kyushu-sanyo-shikoku - 2009

8 days from Kyushu to Tokyo (JP-8K)

Dates and Prices

Starting at: $2,498.00*

USA Departure: 03/24/09 06/23/09

Vacation Overview

In the spring there is an explosion of color and festivities with the arrival of the cherry blossoms. Known locally as “Sakura” this is the national flower of Japan. Since olden times, cherry blossoms have captivated the hearts of the Japanese people.
The traditional custom of "Hanami"(Cherry Blossom Viewing) is to visit mountains and parks with cherry blossoms and hold sake-drinking parties under the cherry trees in full blossom. Tokyo's Ueno Park and Mt.Yoshino in Nara are famous spots for viewing cherry blossoms.

Our March and April departures provide the once in a lifetime chance to see this natural wonder.

Itinerary

Day 1-2 Sun. USA GATEWAY CITY-FUKUOKA

Depart your home airport to Japan, the magnificent "Land of the Rising Sun". Our destination is Fukuoka, the gateway for Kyushu Island.

Hotel: Hakata Excel Tokyu Hotel or similar.

Day 3 Mon. OITA-KUMAMOTO

Enjoy a cable car ride (subject to weather condition) to Mt. Aso. An impressive view of its churning and bloody depth awaits you. Thereafter, we arrive at Beppu with anticipation after an overnight ferry ride. Beppu is renowned for being a spa heaven, one of Japan's most famous onsen resorts. The tour of Hell along a path in the Kannawa area is the highlight of sightseeing in the Beppu spa. Eight spots including the Sea Hell made up of bright cobalt blue hot water, the Blood Pond Hell where hot water containing red melted clay gushes out and the Tornado Hell, a fiery geyser that erupts every 20 minutes.

Hotel: Aso Hakuun Sanso or similar

Day 4 Tue. NAGASAKI

We will travel by bus to the historic trading city of Nagasaki. The port of Nagasaki was the only place in Japan that was open to the outside world during more than two centuries of national isolation and as a result has influences from China, Netherland, and Portugal that can be seen throughout the city. We will visit Glover Mansion, a famous garden with the statue of Madame Butterfly. Then to the Peace Memorial Park for an in-depth insight into the value of peace. Later on you will visit Oura Catholic Church, considered the oldest standing Christian Church in Japan, and is the only Western building to be designated as a national treasure

Hotel: JAL Resort Sea Hawk Hotel or similar

Day 5 Wed. FUKUOKA

Whitehorse

You will continue your journey north by crossing Kanmon Bridge, a suspending bridge for vehicles which connects Honshu and Kyushu. Today's highlight is Akiyoshido, the largest plateau in Japan with the largest limestone cave in East Asia. It is similar to a huge natural open air mountain, with plenty of light streaming in to create some extremely unique and impressive beauty and never fails to impress and amaze. We will have a brief stop at the Kintai Bridge on the way to Hiroshima.

Hotel: Hiroshima Grand Prince or similar

Day 6 Thu. HIROSHIMA-OKAYAMA

Today you will have a full day tour of Hiroshima, and will start the tour exploring Miyajima, a place of extraordinary scenic beauty, an exceptional heritage, and a national monument. It is also regarded as one of the three most beautiful spots in Japan. In it stands the Itsukushima Shrine, the magnificent building and also an artistic masterpiece unmatched by other shrines. Its placement on the water, exquisitely framed by the mountains in the background, harmonizing so perfectly with its surroundings will leave you in awe. Thereafter we shall proceed to the Hiroshima A-Bomb Museum in memory of those who perished in the atomic bombings stands as a testament of peace. Your last visit of the day is Kourakuen Garden, a renowned garden preserved from the 17th century and the last of the famous "Big Three Landscape Garden"

Hotel: Hotel Granvia Okayama or similar

Day 7 Fri. SHIKOKU-KAGAWA

Your final day on the Land of the Rising Sun Tour will start from Kurashiki, where several dozens of storehouses (kura) can still be found along a picturesque tree lined canal in the city district. Then we will proceed to Shikoku via Great Seto Bridge (13.1km long) a trip that takes 20minutes to cross by an automobile. Our first visit in Shikoku is Konpirasan located in the Setonaikai National Park in Kagawa. Konpirasan is a Shinto shrine in the town of Kotohira and located at 521m halfway to the top of Mount Z?zu with 785 steps to the main shrine but 1268 steps total to the inner shrine. Then we will proceed to Awaodori Kaikan in Tokusihma where you will see the famous Awa Dance. Our finale is the cruise at Naruto Whirpool, a tidal whirlpool in the Naruto strait, a channel between Naruto in Tokushima and Awaji Island in Hy?go, to enjoy a closer look of the spectacular whirlpool.

Hotel: Nikko Kansai Airport Hotel or similar

Day 8 Sat. OSAKA-USA GATEWAY CITY

Your pleasant and memorable Land of the Rising Sun Tour ends today. Fly home with cherished memories or enjoy your extended stay in Kyoto, Osaka, and beyond or even to other Asian destinations . You can set your own return date

AIRPORT TRANSFERS

Airport transfers may be included when you make your international flights arrangements.

Tour Price Includes

Round trip air fare from Los Angeles, San Francisco or Honolulu
Accommodations, 4 nights Western style hotel, 1night Japanese style Inn
13 meals as listed on this itinerary (Mixture of Japanese and Western cuisine)
Service of Multi-lingual Professional Tour Guides throughout
All ground transportation during tour (Private motor coach), Admission Fee
Package prices are per person, based on double occupancy(2 people sharing 1 room)

Not Included in the Tour Price

Federal Inspection Fees for the U.S. Customs and immigration; International Air Transportation Tax; agricultural tax; any other taxes; security fee; airport taxes of $520.00 (Tax price is subject to change.)
Passports; visas and vaccinations; laundry; telephone; mini bar; alcohol; beverages and food not on the regular table menu (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel or restaurant); optional excursions; porterage at airports; travel protection insurance; excess baggage fees; all other items of a personal nature
Gratuities to your tour guide and tour driver(Approx.$70.00)
Add-on fare for other US cities; East Coast $300.00, Midwest and West coast $200.00
Peak season surcharge of $300.00 per person applicable for Jun-Aug & Dec departure
Single room supplements of $680.00 and triple reductions of $100.00 may be applicable
Land Only Arrangements available at $1898.00 per person(no-tax)

Add on air fare extension to Saigon/Hanoi/Manila/Bangkok $400.00, Taipei/Hong Kong $300.00, Seoul $400.00, Okinawa $250.00 and more

Please contact us for detailed information.