Jewels of Southern - The Springtime Tour March 26th – April 3rd, 2021 The beauty of Japan during Cherry Blossom Season is breathtaking.

7nts/9days from: $2695 triple $2795 double $3195 single Cancel for any reason up to 60 days prior-FULL REFUND! Maximum Tour size is 24 tour members!

Join us on this unique “Jewels of Southern Japan” tour and discover another side of this fascinating country, away from the crowded tourist spots, smaller locations, and unique experiences.

Our tour takes us to the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea. This body of water separates Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū, three of Japan’s five main islands. Our touring includes Shodoshima Island, the beautiful Olive Island and Awajishima Island, home to the world’s longest suspension bridge and its most famous attraction, the Naruto whirlpools.

Shikoku is the smallest of the Japanese archipelago’s four main islands in Japan’s southwest. We will visit Takamatsu, the lively port town in Northern Shikoku, serving as the gateway to the many islands in the Seto Inland as well, Naruto, to cruise out and experience the whirlpools, a natural phenomenon.

On Honshū Island, visit the Japanese port of Kobe, a thriving metropolitan city, and Himeji, most famous for its magnificent castle, known as White Heron Castle. Our tour ends with two nights in , Japan’s second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo. It is a vibrant city filled with unique culinary, cultural, and eye-popping experiences you will not find anywhere else in Japan.

Beside daily sightseeing we have included a sake brewery visit, soy sauce brewery, a ropeway ride over the Kankakei Groge, hands-on making experience, dance show, the Naruto whirlpool sightseeing cruise and a complete free day in Osaka for the ultimate shopping experience.

Cherry blossom sites we will be visiting include, Himeji Castle, Kokoen Garden, Ritsurin Garden, Kompira Shrine, and Nishinomura Garden. There is also England Hill, for rape blossoms. It is a breathtaking sight, a meadow ablaze with 100,000 yellow flowers.

Itinerary/Details

Day 1 – March26th, Friday – Depart from Honolulu

Hawaiian Airlines #449 Departs Honolulu 1:10 pm – Arrive Kansai 6:45 pm +1

Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines ticket counter located in Terminal 2, Lobby 4, a minimum of 3 hours prior to the flight departure time.

Day 2 – March 27th, Saturday – Kansai

After clearing customs, our local English-speaking guide will meet and join us for the walk over to the hotel for the evening, Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport.

Ideally located on the airport grounds, there are many dining and shopping options just steps away. There is also a 24-hour convenience store nearby. Rest up for tomorrow we are off to Hiroshima.

After check-in, your Panda Travel escort will be set a time for those who would like to explore the 3rd floor at Kansai Airport. Here you will find a variety of shop and restaurants.

Accommodations: Nikko Kansai Airport Hotel free

Day 3 – March 28th, Sunday –Kansai- Kobe-Himeji (B)

After breakfast, please meet up with your guide by 9:00 am. We are off on a full day of touring that ends in Himeji later this afternoon.

The morning begins with a visit to the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, located in Kobe’s brewery district. This brewery is inside an old sake kura and unlike a modern museum, the interior has the unique smell and look of an old-world brewery, which the building is. Enjoy a tour of the facilities and complimentary tastings. There gift shop offers certain sake that can only be purchased here. The drive time is approximately 1-hour.

From here, off to Akashi, a small port city in Hyogo Prefecture, not fare from Kobe. It is on the way down the Seto Inland Sea coastline towards Himeji. Once here we will be visiting the Uonotana Shopping Arcade and home to a lesser known fish market that is well worth the visit, Uonotana. Unlike its famous Tokyo counterpart, Tsukiji, you will hardly ever see a foreign tourist here.

For over 400 years locals have been fishing of the Akashi Straights and selling their wares at this market. Uonotana (literally 'fish shelf') Fish Market is a riot of color - both from the advertising banners hanging from the ceilings, and from the vast array of fish and seafoods on the stalls below.

Enjoy free time here to wander around soaking up the sights, sounds, and smells of an authentic Japanese fish market. It is lunch on your own, and the specialty here is fresh seafood. You will find an extensive selection and plenty of stalls offering sashimi, octopus, crabs, and other shellfish. Its all very fresh, caught daily and a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach.

