Hokkaido s Flowers & Photography Tour 2019 May 16 TH 24 th, 2019 9nts/7days fr: $2950 triple $2995 double & $3395 single Reserve by December 1 st -Save $50 per person At last, flower season has come to Hokkaido. Springtime in Hokkaido begins in early May, when it awakens from the slumber of winter and color returns to the land. With it comes blue skies and the beauty of wild flowers beginning to bloom. From May through August, photographers flock here to shoot the area s rolling hills ablaze with lavender and other flowers, often seeming to stretch from horizon to horizon. Join us on this unique tour as we are off discovering the best Hokkaido s various sceneries, activities, and food. Itinerary/Details Day 1 May 16 th, 2019 Thursday Depart from Honolulu Hawaiian Airlines #441 Departs Honolulu 1:10 pm Arrive Chitose 5:00 pm + 1 International check in begins 3 hours prior to the departure time. Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines international check-in counter located in Terminal 1, formally known as the Hawaiian Airlines Terminal, Lobby 3, Makai side. As a reminder, the check-in line for international departure for Hawaiian Airlines as well as the TSA security check have been quite long of late and we highly recommend a minimum of 3 hours in advance. Day 2 May 17 th, 2019 Friday Chitose-Sapporo After clearing customs, our local English-speaking guide will meet our group and then we are off to Sapporo. The drive time is approximately one hour.
Accommodations for our stay in Sapporo is at the Sapporo Tobu Hotel, ideally situated in the heart of Sapporo and steps from the entrance to Takuki Koji Shopping Arcade. We are also just a half a block from the Nijo Fish Market. With our early arrival you will have time to walk around and enjoy the area, find places to eat and maybe even do a little shopping. For a quick stop, there is a Family Mart right at the end of the street, less than a block away. Accommodations: Sapporo Tobu Hotel free Day 3 May 18 th, 2019 Saturday Sapporo (B) After breakfast at our hotel we are off to discover Sapporo and the surrounding area. Please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am. The day begins with a drive to Mt. Okura Observatory, home of the 1972 Winter Olympic ski jump competition. Today, enjoy the chair lift ride up to the top of the hill for spectacular views of Sapporo all the way to the far horizons. A five-minute ride on the ski lift brings you to the top of the mountain, during which time you can catch a glimpse of what it's like to be a ski jumper. The viewing lounge at the far top of the mountain comes steadily closer, and the steeply sloping approach stretches out along one side. Seeing the takeoff point at such a close distance will surely give you a taste of what it's like to ski jump, as well as what it feels like to be an athlete. Looking back once you have reached the top of the lift, you can enjoy panoramic views of the city of Sapporo. This refreshing experience will probably make you wish that the climb would last forever! Okurayama Ski Jump From here we are off to visit the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market where every morning, the freshest produce and fish arrive. While this inner market where the fish auction takes place is not open to the public, you can enjoy the Curb Market. Open from 6am, it is comprised of approximately 60 stores selling a variety of items ranging from fruits to fresh and dried fish. Sushi and other reasonably priced dishes made with fresh seasonal ingredients are available.
