Day 1 – Thursday, October 23
HONOLULU
/ NARITA
Depart
Honolulu
via air as we embark on our tour of
Hokkaido
and Tohoku during autumn. Lunch will be served on board. Due to crossing the International Date Line, you will lose one day.
Day 2 – Friday, October 24
NARITA / CHITOSE
We arrive at
Narita
International
Airport
. After clearance of customs and immigration formalities, we will meet our guide in the arrival lobby. We then transfer to the domestic departure lobby for our flight to Chitose. Upon arrival at
Sapporo
Chitose
Airport
we transfer to our hotel in Chitose city by hotel bus. Dinner this evening is on our own. Accommodations at HOTEL
NIKKO
CHITOSE..
Day 3 – Saturday, October 25
CHITOSE /
LAKE
SHIKOTSU
/ OTARU /
SAPPORO
(B, D)
Breakfast at our hotel. On our first morning of sightseeing we will be visiting “Indian Suisha,” an American Indian style fishwheel used to catch adult salmon returning to their chosen spawning grounds in the
Chitose
River
since 1896.It has played an important role in the proliferation of salmon and trout in
Japan
. We will then proceed to
Lake
Shikotsu
in southwestern
Hokkaido
. It is a crater lake that was formed over 30,000 years ago by volcanic activity, and is the second deepest lake in
Japan
. Next we visit Otaru, a small harbor town west of Sapporo. Its main attraction is its charming canal district. The area has a variety of Western-style buildings from the late Meiji period. The Japanese affectionately call Otaru the "Romantic City." The tour of the city includes visits to Otaru Orugoru (music box) Museum, the canal district, Kitaichi Glass-ware Factory and the
Otaru
Harbor
area. The Venetian style glassware are locally made and make excellent souvenirs to bring home. We transfer to our hotel in
Sapporo
where we freshen up for a short trip to the Asahi Beer Restaurant for a delicious “all you can eat, cook your own” barbecue dinner. Accommodations at
SAPPORO
EXCEL HOTEL TOKYU.
Day 4 – Sunday, October 26
SAPORO / SHIRAOI / KITA YUZAWA (B, D)
Breakfast at our hotel. We have a morning city tour of
Sapporo
: We visit Okurayama, the main ski jump used in the 1972 Winter Olympics, hosting the 90 meter Large Hill events. It has spectacular views over Sapporo city. Okurayama is now a prime training facility for Nordic events, and athletes ranging from World Cup participants to high school students can regularly be seen flying off the hill.
Odori Boulevard
stretching almost a mile from east to west in the middle of the boulevard is a wide median strip that has been turned into a park with trees, flower beds, and fountains. This is where much of the Sapporo Snow Festival is held in early February, when ice and packed snow are sculpted to form statues, palaces, and fantasies; Yukijirushi Snow Brand Dairy Factory and Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade, where you can shop for everything and anything you can think of. At Shiraoi we will visit the
Shiraoi
Ainu
Village
, also called Porotokotan, one of Hokkaido's better Ainu Museums. Ainu culture and lifestyle is shown in an outdoor reproduction of a small Ainu village and inside a conventional museum building. Several performances, such as traditional Ainu dances, are held throughout the day. Tour continues on to Kita Yuzawa spa, location of the world famous novel Yukiguni,
Snow
County
by the Nobel Prize-winning novelist, Yasunari Kawabata. Tonight we have an opportunity to enjoy the onsen. Dinner and accommodations at DAINI MEISUITEI (onsen).
Day 5 – Monday, October 27
KITA YUZAWA /
LAKE
TOYA
/
HAKODATE
(B, D)
Breakfast at our hotel. Sightseeing this morning includes
Lake
Toya
, the third largest crater lake in
Japan
. It has four islands including
Nakajima
Island
, with its conical tip that rises from the center of the lake (much like
Wizard
Island
on
Crater Lake
in
Oregon
). We’ll also visit Showa Shizan, a volcanic mountain whose last eruption occurred during the height of World War II. There was much damage and many fatalities at that time. On the way to
Hakodate
, we stop at
Onuma
Park
, known for its picturesque, island dotted lakes and majestic dormant volcano,
Mount
Komagatake
. Toward evening we will drive to a lookout at
Mt.
