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February 5 - 18, 2009 (14 Days & 12 Nights)
$100 EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT
(deposit must be made by 07/31/2008)
Included Features:
Narita, Chitose, Otaru, Sapporo, Asahikawa, Sounkyo Valley, Abashiri, Lake Akan, Tokachigawa Onsen, Shiraoi, Noboribetsu Onsen, Showa Shinzan, Lake Toya, Hakodate, Seikan Tunnel, Aomori, Oirase River Valley, Lake Towada, Morioka, Hanamaki Spa, Hiraizumi, Matsushima, Iwatsuki, Tokyo, Narita
TWIN RATE:
$4,295 per person |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
$ 540 per person |
LAND ONLY:
$3,475 per person |
(Individual arrangements to meet group are not included)
Thursday, February 5 (Day 01)
HONOLULU to NARITA to CHITOSE
Our tour commences this morning when we assemble at the Japan Airlines lobby at the airport for check in procedures for our flight to Narita International Airport. Lunch and a snack will be served on board the flight. After completing entry and customs formalities at Narita Airport, we’ll check in for our domestic flight to Chitose International Airport in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island.
Friday, February 6 (Day 02)
ARRIVE CHITOSE
On arrival at Chitose Airport in the late evening, we will transfer to our hotel located within the airport to check in for the night.
Accommodations at HOTEL COM’S or similar
Saturday, February 7 (Day 03)
CHITOSE - SAPPORO (B)(D)
This morning we’ll make a stop at a shoe shop to purchase special snow shoes to wear during our tour. (optional). We’ll visit the Chitose Shikotsu-ko Hyoto Ice Festival, a fantastic world of ice and snow sculptures at Lake Shikotsu, a beautiful caldera lake located in the central part of Hokkaido. Famed for the clarity of its water, it forms a part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. We’ll continue on to the city of Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido and host of the largest winter festival to spend the next two nights. Enjoy viewing hundreds of spectacular snow statues and ice sculptures - centered on Odori Park at the Sapporo Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival). Created by various artisans, each block has its own special feature, turning Odori Park into a fabulous winter dreamland. In the evening, the festival site is a spectacular sight to see, beautifully illuminated with colored lights. We’ll travel on to the charming port city of Otaru, best known for the historic Otaru Canal. Sections of the canal are lined with many photogenic Meiji and Taisho-era buildings, giving it the atmosphere of an old harbor town. Otaru is also known for its elegant glassware and we’ll have some time to stroll through some of the shops. This evening, enjoy a delicious “Genghis Khan” dinner at the Sapporo Beer Garden.
Accommodations at CENTURY ROYAL HOTEL or similar
Sunday, February 8 (Day 04)
SAPPORO (B)
Hokkaido is the birthplace of beer in Japan and we’ll visit one of their factories to take a guided tour of their facility. At the conclusion of the tour, enjoy samples of some of their delicious products. We’ll visit Susukino, Sapporo’s main entertainment and shopping district - a crystal wonderland displaying more than 100 spectacular ice carvings lining the main street. For lunch, try some Sapporo ramen at Ramen Yokocho, a narrow alley with many small shops serving a wide variety of delicious ramen. Dinner will be on your own this evening to try some local cuisine at one of the restaurants around the area.
Accommodations at CENTURY ROYAL HOTEL or similar
Monday, February 9 (Day 05)
SAPPORO - ASAHIKAWA - SOUNKYO VALLEY (B)(D)
We’ll continue our journey northeast to Asahikawa, the second largest city in Hokkaido. Historically, this area was one of the largest Ainu settlements in Hokkaido. We’ll visit Asahikawa’s own yuki matsuri, the second largest winter festival in Hokkaido to view some spectacular ice carvings and enormous snow sculptures. This afternoon, enjoy some samples of Japan’s most historic brands of sake at the Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum where displays and exhibits demonstrate the sake production process. Our travel continues on to Sounkyo, a hot spring resort nestled in the middle of Sounkyo Valley in Daisetsuzan National Park, the largest of Japan’s national parks. Enjoy dinner and relax in our onsen hotel overlooking the breathtaking Hyobaku Ice Festival in Sounkyo Valley.
