The itinerary is reference only for planning tours.
Nov. 8, Fri. LOS ANGELES
Leave Los Angeles 11:35 a.m. NH 5
Cross International Dateline
Visit Naha, Manzamo and other areas in Okinawa
Nov. 9, Sat. NARITA/TOKYO – NAHA, OKINAWA
Arrive Narita/Tokyo 4:25 p.m.
Depart Narita/Tokyo 5:45 p.m. NH 2159
Arrive Naha, Okinawa 8:35 p.m.
Upon arrival in Naha, Okinawa, we will be met by our guide and transferred to our hotel.
Accommodations: NAHA TERRACE HOTEL
Nov. 10, Sun. NAHA, OKINAWA
Breakfast included. Our sightseeing today will include the Peace Prayer and Memorial Park located at Mabuni Hill, where the last major battle of World War ll in Okinawa was fought. Here is the Stone Wall Monument, were over 230 thousand names are carved of people from Okinawa, U.S., mainland Japan and other foreign countries that have lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa. We will visit the Gyokusendo Kingdom Village, one of the biggest stalactite caves in Japan. The deposits in the cave are of coral reef and the formations number more than 900,000. Visit Shurijo music Castle, the glory of the Ryukyuan Kingdom. The current building is a reconstruction completed in 1992 after being destroyed during WWII Also, visit the Tower of Himeyuri, in memory of 167 high school girls (trainee nurses) and their teachers who committed a mass suicide when their retreat was cut off. We will have some time to shop at the Kokusai-dori, the largest shopping center of Okinawa. Tonight we will be treated to a special Okinawan dinner with folk dancing and.music.
Accommodations: NAHA TERRACE HOTEL (B, L, D)
Nov. 11, Mon. NAHA – MANZAMO
After breakfast, we will depart by motorcoach for our full day of sightseeing of Northern Okinawa, which will include Manza Mo cliff, a grass tableland jutting into Nago Bay, one of the best scenery in Okinawa, a ride on a glass bottom boat to see colorful coral reefs and tropical fish, a visit to a pineapple plant where you find a variety of things made from pineapple, a visit to the Aquarium and the orchids of the Tropical Dream Center.
Accommodations: MANZA BEACH HOTEL (B, L)
Kagoshima sightseeing
Nov. 12, Tue. MANZAMO – NAHA – KAGOSHIMA, KYUSHU
This morning after breakfast, we will be driving back to Naha and to the airport. It time to say “good bye” to Okinawa and catch our flight to Kagoshima.
NH 474 Depart Naha, Okinawa 10:50 a.m.
Arrive Kagoshima Airport 11:20 a.m.
Upon arrival in Kagoshima, we will be met by our English speaking guide, Mr. Shigeru Shinohara, who will be with us the rest of the tour. We will drive into the city of Kagoshima and see the statue of historical Takamori Saigo and his Suicide Cave where he commited “hara-kiri” when Kagoshima collapsed in 1877. Then drive to the Shiroyama Observatory to the panoramic view of Mt. Sakurajima and Kagoshima city. We will then head for Chiran to see the Peace Museum. Here we will have a briefing session by a museum staff to learn about the Kamikaze Pilots. This once served as the main kamikaze sortie base for Japanese Army attacks on Allied ships around Okinawa. The Samurai House, which was once the castle town for a local feudal lord under the Shimazu clan is our next stop to see the Japanese gardens. We will then drive to our hotel with its onsen and you will have some time for a bath, etc. before having a Japanese dinner at hotel this evening. Hot Sand Bath at Ibusuki Hotel 5:30 – 22:30 or 5:30 am – 10:30 pm JPY1,050 per person
Dinner: 7:30 pm at hotel
Accommodations: IBUSUKU IWASAKI HOTEL (B, L,D)
Kumamoto Castle One of Japan’s most famous castles
Nov. 13, Wed. IBUSUKI – KUMAMOTO
After breakfast, we will drive to Kumamoto taking short breaks at Sakurajima, Miyahara and Mifune before arriving at Suizenji Park, a panoramic Momoyama-type landscape garden, constructed close to 300 years ago by Prince Tadayoshi Hosokawa, a feudal lord. A grassy hill modeled after the old-time fifty three stages of the Tokaido highway, a mountain fashioned after Mt. Fujii and many artistic works of nature are beautifully arranged here. Lunch (on own) in Suizenji Park and we will then take a walking tour of this beautiful garden. Our next stop is Kumamoto Castle considered to be one of the three most famous castles in Japan. It was constructed by Kato Kiyomasa who took 7 years to complete it. One of the famous features is the Musha-gaeshi, a device invented to prevent ninjas or external enemies from invading the castle. Tonight, you may want to explore the nearby Kamidori and Shimodori shopping arcades with its many shops and restaurants.
