TOUR ITINERARY

18 JUN (WED) HONOLULU,

Leave Daniel K. Inouye International Airport via Japan Airlines Flight. A meal and Snack will be served aboard the flight, and there will be Free Movies and Drinks.

19 JUN (THU) TOMISATO, CHIBA, INTERNATIONAL RESORT HOTEL YURAKUJO (ONSEN) ♨

Arrive at Narita Int’l Airport, and after clearing entry formalities, take a 20-minute bus ride to the hotel, which is set on 29 scenic acres with a vast Onsen Hot Spring Amusement facility. We will stay two nights at the hotel, where you can enjoy peaceful strolling through green gardens, a fountain show, a souvenir shop, various Onsen Hot Spring baths, and traditional Japanese garden-style Open Air Rotenburo baths. 

20 JUN (FRI) TOMISATO, CHIBA, INTERNATIONAL RESORT HOTEL YURAKUJO (ONSEN) ♨

Visit Sawara, the best place to experience Japanese history in Chiba prefecture. The town is filled with the atmosphere of the Edo period (1603-1867) with its old buildings, traditional crafts, and living history. Today, we will enjoy unique experiences the Chiba Tourism Association arranged, especially for our Craft tour. We will enjoy the Hariko Painting Experience. Hariko is a traditional paper-mâché figure made with Japanese Washi paper and meant for lucky charms and children’s toys that date back to the Edo period. Its "Sawara Hariko" has been handed down by local craftsmen for over 100 years. You can try painting your own Hariko doll as a souvenir. We will also enjoy the beautiful Japanese confectionery called “Nerikiri” making experience. You can make and discover the art of creating adorable Japanese sweets called “Nerikiri.” You can make seasonal fresh sweets that vividly reflect the color of nature of the four seasons in Japan. You can taste freshly made Japanese traditional sweets after you make them. Then, we will have time to stroll around Sawara's most popular area, the “Historic District,” which has kept its rustic charm since the Edo period. The streets are lined with old merchants' houses, warehouses, historic buildings, and beautiful bridges that cross the canals, giving you a glimpse of historical Japan. 

21 JUN (SAT) UTSUNOMIYA, HOTEL HIGASHI NIHON UTSUNOMIYA

Go to the newly opened roadside station in April 2023, Joso; you will find all sorts of local souvenirs and specialties of Ibaraki, such as Ibaraki specialty-inspired goods featuring melons, sweet potatoes, and eggs. Finding local goodies from well-done displays is a lot of fun. Then, head to Yuki, a city with a long history of Japanese textiles. Japanese textiles are world-renowned for their intricate design and beautiful natural color. We will visit the Yuki City Traditional Crafts Museum to learn about Yuki Silk Fabric, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Craft. It is the oldest silk-weaving craft in Japan, handed down for more than 2,000 years, and is regarded as one of the highest-quality silk textiles in Japan. We will see a traditional Japanese silk-weaving technique with a demonstration of artisan crating this meticulous hand-woven silk craft. You will be fascinated by the texture that changes with time. It is known for its strong but light and soft characteristics, giving it the reputation as being the finest of kimono textiles. Then, head to Mashiko, renowned as a pottery production center that has produced pottery for over 1,000 years. Enjoy shopping for Mashiko-yaki pottery, which is highly regarded as a fine example of Japanese folk craft. You will see a great variety of pottery, from daily necessities to works of art. Then, proceed to Utsunomiya, a lovely town that is the largest city and the prefectural capital of Tochigi prefecture. We will stay at a nice British-style City hotel, one of the largest City hotels in the Northern Kanto district.  

