halloween omiyage shopping weekend!

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HALLOWEEN OMIYAGE SHOPPING WEEKEND! October 27th - November 1st, 2018 4nts/6 days from: $1795 dbl/tpl $1995 sgl Join us on this very special Halloween weekend Omiyage tour to Tokyo. In Tokyo before the malls and department stores there were shopping streets. These streets were lined with merchants and it was where local folk shopped. On these streets you would find green grocers, butchers, sake and rice sellers as well as local crafts, restaurants and street vendors selling delicious inexpensive food. They anchored the neighborhood and sort of made for lively city life in old school Tokyo. This tradition continues today, it is still the way of life for many Tokyoites. Come discover some of Tokyo’s best shopping streets, Ameyoko & Nakamise, as well Tsukiji Fish Market and Komachi-Dori Shopping Street on our day trip to Kamakura. It’s also Halloween weekend and there is nothing like being in Japan for Halloween, especially here in Tokyo. Halloween is quite different here from elsewhere in the world, rather than being carried out like the traditional “trick-or-treat”, here in Japan it is best described as “National Dress Up Day”. Be a part of this incredible day as we visit Harajuku, a drive through Shibuya Scramble Crossing and a themed Halloween dinner. This celebration has become a massive hit in Tokyo in recent years and we will be there live to partake in the festivities. Lastly, it’s the beginning of foliage season and we hope to catch a glimpse along the way at the popular viewing sites of Meiji and Rikugien Garden. A weekend to be long remembered!

Itinerary/Details Day 1 –October 27th, 2018 Saturday – Depart from Honolulu Hawaiian Airlines #855 Departs Honolulu 6:20 pm – Arrive Haneda 10:00 pm + 1 Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines Terminal 3 hours prior to flight time for checkin.

Newly remodeled Sunshine City Prince Hotel & lobby

Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel

Family Mart in hotel lobby

Free

Day 2 –October 28th, 2018 Sunday – Haneda-Tokyo After clearing customs, we will be met by our local guide and board the charter bus to our host hotel, The Sunshine City Prince Hotel, ideally situated in the Ikebukuro section of Tokyo. The hotel is less than a 10-minute walk from the Ikebukuro JR Station. Our drive time is approximately 45 minutes. The lobby of the hotel connects to a huge shopping and entertainment mecca with four towers, including a 240-meterhigh skyscraper with an observation deck on the top. Sunshine City is typically open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm seven days a week. If you need a late snack or beverage, there is a 24-hour Family Mart just off the lobby area as well as a 24-hour super market just minutes away. The remainder of the evening is free.

Newly remodeled Sunshine City Prince Hotel & lobby

Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel

Family Mart in hotel lobby

Free

Day 3 –October 29th, 2016 Monday – Tokyo (B/L) After breakfast at our hotel we will head out for a full day of touring. Please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:30am. 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. At some point in the future, the inner market will be moving to reclaimed land on Tokyo Bay. The 2020 Olympics are coming, and the city is preparing. 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’re a foodie, love markets, enjoy photography – or simply like visiting unique places – then you’ll probably love Tsukiji. After a good stroll around the market, there’s 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 don’t feel like sushi, there are other options including ramen, donburi and more. If you finish early we encourage you to visit Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple, less than one block away. With an Indian-style exterior, was built in 1617 near Asakusa, but was burnt down in a huge fire that swept through Edo (Tokyo) in 1657. The Temple was then rebuilt on the present site, but destroyed again by the Great Tokyo Earthquake of 1923. The current main building was built in 1934.The main building possesses a distinctive ambience not found in other Japanese temples, due to its variety of architectural styles.

Tsukiji Fish Market Its noontime and time for lunch at a local restaurant. 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! We will remain here for 1.5 hr. so you can shop at leisure.

Ameyoko- best spot to find omiyage items Now, off to Asakusa, the traditional, low-rise, down, and dirty Tokyo of yesteryear. Although on the surface it’s ye olde Japan, this was the first part of the capital to have significant western influence. It was even the site of Japan’s first cinema. Attractions in the area include one of Tokyo’s most historic temples – Sensoji, and the impressive Kaminarimon Gate that marks the entranceway to the temple. Also, you can’t miss Phillip Stark’s ‘Golden Poo’ on the roof of the nearby Asahi Breweries headquarters. Sensoji Temple dates to 645, but with the original destroyed in the air raids of 1945, today’s building is a 1958 reconstruction. At the top of the steps, as a mark of respect, clap twice and bow your head. It’s also customary to make a small offering by tossing coins into the wooden rack. The Five Storied Pagoda was built in 1973 and amongst others; it stands in honor of comedians! Standing 54 meters high, reinforced with concrete and steel, and like all pagodas, running down the center is a giant pillar of Japanese Cypress tree wood. Once through the gate you’ll be in Nakamise Shopping Arcade. The street is lined with colorful, lively stalls selling traditional knick- knacks, festival foods and rice crackers. There are over 50 shops along this shopping street. No worry, we will have time to shop and taste some of the food treats along the way.

