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Home , Akita (city), Akita Castle, Hirosaki Castle, Hokkaido Shinkansen, Kitakami Station, Sakura (train)

758 Kapahulu Ave. #220, , HI. 96816 Tel. No.: (808) 739-9010 ** Fax no: (808) 735-0142 ** TAR#4988 Tohoku Tour (April 19 – April 30, 2019) HIGHLIGHTS of the TOUR: You get to see lots of in , , , and . See snow walls in Iwate and , 4 nights to soak in hot springs and Wisteria in Friday, Apr 19th Honolulu – Tokyo/ Narita______8:30a.m. Please meet your tour coordinator, Nadine Shimabukuro at the Airlines baggage check-in area located at Lobby #5. 10:50a.m. Depart on Japan Airlines Flt. #785 bound for TOKYO/ NARITA, Japan. A meal will be serve one hour after take-off. In-flight meals: LUNCH: Main entrée’: Beef or Chicken, Salad, Miso Soup, & Seasonal Ice Cream Prior to arrival: Croissant Sandwich with Yogurt Throughout the flight, you can enjoy JAL's SKY TIME drink (real “Yuzu” Citrus Juice), other soft drinks, assorted beers, wines, sake, coffee, tea, and green tea are complimentary. Complimentary In-flight Movies like: New Popular Movies , Japanese, Chinese, & Korean Movies. Over 40 Music Channels (You can make your own Playlist), and limited games too.

Saturday, Apr 20nd _____Tokyo/ Narita – Tokyo () ______2:35p.m. Arrival at Narita/ Tokyo International Airport. Upon arrival, immigrations and custom procedures are required. After immigration, please pickup your own baggage from the carousel and go thru custom. We will then proceed to board the chartered bus to TOKYO, SHINAGAWA. 1 night stay at SHINAGAWA PRINCE HOTEL (Main Tower), located across the JR SHINAGAWA TRAIN STATION. After check-in, the rest of the day is at your leisure. Lots of restaurants around the hotel area. Famous “ GRILL” known for their hamburgers & sausage since 1930. ANNA MILLER’S known for their Chicken Pot Pie, Pancakes, & Pastrami Sandwich, & Homemade Pies.WINGS TAKANAWA, corner at Shinagawa Station, B1 floor open from 10am-9pm B1 floor has lots of take-out bento and okazu to take back to your hotel room. **Please have an overnighter bag for 2 nights stay in Morioka, your one piece baggage will go to Akita via “Takkyubin”** Sunday, Apr 21st Shinagawa – – Kitakami - Morioka____ 6:00a.m.(starts) Buffet breakfast at the hotel. 7:45a.m. Check-out of the hotel. A short walk to JR SHINAGAWA STATION. You will have a chance to buy & eat “EKI BEN” Train Station Bento or buy a simple sandwich to eat en route to KITAKAMI, IWATE. 8:57a.m. Depart on “ #102” bound for TOKYO STATION. 9:03a.m. Arrive at Tokyo Station on Track #17 9:40a.m. Depart on SHINKANSEN “ #45” bound for KITAKAMI from Track #21with 10 stops. 12:33p.m. Arrive , transfer by chartered bus to KITAKAMI TENSHOCHI PARK. First visit is “KITAKAMI TENSHOCHI SAKURA FESTIVAL” held from mid-April to early May. Tenshochi Park has been selected as one of Japan’s top 100 sites for viewing “Sakura”(cherry blossoms). Alongside the cherry trees, vivid carp-shaped streamers swim in the air above the Kitakami River. A horse-driven carriage also rolls through the avenue of cherry trees creating a nostalgic atmosphere. Kitakami Tenshochi Park Ishiwari Sakura Tsunagi Onsen En route to TSUNAGI ONSEN, we will make 1 stop in MORIOKA CITY’S ISHIWARI SAKURA, there is a large granite boulder 21 meters in circumference in the garden in front of the Morioka District Court. The 360 year-old Edohigan cherry tree that grew out of a crack in the boulder has been designated as a national natural treasure in 1923. The Morioka District Court was built on the site where the house of the Nanbu domain lords' branch family used to be. Check-in at YUMORI HOTEL TAIKAN for 2 nights stay, western style room. The hotel offers 100% pure natural hot spring water. Kaiseki Dinner Set Menu at the hotel. ( B, D ) Monday, Apr 22nd Morioka______7:00a.m.(starts) Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, first stop at MORIOKA TEZURI MURA, a facility where you can “see, touch, and create” various traditional craftworks and foods of Morioka. There are 2 main areas: the Workshop Area and the Exhibition Area. In the Workshop Area, there are 14 workshops where you can buy products, watch professional craftsmen at work, and get hands-on experience making original goods. Today’s hands on experience, will be making “CHAGU CHAGU HORSE” and NAMBU SENBEI.

