2021 Historical Summer Break Tour #2 /Universal Studios Japan/Kobe and Nara June 6th – 13th, 2021

6nts/8days from: $2350 triple $2395 double $2850 single Cancel for any reason up to 60 days prior-FULL REFUND!

Maximum Tour size is 24 tour members!

Japan has a rich history that stretches back thousands of years and the country's ancestors have left their imprint everywhere. It is a world apart – a cultural Galápagos where a unique civilization blossomed, and today thrives in delicious contrasts of traditional and modern. The Japanese spirit is strong, warm, and incredibly welcoming.

We begin in Osaka, Japan's third-largest city where things have always moved a bit faster. It packs more color than most cities with its dazzling neon and vivid storefronts. Above all, it is a city that loves to eat: its unofficial slogan is kuidaore ('eat until you drop'). At night, Osaka shines as it seems that everyone is out for a good meal and a good time.

There is also a full day at Universal Studios Japan, two nights in Kyoto, old Japan with its quiet temples, sublime gardens, and colorful shrines along with visits to Nara and Kobe.

Besides daily sightseeing we have included a ropeway ride, sake brewery visit and a complete free day in Osaka for the very best shopping along the and Dotonbori. This leisurely paced tour offers 4 nights in Osaka and 2 nights in Kyoto.

Itinerary/Details

Day 1 – June 6th, 2021- Sunday – Departure from Honolulu

Hawaiian Airlines #449 Departs Honolulu 2:25 pm – Arrive Kansai 6:45 pm +1

Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines check-in counters, Terminal 2, Lobby 4, a minimum of 3 hours prior to the departure time.

A complimentary meal will be served in-flight.

Day 2 – June 7th, 2021- Monday – Kansai-Osaka

After clearing Passport Control and Customs, we will be met by our local guide and then board the bus as we make our way to Osaka. The drive time is approximately 1 hour.

Welcome to Osaka, Japan’s 3rd most populous city and the working heart of Kansai. Famous for its down- to-earth citizens and the colorful Kansai-ben (Kansai dialect) they speak, it is a good counterpart to the refined atmosphere of Kyoto. Primarily, Osaka is famous for good eating: the phrase kuidaore (eat 'til you drop) was coined to describe Osakans' love for good food. Osaka is also a good place to experience a modern Japanese city. It is only surpassed by Tokyo as a showcase of the Japanese urban phenomenon

Accommodations for our three nights in Osaka are at the Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka, set in a modern high-rise building. Enjoy incredible views of the city and its surrounding from your room.

The hotel is ideally located just a few minutes’ walk to Shinsaibashi, Osaka’s most famous entertainment district and Dotonbori, where you can sample many of Osaka’s most famous dishes.

Shinsaibashi is the perfect spot for window-shopping and strolling. There is no shortage of places to shop, especially flanked by Amerika-mura and the Dotonbori, and Crysta Naghori underground, but this shopping arcade has charm. Not only does it have a wide selection of stores sure to please anyone, but the southern end of the arcade is at the Dotonbori River, a great sightseeing spot and home to that famous 'eat-til-you-burst' Osakan cuisine.

There are many choices for dinner as well as the endless streets for shopping.

Famous Blade Runner Neon Shinsaibashi Shopping Dotonbori Street

Accommodations: Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka free

Day 3 – June 8th, 2021- Tuesday – Osaka (B)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off to discover Osaka.

The morning begins with a visit to the , one of Osaka’s most popular landmark sights. Travel back in time almost 400 years to feudal Japan on the chaos and violence of an epic conflict—the final one of the samurai era. In 1614 and 1615 hundreds of thousands of samurai—blasting guns, shooting arrows, and wielding swords—unleashed their force on the Osaka castle, inaugurating the downfall of the Toyotomi clan and sealing Tokugawa Ieyasu's position as Japan's undisputed master. Explore the fury of samurai warfare— from gory beheadings to fierce sword fights.

For days Ieyasu's forces barraged the castle's walls with fire from 300 cannons, causing fear and confusion. In January 1615 Hideyori finally signed a treaty, ending what became known as the Winter Siege, or Fuyu no Jin. But the truce fell apart, and the Summer Siege, or Natsu no Jin, began.

Magnificent Osaka Castle has been destroyed – and restored – several times, with its most extensive refurbishment completed in 1997. As you walk around you can still marvel at its massive stone walls, gold- leaf trim, copper roof, and panoramic views. There is also a fascinating on-site museum that chronicles its tumultuous history.

