Enchanting Snow Monsters and Traditional Onsens Nagano’s Winter Wonderland plus Tokyo 2021 Tour

January 24th – February 1st, 2021 non-stop via Cancel for any reason up to 60 days prior-FULL REFUND! Maximum Tour size is 24 tour members! 7nights/9days from: $3195 double/triple $3795 single Small Group tour- maximum of 24 tour members

Besides being a treasure trove of nature, history, and culture, Nagano is bursting with natural hot springs, making it the king of onsens. On our very first “Enchanting Snow Monsters and Traditional Onsen” tour, you can enjoy four hot springs, each with its own unique setting. experience what onsens have meant to the Japanese since ancient times, and why they love hot springs so much.

Our onsen experience begins at the foot of Mt. Fuji with spectacular views. It is followed by a night overlooking , home to an extraordinary, naturally occurring event known as “The God's Crossing” where warm hot spring waters that remain unfrozen during the winter months, cause pressurized ice formations to form above the lake. Next, the historic Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu, established in 1887, a short 5-minute walk from the national treasure Matsumoto Castle. Lastly, in the center of Yudanaka, where the highlight will be the Snow Monster Night Tour. Enjoy viewing snow- covered trees, nicknamed "snow monsters," as they are silhouetted by the sun at the summit of Mount Yudanaka.

Along with daily sightseeing, enjoy unique experiences, a visit to the Fuji Gotemba Whisky Distillery, Katsunuma Winery, strawberry picking, mizuhiki making ( an ancient Japanese art form from a special rice paper), soba making, visit to a wasabi farm, miso factory, bullet train ride, and much more.

Our tour begins and ends in Tokyo, ’s capital, where Tokyoites are fond to say, “to be tired of Tokyo is to be tired of life.” Besides a free last day on your own, we have included visits to Tsukiji, Ameyoko, and the largest Daiso in in Tokyo.

Come along and join our small group tour!

Itinerary/Details Day 1 – January 24th, 2021 Sunday – Depart from Honolulu

Hawaiian Airlines #863 Departs Honolulu 12:15 pm – Arrive Haneda 5:10 pm + 1

Check in for international flights begin 3 hours prior to departure. Meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines international check-in counters, located in Terminal 2, Lobby 4.

Day 2 – January 25th, 2021 Monday – Haneda-Tokyo

On arrival in Tokyo, please make your way to the baggage claim area and then proceed to customs clearing. On exiting customs, our local guide will be there to meet us for the drive to the Sunshine City Prince Hotel.

The lobby of the hotel connects to a huge shopping and entertainment mecca with four towers, including a 240- meter-high skyscraper with an observation deck on the top. Sunshine City is typically open from 10 am to 8 pm seven days a week. We are also less than a 10-minute walk from the Ikebukuro JR Station. The third floor of the mall is practically all restaurants and stays open until 9:30pm.

With a 24 24-hour Family Mart convenience store right off the lobby, there is never a need to go far for snacks or drinks. Within a 5-minute walk is a 24-hour supermarket, Seiyu.

The remainder of the evening is free.

Sunshine City Prince Hotel & lobby 24/7 Family Mart in hotel lobby

Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel Free

Day 3 – January 26th, 2021 Tuesday – Tokyo-Kamakura-Kawaguchiko (B/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off on a full day of touring.

The morning begins with a visit to Kamakura, once the political center of Japan, when Minamoto Yoritomo chose the city as the seat for his new military government in 1192. The Kamakura government continued to rule Japan for over a century.

Today, Kamakura is a very popular tourist destination. Sometimes called the Kyoto of Eastern Japan, Kamakura offers numerous temples, shrines, and other historical monuments.

Once here we will be visiting the Great Buddha of Kamakura, a bronze statue of Amida Buddha, which stands on the grounds of Kotokuin Temple. With a height of 13.35 meters, it is the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan. The statue was cast in 1252 and originally located inside a large temple hall. However, the temple buildings were destroyed multiple times by typhoons and a tidal wave in the 14th and 15th centuries. So, since 1495, the Buddha has been standing in the open air.

The Great Buddha rises serenely from its base, with gorgeously draped garments that you can hardly believe are forged from bronze. The serene expression is so evident; you feel the peace the artists intended to convey. The Great Buddha of Kotoku-in is an iconic image that represents Japanese culture. It is not just big, but beautiful.

