta Airlines #598 Departs Fukuoka 6:55pm and arrives Honolulu 8:24 am (same day)