TOUR ITINERARY

25 FEB (TUE) HONOLULU

Leave Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. A meal and snack will be served aboard the flight. There will be FREE Movies and Drinks.

26 FEB (WED) HAKATA,

HOTEL NIKKO FUKUOKA

Arrive at Haneda or Narita International Airport, and after clearing government formalities, transfer to domestic flight to Fukuoka largest city in Kyushu, Japan’s third largest island offers modern cities, many historic treasures, and natural beauty with the grandeur of ever-changing landscapes. We will stay 2 nights at hotel located within easy walking distance to Hakata train station with a great shopping district consist of Department store, Tokyu Hands, UNIQLO, Local Souvenir shops, a variety of Restaurants from local foods to High-class gourmet, etc. 

27 FEB (THU) HAKATA,

HOTEL NIKKO FUKUOKA

Go to Dazaifu used to be an important administrative center of Japan about 1,000 years ago. We will visit Tenmangu Shirine, Kyushu’s most holy place and must-see destination. It will be the best time to visit the shrine to see colorful 6,000 Ume trees will bloom and fill the garden. (depending on the climate of the year). The approach to the shrine is lined with a variety of local shops including shop selling local specialty “Umegae mochi.” You will get a chance when it’s best eaten hot off the grill that is only available at the place. Kyushu is made up of 7 prefectures and each prefecture has some of the Japan’s most uniquely flavored local dishes. We will explore Kyushu’s unique and varied food culture through this tour! It seamlessly blends together Japanese, Chinese, and Western sensibilities. Today’s lunch will be Fukuoka prefecture’s famous local specialty Chicken Mizutaki hot pot, a chicken hot pot dish which has a longstanding history and originated as a Japanese home-style dish with international influences adding to the mix, Western consommé techniques and Chinese chicken stewing methods. Later visit Machiya Furusato Museum in 150-year-old houses of a traditional weaver. You will learn the history and cultural heritage of Hakata with the creative displays of folk culture and items used in everyday life. It will be a perfect place to purchase Hakata’s traditional crafts such as Hakata textile, Hakata doll etc. You will get a chance to enjoy strolling at Kawabata Shopping Arcade, Hakata’s oldest shopping street lined with various kind of store carrying’s traditional souvenirs of Hakata, Japanese tea, Kimono shop, etc. There’s a shop selling famous “Strawberry Daifuku” praised as “The best in Japan” that’s available only limited season and expiration date is Today! 

28 FEB (FRI) SASEBO,

HOTEL OKURA JR HUIS TEN BOSCH (ONSEN) ♨

Head to Ogi to visit Yokan (a thick jellied dessert made of red bean paste) Shop. Yokan is one of the traditional sweets represent Japan. Especially, Ogi Yokan is historically old and very highly regarded as a popular brand. You can enjoy shopping for local specialty sweets. Then proceed to Ushinoo Ume Forest known as the best Ume flower viewing place in Kyushu since 19th century. 13,000 Ume trees lining over at the foot of a mountain. Today we will enjoy lunch of Saga prefecture’s local cuisine, the premium quality wagyu Saga beef. Then to Kyushu’s most popular sightseeing spot Huis Ten Bosch a medieval theme park that recreates a Dutch town in the 17th century. Entire park is filled with life size replicas of old Dutch style buildings, lovely windmills, etc., with picturesque canals and beautiful flowers that makes you feel as if you are in Netherlands. You can enjoy various types of entertainment including the spectacular “Takarazuka style Revue show.” With great singing and dancing by female dancers called the “Broadway in Japan.” Location of our hotel is right in front of Huis Ten Bosch, with a big gift shop, pastry shop, Onsen Hot Spring bath and Open-air bath. After dinner those that want to go back the park again will experience the Kingdom of lights festival with over 13 million lights and illumination displays throughout the park. It is awarded Number 1 in the National Illumination Ranking for 10 consecutive years and called the “World’s greatest light festival.” 