As soon as the bidding ends in the inner market, the products are made available at the Curb Market. Here you will have the opportunity to experience a meal of fresh local seafood, whether it be a domburi bowl or crab and salmon sushi. Choose from the many restaurants along the edge of the market, offering a front-row view of your chef preparing freshly-cut stock. If ramen is more to your liking, there are a group of ramen shops along one of the side streets. Choose one and enjoy a delicious bowl of Hokkaido s finest ramen. Enjoy free time here for shopping and lunch on your own. Jogai Fish Market side street ramen shops The afternoon begins with a visit to the Asahi Beer Factory for a tour of its facilities and the opportunity for some beer tasting. The factory which produces 50,000 kiloliters of beer annually, is Sapporo s only large-scale beer factory. We now make our way back to our hotel and once back take a short break to freshen up before we head out to explore Tanukikoji Shopping Street, Sapporo s oldest. This covered arcade has been in operation since the frontier period and is one of the best spots to purchase Hokkaido souvenirs! Ten blocks long, with over 200 shops offering everything from clothing, jewelry and souvenirs to nightclubs, cafes, and restaurants. Our guide will be pointing out all the favorite shops that Hawaii folks enjoy, Don Quijote, Daiso s 108-yen store, UNIGLO, and Tokyu Hands, to mention few. From here you are on your own to shop, explore and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and evening. If you are feeling a little more adventurous, Sapporo s Susukino District is not too far from our hotel. It is one of Japan s most famous entertainment districts. The area is packed with stores, bars, restaurant and of special interest to noodle lovers is the Ramen Yokocho, a narrow lane lined with shops serving Sapporo's famous ramen. Accommodations: Sapporo Tobu Hotel free Day 4 May 19, 2019 Sunday Sapporo-Asahikawa (B) After breakfast please meet your guide by 9:00am as we are off to Asahikawa, Hokkaido s second largest city. A city of water, Asahikawa sits on the confluences of the Ishikari, Biei, Chubetsu and Ushibetsu rivers. There are over 700 bridges in the city, the most famous of which has become an attraction, the Asahibashi over the Ishikari River, completed in 1932. The drive time is just under two hours. Along the way we will be stopping at the Sunagawa Highway Oasis, where you can enjoy shopping and tasting local specialties. This is a good spot for omiyage shopping. The shops and the cafeteria are run by the major manufacturers of Hokkaido, and it s possible to find many of Hokkaido s specialties here including melons, boxes of potatoes, whole crabs, famous stuffed squid from Hakodate, Royce chocolates and other Hokkaido chocolate confections.
You will also find a wide variety of Japanese sweets and a vast assortment of packaged food items. As well other souvenirs items, such as T-shirts and wooden animals, notably owls and bears: Owls and bears were and remain very special animals for the local Ainu people. A fun stop, bustling and full of energy! Sunagawa Highway Oasis From here a stop at the Asahikawa Ramen Village for lunch on your own. Like several other places in Hokkaido, Asahikawa is famous for its ramen. Whereas Sapporo is known for its miso-based broth and Hakodate for its salt-based broth, Asahikawa is known for its shoyu based broths. The broth of Asahikawa Ramen is known for being quite oily, and there is often a thin layer of oil on top of the soup. Another characteristic of the local ramen is the generally thin, hard, and wavy noodles. The range of toppings is quite typical and includes green onions, pork, bamboo shoots and eggs. Enjoy time here for lunch on your own. Asahikawa Ramen Village The afternoon begins with a visit to Otokoyama Sake Brewery. It is Asahikawa's most famous sake, both within Japan and worldwide. With a history spanning over 340 years, the brewery's sake was a favorite of the Tokugawa shogunate. It was even depicted in works by one of Japan's most famous Ukiyoe masters, Utamaro. As you enter the Otokoyama property, a lovely Japanese garden welcomes you. Inside the brewery are large glass windows where you can view production facilities, and there is a museum dedicated to the art of making sake. Of course, there is also a sake tasting room and gift shop.
Otokoyama Sake Brewery Our last stop today is at the Asahiyama Zoo, home to 700 animals of 124 different species, and the first facility in Japan to have succeeded in the natural breeding in captivity of animals that live in cold regions, such as polar bears, Amur leopards, and Scops owls. Moreover, the zoo has become popular for its exhibits that enable visitors to see each animal s innate attributes and their unique abilities and movements. Its popularity lies in the enclosures which allow visitors to observe the animals from various angles, many of which are unique to this zoo. Highlights include a glass tunnel through the penguin pool that allows visitors to observe the birds' underwater flights, and small glass domes in the middle of the polar bear and wolf enclosures that can get visitors right among the animals. The zoo was also one of the first to organize penguin walks in winter. Now off to our hotel for the evening, the JR Inn Asahikawa, directly connected to the JR Asahikawa Station and AEON Mall. Opened in the spring of 2015, this hotel is perfect for our evening in Asahikawa. Arrival will be by 3:00pm. Besides its location, the hotel offers a public bath for men and women in a semi-outdoor setting, rooms with views of the surrounding countryside, and a direct elevator down to the AEON Mall. The entrance to Heiwa Shopping Street, the main shopping area is right across the street. JR Inn Asahikawa- room, public bath, and view from many of the rooms Accommodations: JR Inn Asahikawa free Day 5 May 20 th, 2018 Monday Asahikawa-Takinoue-Kamiyubetsu-Abashiri (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 8:00am as we are off for a truly unique touring day. The day begins with a drive to Takinoue Town, famous for three things; Shibazakura (phlox), turkeys, and herbs, with Shibazakura easily the most popular of the three.
