The Ancient Roads of Japan Series


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The Ancient Roads of Japan Series Along the San'yōdō Highway-Fall School Break October 6-13, 2018-Small Group Tour 6nts/8days fr: $2995 dbl/tpl $3195 single Non-stop

into Fukuoka and out of Osaka

Japan developed a nationwide network of roads and highways dating back to the 7th century as a method of carrying items on foot and horseback, as well as transporting goods between towns and villages. These major roads, called kaido originated from the capital of Kyoto. There were seven major highways, ranked into three grades: the dairo, or principal highway (San’yodo), two churo, or secondary highways (Tokaido and Tosando), and four shoro, or lesser highways. The San’yodo was awarded prominence because it connected the Kinai with Daizaifu, an important provincial capital in northern Kyushu. Northern Kyushu was the gateway where Japan came into direct contact with foreign countries. Daizaifu was the point of arrival in Japan for Chinese and Korean emissaries and skilled craftsmen. Even today, many Japanese like to think of this highway as the final leg of the ancient Silk Road. Join us on this unique tour as we rediscover the Sanyodo Highway beginning in Hakata and traveling to Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kurashiki, Okayama, Kobe, and Osaka. Besides the historic sightseeing we have included at visit to the Uminaka Flower Festival, two hands-on experiences, Momiji pancake making in Miyajima and lucky cat painting in Okayama. Being this is a fall school break tour, there are also visits to Kurashiki Denim Street, the Cup Noodle Museum and Kaiyukan Aquarium.

Itinerary/Details Day 1 – October 6th, 2018 Saturday – Depart from Honolulu Delta Airlines #599 Departs Honolulu 12:27 pm – Arrive Fukuoka 5:10 pm +1

International check in begins 3 hours prior to departure. Please meet your Panda Travel representative in the main terminal at the Delta Airlines check-in area.

Day 2 – October7th, 2018 Sunday – Fukuoka-Hakata After clearing customs, we will be met by our local guide and then the short bus ride to our hotel for the next two nights, Hotel Clio Court Hakata, adjacent to the JR Hakata Station. This youthful, user-friendly metropolis has a cosmopolitan charm, peppered with the flavors of its Asian neighbors. Hakata traces its trading history back some 2000 years, which continues today with visitors from Seoul and Shanghai. Among Japanese, the city is famed for its 'Hakata bijin' (beautiful women), SoftBank Hawks’s baseball team and hearty Hakata ramen. Hakata may not burst with sights like Tokyo or Kyoto, but its friendly atmosphere, warm weather, and contemporary attractions – art, architecture, shopping, and cuisine – make up for it As far as our hotel location, it is difficult to find a more convenient spot, just steps from so many dining and shopping options. Tokyu Hands and Daiso are steps away while the ever-popular Don Quijote is a short walk away and open 24 hours! The remainder of the evening is free.

Accommodations: Hotel Clio Court Hakata

free

Day 3 – October 8th, 2018 Monday – Fukuoka (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am as we are off on a full day of touring. The morning begins with a visit to Uminonamichi Seaside Park to enjoy time at the annual fall Uminaka Flower Festival to view the flowers of autumn. As far as the eye can see, a carpet of red, white, and pink cosmos, crimson kochia, and chrysanthemums adorn the gardens, blooming in beds patterned on traditional Hakata-ori textile designs. Enjoy viewing 1.5 million cosmos, 20,000 cockscomb, and 170 kinds of roses. From here we are off to Canal City Shopping Complex for free time to enjoy lunch on own and have a bit of shopping time. With 250 stores, restaurants, movie theatres, it is among the largest and most elaborate shopping malls in Japan. While Fukuoka ramen can be sampled at hundreds of vendors throughout the city, the best place to experience this local specialty is here at Canal City’s Ramen Stadium. It is an entire floor loaded with ramen kitchens selling regional variations, including the local favorite, Hakata Ramen. Next, we are off to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Fukuoka, where more than 2 million people visit during the first three days of New Year. In this shrine, Sugawara-no Michizane, an excellent poet, particularly in Chinese poetry in the late 9th century, is enshrined as the god of academic achievements. During the entrance exam season, young people from all parts of Japan preparing for these examinations and their parents come to the shrine to pray for success and academic achievement. Michizane passed away in Dazaifu in 903, just a few years after being sent into exile. Shortly after his death

