2025 Spring Circle Kyushu

Featuring ‘Huis Ten Bosch’ Theme Park

March 11 – 23, 2025 (13 days & 11 nights)

Haneda, Fukuoka, Toto Museum, Dazaifu Tenman-gu, Niji-no-Matsubara, Imari Okawachiyama, Kujuku-shima Cruise, Huis Ten Bosch Theme Park, Kageki the Revue Show, Kingdom of Lights Festival, Nagasaki, Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, Nagasaki Heiwa-koen, Nagasaki International Peace Memorial Hall, Ferry to Kumamoto, Kumamoto Castle, Kagoshima, Sengan-en Garden, Chiran, Tokko Heiwa Kaikan, Samurai Street, Nichinan Kaigan Coast, Oni-no-Sentakuita , Miyazaki, Takachiho-kyo, Beppu, Umi Jigoku, Haku Haku Mentaiko Factory, Hands-on-activity painting Hakata Doll, Fukuoka, Haneda

$100 EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT
(deposit of $100 per person received by 11/30/2024)

Tuesday, March 11  (Day 01)
HONOLULU TO HANEDA
Our tour commences this morning when we assemble at the check-in lobby at the airport for baggage check-in procedures.  We will depart Honolulu for Haneda International Airport.  Lunch and a snack will be served on board the flight.

Wednesday, March 12  (Day 02)
ARRIVE HANEDA * FUKUOKA
We’ll arrive Haneda Airport in the afternoon and after completing entry and customs formalities, we’ll transfer to the domestic terminal for our flight to Fukuoka International Airport in Kyushu, the third-largest and southernmost island of Japan.  We’ll transfer to our hotel to check-in for two nights in downtown Fukuoka, the largest city in Kyushu and capital of Fukuoka prefecture.

Accommodations at ANA CROWNE PLAZA FUKUOKA or similar

Thursday, March 13  (Day 03)
FUKUOKA  (B)(D)
Enjoy a full day of sightseeing as we travel to Kitakyushu to discover the interesting world of toilets at the Toto Museum, Japan’s premier manufacturer of toilets and washroom products.  The museum provides us with the history of Toto, its products, and the production from the past to the present.  One of the main features is to view the super-modern architectural design of the building, featuring rounded and rimmed curves with a glowing white finish.  We’ll travel to the cultural city of Dazaifu, to explore the grounds of Dazaifu Tenman-gu, one of Japan’s most important Shinto Shrine, dedicated to the enshrined Sugawara Michizane, a scholar and politician of the Heian period.  His rise to power during his political career resulted in a rivalry with the Fujiwara clan and he was later exiled to Dazaifu.  The approach way to the shrine is a lively pedestrian street lined with local shops, restaurants, cafes and sweet stands.  We’ll visit the Hakata Machiya Furusato-mura, a museum with an exhibition hall featuring exhibits about the history and culture of Hakata, and a souvenir shop offering a variety of Hakata souvenirs, including traditional crafts and local confectionery.  Dinner will be provided for you at the hotel this evening

Accommodations at ANA CROWNE PLAZA FUKUOKA or similar

Friday, March 14  (Day 04)
FUKUOKA * KARATSU * IMARI / ARITA * SASEBO * HUIS TEN BOSCH  (B)(D)
We’ll travel west to Mount Kagamiyama, a historical mountain famous for its breathtaking view of Karatsu city, Karatsu Bay and Niji-no-Matsubara - a two-mile long grove of black pine trees.  The forest was originally planted by the feudal Lord Terasawa as a counter-measure against the strong winds and tides in Karatsu Bay.  The scene is noted as one of the most picturesque landscapes in Japan.  The pottery towns of Arita and Imari in Saga prefecture have been a major manufacturing source of ceramics for centuries with Imari-yaki and Arita-yaki as the most famous and distinctive.  Korean potters were brought to Imari to produce porcelain mainly for the Nabeshima domain.  Enjoy a stroll through Imari Okawachiyama (The Village of Secret Kilns) - a small artisans’ village located in the city of Imari that has been producing unique pottery for centuries and kept its methods a secret - hence the name ‘Village of Secret Kilns’.  We’ll continue on to Kashimae Port to board a sightseeing boat and enjoy a relaxing and scenic cruise around Kujuku-shima (99 pine-studded islets) in the inland sea.  Enjoy some of the most breathtaking natural scenery in Japan as you cruise through the islands.  We’ll spend two nights in Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki Prefecture.  Enjoy dinner and relax in the hot springs at the hotel this evening. 

