Day 1 –Tuesday, March 31
HONOLULU
/
FUKUOKA
Leave
Honolulu
via air with lunch served on board. Due to crossing the International Date Line, you will lose one day.
Day 2 – Wednesday, April 1
FUKUOKA
We arrive
Fukuoka
International
Airport
in the afternoon. After completion of government formalities, we transfer to the domestic departure lobby for our flight to
Fukuoka
. Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel in
Fukuoka
City
in the early evening. Our guide and escort
will help you explore places to enjoy dinner on your own tonight.
Accommodations at NISHITETSU GRAND HOTEL.
Day 3 – Thursday, April 2
FUKUOKA
/ KARATSU / HIRADO (B) (D)
Breakfast at our hotel. This morning, we leave
Fukuoka
for Hirado via Karatsu. Drive up to Kagamiyama and enjoy a panoramic view of
Karatsu
Castle
and “Nijino-Matsubara”, the nature-rich landscape is designated a national natural asset. It is one of the three biggest pine groves in
Japan
. Then, proceed to Imari to see how Imari Ceramics are made. Imari porcelain was first fired in Hizen
province
of
Northern Kyushu
in the early 17th century by Korean potters, and most likely by the potter named Ri Sanpei, who was brought to
Japan
by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in his second invasion of
Korea
in 1957. Tour continues on to Hirado. Upon arrival at Hirado, we will visit
Matsuura
Historical
Museum
, at the residence of the lords or Hirado, the Matsuura clan; there are some 30,000 fascinating items in the collection, including a ship’s figurehead and the order prohibiting Christianity.
Dinner and accommodations at HIRADO KANKO HOTEL RANPU.
Day 4 – Friday, April 3
HIRADO /
SASEBO
/
NAGASAKI
(B)
Breakfast at our hotel. This morning, we leave Hirado for
Sasebo
. We board a boat from Kashimae pier for a cruise around the Kujyu-Kushima (Ninety-nine islets) in the
Inland Sea
, which is one of the symbol sites of
Saikai
National Park
. Kujyu Kushima, actually consists of 208 islands along the coast line from
Sasebo
to Hirado. Then proceed to
Nagasaki
passing over the
Saikai
Bridge
where you can view the swirling waters of the straits. Sightseeing tour of Nagasaki City; some of the landmarks are the Glover Mansion, Japan’s oldest Western-style house and the scene of Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly; Oura Cathedral, the oldest wooden gothic style structure built by Father Petitjean as a dedication to the 26 Martyrs on Nishizaka Hill; and the Peace Memorial Park, which was built to commemorate the dropping of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and to promote a peaceful world. Dinner is on your own. Would you like to try the Nagasaki Champon tonight? Accommodations at HOTEL NEW
NAGASAKI
.
Day 5 – Saturday, April 4
NAGASAKI
/ UNZEN / SHIMABARA /
KUMAMOTO
/
KAGOSHIMA
(B) (D)
Breakfast at our hotel. This morning, we proceed to Shimabara via Unzen. We will visit the
museum
of
Eruption
of
Mt.
Fugen
in Unzen and also visit
Shimabara
Castle
to see the beautiful cherry blossoms. The castle was built in the 17th century. Missionaries were active in Shimabara in the early 17th century, and many locals became Christians. However, the administrator of that time banned Christianity and Shimabara was known for its harsh oppression of Christians. At
12:05 p.m.
we will board a ferry from Shimabara to
Kumamoto
. At
12:35 p.m.
, we arrive at
Kumamoto
and drive down to
Kagoshima
via Cross Kyushu Expressway. Upon arrival at
Kagoshima
, we tour of the city. We visit
Iso
Garden
also referred to Sengan-en. It is modeled after a garden in
China
. Iso Teien another name for the garden, was created by Shimazu Mitsuhisa, ruler of this region, as his villa in 1658, and was expanded into its present form in 1848. The garden has a grand view that encompasses
Kinko
Bay
in the foreground, and the towering volcano Sakura-jima beyond the bay, shooting out smoke. A gas lamp in the shape of a stone lantern, the first in
Japan
, may also be seen in the garden. Shoko-Shuseikan, which can be found adjacent to the garden contain articles left behind by the 28th feudal lord Shimazu Nariakira and other historical materials of the Satsuma district. Our final visit of the day is to
Shiroyama
Park
.
Dinner and accommodations at KAGOSHIMA SUN ROYAL HOTEL.
Day 6 – Sunday, April 5
KAGOSHIMA
/ CHIRAN / AOSHIMA (B) (D)
Breakfast at our hotel. This morning, we proceed to Chiran, the town of the kamikazes. Upon arrival at Chiran, you will visit the Bukeyashiki Samurai Houses, a street of old samurai residences steeped in an eternal history and seven gardens designated by the national government as places of scenic beauty. The seven gardens consist of hill-and-pond style gardens, and dry landscape gardens, and soothe the spirit with their respective landscapes. We also visit the Tokkotai or
Human
Bombers
Museum
which was built to thank and console the spirit of the pilots who died in Southern Pacific and to pray for eternal peace. Then return to
Kagoshima
and continue on to Aoshima via the Nichinan Coastline. Enjoy sightseeing of
Nichinan
Coast
National Park
to see the washboard rock formations at
Aoshima
Island
. The rock formations are called “Oni-no-sentaku-ita” or “the Giants Wash-board.”
Dinner and accommodations at AOSHIMA PALM BEACH HOTEL.
