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Enchanting Snow Monsters and Traditional Onsens Nagano's 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 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. 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, Japan’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 Komachi 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.
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