From here, a short drive to Himeji, home to Japan’s largest and most beautiful castle. This afternoon we will be visiting Himeji Castle and Kokoen Garden.

Himeji Castle, also known as White Heron Castle due to its elegant, white exterior, in resemblance to a bird taking flight. It is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprised of 83 building.

The castle is both a national treasure and a world heritage site. Unlike many other Japanese castles, it was never destroyed by war, earthquake or fire and survives to this day as one of the country's twelve original castles. Extensive renovations over several years were completed and the castle re-opened to the public in early 2015.

Himeji Castle views from the top original stone walls

Himeji Castle is known as one of the top places in Japan to view cherry blossoms with over 1,000 cherry trees on the grounds. During this period, the white façade hovers over a sea of pink blossoms and make for the perfect viewing spot.

Next, a visit to a beautiful garden park, Kokoen Gardens, located next to Himeji Castle. This Japanese garden is a recent addition, opened in 1992 to commemorate the centenary of Himeji City. It is divided into nine separate walled gardens designed in various styles reflective of Edo-period architecture. While less than the castle grounds, cherry blossoms can also be enjoyed here.

Kokoen Garden

Close-by, our hotel for the evening, Hotel Nikko Himeji, adjacent to the Himeji JR Station and less than a two-minute walk to the covered shopping arcade, Miyuki dori. This long shopping street runs all the way from Himeji Station to the square in front of the castle.

Along the way you will find plenty of shops and a plethora of cozy cafés. One that comes particularly recommended is Hamamoto coffee, an old style “kissaten” where many elderly locals, some of them somewhat eccentric, gather during the morning hours, so it is a great place for people watching. The coffee they serve deserves a mention too, as it consists of a carefully chosen selection of beans from all over the world, ground and carefully hand-dipped in the traditional way.

A must do, walk up to the viewing platform that offers incredible views of Himeji Castle in the distance.

Arrival will be by 5:00pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free.

Accommodations: Hotel Nikko Himeji free

Day 4 – March 29th, Monday –Himeji-Shodoshima Island (B/D)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:45am as we are off to the ferry port for the sailing over to Shodoshima Island. The departure is at 9:45am and arrives at Fukuda Port at 11:25am. Our bus and driver will be along with us.

Welcome to Shodoshima Island, located in the Inland Sea of Japan. The name literally means “Island of Small Beans”, which technically refers to the azuki bean but today would more fittingly refer to the soy bean or olive as the island has traditionally been a producer of soy sauce and now is even better known for its olive plantations. There are two towns on the island, Tonoshō and Shodoshima Town.

Visitors are attracted here as the island offers a Mediterranean atmosphere, offering beaches, resports, coastal sceneries, and a mountainous interior. Kankakei Gorge, one of Japan’s most celebrated gorges is located here.The island is also known as the filming location of a popular 1954 movie, "Nijushi no Hitomi" or "Twenty-Four Eyes" .

Our touring begins with a visit to the Marukin Soy Sauce Brewery, one of Japan’s largest natural breweries. There are currently around 1,500 soy sauce manufacturers in Japan, most of which are small companies that only distribute products within their local areas. Marukin is regarded as one of the five most renowned Japanese soy sauce brands-is unique in that it distributes its products nationwide and abroad. They also offer a range of soy-related seasonings. Enjoy a tour of the soy sauce museum on the factory grounds which resembles a traditional soy sauce factory. Afterwards, free time at their gift shop.

From here, a visit to Shodoshima Olive Park, on the site of Japan’s first olive plantation.

Shodoshima is the birthplace of olive cultivation in Japan. The island's Mediterranean climate made it an ideal place for growing olives, which was first succeeded in 1908. Since then the island has been a top producer of Japanese olives and olive oil earning itself the nickname "Olive Island".

Today, the park is a working olive grove where the first olives were successfully cultivated a century ago. It offers attractive walking paths through the hillside, as well as a replica of a Greek windmill. There is also a small museum that teaches visitors about the history of olive cultivation, as well as a restaurant, cafe and shops where you can sample and buy the various olive related products, such as olive oil, olive candy, olive cosmetics, olive noodles and olive ice cream. Enjoy free time here to explore and have lunch on your own.

