2023 Distilled Flavors in Japan
May 16 - 26, 2023 (11 days & 9 nights)
Haneda, Tokyo, Kawagoe, Koedo Kurari, Ameyokocho, Omotesando, Tsukiji Market, Asakusa Nakamise, Yamanashi, Katsunuma Winery, Hakushu Distillery, NaganoIshii Miso Factory, Fuji Shibazakura Festival, Baird Brewing Company, Nakaizu Winery Hills, Shinkansen to Kyoto, Arashiyama, Togetsukyo Bridge, Kyoto-yuzen dyeing, Suntory Yamazaki Whiskey Distillery, Kobe Harborland, Kiku Masamune Sake Brewery, Osaka, Umeda Sky Building, Sennichimae Doguyasuji, Kansai
$100 EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT
($100 deposit per person received by 2/10/2023)
| LAND TOUR COST: $ 3,095 per person |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $ 598 per person |
(Group air arrangements to be advised)
(Individual arrangements to meet group are not included)
Tuesday, May 16 (Day 01)
HONOLULU - HANEDA
Our tour to Japan commences this morning when we assemble at the airport atcurbside for baggage check-in procedures. We will depart Honolulu for Haneda InternationalAirport. A meal will be served on board the flight.
(Day 02)Wednesday, May 17 (Day 02)
ARRIVAL HANEDA (D)
We’ll arrive Tokyo in the afternoon and after completing entry and customs formalities,we’ll transfer to our hotel in Tokyo to spend the night. A dinner is planned for you thisevening at the hotel.
Accommodations at SUNSHINE CITY PRINCE HOTEL or similar
Thursday, May 18 (Day 03)
TOKYO - KAWAGOE - TOKYO (B)(L)(D)
This morning we will travel to the city of Kawagoe to enjoy a stroll on the main street ofthe Kawagoe Warehouse District, featuring many clay-walled warehouse style buildings(called Kura-zukuri constructed in the old Edo style architecture. The firewatchtowerbuilding is a symbol of the shopping area. We’ll continue on to experiencea fun venue called Koedo Kurari which has several sake vending machines to samplevarious types of local sake with the purchase of tokens. The venue is in a restored sakecellar once used by the Kagamiyama Shuzo Brewery. We will enjoy a local teishokulunch nearby at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we return to Tokyo to enjoy theadventure of Ameyokocho, a lively shopping street lined with indoor and outdoor vendorsoffering a wide variety of snacks, food products and various merchandise at reasonableprices, This evening, we will drive through Omotesando, a quaint tree-linedboulevard in Tokyo’s fashionable Aoyama district to enjoy dinner at a unique whiskeyrestaurant venue.
Accommodations at SUNSHINE CITY PRINCE HOTEL or similar
Friday, May 19 (Day 04)
TOKYO (B)(L)
We’ll board our chartered motorcoach for a drive through Tokyo. We will view a fewbuildings, including the National Diet Building in the downtown business district. We’llhave some time to visit the original location of Tsukiji Market with its many small shopsand seafood stores. We will enjoy lunch at a historic restaurant called Kamiya Bar inAsakusa. This restaurant is noted for their signature drink called “Denki Bran”, a brandyserved since 1882. This “electric” drink is very potent due to it’s alcohol contentclose to 45% proof. You may enjoy strolling through the Asakusa Nakamise shoppingstreet with various shops offering typical Japanese merchandise, souvenirs andtraditional local snacks. We’ll return to our hotel in Ikebukuro where dinner will be onyour own this evening.
Accommodations at SUNSHINE CITY PRINCE HOTEL or similar
Saturday, May 20 (Day 05)
TOKYO - LAKE SUWA (B)(D)
We depart Tokyo for Yamanashi Prefecture to make a visit to one of Katsunuma Wineriesas we drive through the many vineyards in the area. Subject to confirmation,samples of some of their delicious wine will be available for you to sample. This afternoon,we’ll visit the Hakushu Distillery, a Japanese whiskey distillery located in a forestowned by the Suntory Group. At the conclusion of the tour, experience a whiskeysampling lesson with several varieties of whiskeys for comparison including their famousHakushu Single Malt Whiskey. Enjoy a kaiseki dinner and relax in the hotsprings this evening at our onsen hotel facing Lake Suwa in Nagano.