Asakusa and Nakamise Shopping Arcade Arrival back at our hotel will be approximately 5:00pm. After time to freshen up, meet your Panda Travel guide as we take a brief walking tour of the area around the hotel so that you are familiar with the many dining and shopping spots available.

Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel

Free

Day 4 –October 30th, 2018 – Tokyo-Kamakura-Yokohama (B) After breakfast, please meet up with your guide by 8:30am as we make our way to Kamakura, less than an hour from Tokyo. Famed for its Great Buddah at Kotokuin Temple, Japan’s first feudal capital is a popular day trip destination. Kamakura became 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. It remained the center of Eastern Japan for some time before losing its position to other cities. Our first stop today will be at Houkokuji Temple, secluded in the hills of eastern Kamakura. While a small temple, it is best known for the beautiful, small bamboo grove found behind the temple's main hall, which lies thick with over 2000 dark green bamboo stalks. A few narrow pathways lead through the bamboo to a tea house where, for a small fee, you can sit and enjoy a cup of matcha tea while enjoying views into the bamboo grove. Also located behind the temple are a series of shallow caves carved into the hillsides, which are believed to hold the ashes of some of the later Ashikaga lords. Enjoy free time to admire the strength and beauty of 2,000 Moso-bamboo. As you make your way up the winding path and manicured gardens, the aroma of the seasonal flowers is calming and soothing. The serenity of Hokokuji’s bamboo gardens will immediately transform your being with a peace of mind. From here we will visit 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. Our next stop is at Komachi Dori, the main shopping street in Kamakura. It is always busy with visitors year-round, tourists and locals alike. There is a good mix (product and price-wise) of places to spend your yen – from shops selling everything Hello Kitty to fancy pottery and restaurants serving traditional meals to stalls selling snacks. One recommended must stop is at Hato Sabure, Kamakura’s dove cookies, sold here since sold since 1894 and continues to be a popular snack, reminding many people of their childhood days. The cookie is somewhat between a shortbread cookie and a butter cookie. Bring some home and you will be loved forever! Enjoy free time here to explore and have lunch on your own.

Kotokuin Temple

Great Buddha of Kamakura

Komachi dori shopping street

Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel

Free

Day 5 –October 31th, 2018 Wednesday – Tokyo (B/D) – Happy Halloween! After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely morning as our day of touring begins in the early afternoon. You can use this morning for some shopping time. The Sunshine City Mall shops open at 10am and there are the popular 100-yen Daiso store and Don Quijote just a few minutes’ walk away. Please meet up with your guide in the hotel lobby by 1:00pm as we journey out to experience Halloween festivities in Tokyo. First a visit to the popular Meiji Shrine, located right in the middle of one of Tokyo`s most popular areas is an amazing urban oasis, Meiji Jingu. It is a shinto shrine that is dedicated to the souls of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. After the Emperor’s death in 1912, the Japanese Diet passed a resolution to commemorate his role in the Meiji Restoration and the construction of a shrine where his soul would be enshrined was undertaken. The area around an iris garden in Tokyo where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken had been known to visit was chosen as the building’s location. With the passing of the resolution, construction began in 1915, formally dedicated in 1920 and finished in 1926. When you enter the grounds of the shrine, probably the first thing that will get your attention is the, “torii” (the traditional gate to a Shinto shrine) you pass under. It is enormous and majestic, completely impossible to miss. Actually, there are three torii in total between the Harajuku entrance and the main building. But once you pass under the first one, you enter the forest which blocks out the sights and sounds of the city. While walking along the path to the shrine you will pass huge barrels of sake. These barrels are donated every year by Meiji Jingu Nationwide Sake Brewers Association to the enshrined deities at the shrine, and they make for a great photo opportunity for the visitor. About five minutes past the sake barrels you`ll come to the entrance of the main shrine area, from where you can see the Mode Gakuen building far behind in the distance. The two buildings really contrast each other. Mode Gakuen, an icon of the modern age – and Meiji Jingu an icon of ages past, but still relevant in the modern era as it one of the main places for News Years prayers and is still very culturally important. The spacious shrine grounds are in a large forested area within the densely built-up city and we hope to catch a glimpse of fall colors here. From here it is only a short ride to Harajuku, the youthful spot around Tokyo’s Harajuku Station. It is the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles while also offering some historic sites and shopping for adults. The focal point is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, which are lined by many trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothes stores, crepe stands, and fast food outlets geared towards the fashion and trend conscious teens. It’s Halloween and while on most any day of the year young people gather around Harajuku Station, engage in cosplay ("costume play"), dress up in eccentric costumes to resemble anime characters, punk musicians, etc., today will only add to what is already quite an experience. Enjoy some free time to stroll around and enjoy the area. There is a Daiso, a 108-yen shop half way up Takeshita Dori that always a great shopping spot. By the way, the crepes make for a wonderful as a snack, do try one! Close by, Shibuya Crossing, itself popular among tourists for the iconic crossing, Hachiko dog statue, and glorious shopping spots, but on Halloween, it transforms itself into a party jungle. The area will be filled with Disney characters, spooky people, angels, T-rex and many, many other unimaginable characters. Get your cameras out and ready for this once in a lifetime experience.

