Kyushu Flowers and Springtime Tour 2021 April 18Th
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Kyushu Flowers and Springtime Tour 2021 April 18th – 25th, 2021 6nts/8days from: $2595 dbl/tpl and $2895 single Cancel for any reason up to 60 days prior-FULL REFUND! Maximum Tour size is 24 tour members! Japans’ spring flowers paint the prefecture, turning its landscape into watercolor paintings. With summer just around the corner, this is an ideal time to visit Kyushu and enjoy the regions’ sunny days and comfortable temperatures. Besides the stunning vistas of azaleas and wisteria, there is beauty in the spring maples, their budding new leaves often referred to as “spring foliage”. It is said that they are as lovely as their fall cousins. There is so much more on our tour, a visit to Kokura Castle, a ropeway ride, historic Hasami Pottery Town, bullet train, ferry ride, two hands-on experiences and two sake brewery visits. We have also included an onsen stay as well as Mameda Town, nicknamed “Little Kyoto”. Enjoy strolling its historic district and reminiscence of Japan’s glorious days. Come, join us on this truly unique tour. It is Kyushu at its best! Itinerary/Details Day 1 – April 18th, 2021 Sunday – Depart from Honolulu Hawaiian Airlines #827 Departs Honolulu 1:00 pm – Arrive Fukuoka 6:40 pm + 1 International check in begins 3 hours prior to the departure time. Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines check-in counters, Lobby 4, in Terminal 2. After clearing security, you will meet up once again at the gate area. Day 2 – April 19th, 2021 Monday – Fukuoka-Hakata After clearing customs, we will be met by our local guide and then the short bus ride to our hotel for the next two nights, Hotel Clio Court Hakata, adjacent to the JR Hakata Station. Location, hard to find a more convenient spot, just steps from so many dining and shopping options. After checking in, the remainder of the evening is free. Welcome to Fukuoka, Kyushu’s largest city and Japan’s sixth largest. It is made up of two former towns, the Fukuoka castle town on the west bank of the Naka-gawa and Hakata on the east. The two towns merged in 1889 as Fukuoka, though the name Hakata is still widely in use. As an example, it is Fukuoka Airport but Hakata Station. Whatever you call it; this youthful, user-friendly metropolis has a cosmopolitan charm, peppered with the flavors of its Asian neighbors. Hakata traces its trading history back some 2000 years, which continues today with visitors from Seoul and Shanghai. Among Japanese, the city is famed for its 'Hakata bijin' (beautiful women), SoftBank Hawks’ baseball team and hearty Hakata ramen. If Fukuoka does not burst with sights like Tokyo or Kyoto, its friendly atmosphere, warm weather, and contemporary attractions – art, architecture, shopping, and cuisine – make up for it Hotel Clio Court Hakata Hakata JR Station Accommodations: Hotel Clio Court Hakata free Day 3 – April 20th, 2021 Tuesday – Hakata-Kokura-Hakata (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:15am as we are off to visit Kokura, an ancient castle town and perhaps the luckiest Japanese city during WWII. Clouds and poor visibility on the morning of August 9th, 1945 saved the city from the atomic bomb, only to strike nearby Nagasaki. The drive time is approximately one-hour and once here we will be visiting Kokura Castle, the only castle left standing in Fukuoka Prefecture. First built in 1602, destroyed by fire, damaged, and rebuilt several times to its present state, a more modern version to make it more visually appealing. The castle tower of Kokura Castle has an architectural style called “Karazukuri” and was said to be the only castle using this style in the country when it was built, making it rare. Karazukuri refers to the structure where the upper floor is made larger than the lower floor and is overhanging. In Kokura Castle, the 5th floor is larger than the 4th floor. Once inside, learn a little more about its history, the story of Kokura during the Edo Period. Climb inside a palanquin (an Eastern-style sedan chair) and pretend to be Japanese royalty, enjoy the two beautiful gold-leaf tiger painting that adorn the walls and at the top of the castle, incredible views overlooking Kokura Castle Garden. We will also enjoy our first hands-on experience, a tea ceremony. From here, off to Gintengai Shopping Street, a covered shopping arcade that is connected to the JR Kokura Station. This is the first shopping street in Japan to add a covered arcade, in 1951. At 400-meters long, it is a favorite with locals. Among the many shops are a variety of bakeries and restaurants that feature