1 MAR (SAT) NAGASAKI,

HOTEL NEW NAGASAKI

Kyushu is the major place of production for strawberry. We will enjoy “Strawberry picking” in season. You get a chance to taste sweet and fresh Japanese strawberries as many as you like. Then proceed to Nagasaki, an intriguing and attractive city with an incredible history with close ties to Europe and China. Today’s lunch will be Nagasaki prefecture’s famous local specialty dish “Turkish rice” which is a pork cutlet on rice pilaf and spaghetti along with salad on one plate. It’s like a plate lunch in Hawaii. Then we will visit Nagasaki’s most popular spot “Glover Garden” an emblem of Nagasaki known as the setting for a famous opera Madame Butterfly. The elegance of the period of foreign settlement, nestled in scenic background offers a superb and extensive view of Nagasaki Harbor. The garden feature the 161 years old former Glover Residence, Japan’s oldest western wooden building that has added to the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage site. Then visit Dejima, a historical site of the former Dutch trading post that was Japan’s only “Window to the outside world” during the national isolation period (1641-1859). You can enjoy strolling at an open-air museum with many different types of traditional buildings to include various residences for Dutch traders, warehouses, a protestant school, etc. We will stay 2 nights at hotel located next to the shopping building with souvenir shops carries Nagasaki’s local souvenirs, supermarket, Tokyu Hands, etc. After hotel check-in, tour guide will take you Holo-Holo near the hotel. 

2 MAR (SUN) NAGASAKI,

HOTEL NEW NAGASAKI

Nagasaki’s unique history has had a tremendous influence from Chinese and Dutch culture. We will visit Koshibyo Shrine, Japan’s only full-scale Chinese style Confucius’s mausoleum built in 1893. This colorful, atmospheric shrine is quite prominent that represent unique culture of Nagasaki. The museum exhibits a wide range of artifacts from China that shows close relation to Nagasaki. Today’s lunch will be “Saraudon fried noodle” major noodle cuisine representing Nagasaki gourmet. Enjoy the rich flavor made from a combination of Crispy, thin, fried noodles with a thick sauce made of fresh ingredients mixed with original chicken-based sauce. At the lunch place, you can enjoy shopping for Pearl products one of Nagasaki’s specialties.  After lunch, visit Nagasaki Peace Park that commemorates the city’s destruction by the Atomic Bomb that was dropped on Aug. 9, 1945. There is a massive Peace Statue and various other statues which promote and urge the concept of World Peace. We will also visit Atomic Bomb Museum, aiming to contribute to the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of lasting world peace. Tonight’s dinner will be at a restaurant located half way up the mountain that will offer breathtaking panoramic view of Nagasaki City Skyline which is considered “1 of 3 most spectacular night views in the world” along with Hong Kong and Monaco. 

3 MAR (MON) KUMAMOTO,

HOTEL NIKKO KUMAMOTO

Head to Unzen-Amakusa National Park. We will stop at Chijiwa Observatory where you can look out on the scenery interweaving sites such as Tachibana Bay, Chijiwa Beach, and Mt. Unzen volcano. Here, you can buy Nagasaki’s most popular souvenir sweets “Castella sponge cake” at a direct sales store. Later catch a 45-minute ferry ride to the third largest city in Kyushu “Kumamoto”, an old castle town blessed with an abundance of nature. Today’s lunch will be the soul food of Kumamoto people “Taipi En soup” which is a healthy noodle soup with plenty of toppings such as seafood and fried eggs. After lunch, we will visit Suizenji Garden. A spacious Japanese style garden built in 17th century that is registered as a National Historic Site of Scenic beauty. This landscape garden features the reproductions of the 53 post stations of the Tokaido road which is the most important route in Edo period, connecting Kyoto to Edo (modern-day Tokyo). Enjoy a relaxing walk along a circular path where you can even find a miniature Mt. Fuji. If you like Japanese sweets, you can try a local treat “Ikinari Dango Dumpling” has a fresh texture and simple sweetness. It’s a steamed manju filled with thick Azuki red bean paste and mashed Japanese sweet potato that is sold at the shop on the approach to Suizenji Park. Tonight, we will stay at excellent city hotel located center of the city and close to department store and shopping arcade. Enjoy Holo-Holo after hotel check-in! 