Hakodate
to enjoy the fantastic night view of the city. Tonight we will have dinner at our hotel, the HAKODATE KOKUSAI HOTEL.
Day 6 –Tuesday, October 28
HAKODATE
/
AOMORI
/
LAKE
TOWADA
/ HACHIMANTAI (B, D)
Early this morning we will visit the Asaichi Morning Market for last minute shopping in
Hokkaido
. On our return to our hotel we will gather our carry-ons and walk to the JR Hakodate Station for our train ride on the limited express “Super Hakucho #10” with tourist class reserved seats to Aomori in the Northern Tohoku region of Honshu. On the train we will enjoy a boxed Japanese breakfast as we travel through the Seikan Undersea Tunnel. Upon our arrival in
Aomori
we head toward the Kuroishi Apple Orchard to pick our own delicious apples for a delightful afternoon snack. Fresh apples are so crunchy and sweet. We continue sightseeing
Towada
National Park
, one of Tohoku’s most popular attractions, by visiting the Oirase valley with its resplendent red and yellow foliage in autumn and
Lake Towada
,
Japan
’s third deepest lake. Our final destination today is reached as we travel through the grand natural surroundings of the Hachimantai Highlands. It is especially beautiful during autumn in the forest around the hotel. We have another opportunity to enjoy the onsen tonight at HACHIMANTAI ROYAL HOTEL (onsen)
Day 7 – Wednesday, October 29
HACHIMANTAI /
MORIOKA
/ CHUSONJI / NARUKO SPA (B, D)
Breakfast at our hotel. Today we travel to
Morioka
to the Asabiraki Sake Brewery. If you enjoy the sake, you may want to purchase a bottle to take back home. We also visit the
Morioka Tezukuri-mura Handi Works Square
. Bridging the past and the future, one can see first hand the traditions of the
Morioka
area. The square is a unique complex where one can observe, touch and make traditional products and foods. The square features three zones: a traditional industry center, and a handicraft workshop area and a traditional Nambu style house combined with a stable called, "Magariya." We proceed to Hiraizumi, where we visit the
Chusonji
Temple
with its glittering “Konjikido” Golden Hall. After the collapse of the Fujiwara family the prestige of the temple declined, and a fire in 1337 destroyed all the buildings except for the Golden Hall. All other buildings remaining today except for the Golden Hall were those rebuilt in the 17th century. Our tour continues to Naruko Spa, the birthplace of the Kokeshi wooden doll. At Naruko we will visit the
Kokeshi
Doll
Museum
and you will have an opportunity here to display your artistry at completing a cute little kokeshi doll. Our hotel tonight provides another opportunity to enjoy the onsen. Dinner and accommodations at NARUKO KANKO HOTEL (onsen).