Accommodations at HOTEL OKURA JR HUIS TEN BOSCH or similar

Saturday, March 15  (Day (05)
HUIS TEN BOSCH  (B)(D)
Enjoy the whole day at your leisure to explore the attractions at Huis Ten Bosch, a theme park which recreates the Netherlands featuring an European atmosphere with various shops & boutiques, iconic windmills, picturesque canals, beautiful gardens and unique Dutch architecture.  Subject to confirmation, enjoy a performance of “Kageki the Revue”, similar to a Takarazuka style show with singing and dancing by female dancers called the “Broadway in Japan’.  In the evening, enjoy the spectacular Kingdom of Lights Festival at your leisure, featuring a brilliant illumination of thousands of lights located in various locations around the park.  This attraction is noted as the ‘No. 1 night scenery in Japan’.  Our hotel is conveniently located adjacent to the park.  Dinner will be provided for you this evening.  Enjoy at your leisure the hot springs this evening at the hotel.

Accommodations at HOTEL OKURA JR HUIS TEN BOSCH or similar 

Sunday, March 16  (Day 06)
HUIS TEN BOSCH * NAGASAKI * KUMAMOTO  (B)
We’ll travel on to visit the historic sights of Nagasaki, the second city after Hiroshima to be devastated by a nuclear weapon on August 9, 1945.  We’ll visit the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum featuring photos, relics and documents related to the bombing and the Nagasaki International Peace Memorial Hall, built in memory of those who perished in the atomic bombing.  The Nagasaki Heiwa-koen (Peace Park) was established near the hypocenter of the explosion and remnants of a concrete wall of Urakami Cathedral are still visible.  At the park’s north end stands a 10-meter-tall Peace Statue and the south end features a Fountain of Peace.  We’ll continue on to the Shimabara Port and board a ferry to cross the Ariake Sea to Kumamoto Port.  On arrival, we’ll proceed to our hotel in Kumamoto to spend the night.  Dinner will be on your own this evening to try some of the local specialties of this prefecture.

Accommodations at KUMAMOTO NIKKO HOTEL or similar

Monday, March 17  (Day 07)
KUMAMOTO * KAGOSHIMA  (B)(D)

This morning, we’ll visit Kumamoto Castle one of the most impressive castles in Japan featuring large castle grounds and a variety of buildings. (undergoing renovations). We’ll visit Suizen-ji koen, a beautiful Japanese-style landscape garden designed with an impression of views seen when traveling along the Tokaido – the old highway between Kyoto and Edo (present-day Tokyo).  As you stroll around the park, you’ll have a magnificent feeling of nature with its small pond, lakes and trees.  Featured at the east end of the park is Horaitsukiyama, a beautiful representation of a miniature Mt. Fuji.  We’ll continue on to spend the night in Kagoshima, the southernmost major city in Kyushu, often compared with its Italian sister city Naples, due to its similar climate and Sakurajima.  Dinner will be provided for you this evening at the hotel.

Accommodations at SHIROYAMA HOTEL KAGOSHIMA or similar

Tuesday, March 18  (Day 08)
KAGOSHIMA * IBUSUKI  (B)(D)
We’ll continue on to visit Iso-tein or formally known as Sengan-en, a beautiful Japanese-style garden with one of the most impressive pieces of ‘borrowed scenery’, Kagoshima Bay and the fuming peak of Sakurajima as a background.  Enjoy a leisure stroll through this beautifully landscaped garden featuring small ponds, and a bamboo grove.  We’ll continue on to visit Cape Nagasakibana, featuring views of nearby Mount Kaimondake.  Due to its conical shape, it bears a striking resemblance to Mount Fuji an is often referred to as Satsuma Fuji.  We’ll continue on to the southernmost tip of the Satsuma peninsula to spend the night in Ibusuki, a coastal town best known for its sunamushi onsens (steaming black sand baths).  As an option (at own expense), you may want to experience being covered with warm black volcanic sand.  The weight and heat of the sand feels so good and after rinsing off, you’ll feel relaxed and energized.  Relax and enjoy dinner at our hot spring hotel this evening in Ibusuki.