Chagu Chagu Umako Nambu Senbei Making Wanko Soba Hachimatai Aspite Line-Snow Corridor For lunch, we will have a local favorite, ‘WANKO SOBA” buckwheat noodles (soba) are served up as a lively eating contest. This local favorite began almost four centuries ago as an efficient way to provide guests with “all-you-can-eat” noodles, and continues today as one of Iwate’s most famous food experiences. The Aspite Line is a 27-km mountain sightseeing road that runs through Towada-Hachimantai National Park straddling Iwate and Akita. Experience the beauty of both winter and spring on the Aspite Line, by driving through the corridor of snow which will then lead to cherry blossoms in bloom at the base of Hachimantai. Return to YUMORI HOTEL TAIKAN in Tsunagi Onsen and enjoy hot springs and a delicious Buffet Dinner at the hotel. ( B, L, D ) Tuesday, Apr 23rd Morioka – Akita______7:00a.m.(starts) Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out of the hotel. Bus departs for AKITA. In KAKUNODATE TOWN, many residences remain , making it one of the best places to see an example of a town. Today the houses are privately owned by the descendants of the samurai warriors; however, some of the residences such as the Ishiguro, Aoyagi, and are open to the public. The town's streets and the banks of the Hinokinai River are lined with cherry trees, which are a spectacular sight in spring. The original weeping cherry trees were brought from and now there are over 400 of them. Hinokinai River Kakunodate Town Port Tower Selion Lunch en route. AKITA PORT TOWER SELION, the symbol of AkitaPort. Here you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama view from 100 meters above. In Selion Garden, located on the first floor of Selion, you will find fresh picked vegetables and specialty products of Akita for sale. You can also sample local sakes. After the tour, check-in at HOTEL for 2 nights stay. After check-in, the rest of the day is at your leisure. ( B )

Wednesday, Apr 24th Akita______7:00a.m.(starts) Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Full day sightseeing of OGA PENINSULA, the from the coast of Akita. MUSEUM and OGA SHINZAN FOLKLORE MUSEUM which offers a lot of information about Namahage. There is a “Namahage collection section” which displays real Namahage masks and costumes from 60 areas in Oga, AKITA. You can’t go anywhere in Akita Prefecture without seeing references to the demon figures known as “NAMAHAGE”. The Namahage are often thought of as demons, but in reality they are “Kami”This Japanese word can be translated as gods. Additionally, there is a section where you can transform yourself into Namahage.

Namahage Museum Namahage Show Old Kaneko Family House For lunch, we will make a stop at MICHI no EKI “TENOU”/ TENNO GREENLAND. After lunch, return back to Akita City. Near JR is ‘NEBURINAGASHI KAN” (Pole Lantern Festival Center), you can see inside a permanent exhibition of Kanto, the one of the most famous festivals in Akita. THE OLD KANEKO FAMILY HOUSE, this traditional building is chosen as a tangible cultural property of the city of Akita. It represents a common merchant's building of the ancient time. As a result, you can see the house and the storehouse of merchant in old days. After the tour, return back to AKITA CASTLE HOTEL. ( B )