It is from here that we will enjoy a Halloween themed dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner, back to our hotel. Our arrival will be by 8:30pm and the remainder of the evening is free. The area around our hotel will also be offering quite a few Halloween activities over our weekend stay being that it has developed into a hot spot for anime.

Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel

Free

Day 6 –November 1st, 2018 Thursday – Tokyo-Haneda It’s our last day in Tokyo and we want you to enjoy and make the most of it. After breakfast, enjoy a complete free day to do shopping and in case you were out late celebrating Halloween, sleep in late. We have arranged for a late check out from the hotel, 7:30pm. Kindly meet your guide in the lobby by 8:00pm as we make our way to the Haneda Airport to begin the check-in process for our flight home. Not sure how to make the best of your day here in Ikebukuro, here are home helpful suggestions. Ikebukuro is the battle ground between the Tobu and Seibu conglomerates which operate large department stores on each side of the station. Recently it has also seen fierce competition from two of Japan's largest electronic retailers, Bic Camera, and Yamada Denki. Enjoy time at Sunshine City, a huge shopping mall connected to our hotel. It has four towers including a 240-meterhigh skyscraper with an observation deck on the top. The main tower is the second highest building in Tokyo. The Sunshine City Prince Hotel is housed in one of the smaller towers at the complex. The lower levels of Sunshine City are a monstrous maze of shops and tourist attractions, as well as a theatre. The tower’s elevator is an attraction in its self, being the fastest in the world it takes only thirty-five seconds to reach the top. The highlight of the ride would have to be the illuminated dolphins and unicorns, ambient music and beautifully dressed lift operators making the trip to the top an interesting journey. The center opened in 1978 and is Tokyo’s oldest “City within a City”. It sits on land that was once occupied by Sugamo Prison. The Sunshine International Aquarium is a popular attraction where there are plenty of great underwater exhibits to entertain the whole family. There are the usual sharks, stingrays, tropical fish and sea life, but the most popular exhibits are the penguins, seals and sea otters which are well worth the entry fee. The aquarium sits on the 10th Floor, which gives it the title of the world’s highest aquarium. There are feedings at the aquarium every hour and one of the largest tanks holds over 120 tons of water. The seals do performances during the day. Another great family attraction is the planetarium, where you can learn about the solar system and the universe. The Cosmic Safari takes visitors on a journey to see the wonders in outer-space. The Bunka Kaikan building is home to the Ancient Orient Museum which has an amazing collection of artifacts and is well worth a look. The Sunshine City complex is also home to the Namco Namja Town. Namja Town is a collection of food theme parks and other interesting dining establishments. The center has a series of kittens as mascots and there are plenty of them to choose from in the gift shop. Some of the food parks include Ice Cream City and the Tokyo Dessert Republic. Then for the Gyoza lover, there is Ikebukuro Gyoza stadium, the list goes on with dozens of tasty attractions. There is a small fee to enter the complex and then the fun begins. There are various carnival amusements at Namja town too, like a haunted house, merry-go-round, and video shooting games. Make sure you go hungry as there is so much to try across the two jammed packed floors of food and adventure.

One store no visitor to Japan should miss is Tokyu Hands, a shop that can only be described as a cross between a hardware store and a hobby shop. It is a great place for gift shopping, as many of the items for sale can’t be found outside Japan. This store is one of their largest and has a rather odd attraction. Do you just love finding the latest Kit Kat flavors? Take time to visit the recently opened Kit-Kat Chocolatey, at the Seibu Department Store, Ikebukuro train station and shop at the world's first Kit-Kat boutique.

Hawaiian Airlines #856 Departs Haneda 11:55 pm – Arrive Honolulu 12:30 pm