The drive time is approximately 2 hours and we will be making a stop along the way. The spring mountain views and fresh mountain air will make for a relaxed scenic drive. There will be time to take a photo or two of the stunning white peaks of the Taisetsuzan Mountain Range. Takinoue is well-known for growing different kinds of herbs, especially peppermint herb. The town produces 95% of Japan s peppermint every year. Turkey farming, which is very rare in the land of the rising sun can also be found in this area. Now, for a visit to the Shibazakura (Pink Moss) Festival, one of the most unique and colorful festivals on the Hokkaido flower calendar. Winding paths lead you across a surreal pink and purple hillside overlooking Takinoue Town. The festival begins on May 1 st and goes through early June. The backside of the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range offers its pointy snow-covered peaks as a backdrop and tulips adorn the wide gently-sloped paths on your journey across the hill. The hill is equally amazing from up close and from a distance and the air is constantly filled with the sweet smell of Shibazakura. This is a perfect spot for flowers and photography! Shibazakura (Pink Moss) Festival Daisetsuzan Mountain Range From here we are off to lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon we are in for another photogenic treat, visiting Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park, home to one of the most popular flower festivals on the Hokkaido flower calendar. By the time the late spring wind blows in this northern land, 1.2 million of them are in full bloom in the Tulip Park. The flower garden features 120 varieties of tulips, including some named after fairy-tale characters such as Kintaro, Momotaro and Snow White, as well as rare species imported directly from Holland. With its Tulip-kan and a building modeled after a Dutch windmill, the park resembles Holland in beautiful May. From early May to early June, Kamiyubetsu takes center stage as the most popular day-trip destination following the long Hokkaido winter, with local and international tourists descending on the town in large numbers to enjoy the Tulip Fair. Enjoy time here surrounded by beautiful scenery and spectacular photography opportunities.
Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park From her we make our way to our hotel for the evening, Hotel Abashirikoso, overlooking Abashiri Lake. After our Japanese dinner at the hotel, enjoy the hot springs and the seasonal scenery from the baths on the observation deck. Accommodations: Hotel Abashirikoso free Japanese/Western style rooms Day 6 May 21 st, 2019 Tuesday Abashiri-Mokotoyama-Lake Akan (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 9:00am as we are off for yet another day viewing scenic beauty! The morning begins with a visit to the Abashiri Prison Museum, originally the Abashiri Prison, which was one of Japan's first-ever maximum-security prisons. It held Japan s most dangerous criminals since the 1890s. It was established with a mandate to use the prisoners as laborers in the expansion and development of land in Hokkaido. Abashiri Prison was constructed to hold more than one thousand dangerous criminals. The prison gained national fame through a popular yakuza movie series by director Ishii Teruo in the 1960s. Following a major modernization of the Abashiri Prison in 1984, the prison's old buildings were moved into the Abashiri Prison Museum, which opened its doors to the public in 1985 as an open-air museum. Only the most hardened criminals were brought to this forbidding place on the Okhotsk Sea where the harsh winters bring the Siberian drift ice to the shore. The work was hard, the cells crowded and the wardens were strict. In the museum, the buildings that were in use in the Meiji era have been kept. There are 22 building areas in all; some have been completely restored while others are reproductions. The oldest building was built more than 100 years ago. In those days, hands made construction wood, not by machines so you can see the rough surface of the big beams and pillars that the prisoners made. You can walk through the processing areas, solitary confinement, barracks, and administration buildings. Perhaps most impressive is the radial five-winged prison modeled after a similar Belgian prison with its guard house located at the center, allowing every wing to be monitored at the same time. The prison museum illustrates the daily life of prisoners and there are many life-sized dolls placed in the key locations to "reenact" the way life was back in those days. In front of the main gate, you will find a souvenir shop. At the souvenir shops, wooden goods made by the current Abashiri prisoners from small handicraft dolls to furniture - can be bought.