Day 7 – Monday, April 6
AOSHIMA /
MIYAZAKI
/ BEPPU (B) (D)
Breakfast at our hotel. This morning, we proceed to
Miyazaki
City
, visiting
Haniwa
Park
which takes its name from haniwa, clay figures that were produced in ancient times to accompany the deceased and were placed inside burial mounds. Then, we proceed to Beppu via Nobeoka and
Oita
. At Beppu, you will visit “Jigoku” boiling ponds concentrated largely in the Kannawa hot-spring area and Takasakiyama Monkey Park, a forested mountain just outside of Beppu and home to more than 1500 wild Japanese monkeys.
Dinner and accommodations at BEPPUWAN ROYAL HOTEL.
Day 8 – Tuesday, April 7
BEPPU /
MT.
ASO
/
KUMAMOTO
(B)
Breakfast at our hotel. This morning, we leave Beppu for
Mt.
Aso
via
Yamanami Cross Kyushu Highway
. Sightseeing of
Aso
National Park
includes visiting Kusasenri extensive pasture and climbing
Mt.
Aso
by cable car to see the volcanic activity from its huge crater.
Mt.
Aso
was a mighty mountain before blowing its top – larger even than
Mt.
Fuji
. Today five volcanic cones sit in the
Mt.
Aso
crater basin. One of them,
Mt.
Nakadake
, is still active, constantly spewing forth high-temperature gas and sulfurous fumes. Tour continues on to
Kumamoto
City
. En route, you will visit Musashizuka or Tombs of Miyamoto Musashi. He was a Japanese swordsman famed for his duels and distinctive style. Musashi, as he is often simply known, became legendary through his outstanding swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age. After arrival at
Kumamoto
, visit
Suizenji
Park
, landscaped to give the impression of views seen when traveling along the Tokaido, the old highway between
Kyoto
and
Edo
(present-day
Tokyo
) that had been used since the 12th century and
Kumamoto
Castle
, one of the three most famous fortress-castles in the country. Kiyomasa’s hilltop castle is a brilliant architectural statement, exhibiting highly advanced engineering, superb masonry, and a mastery of flood control and defense. Tonight your guide and escort will help you discover new adventures in Japanese cuisine. Accommodations at HOTEL
NIKKO
KUMAMOTO
.
Day 9 – Wednesday, April 8
KUMAMOTO
/ HAGI / OMISHIMA / NAGATO YUMOTO (B) (D)
Breakfast at our hotel. This morning, we leave
Kumamoto
for Hagi, the little town on the Northern coast of the Yamaguchi prefecture. We enjoy sightseeing of Hagi, visiting Shoin Shrine, a shrine to Yoshida Shoin, the man who was the inspiration for the Meiji Restoration, which brought back the emperor from the samurai state, and opened
Japan
up to the more modern world;
Shizuki
Park
noted for cherry blossoms and Hagi-yaki Pottery Shop. We then proceed to Omijima, where the coastline creates a treasury of natural artwork formed by erosion from the raging waves and the gales of the
Sea of Japan
. There is a rich and diverse variety of peculiar cliffs, caves, and striking rocks. We continue on to Nagato Yumoto Onsen.
Dinner and accommodations at YUMOTO KANKO HOTEL SAIKYO.
Day 10 –Thursday, April 9
NAGATO YUMOTO / IWAKUNI / MIYAJIMA /
HIROSHIMA
(B)
Breakfast at our hotel. This morning, we leave Nagato Yumoto for
Hiroshima
via Iwakuni and Miyajima. In Iwakuni, we visit the
Kintai
Arch
Bridge
, which spans the clear waters of the
Nishiki
River
. The refreshing green of
Mt.
Shiroyama
provides a refreshing background for the bridge. The graceful five-arched bridge was constructed about three hundred years ago. It is one of three unique bridges in
Japan
. Next we go to
Miyajima
Island
. As we disembark from the ferry we see the tame deer roaming about, waiting to be fed by visitors. Miyajima (literally “shrine island”) has been celebrated as a sacred island and is one of
Japan
’s three most scenic places. It is most famous for Itsukushima Shrine, which together with its large wooden torii (gate), stands in the ocean during high tide. After tour of Miyajima proceed to
Hiroshima
. Upon arrival at
Hiroshima
, we will visit the
Peace
Memorial Park
and the
Atomic
Bomb
Memorial
Museum
. Dinner is on your own. Our guide and our escort will be there to help you find
Hiroshima
’s specialty, the okonomiyaki for tonight’s dinner. Accommodations at RIHGA ROYAL HOTEL HIROSHIMA.
Day 11 – Friday, April 10
HIROSHIMA
/
HIMEJI
CASTLE
/
OSAKA
(B) (D)
Breakfast at our hotel. We leave
Hiroshima
for
Himeji
which is most famous for its magnificent castle,
Himeji
Castle
, widely considered being
Japan
’s most beautiful surviving feudal castle. The castle is designated both, a national treasure and a UNESCO world heritage site. We pass picturesque towns of Onomichi,
Kurashiki
and
Okayama
as we drive along the Sanyo Expressway.
Himeji
Castle
, surrounded by clouds of pink sakura is a sight you will remember for a long time.
Himeji
Castle
is nicknamed “White Heron” Castle because of its white walls which are covered with white plaster. Tonight we spend the night in
Osaka
where we will enjoy dinner at our hotel.
Dinner and accommodations at HOTEL NEW HANKYU.