Day 8 – Thursday, October 30
NARUKO / MATSUSHIMA /
SENDAI
(B)
Breakfast at our hotel. This morning we drive to Shiogama which is located in the center of the Tohoku region facing the Pacific. Shiogama is a port city and the gateway to
Matsushima
Bay
and the Urato group of islands. We will take a boat from Shiogama to Matsushima Kaigan on the placid
Matsushima
Bay
dotted with numerous pine-clad islands. Upon arrival we will take a walking tour of Matsushima visiting
Zuiganji
Temple
, one of the Tohoku’s most famous Zen temples, well known for its beautifully painted sliding doors (fusuma) and Godaido wave-viewing pavilion. Our next destination is
Sendai
, where we will visit the Sapporo Brewery Sendai Factory. Our hotel tonight is located next to a big department store and the rail station. Our escort and guide will help you find places to dine and direct you to places to shop. Accommodations at SENDAI METROPOLITAN HOTEL
Day 9 – Friday, October 31
SENDAI
/ NIHONMATSU /
LAKE
INAWASHIRO
/ URABANDAI (B) (D)
Breakfast at the hotel. A special treat is in store for us this morning as we visit one of
Japan
’s best chrysanthemum festivals in Nihonmatsu. Nihonmatsu no Kiku Ningyo (Chrysanthemum Doll Show in Nihonmatsu) has been held since 1955, and in 2004 the show had the 50th anniversary. About 30,000 chrysanthemums and 130 chrysanthemum dolls are exhibited. The show is held in fall, making a great contrast of autumn color of leaves and the chrysanthemum flowers. The festival is held at
Kasumigajo
Park
which is famous for the beautiful cherry blossom trees in spring. We then proceed to
Lake
Inawashiro
, located almost in the center of
Fukushima
Prefecture
. It is the main entrance to
Bandai-Asahi
National Park
. It is the fourth largest lake in Japan, and is also called "
Lake
Tenkyo
(heaven's mirror)" because it reflects the shape of
Mt.
Bandai
on the lake like a heavenly mirror. Hideyo Noguchi (1876-1928), known to the world for his research into yellow fever, was born in Inawashiro, and in his parents' house is the Dr.
Noguchi
Memorial
Museum
, where his favorite items and letters are displayed. We will also be visiting the museum. We continue on to Ura Bandai where we again can slip our travel weary bodies into the relaxing onsen to be rejuvenated. Dinner and accommodations at URABANDAI NEKOMA HOTEL (onsen).
Day 10 – Saturday, November 1
Breakfast at the hotel. We leave the hotel for some sightseeing of Aizu Wakamatsu. There we hear of the sad tale of the young Byakkotai known as the “White Tigers Band” loyal to the Tokugawa Shogunate, who rebelled against the new Imperial Meiji government in 1868. The Byakkotai fought for a month before they all committed ritual suicide on top of Iimori Hill, where their graves are still visited today in admiration of their brave loyalty. We can learn more about the lifestyle of the samurai and see the ancient martial arms and furniture in the Bukeyashiki, samurai museum. Then a treat for our eyes awaits us at the Yamada Lacquer Ware Shop where a variety of art pieces are displayed. You will enjoy shopping for a few good pieces here. Then it’s on Ouchijuku, an old post town on a road used long ago by Aizu clan lords to travel back and forth to
Edo
(now
Tokyo
). The road to the village climbs through a wooded gorge, threaded by a small river. In fall, when the leaves change color, the gorge is beautiful. The town is basically one long street lined with houses. In 1981, after an active campaign, the village was designated a national architectural preservation site. It has over 40 houses from the
Edo
period; more than half are thatched. Those that have been roofed over are scheduled for thatching. Each April one house on the historic register is rethatched. Our final visit of the day is
Lake
Ikari
where we can enjoy breathtaking views. Fall is the best time to visit as the shores are awash in vibrant autumn colors. Tonight will be the last night to enjoy the onsen. Dinner and accommodations at KINUGAWA ONSEN HOTEL (onsen).
Day 11 – Sunday, November 2 (B)
KINUGAWA / NIKKO / TOKYO
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we will be visiting
Nikko
National Park
, a world heritage site. Access to
Lake
Chuzenji
, Ryuzu Cascade and
Kegon
Falls
is via the “
Irohazaka Winding Road
” along which we will enjoy the beautiful fall foliage.
Nikko
is most famous for the Toshogu,
Japan
’s most lavishly decorated shrine complex and mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Nikko
and the area around
Lake
Chuzenji
in particular, are well known for their beautiful autumn foliage (koyo). After our tour of
Nikko
we head for
Tokyo
to spend the final night of our tour. Our hotel is surrounded by many shops and restaurants where we can enjoy dining on something of our own choice. Our escort and guide will help you get acquainted with the area surrounding our hotel. Accommodations at SHINAGAWA PRINCE HOTEL.
Day 12 – Monday, November 3