22 JUN (SUN) MT. BANDAI, HOSHINO RESORT MT. BANDAI ONSEN HOTEL  (ONSEN) ♨

Head to Nasu Highland to visit the famous Minamigaoka Dairy farm. You will get to try its renowned ice cream made from rare cow’s milk that can only be tasted here! It has a rich, sweet, and creamy yet refreshing aftertaste. It has been ranked high in “The Best Ice Cream in Japan.” Then, go to Showa Karamushi Craft Museum to see Karamushi Textiles, a unique top-quality textile fabric praised as "light as the wind and cool as water." It has a soft, silky touch and produces summer clothing, various sundries, and accessories. This museum displays multiple textiles and production tools, allowing you to learn the traditions and techniques nurtured in the snowy region. Later, head to the quaint mountain village of Mishima Town, which was ever selected as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.” We will visit its Local Crafts Museum, which showcases the town’s craft heritage and traditional skills. During the winter of the heaviest snowfall area, local people make traditional handicrafts using vines, leaves, and bark from plants that grow wild on the nearby mountainsides. It's a folk tradition that continues to this day. You will find many beautiful handwoven baskets, bags, and filters that are living works of natural beauty, used and appreciated daily. We will stay two nights at a resort hotel at the foot of Mt. Bandai, the symbol of the Aizu region, which offers beautiful scenery with the harmonious beauty of nature created by the abundant woodlands and lakes. Enjoy a relaxing soak in the Onsen Hot Spring bath known as "Bijin-no yu" or "Hot Spring for beauty." You can also enjoy a local bon dance show at night. 

23 JUN (MON) MT. BANDAI, HOSHINO RESORT MT. BANDAI ONSEN HOTEL  (ONSEN) ♨

Head to Aizu Wakamatsu, a former castle town rich in culture, boasting celebrated local arts and crafts works, especially lacquerware and pottery. Its Aizu Nuri Lacquerware is known for promising drawings and charming, versatile decorations whose tradition spans over 430 years. We will visit the Suzutake Lacquerware Factory and enjoy the Makie Lacquerware Painting Experience. You can design your own lacquered soup bowl using one of the representative decoration techniques of lacquerware called “Makie,” which is finished using gold and silver dusted designs. You will also see various beautiful lacquerware pieces on display and for sale. You will find Akabeko, the legendary Red Cow, all over the town. This Akabeko is a cow-shaped folkcraft toy born in Aizu, which has long been loved as a good luck charm to ward off evil spirits and plagues. We will enjoy the Akabeko painting experience. You can hand paint your Akabeko, a charming and lightweight souvenir to take home. Later, see another local treasure of Aizu, “Aizu Hongo yaki pottery,” designated as National Traditional Craftwork, which is made in the oldest hidden place of pottery in the Tohoku region. We will visit Ryumon-yaki studio. It features a unique “running glaze” pattern, forming a different landscape on every piece. The pieces' high quality and exquisite beauty have led to Aizu Hongo yaki pottery being designated a Traditional Craft of Japan. 

24 JUN (TUE) YAMAGATA, HOTEL METROPOLITAN YAMAGATA

Head to Yonezawa, a beautiful and rustic 476-year-old castle town where you can see the original scenery of Japan. Here’s home to Yonezawa Weave, which has a long history of over 200 years. Their skills and traditions have made them “the best in the world” in terms of weaving technology, equivalent to Como, Italy. Here, we will enjoy the Safflower dying experience designated as a National Traditional Craft. It is an ancient art form renowned for its vivid red and yellow hues, deeply rooted in Yonezawa's cultural heritage. You can design your own "One and Only" souvenir of Yonezawa. Later, visit Good Yamagata, which is a tourist facility with many shops that carry Yamagata’s famous food products, such as sake, rice, rice crackers, local miso, and tsukemono pickles. Our hotel is located above Yamagata train Station and connects to its shopping building. After hotel check-in, tour guides will take you “Holo-Holo” to the shopping area. 