the country was ravaged by natural disasters, and people came to believe that the calamities were caused by the wrathful spirit of Michizane, still angered by his unjust treatment. Offerings were made to the spirit of Michizane and the tradition of Tenmangu Shrines was begun. The Tenmangu Shrine in Dazaifu was built on the site of his grave. The entire length of the approach is lined with shops that cater to the shrine's visitors. The shrine is rather large, stretching about 250 meters from one end to the other. After passing through the torii gate at the entrance, visitors will come across a pond that was built in the shape of the Japanese character for "heart". A path leads across two arched bridges and islands which represent the past, present and future.

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and approached lined with shops on both sides

We now make our way back to Hakata, arrival by 5:00pm. Once back, the remainder of the evening is free.

Accommodations: Hotel Clio Court Hakata

free

Day 4 – October 9th, 2018 Tuesday – Hakata-Hiroshima (B/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off via bullet train to Hiroshima and Miyajima. Please prepare an overnight bag for the next 2 nights as our luggage will be sent separately to Kobe. The morning begins with a walk over to Hakata Station, less than a 5 minute, to catch the Nozomi 16 that departs at 9:10am and arrives in Hiroshima at 10:16am. On arrival we will be met by our bus as we are off on a full day of touring. We are off to Miyajimaguchi and once at the port, aboard the ferry for a quick 10-minute ride to Miyajima Island, one of the most scenic spots in Japan. It has long been regarded as an Island of Gods on the beautiful Seto Inland Sea. It is a romantic and historical island where Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage site, is located, along with the Virgin Forest of Mt. Misen, and numerous preserved shrines, temples, and historical monuments. Its star attraction is the oft-photographed vermilion torii (shrine gate) of Itsukushima-jinja, which seems to float on the waves at high tide – a scene that has traditionally been ranked as one of the three best views in Japan.

From the ferry station, we will walk along Omote-Sando, the main street from the port to Itsukushima Shrine. There are many souvenir shops on both sides of the street. You will have time to enjoy souvenir shopping for a Shamoji (a rice scoop) or the well-known Momiji manju, a bun with a bean-jam filling made from maple leaves as well and other crafts. We will now visit the cultural heritage site, called the "Itsukushima Shinto Shrine" that is dedicated to the God protecting people from sea disasters and wars. It is said that this shrine was constructed around 593; however, after the warlord Taira no Kiyomori (1118-1181) rebuilt it in 1168, it became the magnificent vermilion-lacquered building it is today. The most interesting feature of this shrine is the Torii (a kind of gate symbolizing a shrine) and the Shaden (shrine pavilion) in the sea, which are both submerged at full tide, but at low tide the sea water recedes completely, and it is possible to walk out to the gate. After free time to enjoy lunch on your own and shopping, please meet up with your guide as we are off to enjoy a Momiji-manju (maple-leaf shaped bun with bean-jam filling) making experience. Try your hand at making your own delicious Momiji-manju with an old-fashioned hand-held griddle. After the cooking experience, enjoy eating your creation, piping-hot.

Floating torii and Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

plenty to choose for lunch & shopping

After the ferry back to the mainland, we journey to Hiroshima, drive time approximately 45 minutes and check-in to our hotel for the evening, Hotel New Hiroden, conveniently located just a couple of minutes’ walk to the Hiroshima Station. After checking in and a little time to freshen up, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off to enjoy a local meal, okonomiyaki. The walk over to the restaurant is no more than 5 minutes. Our dinner this evening is okonomiyaki, a popular pan-fried food that consists of batter and cabbage. Selected toppings and ingredients are added which can vary greatly (anything from meat and seafood to wasabi and cheese). This variability is reflected in the dish's name; "okonomi" literally means "to one's liking". The dish is available all over Japan, but is most popular in the west, particularly the cities of Hiroshima and Osaka. Okonomiyaki is sometimes translated into English as "As-you-like-it Pancake". However, this may be misleading. Though it does consist of batter cooked on a griddle, okonomiyaki has nothing of the sweetness or fluffiness of pancakes, not to mention that it is usually filled with octopus, shrimp, pork, yam, or kimchi. A more accurate comparison, which is also made, is between okonomiyaki and pizza.