4 MAR (TUE) KAGOSHIMA,

KAGOSHIMA SUN ROYAL HOTEL (ONSEN) ♨ 

Head to Hitoyoshi, a 700-year-old castle town called a “Hidden gem in Kyushu.” We will visit Kamada Jozojo a long-established Miso and Shoyu maker producing products that has the unique flavor and aroma created by the natural fermentation.   See the place of their Miso & Shoyu are made and enjoy shopping for their authentic products at their factory shop. Afterwards, head to Kagoshima that has been gaining attention because of a historical figure 'The Last Samurai' Takamori Saigo who was born and raised in Kagoshima. Here, Kagoshima is renowned for its black pork, we will enjoy Tonkatsu pork cutlet lunch. After lunch, we will visit Sengan-en Garden. This beautiful Japanese-style landscape garden attracts tourists because of a so-called distinction of “1 of the 36 Japan’s most stunning places” selected by CNN. This World Heritage sites was constructed in 1658 with fine design has a refined taste, using Kinko bay to resemble the pond and Sakurajima Island as the miniature mountain of the garden. For those who want to, you can try their specialty “Jambo Mochi.” This large Moch dumpling is served on two bamboo skewers are said to have been loved by Samurais of this area. We will stay at a modern city hotel that faces Sakurajima Island, the symbol of Kagoshima. Enjoy a relaxing soak in the Onsen Hot Spring bath while viewing Sakurajima Island located in front of the bathtub. 

5 MAR (WED) MIYAZAKI,

MIYAZAKI KANKO HOTEL (ONSEN) ♨ 

Today we will visit the Museum of Meiji Restoration, you can learn about dramatic history of the Meiji Restoration that is called “the end of Samurai era” with robotic show including Takamori Saigo appearing with English translation. Then catch a 15-minute ferry which allows you to enjoy the beauty of Kinko bay and Sakurajima Island, one of world’s most active volcanoes with minor eruptions occurs multiple times per day. After landing on the island, you can feel the power of nature when you can see steam rising from the earth. Today, we will enjoy local seafood of Kagoshima for lunch. Then proceed to Miyazaki, known for its natural splendor thanks to an environment of rich nature, green mountains, and a beautiful coastline. We will visit Aoshima Island, a National Special Natural Monument with unusual wavy rock formation called Oni-no Sentakuita (Ogre’s washboard), with stripe patterns that show up at low tide. These perfectly straight rows of rock look as if they were manmade. We will stay at popular resort hotel across Oyodo River. Enjoy a relaxing soak at the Onsen Hot Spring bath and Open-air bath.  

6 MAR (THU) BEPPU,

MORINOYU RESORT (ONSEN) ♨

Go to Saitobaru, a National Historic Site where more than 300 burial mounds from 4th ~ 7th century that are scattered around which is the largest site in Japan. We’ll visit Archaeological Museum displaying excavated artifacts from the tombs taking you back to ancient time in Japan. Today’s lunch will be Miyazaki prefecture’s most popular local cuisine “Chicken Nanban” or Fried chicken with tartar sauce. This local specialty was inspired by the Portuguese meal which is thought to have brought to Kyushu in 17th-century by Portuguese traders. Then to Usuki to see most celebrated Buddha Sculptures that were carved into the cliff during 12~14th century. The high-quality number of sculptures represent the Japanese piety and Japan’s National Treasure. Then proceed to Beppu, called “Onsen Hot Spring Capital” because of the world’s 2nd largest source of thermal spring water after Yellowstone National Park. Tonight you can enjoy the famous Beppu’s Onsen Hot Spring bath and Open-air bath. You can try using the mixed bathing Onsen “Soranoyu” with wearing a bathing suit. If you wish you can rent a bathing suit if you do not bring one (Limited number). 