Thursday, Apr 25th Akita – Aomori______7:00a.m.(starts) Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast check-out of the hotel. Bus departs AKITA for AOMORI. First stop is LAKE TOWADA which is a part of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park and is the largest caldera lake on , Japan's main island. Located on the border between Akita and Aomori. The best way to see the lake is by BOAT CRUISE, which offer close-up views of the peninsulas that are otherwise difficult to see. Lunch en route. TOWADA CITY, KANCHOGAI DORI(STREET), 157cherry trees line this 36 meter-wide street extending for 1.1 km. In 1986, the street was selected as one of 100 best streets in Japan, and in 1992, it was also selected and included in the “New One Hundred Views of Japan.” MT. HAKKODA, on April 1 the roads are opened after the winter closure, “snow walls” can be seen along Route 103 between Suka-yu Onsen and Yachi, a remarkable sight to see. We will drive by the snow wall. Lake Towada Cruise Kanchogai St. Mt. Hakkoda’s Snow Wall After the tour, check-in 1 night at RICHMOND HOTEL AOMORI located in downtown Aomori. After check-in, the rest of the day is at your leisure. ( B ) **Please have an overnighter bag for 2 nights stay in Hakodate, your one piece baggage will go to Tokyo via “Takkyubin”** Friday, Apr 26th Aomori – Hakodate ()______6:30a.m.(starts) Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast check-out of the hotel. A day tour, visiting the famous CASTLE and PARK (takes about 2 hours, 1 way). Hirosaki Castle and its cherry blossoms are known as one of the best scenic spots in Japan, listed in the “100 best spots for cherry blossoms in Japan” selected by the government, “Japan’s 100 scenic spots, where people and nature blend in harmony” and “Japan’s Top 100 Castle. Cherry trees were first planted around 300 years ago in Hirosaki Castle. Lunch on your own around the Hirosaki Castle area.

Hirosaki Castle Nebuta Museum After the tour, transfer to JR SHIN- to take the “Shinkansen” to Hakodate. 4:45p.m. Depart on the new HOKKAIDO SHINKANSEN #23 bound for JR SHIN HAKODATE STATION from Track #13. 5:51p.m. Arrive JR SHIN HAKODATE-HOKUTO STATION.Upon arrival, transfer to downtown HAKODATE. Check-in at HOTEL & SPA LA VISTA HAKODATE BAY for 2 nights stay, a western style hotel located 5 minutes walk to the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses (Ramen Shop, Izakaya Style, & Sushi) La Vista Hakodate features natural hot-spring baths and a healing spa. The art deco rooms are inspired by the Taisho period. After check-in, the rest of the day is at leisure. ( B ) Saturday. Apr 27th Hakodate______6:30a.m.(starts) Fabulous Breakfast Buffet at ‘KITA NO BANYA”located on the 2nd floor of the hotel. After breakfast, sightseeing around the HAKODATE AREA. First stop, is the famous HAKODATE MORNING MARKET which is open for business from as early as 6:00a.m. and closes at 1:00pm. Seafood, vegetables, fruits and sweets are just some of the edibles available for purchase.

Hakodate Morning Market Goryokaku GORYOKAKU is a western-style fort completed almost 150 years ago. A magnificent panoramic view of the entire star-shaped estate and surrounding unveils itself to visitors from the observation platform of the 107-meter Goryokaku Tower, which stands adjacent to the fort. The moat is surrounded by some 1,600 cherry trees, making the Goryokaku one of Hokkaido's top cherry blossom viewing spots during springtime. Lunch on your own inside Shikabe Geyser Park SHIKABE GEYSER PARK every 10 minutes the hot water (about 100 Celsius degree) blow up to 15 meters high by the terrestrial heat power. Experience the power of a "Geyser" which is rare even in Japan. Within the park there is a footbath which uses geyser water and a shop selling local products.

Shikabe Geyser Park Ashiyu ( Foot Onsen) Last stop is a visit to famous KONBU KAN a place where you can sample anything that is made from “Konbu”(kelp) like soup, tea, candies, & etc. Back to HAKODATE, drive to MOTOMACHI, unique western-influenced buildings, more than a century old, and traditional Japanese buildings still remain in the city to this day. Return back to HOTEL & SPA LA VISTA HAKODATE BAY. The rest of the day is at your leisure. ( B )

Sunday, Apr 28th Hakodate – Tokyo(Haneda) – Tokyo______5:30a.m. MORNING CALL for EVERYBODY. 6:30a.m. Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast check-out of the hotel. 8:00a.m. Transfer to . 9:55a.m. Depart on JAPAN AIRLINES FLT.#584 bound for TOKYO/HANEDA TERMINAL #1. 11:25a.m. Arrive at TOKYO/HANEDA AIPORT, after picking up your own baggage. Meet Ms. Akiko Sasaki at the arrival area. The bus departs for KAMEIDO TENJIN MATSURI (WISTERIA FESTIVAL). First stop for lunch, ATRE’ KAMEIDO (next to JR Kameido Station). KAMEIDO TENJIN SHRINE is known as the best place in Tokyo to view wisterias. These beautiful wisteria flowers were planted during the . Wisteria flowers begin blooming all at once in late April until the beginning of May. The shrine holds a festival at that time, with a selection of food stalls.