Abashiri Prison Museum From here we will be visiting the Okhotsk Ryuhyo (drift ice) Museum on the top of Mt. Tento, a hands-on science center where visitors learn the nature, culture, and life of the area s mysterious manner. It also provides a wide range of information about sea ice, including the formation of sea ice and its correlation with global-scale climate changes. In addition, there is a room with its temperature maintained at minus 20 degrees, where you can touch real sea ice, and a dome called Astrovision, where there are aerial photographs of sea ice and the carpet of flowers on the seashore of Okhotsk on a 360-degree full screen. Don t leave without a visit to the rooftop observation deck for a spectacular view of Okhotsk Sea. Now, off to lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon we are off to visit the Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park, a captivating flower park famous for the Shibazakura (lawn Cherry blossoms) flowers. Every year the vibrant Shibazakuras blushing around the foothill of Mt. Mokoto. along with the lush green forests and a blue sky create a fantasia. The palette of flowers weaves its way to the top of the hill as if someone has intricately rolled out a carpet, creating what is probably one of the most colorful hills in the world. Yet, another opportunity for flower viewing and photography. From here we will be visiting Ainu Kotan, a small Ainu village. Enjoy some shopping time at souvenir shops specializing in Ainu handicrafts. At the end of the street there is a small museum displaying traditional Ainu crafts, clothes, and daily life utensils. Enjoy a traditional Ainu performance in the adjoining hall. Now, to our hotel for the evening, Akanko Tsuruga Wings. Arrival at the hotel will be approximately 5:15pm. After some time to relax and freshen up, please meet you guide in the lobby for a buffet dinner at our hotel. The hotel offers two large outdoor hot springs. The secluded bath on the first floor overlooks the lake shore, while the bath on roof top has commanding views of the lake as well as the surrounding mountains and forests. If you prefer a stroll, our hotel is right along the town s main street and you can enjoy shopping at one of the many local shops. Accommodations: Akanko Tsuruga Wings free- Japanese/Western style rooms Day 7 May 22 nd, 2019 Wednesday Lake Akan-Obihiro-Sahoro (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:45am for yet another day filled with beautiful vistas and photo opportunities.
The day begins with a sightseeing cruise around Lake Akan, a beautiful crater lake in Akan National Park. It is home to marimo, a rare algae species that forms itself into beautiful green balls. Left alone for a few centuries, Lake Akan's marimo can reach the size of soccer balls. The algae have been designated a National Special Natural Monument. This one-hour cruise makes a stop at the Marimo Exhibition Center on one of the lake's islands where you can observe and learn about the biology of the marimo. Underwater cameras give a glimpse at colonies of marimo in their natural environment. From here we are off to Obihiro for a visit to Shichiku Garden, began in 1989, from a wish to bring back the countless wildflowers that had once bloomed in Hokkaido. You can see more than 2000 different kinds of flowers in this 60,000-square meter garden, and experience the beauty of the season. The drive time is approximately 2.5 hours and once there we will be having lunch at a local restaurant. Shichiku Garden is a must stop for garden lovers. Created by the 83-year-old gardener, Akiyo Shichiku, who s ambition was to make Hokkaido into an island of flowers. She is often seen walking the garden in her boisterous floral blouses. Enjoy free time to explore the various themed gardens here, such as an English garden, a rose and clematis garden, and a lotus pond that inspires comparisons to Monet s famous paintings. Now off to our hotel for the evening, the Sahoro Resort Hotel, a prime ski resort during the winter months. Surrounded by mountains, greenery, and water, it makes the perfect spot to spend a leisurely evening. Our arrival will be at approximately 4:30pm, followed by dinner at 6:30pm. After dinner enjoy the onsen as tomorrow we are off to Otaru and Sapporo. Accommodations: Sahoro Resort Hotel free Day 8 May 23 rd, 2019 Thursday Sahoro-Otaru (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 9:00am as we journey to Otaru. The drive time will be approximately 3 hours and several rest stops will be made along the way. The morning begins with a visit to Sahoro Bear Mountain, where brown bears live in a near wild environment. From a highrise walkway through the area you can observe the leisurely life style of the adorable bears. The brown