This afternoon we are off to the Kankakei Ropeway, the only ropeway in Japan that allows visitors to enjoy the panorama view of the sky, sea, and the gorge at the same time. This breathtaking ravine at the center of Shodoshima Island is ranked as one of Japan’s three most beautiful gorges. There are two stations and at the upper station, near the highest peak, the observation decks offer panoramic views over the gorge, island, and the Seto Inland Sea. There is also a souvenir shop here.

From here, off to our hotel for the evening, Resort Hotel Olivean Shodoshima, a 4-star rated resort offering accommodations with views of the sea and sunset from a hill. The hotel offers an open-air bath from hot springs gushing from 2,000 meters underground.

The sunset views from the hotel is listed as one of the top three hotels with beautiful sunset views.

Our arrival will be by 5:00pm, followed by dinner at 6:00pm.

Accommodations: Resort Hotel Olivean Shodoshima free

Day 5 – March 30th, Tuesday –Shodoshima Island-Takamatsu (B/L)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off again by ferry, this time to Takamatsu. Departing at 9:25am and arriving at Takamatsu Port at 10:25am.

We begin the morning with a visit at Ritsurin Park, awarded three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan! If you believe there are two , the hyper new, dizzying Japan, and the vastly old, meditative Japan, then Ritsurin Park exemplifies everything about the latter.

Formerly the retreat of the feudal lord, Matsudaira, the park has all the elements of Japanese beauty and tradition. There is a tea house where tea ceremonies were hosted in ancient time, ponds where the feudal lord and his guests floated boats and appreciated the moon. Walk along the many paths and admire the scenery. There are ample spots to sit and enjoy a soft- serve ice cream or feed the carps.

It's a lush collection of painstakingly trimmed and pruned greenery and historic hut-like buildings that took shape over the past 400 years. The park boasts more than 1,400 pine trees, 100 plum trees, 70 maple trees, thousands of lotuses and irises, and many other species of plants, shrubs, and trees all decorating ponds, streams, a small waterfall, stone paths and hilly hideaways. A mountain, Mount Shiun, in the background completes the scene. Enjoy experiencing the feeling of being away from the modern world - no high-rise buildings in sight.

Ritsurin changes with the seasons as different flowers are in bloom, and perhaps the most popular is during the cherry blossom season, ranked in the top 10 in popularity. There are relatively only a small number of cherry trees here, along side the Japanese style pond. Enjoy free time to explore on your own.

After a Japanese lunch at a local restaurant, a combination of a udon making experience, followed by a udon lunch. This is truly a fun experience, guaranteed!

Ritsurin Park

hands-on udon making experience

Our afternoon of touring begins with a visit to to Kompirasan, formally known as Kotohiragu, dedicated to sailors and seafaring. Located on the wooded slope of Mount Zozu, it is famous as a guardian god of the sea, attracting about 3 million visitors a year from around the country. Along an approach of the long stone stairway with 785 steps to the main shrine and 1,368 steps to the inner shrine, there are historic buildings designated as national important cultural properties such as “Shoin (drawing room)” and “Asahi-sha shrine,” as well as “Hōmotsu-kan (treasure museum)” which stores highly valued artistic works and cultural properties

Despite being one of the most difficult shrine approaches in Japan, Kompirasan is a highly popular site visited by pilgrims from across the country. The approach begins among shopping arcade filled with souvenir shops and udon restaurants.

No worries, no need to climb to the top to enjoy the atmosphere here. It is here that we will also enjoy the experience of udon making and afterwards lunch! This is truly a fun experience, guaranteed!

Kompirasan

Now, off to our hotel for the evening, JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu. The hotel offers a commanding view of the islands of the Seto Inland Sea and surrounding nature around the ruins of Takamatsu Castle.

Located in the recently developed shopping district around JR Takamatsu Station, the location is perfect for a free afternoon. If local arcade shopping is more to your liking, we will guide you there. The walk is just 10 to 15 minutes away.

Takamatsu's covered shopping arcade claims to be the longest in Japan. Enjoy an afternoon and evening free to stroll around the area, dine and shop.

JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu shopping arcade

Accommodations: JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu free

Day 6 – March 31st, Wednesday –Takamatsu-Naruto-Awajishima Island (B/D)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off on a full day of touring, ending in Awajishima Island.

The morning begins with a visit to Ryuo Park for cherry blossom viewing. The park features a long, straight path lined with stone lanterns. Cherry blossoms bloom along the stone lanterns, as if coloring the sky.

From here, a stop at Aeon Mall Tokushima for free time to shop and enjoy lunch on your own.

This afternoon’s touring begins with a visit to Awaodori-Kaikan Festival Hall for the Awa odori dance performance, one of the greatest traditional performing arts in Japan.

From here, off to Naruto to experience the famous Naruto whirlpool cruise along the Shikoku coast of the Naruto Strait.

The whirlpools are created by large volumes of water moving between the Seto Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean between high and low tide, combined with the unique underwater geography of the narrow strait.

According to the change of tides, the whirlpools occur roughly every six hours and can typically be seen once in the morning and once in the afternoon for an hour or two. The whirlpools vary in size, depending on the intensity of the tides.

The whirlpools are not dangerous to boats and are best viewed from sightseeing cruises which get right up next to and among the whirlpools. If you are not up for the cruise, no worries as the cruise departure point offers a waiting area with food and shopping.

Naruto Uzshio Cruise

We are now of to our hotel, Hotel & Resorts MINAMIAWAJI, a hot springs hotel offering scenic views of the ocean and the Naruto Bridge. Our arrival will be by 5:30pm, followed by a Japanese dinner at 6:30pm.

Accommodations: Hotels & Resorts MINAMIAWAJI free

Day 7 – April 1st, Thursday – Awajishima Island-Osaka (B/L)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we make our way to Osaka.

Our morning begins with a visit to Michi-no-Eki-Uzushio, a shopping area offering many local items and as well views of Onaruto Bridge, a suspension bridge that spans 876-meters.

From here, a visit to Awaji Park England Hill and the highlight, rape blossoms. It is a meadow ablaze with 100,000 yellow flowers, truly a breathtaking sight and a beloved harbinger of spring.

Enjoy a leisurely nature walk through the huge field of flowers and see more lovely flowers in the greenhouse and rock garden.

Now, off to lunch at a local restaurant followed by a visit to Takosenbei no Sato.Have you ever seen an octopus in a rice cracker? At “Tako Senbei no Sato”, you not only get to taste the delicious tako senbei, but you also get to see how it is made. The big window to the factory shows every step to making tako-senbei, and afterwards you can purchase them at the store inside the facility. There are over 40 kinds of tako-senbei at the store and finding your favorite will be a fun adventure! If you enjoy Japanese snacks, you will love tako-senbei.

As we make our way to Osaka, a stop at Maiko Marine Promenade, an observation facility and walking path 47-meters above the ocean. Watch the ships and boats through the glass floor. This circuit-style promenade on the world’s best suspension bridge, Akashi Kaikyo Bridge allows for unforgettable views.

Off to Osaka, arrival at our hotel by 5: 30pm.The drive time is a little over one-hour.

Welcome to Osaka, Japan's third-largest city. Ultra-urban, hard-working Osaka is an unabashed antidote to the fashion- forward frenzy of Tokyo and the prim propriety of . This longtime capital of commerce is filled with down-to-earth citizens speaking colorful Kansai-ben (Kansai dialect) and neon-clad streetscapes bursting with over-the-top 3D signage.

Osaka's real treasures are in the bustling street life in its arcades, markets, and byways. And Osaka really comes into its own at night, when locals come out for delicious eats and good times. Guaranteed, our hotel is right in the heat of everything you would want to experience of Osaka. We are literally right around the corner from the Shopping Arcade.

Accommodations for our last two nights on tour are at the Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka. It is a short walk from the heart of Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi shopping streets. This spot is perfect to feel and see the real Osaka, with limitless dining and shopping opportunities.

After checking in and having some time to freshen up, we are off to explore the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade. This covered arcade shopping street has a very long history, site of some of Osaka's historical bridges. It has been around in some form for hundreds of years and is still one of the city's most popular and famous spots.

