Spring Tokyo & Okinawa Tour (March 13 – March 25, 2022)
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758 Kapahulu Avenue, Suite # 220 *** Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 Phone No: (808) 739-9010 ** Fax No: (808) 735-0142 ** TAR#4988 Email address: [email protected] Spring Tokyo & Okinawa Tour (March 13 – March 25, 2022) ** Highlights of the Tour**: 5 nights in Tokyo and 6 nights in Okinawa Sunday, March 13th Honolulu – Tokyo/ Haneda____________ 9:15a.m. Please meet NADINE SHIMABUKURO at the JAPAN AIRLINES check-in area located at Lobby #5 of the Honolulu International Airport. She will give you your “E – ticket” & luggage tags. Due to tight airport security, you will be checking in individually or as a family. 12:10p.m. Depart on Japan Airlines Flt.#073 bound for TOKYO HANEDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT in Japan. In-flight meals: LUNCH: Main entrée’ / Prior to arrival: Light Meal 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 in English, Japanese, Chinese & Korean and over 40 Music channels (You can even make your own Playlist), and limited games. Monday, March 14th Tokyo/ Haneda – Tokyo ( Ikebukuro )____ 4:25p.m. Arrival at TOKYO HANEDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. Upon arrival, immigration and custom procedures are required. After immigration, please pickup your own baggage from the carousel and go thru customs. We will then proceed to board the chartered bus to TOKYO, IKEBUKURO. Arrive at SUNSHINE CITY PRINCE HOTEL for 5 nights stay with daily breakfast included. There is a FAMILY MART CONVENIENCE STORE located in the lobby, open 24 hours. This hotel is connected to Sunshine City. In the complex you will find an aquarium, planetarium, and a shopping center – Alpa. & Alta. On the B1 floor, famous freshly made crepes at “Mother’s Crepe”, gelato at “Dipper Dan”, famous Marukame Udon, Ringer Hut’s famous “Sarada Udon”. Restaurants on the 3rd Floor like famous TONKATSU WAKO, known for their “Filet Katsu(PorkTenderloin)”. Not far from Sunshine City is Seiyu Supermarket which is opened 24hours. ( B ) Marukame Udon Ringer Hut’s Vegetable Sara Udon Tonkatsu “WAKO” After check-in, the rest of the day is at your leisure. Or Nadine can take you on a short tour around the hotel. Tuesday, March 15th Tokyo ( 1 day City Tour)_______________________ 6:30-8:15a.m. Breakfast at the hotel. 9:00a.m. Bus departs for TOKYO CITY TOUR, drive by NATIONAL DIET BUILDING, IMPERIAL PALACE PLAZA, and AKASAKA PALACE. 11:00a.m.-2:00p.m. SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE the tallest building (230 meters high about 755 feet) in the Shibuya Area, opened in Nov 1, 2019. Shibuya Scramble Square offers something for both locals and visitors alike. It has offices, restaurants, and multiple event spaces as well as 212 shops. There is a new landmark facing the world-famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing. You will have the opportunity to walk around Shibuya, visit Hachiko Statue, and have lunch on your own. Imperial Palace Plaza Akasaka Palace (Genhinkan) Shibuya Scramble Square . 3:00p.m. Last stop, EDO TOKYO MUSEUM, a facility to preserve the historical heritage of Edo –Tokyo (opened on April 2018 after 8 months of renovations). 5:00p.m. Return back to our hotel, Sunshine City Prince Hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. ( B ) Wednesday, March 16th Ikebukuro – Ibaraki – Ikebukuro______________ Breakfast at the hotel. 9:00a.m. Bus departs for HITACHINAKA, IBARAKI for a 1-day tour. 11:00am-2:45p.m. Spend a day at HITACHI SEASIDE PARK, a spacious park near Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture featuring a variety of green spaces and seasonal flowers spread out across 864 acres. The Seaside Train is a relaxing way to get around the park in 35 minutes. Lunch is at your own expense. There are 3 different places around the park to eat. 5:00p.m. Arrive back to Ikebukuro at the Sunshine City Prince Hotel. ( B ) Thursday, March 17th Tokyo ( 1 day tour)____________________________ Breakfast at the hotel. 9:00a.m. Bus departs for a day of eating and shopping in Tokyo. First stop, TSUKIJI OUTER MARKET, Japan’s “FOOD TOWN” where one can encounter all kinds of Japanese traditional foods. A mixture of wholesale and retail shops along the numerous restaurants, new culinary trends are born here. Lunch on your own at Tsukiji. 12:30p.m. After lunch, colorful ASAKUSA KANNON TEMPLE, where incense fills the air and colorful stalls of the Nakamise Arcade, join visitors and locals who come to shop for souvenirs and gifts. 