This Great Buddha or Daibutsu as is commonly called is a National Treasure and one of the centerpieces of the city's cultural heritages.

For a small donation, you are permitted enter the Buddha and see from the inside how it was cast. Take a few moments to enjoy this unique experience.

Just steps away is dori shopping street where you will have free time to walk around, shop for souvenirs and enjoy some delicious snacks and foods. This is a good spot for lunch on your own.

One must stop here is at Kamakura’s famous cookie store for a sample. These dove-shaped butter cookies make for a great Kamakura souvenir and omiyage gift.

The dove motif was inspired by the plaque above the main prayer hall at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine, where the character for "Hachi" is shaped to look like a dove.

Kotokuin Temple Great Buddha of Kamakura Komachi dori shopping street

From here, off to the Kirin Distillery Fuji Gotenba, a Japanese whisky distillery. Sourced with water that filters through Mt. Fuji over a period of 50-years, it brings a light, fresh taste to the spirits. After touring at this massive distillery, one of the largest in the world distilling both malt and grain whisky, enjoy a sampling of two whiskies from their selection.

From here, off to our hotel, Highland Resort Hotel and Spa, featuring breathtaking views of Mt. Fuji front right in front of the hotel. Our arrival will be by 4:45pm, followed by dinner at 6:00pm. This onsen hotel offers one of Japan’s largest bath houses, made from pure wood.

Accommodations: Highland Resort Hotel & Spa Free

Day 4 – January 27th, 2021 Wednesday – Kawaguchiko-Lake Suwa (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:45am as we make our way to Lake Suwa, home to an extraordinary, naturally occurring event known as “The God's Crossing” where warm hot spring waters that remain unfrozen during the winter months, cause pressurized ice formations to form above the lake.

Our morning begins with a visit to Shingenmochi Factory, a sprawling candy factory and shop filled with a paradise of sweets, everything from Japanese to Western confections. Many of the traditional Japanese treats are made with famous Yamanashi products such as kyoho grapes and white peach rice cakes. It is however most famous for the Shingen-mochi. It is eaten covered with kinako roasted soybean flour and kuromitsu brown sugar syrup, a part of the Yamanashi diet since ancient times.

After the factory tour, enjoy an interesting activity, “tsume houdai”, pack as much as you can in the store bag to bring back with you.

Next, lunch at a local Japanese restaurant.

This afternoon we are off for a strawberry picking experience at a farm in Suwa. Enjoy this 30-minute experience!

Now, off to our onsen hotel, Rako Hananoi Hotel, a relaxed hot spring hotel overlooking Lake Suwa. Our arrival will be by 3:15pm, followed by dinner at 6:00pm. There is time to enjoy their outdoor hot-springs baths. Another option depending on the weather is a walk to the nearby train station or Takashima Castle which is a 10-minute walk.

Imagine a lake half frozen and its shores and beautifully barren trees all covered in snow, this is Suwa in winter, a place full of winter charm.

Lake Suwa, the largest lake in Nagano, freezes over entirely every winter. Some years, a jagged ridge dozens of centimeters high forms in the ice. This stunning natural phenomenon is called omiwatari, or "God's crossing." Omiwatari occurs when the ice surface stretches due to differences in temperature between day and night. Three ridges usually form: two from the southeast part of the lake to the north, and one from the southwest to the east.

Accommodations: Rako Hananoi Hotel Free

Day 5 – January 28th, 2021 Thursday – Lake Suwa-Matsumoto (B/L)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:45am as we make our way to Matsumoto, home to Matsumoto Castle which has the oldest 5-storied wooden donjon in the country. Its black and white stucco siding provides a striking contrast with the beautiful Japan Alps in the background.

Our morning begins with a visit to the Mizuhiki Crafts Gallery Sekijima, to enjoy a Mizuhiki making experience. Mizuhiki is a colorful twine that is tied into knots to decorate gifts. Its history dates as far back as 607AD.

They are beautiful ornamental cords that come in colors such as red/white and white/black and are used to tie gift wrapping and envelopes. Made of washi, Mizuhiki plays an important role in Japanese culture as a symbol of affection, warmth, and togetherness.