Osaka Castle snacks & souvenirs view from top of castle perch

From here, a visit to Tsutenlaku Tower, a well-known landmark of Osaka, located in the district. It is a colorful area with many inexpensive shops and eateries, but best known for its iconic tower.

The original tower built in 1912 was designed to resemble the Paris’ Eiffel Tower on top and the Arc de Triomphe at its base. The name “Tsutenkaku” translates as “Sky Route Tower”. At the time it was the second largest structure in Asia. It became a symbol of pride for Osaka and people flocked to see it.

Badly damaged by fire in 1943, it was disassembled; however, local people campaigned for a new tower to replace it and the current tower was built in 1956. Standing at 103 meters tall it was designed by the architect Tachu Naito, who also designed Tokyo Tower.

Shinsekai was designed as an entertainment district in the early 20th century, originally modelled after the cities of New York and Paris. Opened in 1912, “Shinsekai” literally means “New World” and because of its modern image the area quickly became a popular tourist attraction.

At the heart of this district was the Luna Park, an amusement park modelled on the original Luna Park in New York’s Coney Island. The park featured rides, an amusement arcade, a music hall, and a hot spring spa. It was only opened for 11 years and as you walk around, you will notice the remnants of the one-time carnival atmosphere.

We will be visiting the tower’s observation decks on the 4th and 5th floors for a panoramic view of the city. Afterwards, enjoy some free time to explore the area and have lunch on your own.

We now return to our hotel and after time to freshen up, meet your guide in the lobby as we are off on a walking tour to explore Amerika-mura and Namba.

We begin at Amerika-mura, the center of youth culture in Osaka. The area is filled with vintage clothing stores, cafes, galleries and much more. America-Mura is always full of young people sporting unique fashions. There are performances and flea markets which create a lively, fun atmosphere. In need of adding a little Hawaii to your life, there is a Hula Grill in the neighborhood.

Amerikamura From here, a short walk over to Namba Walk, Osaka’s underground shopping city with over 240 shop and restaurants. If you have any questions, please ask our local guide. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free.

. Accommodations: Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka free

Day 4 – June 9th, 2021- Wednesday – Osaka (B)

After breakfast, enjoy a complete free day. For those who may want to walk over and visit Kuromon Market, your Panda escort will arrange a time to meet. It is one of the main food markets in Osaka with more than 190 years of history and tradition. This very popular market is known by locals as "Gastronome" and "Osaka' s Kitchen".

All kinds of fresh food items are available here, fully satisfying the hunger of the people of Naniwa (Naniwa is the old name for this area). 600 meters long with over 170 stalls, Kuromon Market offers not only food, but a complete range of household goods and yes even appliances.

Just about a block away is Doguyasuji Shopping Street, a 150-meter-long shopping arcade lined with specialty shops selling cookware, kitchen utensils and restaurant supplies. This arcade with its variety of appliances, tableware and cooking accessories provides an interesting counterpoint to Kuromon Market and can also be a good spot for picking up some unique souvenirs.

You can either return with the Panda Travel escort or stay long and make your own way back. Enjoy the day!

Accommodations: Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka free

Day 5 – June 10th, 2021- Thursday – Osaka-Universal Studios Japan-Osaka (B)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are headed to Universal Studios Japan (USJ) for a full day of fun.

The park currently has eight sections: Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Waterworld, Amity Village, Universal Wonderland and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Enjoy the many amusement rides, ranging from child-friendly carousels to thrilling roller coasters and simulators based on popular movies such as Spiderman, Back to the Future, Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park.

In addition to rides, the theme park offers many opportunities to take pictures with popular characters' mascots such as Snoopy, Hello Kitty and the puppets of Sesame Street. There are also various shows throughout the day. Just outside the park's gates is Universal Citywalk Osaka, a shopping mall with a variety of restaurants and shops, including stores selling Universal Studios merchandise and Osaka souvenirs. The Osaka Museum, which is essentially a collection of several popular vendors of the local dish gathered under one roof, is located on the mall's fourth floor.

Our scheduled departure time from the park is at 5:30pm, arriving back at our hotel by 6:00pm. Once back, the remainder of the evening is free. Accommodations: Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka free

Day 6 – June 11th, 2021- Friday – Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto (B/L)

Please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we bid our good-byes to Osaka and journey off to Kobe before ending our day in Kyoto. The drive time to Kobe is just under 1-hour

Welcome to Kobe, famous for its beef and crisp, pure sake, this Japanese port city is one of Japan’s most attractive and cosmopolitan. From Japan’s earliest days of trade with China, Kobe was a maritime gateway and home to one of the first foreign communities.