bear is the largest land animal in Japan, inhabiting solely in Hokkaido. They are on top of the wildlife ecosystem on the island of Hokkaido. Unlike in zoo or in bear reserve, here you can see them living close up in a real forest. Now, off to the beautiful port city of Otaru. which has developed and prospered as "the sea entrance of Hokkaido" over the last 100 years and gained the nickname "Wall Street of the North." The glassworks shops, coffee shops, restaurants and shopping malls along the canal have been converted from stone-built or brick-built warehouses, which were used for storage in the days when commerce flourished and the canal was crowded with jostling barges. When night falls, oil lamps on the cobbled streets are lit, and the town evokes a gentle, nostalgic mood. The drive time is approximately 3.5 hours and we will be making a stop along the way. Once in Otaru, a stop by our hotel, Hotel Nord Otaru to drop off our bags. Now, join our local guide for the short walk down to the historic area. The city is renowned for its glassworks, music boxes, and sweet shops that can be found lining Sakaimachi Street. As you near the end of Sakaimachi Street, look and listen when you come to the vintage steam clock at the front of the charming Music Box Museum. The nostalgic atmosphere inside the main building of the museum takes you back in time. The museum houses almost 15,000 music boxes, ranging from matchbox sized souvenirs to precisely tuned masterpieces. The Music Box Museum has something for everybody, from The Beatles to the latest J-pop hits.
Another must, the Kitaichi Glass Shop where you can enjoy looking and shopping for beautiful glassware. Where they once made a lot of glass buoys and lamps for fishery, now the focus is on products to attract visitors. For some sweet times, we will visit another famous landmark, the Kitakaro confectionary shop. The cake and confectionery store is a popular stop for tourists and locals alike. There is a cult like following of its famous honeyed wheeled layered cakes and there are good reasons why. The layered cakes are delicate and the honey flavored intense, but not too sweet. Sit and enjoy at the small café right in the store. Coffee, tea, and ice cream are also available. You will have free time to explore on your own. Rooms at the hotel are usually ready by 4:00pm. When you are ready to go back, please return to the hotel on your own. Please remember to claim your bags from the front desk storage area once you have your room keys. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. The historic warehouses along the canal have been converted into shops and restaurants. It is literally across the street from our hotel and the ideal spot to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and evening. Accommodations: Hotel Nord Otaru free Day 9 May 24 th, 2019 Friday Sapporo-Chitose (B/L) It may be our last day on tour, but still much to see and do before our flight home later this evening. After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am. It may be our last day on tour, but we will have much to see and do before our flight home later this evening. The morning begins with a visit at the Shiroi Koibito Park, a theme park by Ishiya, a local chocolate company. The company s flagship product is the Shiroi Koibito cookie, which consists of two thin butter cookies and a layer of white chocolate in between. It is one of the most famous souvenirs from Hokkaido. The park consists of a free area with a shop, cafe and restaurant and a paid area with various chocolate related exhibits and, most interestingly, a few large windows through which you can observe the cookie production process in the factory. Shiroi Koibito Park
From here we are off to Yuni Garden, Japan s largest English-style herb garden. Once here we will be enjoying a lunch and then some free time to walk around and enjoy the scenery. Colorful Yuni Garden is in the pastoral neighborhood of Yuni-cho. From May to October, the main flowers change weekly. Spring begins with cherry blossoms and then one million linaria bloom in the early summer. Lilies blossom at the end of the summer and cosmos fill the garden in the fall. Featuring 230 different variety of herbs in its 10 gardens, enjoy walking around as you are free to touch and smell. Do stop by the garden shop for herbal cookies and teas, which could make for the perfect omiyage. We now make our way to Chitose for our flight home, but a final last-minute shopping at the AEON Mall. Besides shopping, it s also a good opportunity to pick up a bento to eat before the flight. Arrival at Chitose will be approximately 4:30pm so that we can begin the check in process. Hawaiian Airlines #442 Departs Chitose 7:45 pm Arrive Honolulu 8:15 am (same day)