25 JUN (WED) SENDAI, HOTEL METROPOLITAN SENDAI

Yamagata is the largest producer of Cherries in Japan. The tiny and shiny red Japanese cherries grown here represent a perfect balance of sweet and sour. No wonder these jewels of northern Japan are called “Rubies of Summer.” We will visit Ichiro Suzuki Farm and have fun picking and tasting succulent and juicy Japanese Cherries in season. These cherries are very different from the American Cherries. Then, head to Tendo, the production center where 90% of Shogi (Japanese Chess) pieces are produced. This Shogi piece has been designated as the National Traditional Art craft. Here, enjoy making your own Shogi piece. You can choose your favorite Kanji character and write about it in your shogi piece. You can also enjoy shopping for their collection of Shogi products with many different Kanji characters painted on them. We will also enjoy Yamagata’s specialty local food, the Soba noodle-making Experience for lunch. Here, you will learn how to cook and enjoy tasting the Soba you make. Then, proceed to Sendai, the largest city in the Tohoku district and the metropolis in Northern Japan. We will visit the majestic Saihoji Temple, a place of timeless beauty in the forested mountains. Local people come here to pray for good luck in marriage, good health, and success. The main path towards the temple is lined with souvenir shops and stores selling affordable, tasty snacks and sweets, making it the perfect place to enjoy a bite after visiting the temple. Don’t miss trying the famous triangular deep-fried tofu, which is said to be one of the most popular gourmet specialties that can only be tasted here. Then, head to the center of Sendai. We will stay two nights at our hotel connected to Sendai Station, with various shops carrying local goodies, souvenirs, etc. The tour guide will take you to the shopping area after hotel check-in. 

26 JUN (THU) SENDAI, HOTEL METROPOLITAN SENDAI

Head to the trendy Zao Mountain range, which offers picturesque scenery of volcanic mountains. We will enjoy one of Tohoku district’s most famous traditional arts and crafts at the Kokeshi Doll Painting Experience. Kokeshi is a traditional Japanese wooden doll that is only made in the Tohoku district. Making your own Kokeshi doll will surely be a unique memory of a trip to the Tohoku area. We will visit the famous Zao Kokeshi Doll Museum, which boasts Japan’s most extensive collection of handcrafted traditional Kokeshi dolls. You will see displays of the finest examples of 5,500 Kokeshi dolls with many varieties. You can find your favorite Kokeshi doll as a souvenir at the gift shop that carries various types of dolls. We will go to the Zao Dairy Farm Center in the vast fields with the Zao Mountain Range as a backdrop. You can feel the time flow slowly in the meadow. Have you ever made ice cream yourself? We will enjoy a hands-on ice cream-making workshop using local milk to make delicious ice cream. You will end up with your own tasty, freshest ice cream. It can be a lot of fun and an unforgettable experience. Later, visit the Sendai Kaleidoscopes Art Museum. You can see and touch various creative artwork displays and outlined 200-year history of kaleidoscopes. You will be impressed by the creativity and diversity of kaleidoscopes with unique patterns and colors. A museum shop sells many kinds of kaleidoscopes and kaleidoscope decorations, like jewelry. You can upgrade your Kaleidoscope during the “West Japan Craft tour!" We will stop at the Ohagi Store to enjoy shopping for delicious local specialty for “Ohagi,” a rice ball covered with Anko bean paste. Having been made famous through the media, Ohagi has been known to be sold out very quickly. 

27 JUN (FRI) OUSHUKU HOT SPRING, HOTEL MORINOKAZE OUSHUKU (ONSEN) ♨

Visit the Oshu City Nambu Ironware Museum to see the traditional ironware called “Nambu Tekki,” which has 930 years of history. Nambu Iron kettles have outstanding heat distribution, retention, and high durability. Water boiled in a Nambu kettle is known to become smooth and mellow and can enhance tea's flavor and aroma. These qualities, with their beautiful form and craftsmanship, have been highly praised as the world’s best cookware and have gained many fans across the globe. You will see various products for sale, such as intricate design kettles, iron pots, wind chimes, etc. Oshu City is the place where MLB superstar Shohei Otani was born and raised until high school. Visit the baseball field of his former high school and see a monument that displays his handprint. We will also visit Marukan Building Restaurant, where his favorite sweets can be eaten. Shohei’s favorite is “Chocolate Banana Crape,” a famous soft-served ice cream eaten with chopsticks. Then, head to Oushuku. We will stay at the popular Onsen resort hotel surrounded by forest. After dinner, you can enjoy the Local Minyo Singing Show. Soak and Relax in the Onsen Hot Spring and open-air bath where you can see beautiful Mt. Iwate on a clear day. 