Once here, the day begins with a visit to Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens and Ropeway. The ropeway up passes by Nunobiki Waterfall and Nunobiki Herb Garden, allowing for a nice aerial view of both. The highlight of the ride lies in the observation deck at the top.

Nunobiki Herb Garden is one of Japan's largest herb gardens with hundreds of herb species and seasonal flowers. A glasshouse in the garden makes growing flowers and fruits such as guavas and papayas possible throughout the year. Enjoy time to explore before making the ride back down.

In addition to the observation deck, is a cafe, and souvenir shop which sells many herbal and aromatic products. There is also a "Rose Symphony Garden", where you can enjoy viewing different varieties of roses during their blooming seasons while listening to music.

Next, off to Center Gai Shopping Street, the heart of Kobe and its busiest shopping area. This 550-meter arcade offers a variety of shops. Enjoy free time here to shop and explore before lunch. Today’s lunch is Kobe beef steak.

This afternoon, a visit to the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, the dominant sake brewer in Kōbe's Nada- gogō district, one of Japan's major sake-brewing centers. Our local guide will take us through on tour of this historic, wooden former brewery building, complete with its old wood and straw scents in the air. It is a fascinating look into traditional sake-making methods. Enjoy time for sampling and at their gift shop.

From here, off to Kyoto, the drive time is approximately one-hour. Once here, we check in to our hotel, Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo, ideally located across the street from the JR Kyoto Station and around the block from Aeon Mall. Our arrival will be by 6pm.

Accommodations: Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo free

Day 7 – June 12th, 2021- Saturday – Kyoto (B)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am as we are off to discover Kyoto.

Kyoto is a town of 1.5 million, a place beloved not for its go-all-night sleeplessness but its quiescence: In pockets of Kyoto, you can see Japan as it was centuries ago, as if modernity itself were a simple inconvenience, something to be adapted or ignored as chosen. This is, after all, where everything we think of as Japanese—its court culture, its art, its artisanry, and, oh yes, much of its spectacular cuisine—was born or perfected.

Once here, our day begins with a visit to Kiyomizu Temple, one of the signature World Heritage sites in Kyoto that dates back 1200 years. Kiyomizu-dera is perhaps the most popular of the temples in Kyoto and a fixture in the minds of the Japanese people. The temple's veranda juts out of the side of a mountain supported by 13-meter-high wooden columns. The main hall with its distinctive hip-shaped roof of cypress bark rests to the rear of the veranda and houses within it a priceless statue of Kannon Bodhisattva, the goddess of mercy. From the veranda, one can appreciate fine views facing west over the city of Kyoto. This is an auspicious place to watch the sunset, which may also explain the romantic associations accorded to the temple.

Several other buildings designated as "national treasures" dot the grounds, as do waterfalls and landmarks which have entered popular lore. Thus, people come to the temple to drink water from the falls by collecting it in tin cups; the water is said to have therapeutic properties and drinking from the three different streams is said to confer health, longevity, and success in studies.

There is also a shrine Jishu-jinja Shrine on the grounds and praying there is said to help one succeed in finding an appropriate love match. People desirous of a romantic partner can be seen walking between two prominent stones with their eyes closed. If one can make the journey alone, this is taken as a sign that the pilgrim will find love. Those who need assistance in making the crossing will require an intermediary to help them find their mate.

From here, a visit to two of Kyoto’s most attractive streets, Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka, a pair of lanes that lead down from Kiyomizu-dera Temple toward Nene-no-Michi Lane. While the rest of Japan has adopted modernity with abandon, the old ways remain in Kyoto. The atmosphere of traditional old Kyoto is alive here.

Lined with beautifully restored traditional shophouses and blissfully free of the overhead power lines that mar the rest of Kyoto, this pair of pedestrian-only lanes that make for some of the most atmospheric strolling in the whole city.

You will find a variety of restaurants and teahouses to refresh yourself as you explore, including the single most atmospheric teashop in the city, Kasagiya. There are also souvenir shops selling Kyoto original goods like dolls and Japanese fans, Japanese restaurants using the reconstructed merchant’s house, and ceramic shops stand side by side along the slope. Enjoy free time here to explore and have lunch on your own.