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 8 – April 2nd, Friday– Osaka (B)

After breakfast at our hotel, enjoy a complete free day to shop til you drop, sightsee on your own or maybe a little of each.

Just around the corner from our hotel are probably the two most popular streets in all of Osaka, Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori. This is the city's most famous entertainment district and offers abundant dining and shopping choices.

Shinsaibashi’s covered arcade shopping street has been Osaka’s most important shopping area for 400 years, with hundreds of shops lining this 600-meter long street. From huge department stores like Daimaru and flagship Uniqlo clothing stores to small independent boutiques, there is something for every shopper and every wallet on this street. There are also dozens of delicious restaurants and cafes hidden in the streets and the alleys leading just off it.

Close by is , also known as Amemura. With its American-style boutiques and shops, international bars, and low prices, Amemura is a popular hangout spot for trendy youths who like Western fashion and pop culture. Rather than the big-name brands found in Shinsaibashi or Midosuji, Amemura has indie boutiques and thrift stores that give it its quirky and lively reputation. Flea markets are sometimes set up on weekends and there are often street performances. This makes this a fun place to visit and hang out to experience the fusion of Japanese and Western culture.

And then there is the Dotonbori, the lively entertainment area and Osaka’s most famous tourist destination and renowned for its gaudy neon lights, extravagant signage, and the enormous variety of restaurants and bars. This is one of the most colorful areas in Osaka and an absolute must-visit location when traveling through Kansai region.

The history of this area goes back to 1612 when a merchant by the name of Yasui Doton invested all his personal capital in an ambitious local development project. Doton’s plan was to divert and expand the Umezu River into a new waterway that would link the local canal network with the Kizugawa River. Unfortunately, Doton’s project was interrupted by war and he

himself was killed during the in 1615. Later that same year, Doton’s cousins completed his work and, in his memory, the new canal was named Dotonbori or “Doton Canal”.

Also, close by is Kuromon Market, with more than 190 years of history and tradition, this popular area is known by locals as "Gastronome" and "Osaka' s Kitchen". All kinds of fresh food items are available at this market, fully satisfying the hunger of the people of Naniwa (Naniwa is the old name for this area).

Despite its sometime touristy feel, the 150 or so shops here still give you the sense of a local neighborhood market. Local folks in the area come here to so their shopping, buy their produce and fish, new clothes, shoes, and a variety of household items and gadgets. Enjoy free time here to explore.

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.

As you can see, there is quite a lot to see and do on this free day and the best is that it is just a walk from our hotel.

Enjoy your day!

The Famous Runner Neon One of two stores Ever popular Daiso canal cruising

Accommodations: Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka free

Day 9 – April 3rd, Saturday – Osaka-Kansai (B)

After breakfast, please meet your guide by 10:00am as we journey off on a full day of touring before our flight home later this evening.

It may be our last day on tour, but we still have much to see and do. The morning begins with a visit to Nishinomaru Garden, a lush garden offering views of ’s tower across from the moat. We are here today to cherry blossom viewing, over 600 cherry trees in full bloom.

Next, a visit to Kuromon Ichiba Fish Market, a lively covered market with approximately 150 shop, always bustling with people. This market has everything you want. From fresh seafood, blow fish and soft-shelled turtle specialty shops, to restaurants, fruit and vegetables shops, butchers, pickled goods, dried food, Japanese sweets, and Western cakes.

Kuromon Market is full of great energy, with local tantalizing sights and aromas – you will never be bored strolling down this covered arcade. It is the perfect spot to enjoy Tabe Aruki, a culture of Osaka, eating while strolling along. Enjoy free

time for omiyage shopping and lunch on your own. You will not be able to resist the mouthwatering aroma from the local shops, stalls, and eateries.

From here, we make our way towards the Kansai Airport, but an always import visit to the Aeon Mall to get in some last- minute shopping. This is also a good opportunity to stop in at the supermarket for a freshly made bento to take along to the airport and enjoy while waiting on our flight.

Hawaiian Airlines #449 Departs Kansai 8:45 pm – Arrive Honolulu 9:25 am