Dinner: on own
Accommodations: HOTEL NIKKO KUMAMOTO (B)
Visit Peace Park, A-bomb Museum and others in Nagasaki
Nov. 14, Thu. KUMAMOTO – UNZEN – NAGASAKI
This morning we will leave Kumamoto and cross the Ariake Sea to Nagasaki by ferry boat. En route, we will make a visit to the Unzen Jigoku, a striking reminder that Unzen Volcano is still very much alive. These springs are highly valued by Japanese “if you live in a bad manner, you cannot go to Paradise, but rather you will fall into the Hell of Agony.” Upon arrival in the city, we will go visit the Glover Gardens which have been designated as an Important Cultural Asset. The Glover House is the oldest western-style wooden house existing in Japan. Our next stop is the Peace Park and the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. The Peace Statue’s right hand pointing upward depicts the threat of the atomic bomb, the left hand stretching horizontally symbolizes eternal world peace and closed eyelids express the consolation for the war dead. At 11:02 a.m., August 9, 1945, the world’s second atomic bomb exploded above this hypocenter. Numerous photographs and relics of the atomic bomb are preserved in the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum.
Dinner: Nagasaki favorite Sara-udon & other dishes.
Accommodations: BEST WESTERN PREMIER HOTEL NAGASAKI (B, D)
Tonight please pack an overnight bag as our luggage will be sent to Hiroshima
Arita – A town of pottery known for Arita-yaki
Nov. 15, Fri. NAGASAKI – ARITA – YANAGAWA – FUKUOKA
After breakfast, we will motorcoach to Arita, the birthplace of Japanese porcelain and to the Genemon Kiln to see how the pottery is made. The pottery became known as Imari after the port from which it was shipped. Ko-Imari, one of the three prevailing styles of Arita porcelain, is characterized by its remarkable
glazing and patterns. The Kakiemon style and the Iro-Nabeshima. There are 24 wholesale shops that you can freely roam and buy if you wish. We will then drive to The City of Water, Yanagawa established as a castle town governed by the lord of the castle since 700 years ago in the Muromachi period. It was then ruled by the Tachibana Family during the Edo Period. You will have an option for lunch (on own) today. This city is known for their “Unagi no Seiro-mushi” (steamed eel in a basket) and you will have the opportunity to eat this at the well known Ohana Restaurant which specializes in this dish. For those that do not like eel, there will be other choices. Next is a peaceful boat ride in the outer and inner moats of the castle ruins. We will then continue our drive to Fukuoka through Yama, Dazaifu and Tenjinkita and to our hotel.
Dinner: Karaoke Room with food and drinks.
Accommodations: HOTEL OKURA FUKUOKA (B, D)
Sightseeing in Hiroshima
Nov. 16, Sat. FUKUOKA – HIROSHIMA
This morning, we will leave the hotel and to get to the JR Hakata Station to catch the Bullet train Nozomi leaving Fukuoka at 10:28 a.m. and arriving in Hiroshima at 11:30 a.m. (62 minutes). Lunch (on own) and then we will go visit the Peace Memorial Park where we will have a walking tour to see the Flame of Peace, Children’s Peace Monument and then go in the museum. We will then be dropped off at our hotel where the rest of the day is free.
Dinner: On own
Accommodations: RIHGA ROYAL HIROSHIMA (B)
Nov. 17, Sun. HIROSHIMA – IWAKUNI – MIYAJIMA – HIROSHIMA
We will drive to Iwakuni this morning and go see the Kintai Bridge. The elegantly formed, elaborately-structured bridge measures in a straight line, over 212 yards in length and 5 1/2 yards wide. The unique structure of the arches is so precise that a very solid bridge has been made. The curved lines of the bridge are particularly original. The technique used to construct the unsupported 35 meter arches from short timbers is said to be of the highest engineering standards. We will then drive to Miyajimamachi, where we will take a ferry across to Miyajima Island, considered one of the three most beautiful spots of Japan. Built in the latter half of the sixth century, the Shrine was remodeled into the present beautiful structure by Taira-no-Kiyomori in 1168. In front of the main shrine and standing in the sea, is the vermillion colored O-Torii. The shrine was designated in 1996 as a precious asset of world heritage. An okonomiyaki lunch is scheduled for you at local restaurant. We will then take the ferry back to Miyajimaguchi and drive back to the hotel. Free time before our dinner.
Dinner: Farewell dinner at hotel
Accommodations: RIHGA ROYAL HIROSHIMA (B, L, D)
Nov. 18, Mon. HIROSHIMA – HANEDA – NARITA – LOS ANGELES
Today after breakfast, we will leave the hotel for the airport for our flight to Tokyo.
Leave Hiroshima 10:30 a.m. NH 676
Arrive Haneda 11:50 a.m.
We will be transferred by chartered airport bus to Narita Airport for our flight home.
Leave Narita 5:05 p.m. NH 6
Arrive Los Angeles 9:45 a.m. (same day)
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