yaki-udon, a Japanese stir fry dish consisting of thick, smooth, white udon noodles mixed with a soy-based sauce, meat, and vegetables. The street is home to Tsujiri Teahouse, a famous long-running teahouse that is known for its popular matcha green tea desserts. Enjoy free time to explore, shop, and have lunch on your own. Our afternoon of touring includes a ride on the Mt. Sarakurayama Ropeway, the longest cable car in western Japan. In just 5-minutes you will travel 1-kilometer, 440 meters above sea leave, enjoying magnificent views in the comfort of a glass enclosed car. Transfer over to the slope car which takes you to the peak. At this viewing spot, enjoy Kita-Kyushu City in 360 degrees. We now make our way back to Hakata and our hotel, arrival by 4:45pm. Once back, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Accommodations: Hotel Clio Court Hakata free Day 4 – April 21st., 2021 Wednesday – Hakata-Nagasaki (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 9:00am as we make our way to Nagasaki. The morning begins with a drive to Saga, a small prefecture on Kyushu Island The prefecture's best-known tourist attraction is its pottery, especially the pottery from the town of Arita. The drive time is approximately 1.5 hours. Once here, we begin with a visit to Mifuneyama Rakuen for azalea viewing. This expansive 500,000 square meter park is at the base of Mt. Mifune and was constructed at the bequest of a former feudal lord. Quite often called Mt. Karafune which translates as “Chinese ship”, as it is said to resemble one. While the garden is a popular site for cherry blossom, in April folks come to view the 50,000 azaleas which merge in a way that gives the appearance of a traditional Chinese painting. From here, a short drive to the historic town of Hasami, nestled in the mountains. With hills full of porcelain stone, timber and mountain streams providing fresh water, the town has thrived as a center of ceramic- making since olden times. The first porcelain is said to have been made around 1610, and production has continued uninterrupted for more than 400 years. We will be stopping at the Hasami Pottery Center which includes a museum and its biggest attraction, the porcelain store. Pottery from over 30 Hasami Kilns can be found here. Each kiln has their own unique designs and characteristics. Enjoy free time to browse and shop. Time for lunch at a local restaurant On our way to Nagasaki, a stop at the Kasutera (Honey Cake) Factory in Isahaya. Now a specialty of Nagasaki, the cake was brought by way of Portuguese merchants in the 16th century. The name is derived from Portuguese Pao de Castela, meaning “bread from Castile”. This popular Japanese sponge cake is made from 4 basic ingredients-sugar, eggs, bread flour and honey. It has assumed a distinctly light Japanese flavor and texture over the centuries. They are available several flavors such as honey, chestnut, and green tea. Enjoy tasting and as well, a great omiyage gift giving item. Kasutera (Honey Cake) Factory After a short drive, we arrive in Nagasaki, our hotel, Hotel New Nagasaki at approximately 4:30pm. After checking in, the remainder of the evening is free. Our hotel is ideally located, just a short walk to the JR Nagasaki Station. You are just steps away from a variety of shopping and dining options. Nagasaki which suffered the same fate as Hiroshima in August 1945, the bombing on August 9th was the last major act of WWII and within days the Japanese had surrendered. Today Nagasaki is a vibrant, charming, and unique gem. Rebuilt on the rubble and ashes of the old city, it is now a sprawling city of 440,00 inhabitants. It is a welcoming and peaceful city with a colorful trading history, alluring churches, shrines, temples, and an East-meets-West culinary scene, prettily set within around a gracious harbor. Accommodations: Hotel New Nagasaki free Day 5 – April 22nd, 2021 Thursday –Nagasaki-Kirishima (B/D) Please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:00am as we journey off to Kirishima, one of Japan’s first national parks, designated in 1934. Located in the central part of Kagoshima Prefecture, it offers scenic mountain beauty, volcanoes, and crater lakes. The area is legendary in the ancient mythology of Japan. The drive time is approximately 2.5 hours including a rest stop along the way. The morning begins with a drive to the Shimabara Port for the ferry ride over to Kumamoto. The departure time is 10:15am, arriving at 10:45am. Our bus will be traveling along with us on the crossing. Once here, a visit to Saukra no Baba, an area filled with shops, restaurants and museums detailing the history of Kumamoto.