Accommodations at IBUSUKI ROYAL HOTEL or similar 

Wednesday, March 19  (Day 09)
IBUSUKI * CHIRAN * MIYAZAKI  (B)(D)
We’ll travel to the little town of Chiran, noted for its fine collection of preserved samurai houses and gardens.  Enjoy a stroll through ‘samurai street’, to visit a few old samurai residences and beautifully landscaped gardens.  We’ll visit the Tokko Heiwa Kaikan (Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots) featuring an extensive collection of correspondence, photographs, relics, and mementos belonging to the members of the Special Air Force Attack Group also known as the Kamikaze Pilots.  Subject to availability, a local guide will share photos and letts from some of the members, presenting a positive image of these pilots as they willingly gave their lives for their country in order to establish peace and prosperity for Japan.  We’ll continue on to the scenic Nichinan Kaigan Coast located in southern Miyazaki Prefecture.  On Ao-shima island located in the Nichinan-Kaigan Quasi-National Park, enjoy the view of palm trees, subtropical plants and an eroded rock formation known as Oni-no-Sentakuita (devil’s washboard).  We’ll continue on to spend the night in Miyazaki, capital city of Miyazaki Prefecture located on the eastern coast of Kyushu Island.  Dinner will be provided for you this evening at the hotel. 

Accommodations at SHERATON GRANDE OCEAN RESORT MIYAZAKI or similar

Thursday, March 20  Day 10)
MIYAZAKI *TAKACHIHO * MOUNT ASO  (B)(D)
Situated in the northwestern region of Miyazaki prefecture in the center of the Kyushu mountains is the little town of Takachiho.  This remote mountain resort village is considered one of the most sacred places in Japan, surrounded by many myths and legends.  The major attraction is Takachiho-kyo (Takachiho Gorge), a scenic v-shaped ravine created by the Gokase River featuring breathtaking waterfalls, overhanding rocks, and sheer walls formed through the erosion of the Aso lava plateau.  We’ll visit Kusasenri (Mt. Aso Visitor Center) before checking into our hot spring resort to spend the night.  Dinner will be provided for you this evening.

Accommodations at ASO no TSUKASA or similar 

Friday, March 21  Day 11)
MOUNT ASO * BEPPU  (B)(D)
We’ll continue on to spend the night in Beppu, noted as one of the most famous hot spring resorts in Japan.  The city is blessed with eight different hot springs each featuring public baths and ryokans with bathing facilities and together produces more hot spring water than any other onsen resort in Japan.  The city is also known for its ‘hells or jigokus’, spectacular hot springs for viewing rather than bathing, displaying steaming ponds of various colors, bubbling mud pools and other hydrothermal activity.  We’ll visit one of the most beautiful - Umi-Jigoku (sea hell), a pond of boiling, steaming blue water.  In the spacious garden area is a clear water pond with large lotus flowers floating on the surface and another reddish-colored pond.  Enjoy dinner and relax in the soothing hot springs of our onsen hotel this evening.

Accommodations at SUGINOI HOTEL or similar 

Saturday, March 22v (Day 12)
BEPPU * YUFUIN * FUKUOKA  (B)
We’ll travel to Yufuin to enjoy a stroll along the Yunotsubo Kaido, a shopping street in the quaint town of Yufuin, featuring interesting shops, cafes, boutiques and art museum.  We’ll travel back to Fukuoka and visit Hakuhaku, (Hakata’s Food & Culture Museum) and enjoy a Mentaiko Factory Tour to learn the history and production of mentaiko (salted cod or polluck roe).  Hakata dolls are one of the most elegant and famous art & craft souvenirs in Hakata.  Enjoy a hands-on-activity to paint your own Hakata doll  at the Hakata Doll Hall Shogetsudo for your souvenir.  Dinner will be on your own this evening to try some of your favorite local specialties at the various restaurants located at the train station nearby the hotel.

Accommodations at MIYAKO HAKATA HOTEL or similar 

Sunday, March 23  (Day 13)
FUKUOKA TO HANEDA TO HONOLULU  (B)
The morning is at your leisure for your own activities or do some last-minute shopping for souvenirs and omiyage to bring home.  In the early afternoon, we’ll transfer to the Fukuoka Airport for our domestic flight to Haneda Airport.  On arrival at Haneda Airport, we’ll transfer by shuttle to the Haneda International Terminal for our evening flight to Honolulu, arriving in the morning on the same day due to the crossing of the International Date Line.  A late meal will be served on board the flight.

The tour price is based on double occupancy and a minimum group size of 20 passengers.  A fare adjustment may apply for groups of 20 or less.  The rate is based on tariffs and exchange rates effective 9/15/2024.  Tour fare is subject to change according to any airfare increase, increase in government taxes, additional fuel surcharges 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.  We reserve the right to revise content of the itinerary if necessary due to unforeseen issues, weather and safety concerns. 

Land portion based on 140 Yen = $1.00 U.S.

2025 General Conditions
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