28 JUN (SAT) AKITA, HOTEL METROPOLITAN AKITA 

Go to Morioka Handicraft Village to see the manufacturing process of traditional handmade arts and crafts in Morioka, such as Nambu pottery, ironware, woodcraft, etc. Here, we will enjoy a unique and authentic cultural experience, “Traditional Bamboo Craft making,” passed down as a side job for local farmers for over 1,000 years. We will try bamboo weaving with local Nambu Suzutake bamboo to make an accessory case. The color of this traditional material changes as time passes. Later, go to Koiwai Dairy farm, founded in 1891, a 7,400-acre private farm at the foot of Mt. Iwate. Seeing stunning nature and the beautiful landscapes of Mt. Iwate is very splendid. Later, head to Kakunodate, an Old Samurai town. Enjoy browsing around the old samurai town that remains remarkably unchanged since its founding in 1620. Kakunodate’s most prominent craft is cherry bark woodwork (Kabazaiku). This artisanal craft uses barks of mountain cherry, an antibacterial material, to make tea canisters, dishes, food trays, furniture, etc. We visit Kabazaiku Museum to learn about the traditional local craft that is designated as a national traditional craft. You will see displays of cultural and historical items, finished items and artworks, and a demonstration of cherry bark works. Later, proceed to the hotel in Akita City, the fourth largest city in the Tohoku district. We will stay two nights at a hotel connected to Akita train station and its shopping building, where you can enjoy shopping for local Akita goodies. 

29 JUN (SUN) AKITA, HOTEL METROPOLITAN AKITA

In the morning, visit Akita Furusato village, a theme park with many attractions. It’s fascinating to see the Industrial Arts Exhibition Hall, which exhibits various local crafts and performing arts in Akita. It’s also essential to visit its Local souvenir section, which carries over 10,000 items. You can purchase Akita’s local specialties, such as Sake, Rice, Miso, Inaniwa Udon noodles, Pickles, etc. The Art and Craft Fair should be held on this day. This pleasant market is only held twice a year. It offers handmade jewelry, ornaments, clothes, etc., which artists make from all over Japan. Then, go to Akita Marugoto Market, which sells Akita’s signature agricultural products and souvenirs. You can buy Akita’s groceries, snacks, etc. Before returning to the hotel, we will also enjoy shopping and lunch at Aeon Shopping Mall. (Lunch / Dinner will be at your own expense). 

30 JUN (MON) AKITA / HANEDA / HONOLULU,

At checkout time, our agent will come to tape and tie up the boxes and take the baggage to be checked in. In the afternoon, leave the hotel by bus for Akita Airport to catch a domestic flight to Haneda International Airport. We will catch our international flight to Honolulu in the evening. Arrive in Honolulu the same morning, 30 June (Monday). 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 by 90 days from departure. Weekend returns will cost more per person. Please call our office if you are extending your stay. MAHALO!

*Price, Itinerary, and Meals are subject to change without notice.*

*** TOUR CONDITIONS ***

INCLUDES: Land Transportation included in the itinerary, all hotel accommodations, meals, sightseeing listed, all transfer of passenger and baggage, and souvenir group picture.

DOES NOT INCLUDE: Individual expenses after tour termination as stated in the itinerary—the cost of obtaining all personal items, passport/visa, and other necessary documents. 

AIR: JAL's TFS (Fuel Surcharge) determines the final price for the group economy booking. For premium economy, business, and outer-island bookings, please don't hesitate to contact our office for a price quote as soon as possible. For more information, please refer to the  Airline Questions segment of our Frequently Asked Questions. 

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.

69 DAYS - 46 DAYS --- $800.00*

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

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

*There will be 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 

TOLL FREE PH: 1-888-966-3666

PH: 808-536-8618

EMAIL: tohoku.travel.hi@gmail.com 

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