From here, a western lunch at a local restaurant followed by a visit to Matsumoto Castle, one of five castles designated as National Treasures of Japan. It is the oldest five-tiered, six-story castle tower remaining in Japan. Construction began in 1592 of the elegant black and white structure with its three turrets. Inside the castle are steep stairs and low ceilings leading past displays of armor and weapons from the (Warring States Period) when the castle was built. The narrow wooden windows, once used by archers and gunmen, provide amazing views of the Japanese Alps, Matsumoto City and the koi and swans circling in the moat below.

Now, off to our hotel, Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu, established in 1887 and the city’s oldest hotel. Simple, yet tasteful, the hotel offers a relaxing atmosphere created by the Mingei furniture found in every room.

“The art of Mingei is not ‘owned’ by any specific artist. It was born and cultivated through an everyday lifestyle and refers to items designed with such a purpose in mind.

The beauty of Mingei style is a simple causal beauty. Its beauty grows as the patina of everyday life accumulates. Nameless craftsmen have passed down their study of the art and its simple functional beauty. It is the essence of simplicity that facilitates the true beauty of Mingei.

The Mingei spirit that bred Matsumoto folk art furniture thrives today as it did in years past. Similar to how the beauty of the earth is superimposed in everyday lifestyle, we welcome you here at Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu, as a hotel that reflects the Mingei spirit.”

Arrival will be by 5:00pm, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Just steps from the hotel is Matsumoto Castle, Nakamachi Street, Matsumoto’s town center. This popular street is lined with shops featuring many Japanese handicrafts and products as well as dining options. Running parallel to Nakamachi across the river lies "Frog Street", a pedestrian-only lane of shops and cafes housed in small, traditional-style buildings.

Hotel lobby and bath Frog Street Nakamachi Street

Accommodations: Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu Free

Day 6 – January 29th, 2021 Friday –Matsumoto-Yudanaka (B/L/D)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we make our way to Yudanaka, an onsen town in the Yamanouchi area of . Please prepare an overnight bag as the larger pieces will be sent separately to Tokyo.

Our morning begins with a visit to the Diao Wasabi Farm, founded in 1915, is recognized as the largest such farm in Japan. Within the farm stands the Daio Shrine, which enshrines the spirit of an ancient local hero, Hachimen Daio, after which the farm has been named and who is considered the farm's protector. Nearby the shrine is also a small cave related to the local hero's legend.

While the farm is a favorite spot for its picturesque beauty, it is also notable for its wide variety of foods and shops. Available is a wide variety of wasabi related products, including fresh wasabi, wasabi paste, wasabi flavored pickles and crackers, wasabi soba noodles, wasabi curry, wasabi sausages, wasabi dressing, wasabi beer, wasabi juice, wasabi soft cream and wasabi chocolate. Enjoy time to walk around and shop!

Next, a soba making experience followed by lunch, soba!

Close by, a visit to Obuse, a small town in this Nagano Prefecture with a pretty town center. Hokusai, a renowned woodblock painter, best known for his ukiyo-e woodblock print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, spent the later years of his life here with his patron and student, Takai Kozan, a wealthy local merchant and art enthusiast.

Several of the town's highlights are related to the artist and his patron, including the Hokusai Museum, the Takai Kozen Museum, and the painted ceiling of a local temple.Obuse is also well known for its seasonal produce, especially the locally grown chestnuts. Enjoy free tile for a stroll around town.

We now make our way to our hotel, Issano Komichi Biyu No Yada, located in the center of Yudanaka. Our arrival will be by 3:15pm and after short rest, please meet in the lobby as we are off on the Snow Monster Tour. The drive time from the hotel is approximately 45 minutes. On our return, a Japanese dinner at the hotel. After dinner, enjoy the onsen.

We will travel by bus partway up the mountain before switching to a snowcat for the rest of the journey. The sleek, red Pisten Bully is equipped with a large cabin that can accommodate up to 30 people, with a warm interior and plenty of windows.

The snowcat climbs the main run of Mt. Yokote before turning onto the Shiga-Kusatsu Route. It passes beautiful views around the Nozoki area before reaching Shibu Pass and the top of Mt. Yokote.

As the sun sets behind the mountains, the snowy landscape is bathed in warm orange and deep blue shadows grow across the valley, revealing the glittering lights of the cities below.

After night falls and stars appear in the sky, head into a forest of snow monsters, trees that have been completely covered by ice and snow, standing tall at the peak of Mt. Yokote. Walk along and enjoy sight of illuminated forests of snow monsters.