Kameido Tenjin’s Wisteria Last Stop we will take you to UENO AMEYOKO MARUYASU STORE, cheapest place to buy smoked scallop, 1 bag 280 grams, Regular price: 2850yen ***special Price: 2000yen MARUYASU STORE also has TIRAMISU CHOCOLATES, SOFT DRIED TAKO, CRUNCHY PISTACHIO NUTS, & ETC. Maruyasu does offer some samples for you to try, just ask. NIKI no KASHI maybe one of Ameyoko’s most famous vendors. They have been in business since 1947, the large discount shop for sweets and candies. Check-in at SUNSHINE CITY PRINCE HOTEL for 2 nights stay, located in IKEBUKURO. This hotel is connected to Sunshine City, in the complex you will find an aquarium, planetarium, Namco Namjatown (indoor theme park made up of many different attractions & food theme parks), and a shopping center – Alpha & Alta. On the B1 floor, famous MARUKAME UDON, SACHIFUKUYA (teishoku style), CHANPON RINGER HUT, MCDONALD, ITALIAN TOMATO JR, & others. Marukame Udon Sachifukuya Sarada Udon (deep fried udon w/vegetables) Not far from Sunshine City is Seiyu Supermarket which is opened 24 hours owned by WALMART. After check-in, the rest of the day is at your leisure. ( B )

Monday, Apr 29th Tokyo ______6:30-8:45a.m. Breakfast at the hotel. Today is a free day at your leisure. **Option to go to Sugamo on the “Arakawa Toden” 1way 170yen. Return from JR Sugamo Station on the “” 1 way 140yen. Few minutes away from the hotel is TOKYU HANDS, filled with variety of high quality Japan products from stationary, bags, character themed goods to living ware. ( B ) Tuesday, Apr 30th Tokyo/ Narita – Honolulu ______6:30-10:00a.m. Breakfast at hotel. 11:00a.m Check-out of hotel. Free time until our departure time to the airport. 4:00p.m. Depart on chartered bus to TOKYO/ NARITA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. 5:30p.m. Upon arrival, please have your passports ready. You will then check-in at the Japan Airlines Counter individually. 8:40p.m. Depart on Japan Airlines Flt.#780 bound for Honolulu. Crossing the International Date Line, you will arrive in Honolulu on the same day you departed Japan, Wednesday morning. A meal will be served one hour after take-off. Please remember to fill out your Customs Declaration form prior to your arriving in Honolulu, to speed up your time at Customs.) 8:50a.m. Arrival at Honolulu International Airport on April 30th, Tuesday. ( B ) **SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE** **Early Booking Discount: $100.00 per person, sign up & put deposit by Jan 17, 2019**

Please sign up by Feb 16, 2019 Full Payment is due on March 02, 2019_

Tour Cost: based on 20 full paying tour members: ** Exchange rate: ￥112 ($1.00USD) * * Rate depending on the yen rate, taxes & fuel surcharge included.

TWIN/ TRIPLE OCCUPANCY: $4895.00 per person ______

SINGLE OCCUPANCY: $5275.00 per person ______

LAND ONLY: Individual arrangements to meet the group are not included like the transportation to & from the airport to hotel is not provided and 1 way air from Hakodate to Tokyo/ Haneda on 4/28. If you need assistant, please call our office.

Twin / Triple occupancy: $3695.00 per person ______Single: $4075.00 ______758 Kapahulu Avenue Suite 220 Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 Tel: (808) 739-9010 Fax: (808) 735-0142 TAR#4988 Email address: [email protected] Tohoku Sakura Tour ( April 19 – April 30, 2019 ) PLEASE TYPE or PRINT: (Name as it appears on passport)

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Rooming: Single ______Twin(2 beds) ______Triple(3 beds) ______

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Sign Up by: Feb 16, 2019 / Full Payment is due on Mar 02, 2019 Adjustments will be made if there is any increase in taxes, fuel surcharge, and fluctuation in exchange rates. Tour Cost: based on 20-24 full paying tour members:** Exchange rate: ￥112 per U.S. dollars** TWIN/ TRIPLE: $4895.00 per person ______SINGLE: $5275.00 per person ______Please make checks payable to N & K TRAVEL SERVICE, INC. Credit card payment only for the air portion. Land portion, check payment only. Would like purchase travel insurance? Yes: _____ No: _____ (further information please call the office)