Accommodations at HOTEL DAISETSU or similar
Tuesday, February 10 (Day 06)
SOUNKYO VALLEY - ABASHIRI (B)(D)
This morning we’ll visit the Hyobaku Ice Festival, a fantastic world of ice with spectacular man-made ice and snow sculptures and fascinating ice caves produced by the freezing water of the Ishikari River, the mother river of Hokkaido. Sounkyo Gorge, one of Japan’s most renowned gorge extends along the Ishikari River and is renowned for its impressive waterfalls. We’ll make a photo stop to see two of the most picturesque ones - Ryusei-no-taki (Shooting Stars Falls) and Ginga-no-taki (Milky Way Falls). We’ll continue on to Abashiri, a town located on the northern coast of Hokkaido and best known as the site of Japan’s first maximum security prison and for its drift ice. We’ll visit the Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum located on Mount Tento featuring exhibits and a video explaining the history of sea drift ice (ryu-hyo) that floes into the Sea of Okhotsk from Russia. Time permitting, enjoy an outdoor snow activity at this site. Dinner will be provided for you this evening at our onsen hotel.
Accommodations at ABASHIRI KANKO HOTEL or similar
Wednesday, February 11 (Day 07)
ABASHIRI - LAKE AKAN - IKEDA - TOKACHIGAWA ONSEN (B)(D)
Weather permitting, enjoy an exciting experience as we board an icebreaker boat and cruise on the North Hokkaido Sea through the drift ice that floes into the Sea of Okhotsk. We’ll continue on to Lake Akan, a beautiful crater lake in Akan National Park and known for its marimo, a rare green algae species designated as a National Special Natural Monument. Weather permitting, experience and enjoy some of the outdoor winter activities offered at the lake - ice fishing, ice skating, snowmobile rides and more. (own expense). Enjoy dinner and relax in the quaint surroundings of our onsen hotel this evening.
Accommodations at HOTEL DAIHEIGEN or similar
Thursday, February 12 (Day 08)
TOKACHIGAWA - SHIRAOI - NOBORIBETSU ONSEN (B)(D)
Our journey continues on to the town of Shiraoi, to visit Poroto Kotan, a reconstructed Ainu Village and the Ainu Museum. The museum displays interesting exhibits and artifacts relating to the history, culture and lifestyle of the Ainu people. Enjoy a traditional song and dance performance by some of the Ainu villagers and see a demonstration of how to play the “mukkur”, a kind of mouth harp made of a piece of thin shaved bamboo with a thread attached to it. We’ll travel on to Noboribetsu, Hokkaido’s most famous hot spring resort beautifully surrounded by forested hills. One of the major attractions here is Jigokudani (Hell Valley), a ravine with sulfurous volcanic pits and geysers. Enjoy dinner and relax in the hot springs at our fabulous onsen hotel this evening.
Accommodations at NOBORIBETSU GRAND HOTEL or similar
Friday, February 13 (Day 09)
NOBORIBETSU - MT. SHOWA SHINZAN - OSHAMAMBE - HAKODATE (B)(D)
Enjoy a scenic drive along Uchiura Bay to Mt. Showa-Shinzan, a dome located on the east flank of Mt. Usu - created as a result of hundreds of explosive eruptions. Hissing steam still escapes through some of the fissures of this new mountain. We’ll continue our drive around the bay to the seaport city of Hakodate, Hokkaido’s third largest city located at the island’s southern tip. The city is overlooked by Mt. Hakodate and famous for Fort Goryokaku, Japan’s first Western style fortress built in the shape of a five-pointed star. Most of the fort was demolished and its ruins are now Goryokaku Park, a popular cherry-blossom viewing spot during the spring season. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the city and this star-shaped fort from the observation deck of Goryokaku Tower. Dinner will be provided for you at the hotel tonight.