Snowcat day and night viewing of the snow monsters

Arrival back at our hotel by 6:45pm and dinner begins at 7:00pm.

Accommodations: Issano Komichi Biyu No Yada Free- Japanese style rooms

Day 7 – January 30th, 2021 Saturday –Yudanaka-Nagano-Tokyo (B)

After breakfast, please meet in the lobby by 9:00am as we make our way to Tokyo via Nagano. The morning begins with a visit to Sekiya Jouzou, a small miso factory for a short visit and shopping time. This factory provides the miso for the breakfast and dinner we just had yesterday at our onsen.

From here, a visit to Zenkoji Temple, one of the most important and popular temples in Japan. It was founded in the 7th century and stores the first Buddhist statue ever to be brought into Japan when Buddhism was first introduced in the 6th century. The original statue is hidden while a copy of it is shown to the public every six years for a few weeks.

Enjoy time to explore and have lunch on your own along the approach to the temple where you will find a variety of shops and restaurants.

Zenkoji Temple and approach

Now, off to the Nagano Station for the bullet train to Tokyo, 562, departs at 1:20pm and arrives at at 2:52pm. Our bus will meet us for the transfer to our hotel, Sunshine City Prince. After check-in, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free.

Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel Free

Day 8 – January 31st, 2021 Sunday –Tokyo (B/L)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off on fun filled day exploring Tokyo.

If you've ever dreamed about melt-in-your-mouth, out-of-this-world sushi, then you might have heard of Tsukiji, the largest fish market in the world. Most of Tokyo, and even high-end sushi restaurants in Hong Kong and San Francisco, gets their fish from this cultural landmark near the center of Japan's capital city.

Tsukiji sits on some of the most valuable real estate in Tokyo. While the inner auction market has moved to a new location, this vibrant outer market thrives with tourists and locals alike.

Opened in 1935, Tsukiji sprang to life after the Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed most of Tokyo in 1923. It has since become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. Every morning sightseers start lining up at 3 a.m. to watch the frozen tuna auction. The more expensive fresh tuna auctions – where a single Bluefin once sold for nearly $1.8 million- are privately conducted.

It is our first stop on tour, and we will be here for 1.5 hours so that you have ample time to walk around and enjoy the outer market, visit knife-making artisan shops, tasting candies, nuts, and spices, and learning more about seasonal produce

If you are a foodie, love markets, enjoy photography – or simply like visiting unique places – then you will probably love Tsukiji. After a good stroll around the market, there is nothing like a sushi breakfast to complete the experience. There are plenty of sushi shops – make sure to choose one where you see locals dining. If you do not feel like sushi, there are other options including ramen, donburi and more.

Tsukiji Fish Market

From here, we are off to Ameyoko Shopping Street, famous throughout Japan for its wide variety of products.

The name "Ameyoko" is a short form for "Ameya Yokocho" (candy store alley), as candies were traditionally sold there. Alternatively, "Ame" also stands for "America", because a lot of American products used to be available there when the street was the site of a black market in the years following WWII.

You can get just about EVERYTHING here, clothes, bags, cosmetics, fresh fish, dried squid and spices are sold along Ameyoko. It is quite the scene to just walk around through the very crowded and narrow streets. An awesome place to sightsee, shop and eat! Enjoy some free time here to explore on your own.

Ameyoko is a great spot to stock up on all your omiyage favorites

Now, lunch time at a wonderful buffet restaurant just a short walk away.

Our last stop of the day, off to spend some quality time at Tokyo’s largest Daiso at Alcakit Kinshicho, one of the largest shopping malls in the region, right beside the JR Kinshicho Station. This Daiso takes up an entire floor and when you see it, the only words imaginable will be “Oh my gosh, this place is HUGE!”. Enjoy free time here for shopping.

Our return at the hotel will be by 4:30pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free.

Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel Free Day 9 – February 1st, 2021 Monday –Tokyo-Haneda (B)

After breakfast, enjoy a complete free day for shopping in Ikebukuro or sightseeing on your own. We have arranged for a late check-out from the room, so no rush packing your last-minute omiyage. Please meet your guide in the lobby by 4:15pm as we make our way to the .

Hawaiian Airlines #864 Departs Haneda 8:15 pm – Arrive Honolulu 8:00 am