This afternoon, a visit to Kyoto’s famed Golden Pavilion. Be it capped by snow in winter or set against a lush green background in summer, nothing is as symbolic of Kyoto as Kinkaku-ji's golden reflection shimmering across the rippled surface of the pond before it.

Kinkaku-ji is one of Japan's best-known sights. The original building was built in 1397 as a retirement villa for Shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. His son converted it into a temple.

In 1950, a young monk consummated his obsession with the temple by burning it to the ground. The monk's story was fictionalized in Mishima Yukio's The Golden Pavilion. In 1955, a full reconstruction was completed that exactly followed the original design, but the gold-foil covering was extended to the lower floors.

The temple is set in three stories. The 1st floor is Shinden-zukuri, the palace style. It is named Ho-sui-in. The 2nd floor is Buke-zukuri, the style of the samurai house and is called Cho-on-do. The 3rd floor is Karayo style or Zen temple style. It is called Kukkyo-cho.

Both the 2nd and 3rd floors are covered with gold-leaf on Japanese lacquer. The roof, upon which the Chinese phoenix settles, is thatched with shingles.

The entire temple is surrounded by a beautiful garden with a pond in the front called the Mirror Pond. The stones in the pond give a representation of the Buddhist era.

Golden Temple & grounds

We now return to the hotel, arrival by 2:30pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free.

Accommodations: Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo free

Day 8 – June 13th, 2021- Sunday – Kyoto-Nara-Kansai (B/L)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am. While it may be our last day on tour, much to see and do before our flight home this evening.

The morning begins with a short drive to Nara to visit Nara Deer Park and Todaiji Temple.

Nara, the ancient capital city in the Kansai region of Japan. Throughout 2010 the city celebrated its 1300th anniversary. Centuries before anyone had heard of Delhi or Shanghai or London or Paris—and long before anywhere called Kyoto (let alone Tokyo) existed—Nara was the first permanent capital of Japan, and the place where the country began to establish itself as a Buddhist kingdom.

If you think of Japan as a land of bullet trains and J-pop in Shinjuku storefronts, come to Nara—a city filled with rolling hills, ancient temples, and 1,200 entitled deer roaming its old streets.

Our first stop will be at the Nara Deer Park, home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. Considered in Shinto to be messengers of the gods, Nara's nearly 1200 deer have become a symbol of the city and have been designated a natural treasure. You can purchase deer biscuits to feed them. The deer bow immediately when they see you have food.

Just steps away is Nara's premier attraction, Todaiji Temple, and its Great Buddha (Daibutsu), Japan's largest bronze Buddha. When Emperor Shomu ordered construction of both the temple and Daibutsu in the mid- 700s, he intended to make Todaiji the headquarters of all Buddhist temples in the land. As part of his plans for a Buddhist utopia, he commissioned work for this huge bronze statue of Buddha. It took eight castings to complete this remarkable work of art. At a height of more than 15m (50 ft.), the Daibutsu is made of 437 tons of bronze, 286 pounds of pure gold, 165 pounds of mercury, and 7 tons of vegetable wax. However, thanks to Japan's frequent natural calamities, the Buddha of today is not quite what it used to be. In 855, in what must have been a whopper of an earthquake, the statue lost its head. It was repaired in 861, but alas, the huge wooden building housing the Buddha was burned twice during wars, melting the Buddha's head. The present head dates from 1692.

Be sure to walk in a circle around the Great Buddha to see it from all angles. Behind the statue is a model of how the Daibutsuden used to look, flanked by two massive pagodas. Behind the Great Buddha to the right is a huge wooden column with a small hole in it near the ground. According to popular belief, if you can manage to crawl through this opening, you will be sure to reach enlightenment. You can also get your English-language fortune for ¥200 by shaking a bamboo canister until a wooden stick with a number comes out; the number corresponds to a piece of paper.

The wooden structure housing the Great Buddha, called Daibutsuden, was also destroyed several times through the centuries; the present structure dates from 1709. It is the largest wooden structure in the world, but only two-thirds its original size.

Nara Deer Park Todaiji Temple The Great Buddha

We are now off to enjoy a Japanese lunch at a local restaurant.

This afternoon we make our way towards the Kansai area which calls for a last-minute shopping opportunity at the Aeon Mall, nearby the airport. Enjoy free time to shop and maybe even pick up a freshly made bento at the supermarket.

Hawaiian Airlines #450 Departs Kansai 8:45 pm – Arrive Honolulu 9:45 am