Enjoy watching the steps of your okonomiyaki being created in front of you After dinner, we will walk back to our hotel, but if you are up for a walk, the Hiroshima JR Station is close by and some shops may still be open.

Accommodations: Hiroshima New Hiroden Hotel

free

Day 5 – October 10th, 2018 Wednesday – Hiroshima-Okayama (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, A-Bomb Dome, and museum. With six beautiful rivers flowing through it, Hiroshima is called the City of Water. The origins of the city date back to 1589 when Mori Terumoto, a feudal lord, built Hiroshima Castle at the large delta of the Otagawa River. Because the delta resembled a large island, the area was called "Hiroshima", or 'wide island' in Japanese. Although many only know it for the horrific split second on August 6, 1945, when it became the site of the world's first atomic bomb attack, it is now a modern, cosmopolitan city with excellent cuisine and a bustling nightlife. Our first stop will be at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, located in the center of Hiroshima City. It is difficult to imagine that this triangle shaped piece of land bordered by two rivers was once a busy commercial and residential downtown area. The atomic bomb eliminated everything in the town. After World War II, a group led by a Japanese architect Kenzo Tange designed the park to turn the land into the Peace Memorial Park It was completed in 1954. There are many buildings and monuments which commemorate people who lost their lives at that time and represent the people's prayers for peace, such as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the Memorial Cenotaph, and the Statue of the A-Bomb Children, etc. By imagining the contrast between the misery of the atomic bomb attack and the beauty and tranquility in the park while visiting spots in the park, you will be moved to appreciate how precious peace is. Our next stop is at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, located in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. By standing on the Peace Boulevard side, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the Memorial Cenotaph, the Peace Flame, and the A-Bomb Dome can be seen along a straight line. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which opened in 1955, gives people an opportunity to learn of the outcome of the bomb attack and consider what peace really means through many reference materials. The East Wing exhibits photographs, panels, videos, and panorama models showing the actual history of Hiroshima before and after the bomb attack. The main building exhibits victims' belongings and references which show the misery of the

bomb attack. You will see a burnt lunch box, a tricycle which a 3-year-old boy was riding, etc., which reflects the instantaneous destruction and strike right at the heart of visitors. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was designed by a group headed by Kenzo Tange, who also designed the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The strength of humanity rising from the ruins is expressed in the piloti-style space under the main building. The last stop will be at A-Bomb Dome, a symbol of peace which most people have at least seen at one time in a picture. The building, which was designed by a Czech architect in 1915, had been used as the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. Hiroshima citizens back then loved so much European modern-style buildings of the time. In 1912, the National Confectionery Exposition was held in this place. From that exposition, Baumkuchen, which represented German cake, was manufactured, and sold in Japan for the first time. Since the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall was located only around 160 meters from the hypocenter, the building was blown up, and all those inside the building died. However, the building was not destroyed completely because the blast of the atomic bomb, which was vaporized in the air, prevented it from totally collapsing. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 and has been representing people's prayers for a lasting peace.

A-Bomb Dome

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

From here we are off to Kurashiki and the drive time is approximately 2.5 hours which includes a rest stop along the way. Once here we will be visiting the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter to stroll her backstreets, a tiny but immaculately preserved section of its old rice-merchant quarter, which prospered in the Edo period. There are about 300 old houses and granaries. The oldest is about 300 years old. Old Kurashiki today consists of dozens of characteristic whitewashed, black-tiled kura, or rice granaries, centered around a willow-lined transport canal. Many have been converted into museums, shops, teahouses, and inns, injecting contemporary vitality into these relics of traditional Japan. It is considered one of the picturesque merchants’ quarter in Japan. The quaint charm of those times has been retained with white wooden houses with traditional black tiles & no electrical poles on the roads! Some families who have lived here for generations are still there! It is a “must see traditional neighborhood” where you will have time to enjoy the atmosphere, have lunch on your own and do some small kine shopping.

Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter Next, a visit to Kurashiki Denim Street, the birthplace of jeans in Japan. Denim fans from all over Japan come to this shopping district of reformed older storefronts to visit about 30 shops, cafes, and general stores. Enjoy time here browsing or shopping for jeans brands known around the world for their high quality. See for yourself the latest recommendations and trends! From here, off to our hotel for the evening, Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama, just around the corner from the Okayama Station, offering a variety of shops and dining options. After check-in, the remainder of the evening is free.

Accommodations: Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama

free

Day 6 – October 11th, 2018 Thursday– Okayama-Kobe (B/L)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am as we are off on a full day of touring and ending later today in Kobe. Okayama is a city proud of its connection to Momotarō, the demon-quelling boy hero of one of Japan's bestknown folk tales. You'll spot his face beaming out at you all over town. The most many travelers see of Okayama is the blur of color as they fly through on the shinkansen to Hiroshima. But it's worth the stop, if only to spend a few hours strolling around Kōraku-en, one of Japan’s top three gardens, which is overlooked by the city's crow-black castle. Our morning begins with a visit to Korakuen Garden, which incorporates the typical features of a Japanese landscape garden, including a large pond, streams, walking paths and a hill that serves as a lookout point. Rather unique for a Japanese garden, however, are its spacious lawns. Also, found in the garden are groves of plum, cherry and maple trees, tea and rice fields, an archery range, and a crane aviary.

Korakuen Garden From here we are off to visit the Manekineko Art Museum and enjoy a Lucky Cat painting experience. Since the Edo Period, a fabricated cat with a paw upraised in the Japanese gesture of beckoning has been considered a good luck charm, drawing good fortune to individuals and businesses. The museum houses a collection of manekineko, some 700 “lucky” cats collected from all over Japan, each depicting its own unique look. After time to browse, we are ready for our own unique creation that you can bring home as fortune-filled souvenir. From here we are off to Himeji, a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan most famous for its magnificent castle, Himeji which we will be visiting. On arrival, lunch at a local restaurant followed by a visit to Himeji Castle. Himeji Castle, also known as White Heron Castle (Shirasagijo) due to its elegant, white appearance, is widely considered as Japan's most spectacular castle for its imposing size and beauty and its well preserved, complex castle grounds. The castle is both a national treasure and a world heritage site. Unlike many other Japanese castles, it was never destroyed by war, earthquake or fire and survives to this day as one of the country's twelve original castles. The castle recently underwent extensive renovation over several years and was fully re-opened to the public in March 2015. Himeji Castle lies at a strategic point along the western approach to the former capital city of Kyoto. The first fortifications built on the site were completed in the 1400s and were gradually enlarged over the centuries by the various clans who ruled over the region. The castle complex as it survives today is over 400 years old and was completed in 1609. It is made up of over eighty buildings spread across multiple baileys, which are connected by a series of gates and winding paths. From here off to Kobe and our hotel for the next two nights, Kobe Plaza Hotel, in the heart of Kobe and steps from Motomachi Shopping Street. After checking in the remainder of the evening is free.

Accommodations: Kobe Plaza Hotel

free

Day 7 – October 12th, 2018 Friday– Kobe (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am as we are off on a full day of touring. The morning begins with a visit to Kobe Port Tower and Meriken Park.