Accommodations at HAKODATE KOKUSAI HOTEL or similar
Saturday, February 14 (Day 10)
HAKODATE - SEIKAN TUNNEL - AOMORI (B)
After breakfast, we’ll have some time to shop at the Hakodate Asaichi (morning) Market where you can bargain with indoor and outdoor vendors offering a wide selection of dried seafood products such as dried scallops and cuttlefish. One of the main attractions is to see a variety of Hokkaido’s famous crabs. We’ll transfer to the Hakodate Railway Station to board a train for a relaxing ride through the Seikan (undersea) Tunnel, connecting Hokkaido to the main island of Honshu. We’ll arrive in Aomori, the capital city of Aomori Prefecture in the early afternoon and transfer to our hotel to check in for the night. The rest of the day will be at your leisure to relax or do some shopping at some of the shops located around the hotel, including a 100-yen shop. Dinner will be on your own this evening.
Accommodations at HOTEL SUNROUTE AOMORI or similar
Sunday, February 15 (Day 11)
AOMORI - OIRASE RIVER VALLEY - LAKE TOWADA - MORIOKA - HANAMAKI SPA (B)(D)
Enjoy a relaxing and scenic drive through the serene Oirase River Valley to view the breathtaking winter riverside scenery with snow-capped trees and beautiful waterfalls - each with its own unique name. We’ll continue on to the city of Morioka, the capital of Iwate-ken and famous for the production of nanbu tetsubin (cast ironware). We’ll visit the Morioka Tezukuri Mura (Handmade Crafts Center) where wood work, pottery, metal work, bamboo and dye workshops are set up to watch experienced craftsmen at work. Time permitting, you can experience making your own nanbu senbei. Enjoy dinner and relax in the hot springs at our hotel this evening.
Accommodations at HOTEL SENSHUKAKU or similar
Monday, February 16 (Day 12)
HANAMAKI - HIRAIZUMI - MATSUSHIMA (B)(D)
After breakfast we’ll depart for Hiraizumi, visiting Chusonji Temple to see the original Konjikido (Golden Hall), regarded as a national treasure. The hall was constructed in the year 1124 to house the remains of three generations of the Fujiwara family and received its name from the unique golden walls covered in gold leaf and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. We’ll continue on to Shiogama Pier to board a sightseeing ferry and enjoy a relaxing cruise on picturesque Matsushima Bay, designated as one of the three most scenic sights in Japan - Nihon Sankei. Enjoy the view of hundreds of pine-studded islets floating on the horizon. These islands have their own names, each relating to a Japanese legend and have various interesting shapes. On arrival in the city of Matsushima, we’ll transfer to our hotel and check in for the night. The afternoon is at your leisure to relax or enjoy a stroll through the town before dinner.
Accommodations at MATSUSHIMA CENTURY HOTEL or similar
Tuesday, February 17 (Day 13)
MATSUSHIMA - IWASAKI - TOKYO (B)
This morning we’ll begin our journey south through the prefecture of Fukushima to the metropolitan city of Tokyo. En route, we’ll make a stop at Iwatsuki city, known as the doll town in Saitama prefecture. This area is well known for having the best raw material - paulownia wood powder used to make Kimekomi and Hina ningyos. We’ll visit the Tougyoku Company - one of the finest producers of traditional dolls in Japan and ranked highest of doll workshops and retail stores before continuing on to Tokyo to spend the night. Dinner will be on your own tonight.
Accommodations at SUNSHINE CITY PRINCE HOTEL or similar
Wednesday, February 18 (Day 14)
TOKYO - NARITA TO HONOLULU (B)
After breakfast this morning, you will have some free time for your own activities until our transfer to Narita International Airport in the late afternoon. We will depart on an evening flight to Honolulu, arriving on the same day due to the crossing of the International Dateline. A late meal will be served on board the flight.
The tour price is based on double occupancy and a minimum group size of 20 passengers. Fare adjustment may apply for groups of 20 or under. The rate is based on tariffs and exchange rates effective 05/01/08. Tour fare is subject to change according to any airfare increase and fluctuation of the rate of exchange between U.S. and foreign currency. In the event of revaluation, the land portion of the tour price may be adjusted prior to your final statement.
Land portion based on 110 Yen = $1.00 U.S.
2009 Terms & Conditions
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