7 MAR (FRI) KOKURA,

RIHGA ROYAL HOTEL KOKURA

We will enjoy the awesome attraction Beppu Jigoku (Hell of Boiling Spring). Tour the hot springs for spectacular views instead of bathing which has a different effect in its own way. We will see Chinoike Jigoku (blood pond Hell) features a pond of hot, blood-red water. This amazing pond takes its impressive color from red clay that dissolves in the natural hot spring water. And see Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell). One of the most beautiful hells features a pond of boiling, turquoise blue water that resembles the sea. Its waters are 394ft depth and with a temperature of 208 degree F. Today’s lunch will be a local specialties of Oita prefecture, Toriten (chicken tempura), Dango Soup (Miso soup with strip shape wheat dumplings) and Yaseuma (a sweet desert of hand-pulled dumpling covered with sweetened soybean flour). After lunch, we will go to Ao-no Domon that is the rugged 600ft long tunnel that one Buddhist monk in 18th century had dug only by using chisel by his hand and taking 30 years to complete. You can feel the monk’s indomitable spirit trying to repent for his sins. Then proceed to Kita Kyushu, the second largest city in Kyushu. We will stay 2 nights at hotel next to Kokura train station and its shopping area. After hotel check in, tour guide will take you Holo-Holo to station area. 

8 MAR (SAT) KOKURA,

RIHGA ROYAL HOTEL KOKURA

Today we will go out Kyushu and head to Japan’s Main island (Honshu). We will cross Kanmon Straits to get Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi prefecture which is located at the end of Japan’s main island. This strategic location has made here historically significant. It’s known by some great historical sea battles in Japanese history such as battle leading to the fall of the Heike clan in 1185 and duel between Musashi Miyamoto and Kojiro Sasaki in 1612. We will visit famous Karato fish Market for some fun shopping for dried seafood, seaweed, processed sea products, etc., with a lively atmosphere. For seafood lovers, this will be the best chance to enjoy today’s fresh caught Sushi at the famous fish market (You can purchase at your own expense from 1 piece to several pieces). Later visit Shiranoe Botanical Garden to see the early bloomers from the 60 different varieties of 800 Sakura Cherry trees depending on mother nature.We will also enjoy shopping at Aeon Shopping Mall before going back to the hotel. (Lunch & Dinner will be at your own expense)  

9 MAR (SUN) KOKURA / HONOLULU

At check-out time, our agent will tape and tie up the boxes and take the baggage to be checked in. I will go to Fukuoka Airport in the afternoon to catch a domestic flight from Japan Airlines to Haneda Airport. Then, catch our Japan Airlines international flight in the evening to Honolulu. Arrive in Honolulu the same morning, MAR 9 (Sunday). After clearing U.S. Customs, proceed home. (Lunch & Dinner will be at your own expense)

Clients remaining back can get plane, train, and hotel reservations. Members may return to Honolulu individually but no later than 90 days from the day of departure. Weekend returns will cost more per person. Please call our office if you are extending your stay. MAHALO!

*Itinerary and Meals are subject to change at any time.

*** TOUR CONDITIONS ***

AIR: Estimated airfare, which May be more or less at the time of ticket purchase. Airline tickets are non-refundable once purchased unless you request a refundable ticket, which is usually charged by the airline. 

INCLUDES: Land Transportation included in the itinerary, all hotel accommodations, meals, sightseeing listed, all passenger and baggage transfers, souvenir pictures, and tour tax.

DOES NOT INCLUDE AIRFARES and individual expenses after tour termination as stated in the itinerary. Also, wine, liquor, mineral water, laundry, and other items of a personal nature, as well as the cost of obtaining a passport and visa or other necessary documents.

LAND TOUR CANCELLATION POLICY PER PERSON:

At tour sign-up, a non-refundable and non-transferable deposit of $250.00 per person is required. This deposit will be applied to the full payment.

70 DAYS - 46 DAYS --- $800.00*

45 DAYS - 22 DAYS --- $1,000.00*

21 DAYS - 01 DAY ----- $1,500.00*

*No refund once the tour starts. *There may be extra cancellation charges along with the preordered event tickets for Miyako Odori show tickets, Tokyo Disney Sea tickets, Shinkansen ticket fees, etc. If the yen has already been purchased to pay for this tour, then the yen exchange rate at the time of refund will affect the refund since we have to convert the yen back to U.S. dollars again.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL TOHOKU TRAVEL SERVICE LLC 

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