2:30p.m. UENO PARK , one of Tokyo's most popular and lively cherry blossom spots with more than 1000 cherry trees lining its central pathway. (weather permitting) Tsukiji Asakusa Sensoji Temple Asakusa Jumbo Melon Pan Ueno Park Sakura taken 3/14/2021 Some shopping time at UENO’S AMEYOKKO, a busy market street along the Yamanote Train Line tracks between Okachimachi and Ueno stations. Our first stop shop will be to MARUYASU STORE, cheapest place to buy individually wrapped scallops. MARUYASU STORE also has TIRAMISU CHOCOLATES, SOFT DRIED IKA & TAKO. Maruyasu does have some things to sample just ask. KASHI no NIKI maybe one of Ameyoko’s most famous vendors. They have been in business since 1947, a large discount shop for sweets and candies. 5:00p.m. Arrive back to Sunshine City Prince Hotel. ( B ) Friday, March 18th Tokyo (free day)____________________ 6:30-10:00a.m. Breakfast at the hotel. Today’s a free day at your leisure, you can go holo holo in Tokyo or around the hotel area. ( B ) ** around your hotel area * One of the biggest UNIQLO, clothing store. Toden Arakawa Sugamo Maruji “red underwear” Or Nadine can take you to SUGAMO, “Senior Citizen Harajuku” this shopping street is lined by over 200 shops that sell clothing, traditional food and other goods marketed toward the elderly. Among the most popular items are the district's signature red underwear, which comes in a variety of styles. and is thought to bring luck. To go to Sugamo, we will take the “Toden Arakawa (cable car), the only Toden tram line left in Tokyo, which runs 12.2km (30 stations). 1-way from Higashi Ikebukuro to Koshinzuka Tram Stop: 170Yen per person For return we will take the “Yamanote Line” to Ikebukuro Station, 1-way 160Yen per person. Saturday, March 19th Tokyo – Okinawa _____________________ Breakfast at the hotel 8:00a.m. Baggage outside your room for pickup by the hotel belldesk. 8:30a.m. Check-out of the hotel. 9:00a.m. Depart hotel on chartered bus to TOKYO/ HANEDA AIRPORT, TERMINAL#1. 10:00a.m. Arrive TOKYO/ HANEDA AIRPORT, TERMINAL #1. Upon arrival, check-in at JAPAN AIRLINES. After checking in, you will have some time to buy snacks, drinks, & etc. Liquids or drinks are allowed thru Security prior to getting to your departure gate, please show your liquids or drinks to the security agent, they have a liquid analyzer machine to check the contents. 11:45a.m. Depart Tokyo/ Haneda on Japan Airlines Flt. #915 bound for Naha, Okinawa. No meals will be served on the domestic flight. 2:40p.m. Arrive Naha, Okinawa. At Naha Airport, please pickup your own baggage. For your convenience, please use the baggage cart for your luggage. We will proceed straight to our awaiting chartered bus at the Group Bus Parking Lot. 4:00p.m. Check in at HOTEL PALM ROYAL NAHA for 6 nights stay. The hotel is located near Kokusai Dori and near the entrance of famous HEIWA DORI. The hotel is less than 15 minutes away from the Monorail, Yui Rail – Makishi Station. Coin laundry facility on the 2nd floor. Ice Machine on the 2nd floor. Newly built onsen bath on the 2nd floor for men and women separate. After check-in, the rest of the day is at your leisure. ( B ) Sunday, March 20th Naha – Shuri – Tomigusuku – Naha 7:00-8:45a.m. Buffet breakfast at the hotel located on the 1st floor near the elevator. 9:00a.m. Bus departs for SHURI CASTLE. Shuri was the ancient capitol of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Visiting the “SHUREI NO MON” (Gate of Courtesy). In 1972 this gate was designated as a prefectural cultural asset. The main buildings of Shuri Castle were destroyed by fire in the night of October 31, 2019. There are plans to rebuild the castle by 2026. In the meantime, we can still go to the Shuri Castle Shops with exclusive gifts. 11:45a.m. We will then visit HIMEYURI NO TO (Star Lily Memorial). The monument was erected in remembrance of the female high school students who supported the Japanese military as nurses but were killed during the Battle of Okinawa. We will also tour the HIMEYURI PEACE MUSEUM (renewal on 4/12/2021) Shurei no Mon Shuri Castle Original Gifts Items Yubido Lunch Chuko Awamori Shop 12:30p.m. Makunouchi Bento Lunch at YUBIDO, the restaurant/gift shop located across the museum. 2:00p.m. CHUKO AWAMORI FACTORY. The only distillery in Okinawa that creates its own unique earthware jars. Other awamori to be found in bottle are the nicely flavored “Chuko” and the smooth” Jinpu”. The factory has a video with English subtitles of Okinawa Awamori, and you will be given an opportunity to taste different samples of awamori and umeshu (plum wine). 4:00p.m. Return to hotel. Rest of the day is free at your leisure. Nadine will take anyone who is interested in going to Heiwa Doori and to MATSUMOTO SHOTEN for KONBU, SHITAKE(Mushroom), SUSHI NORI, AJITSUKE NORI, KANPYOU (dried gourd), SHAVED KATSUO, DRIED WAKAME, HOUSE ORIGINAL “KATSUO JERKY” w/QB Mayonnaise, & etc.