Accommodations at HOTEL BENIYA or similar 
Sunday. May 21 (Day 06)
LAKE SUWA - FUJI - SHUZENJI (B)(D)
We will make a short photo stop at Matsumoto Castle. We will make a stop at the Ishii Miso Factory located in Matsumoto City to learn about the complex and strict methods used in the making of this traditional food. We will also get a chance to sample some of their products. This afternoon, enjoy a spectacular sight when we visit the Fuji Shibazakura Festival with its display of the pink & white phlox flowers blooming vividly across the landscape, resembling a huge pink and white floral carpet. We’ll continue our drive to Shizuoka to enjoy dinner and relax in the hot springs at our modern resort located in the hills.
Accommodations at IZU MARRIOTT HOTEL SHUZENJI or similar
Monday, May 22 (Day 07)
SHIZUOKA - SHINKANSEN TO KYOTO (B)(L)(D)
We will visit a wonderful new beer brewing complex called Baird Brewing Company. Located in a secluded forest, we’ll enjoy a fac-tory tour and also have an opportunity to taste some of their fabulous selection of beers, ales, stouts, and lagers. We will continue on to Nakaizu Winery Hills for a western lunch, including a tour of the winery. We will drive to Mishima train station to board our ride upon the Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) to the wonderful city of Kyoto for two nights. On arrival, we’ll walk to our hotel conven-iently located next to Kyoto Station. A buffet dinner will be provided for you this evening at the hotel.
Accommodations at MIYAKO HOTEL KYOTO HACHIJO or similar
Tuesday, May 23 (Day 08)
KYOTO - ARASHIYAMA - KYOTO (B)
This morning we will proceed to the famous district of Arashiyama, well known for its serene grove of tall bamboo trees lining a peaceful walkway. You may also enjoy the many stores and snack shops along the Hozu River leading up to the picturesque Toget-sukyo Bridge. We’ll return back to the city of Kyoto to experience a hands-on lesson in Kyo-Yuzen dyeing to make a special sou-venir to take home. This evening we will enjoy a different style of dining at a local restaurant on your own located nearby our hotel.
Accommodations at MIYAKO HOTEL KYOTO HACHIJO or similar
Wednesday, May 24 (Day 09)
KYOTO - KOBE - OSAKA (B)(D)
We will depart Kyoto for a drive south to Mount Tennozan, home of the renown Suntory Yamazaki Whiskey Distillery, known as the oldest malt whiskey distillery in Japan, established in 1923. Although inspired by his background of Scottish whiskey, Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii, envisioned an approach to his distillery to chose a location with a completely different type of terrain and climate from Scotland to create a unique kind of whiskey. We will make a factory tour followed by a tasting of several malt whiskeys. We continue to the waterfront district of Kobe Harborland to enjoy some shopping and lunch. In the afternoon, we will make a visit to the Kiku Masamune Sake Brewery Museum for a history tour as well as some sampling of their international products. We’ll proceed to the city of Osaka for a two night stay. Dinner will be provided for you this evening.at a local izakaya restaurant.
Accommodations at HOTEL GRANVIA OSAKA or similar
Thursday, May 25 (Day 10)
OSAKA CITY (B)(D)
Enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Osaka stopping at several well known sites and shopping areas. We will make a visit to the top of the Umeda Sky Building where you should be able to enjoy a magnificent 360 degree view from the top of the Floating Garden Ob-servatory. The two buildings are connected via a transparent glass escalator. We will also stop at Sennichimae Doguyasuji (cooking tool shopping street), where many interesting and unusual household items are available for sale. We will also have some time in the exciting Namba Shinsaibashi area for browsing among the many types of stores and restaurants. We will enjoy another dining experience at a local restaurant this evening tonight.
Accommodations at HOTEL GRANVIA OSAKA or similar
Friday, May 26 (Day 11)
OSAKA - KANSAI (B)
This morning is free for your own last minute browsing adventures. In the afternoon, we’ll depart our hotel and enjoy a shopping mall before continuing to Kansai International Airport for our flight home to Honolulu, arriving in the evening on the same day due to the crossing of the International Dateline.
Land portion based on 130 Yen = $1.00 U.S.
The tour price is based on double occupancy and a minimum group size of 20 passengers. Fare adjustment may apply for groups of 20 or under. The rate is based on tariffs and exchange rates effective 1/03/2023 Tour fare is subject to change according to any airfare increase and fluctuation of the rate of exchange between U.S. and foreign currency. In the event of revaluation, the land portion of the tour price may be adjusted prior to your final statement.
2023 General Conditions & Addendum (Japan/International)