Kobe Port Tower- completed in 1963, this sightseeing tower is on of Kobe’s landmarks. It is the world’s first building to feature a pipe structure, nicknamed the Steel Tower Beauty. Because of its unique structure and shape, reminiscent of an elongated Japanese drum, it was awarded a prize by the Architectural Institute of Japan in 1963. The observation platform offers a magnificent 360-degree panoramatic view. From here, you can see the peaks of Mount Rokko, the streets of Kobe, and the Port of Kobe, as well as Awaji Island, Osaka Bay, and the Senshu region in the distance. Another distinctive feature includes a section of floor made from a special glass that becomes transparent when approached, affording a spectacular view straight down from 75 meters above the ground, and a ceiling that uses optical fibers to create the effect of a nebulous starry sky. In addition to a souvenir shop and amusement area, the observation platform is home to a revolving café that rotates full circle every 20 minutes or so, allowing visitors unparalleled views of Kobe as they relax with a hot drink. Meriken Park- a waterfront park facing Kobe Port taking its name from a deformation of the name America, pronounced Meriken during the Meiji era. The park allows for a pleasant walk along the water. Built on an outcropping of reclaimed land, the park is covered in grassy lawn and open courtyards dotted with a collection of modern art installations and fountains. It is home to some of the city's more iconic contemporary architecture such as the red Kobe Port Tower and the Kobe Maritime Museum. Devastated by the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, the park has once again become a popular spot for locals and tourists again. A small memorial in the park commemorates the many victims who were killed in the port during the earthquake. A short section of damaged waterfront has been left unrepaired as a reminder of the earthquake's tremendous destructive power. From here, off to Kobe Harborland UMIE, a shopping and entertainment district between JR Kobe Station and the waterfront of Kobe's port area. Here you will find a large selection of shops, restaurants, cafes, and other amusements We are stopping at the most prominent shopping complex in Kobe Harborland is Umie which consists of three parts: Mosaic, South Mall, and North Mall. After all this walking and touring, nothing better and a Kobe Beef lunch at a local restaurant. Arrival back at our hotel will be by 1:45pm and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free so that you can enjoy quality shopping time in the Sannomiya area.

Accommodations: Kobe Plaza Hotel

free

Day 8 – October 13th, 2018 Saturday– Kobe-Osaka-Kansai (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am. It may be our last day on tour, but we still have much to see and do before our flight home later this evening. The morning begins with a drive to Osaka and the first stop is at the popular Cup Noodle Museum, dedicated to instant noodles and Cup Noodles, as well as its creator and founder, Momofuku Ando. The museum opened in 1999 in Ikeda city, the birthplace of the world's first instant noodles, "Chicken Ramen" invented in 1958.

As you tour around, there is a recreation of the shed where the founder of Nissin Foods invented "Chicken Ramen", and an interactive theater offering a background on the invention and the manufacturing process of cup noodles. If you would like to create your own cup noodle package to bring back as a souvenir, you can do so for a small fee. From here, a visit to the Osaka Castle, one of Osaka’s most popular landmark sights. This is also a popular cherry blossom viewing site. We will be early for peak viewing, but we just may get in a peek. Travel back in time almost 400 years to feudal Japan on the chaos and violence of an epic conflict—the final one of the samurai era. In 1614 and 1615 hundreds of thousands of samurai—blasting guns, shooting arrows, and wielding swords—unleashed their force on the Osaka castle, inaugurating the downfall of the Toyotomi clan and sealing Tokugawa Ieyasu's position as Japan's undisputed master. Explore the fury of samurai warfare—from gory beheadings to fierce sword fights. For days Ieyasu's forces barraged the castle's walls with fire from 300 cannons, causing fear and confusion. In January 1615 Hideyori finally signed a treaty, ending what became known as the Winter Siege, or Fuyu no Jin. But the truce fell apart, and the Summer Siege, or Natsu no Jin, began. Magnificent Osaka Castle has been destroyed – and restored – several times, with its most extensive refurbishment completed in 1997. As you walk around you can still marvel at its massive stone walls, goldleaf trim, copper roof, and panoramic views. There is also a fascinating on-site museum that chronicles its tumultuous history.

Osaka Castle

snacks & souvenirs

view from top of castle perch

We are now on our way to the Osaka Aquarium, also known as the Kaiyukan and one of Japan's most spectacular aquariums. The aquarium introduces various forms of life inhabiting the Pacific Rim in a well-organized and impressive way. Marine life is displayed in 15 tanks, each representing a specific region of the Pacific Rim. The central tank, representing the Pacific Ocean, is nine meters deep and home to a whale shark, the aquarium's main attraction. Adjacent to the aquarium is the Tempozan Marketplace, a two-level shopping and food court dining complex. Enjoy free time to browse and have lunch on your own. If you have time, do take a spin on the Tempozan Ferris Wheel, one of the world’s largest. Now, off to the Kansai Airport to begin the check-in process for our flight home.

Delta Airlines #278 Departs Kansai 8:05 pm – Arrive Honolulu 9:20 am