New! 2025 Treasures of the Inland Sea

Exploring the Charms of Setonaikai

March 29 - April 10, 2025  (13 days & 11 nights)

Kansai, Kobe, Nunobiki Herb Gardens, Naruto, Uzu no Michi , Awa Odori Kaikan, Takamatsu, Ferry to Shodoshima Island, Shodoshima Olive Park, Marukin Soy Sauce Factory & Museum, Kankakei Gorge , Ferry to Takamatsu, Takamatsu, Takamatsu Castle Park, Shikoku Mura, Setonaikai Museum of History & Folklore, Shikoku Aquarium, Fan Making Hands-on-activity, Towel Museum Ichihiro, Imabari, Shimanami Kaido, Murakami Kaizoku Museum , Kosanji Temple, Ikuchijima Island, Fukuyama, Tomonoura, Kurashiki, Bikan Historical Quarter, Ohara Museum of Art, Kurashiki Kawafune Nagashi, Okayama, Okayama Castle, Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum, Ako Marine Science Museum, Ako, Salt Making Hands-on-activity, Himeji Castle, Azuki Bean Museum, Arima Onsen, Kobe, Rokko Garden Terrace, Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum, Kobe Port Tower, Osaka, Asahi Beer Museum, NIFREL, Kansai

$100 EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT
(deposit of $100 per person received by 9/30/2024)

Saturday, March 29  (Day 01)
HONOLULU TO OSAKA
Our tour commences this morning when we assemble at the airport for baggage check-in procedures.  We will depart Honolulu on Japan Airlines for our flight to Kansai International Airport in Osaka.  Lunch and a snack will be served on board the flight.

Sunday, March 30  (Day 02)
ARRIVE KANSAI (OSAKA)
We’ll arrive Kansai Airport in the late afternoon and after clearing entry procedures, we’ll transfer to our hotel located nearby the airport to spend the night.

Accommodations at HOTEL NIKKO KANSAI AIRPORT or similar

Monday, March 31  (Day 03)
KANSAI * KOBE * AWAJI * NARUTO (SHIKOKU ISLAND) * TOKUSHIMA  (B)(D)
We’ll travel to Kobe, capital city of Hyogo prefecture and considered as one of Japan’s most attractive cities.  We’ll visit the Nunobiki Herb Gardens, Japan’s largest herb garden located on Mount Rokko above the city of Kobe.  Accessible by cable car to the Observation Plaza, featured is a replica of the German “Wartburg Castle” with many shops and cafes.  Enjoy a leisure walk down a picturesque path through various themed gardens, museums and a beautiful view of Osaka Bay.  We’ll continue our drive on the Akashi Ohashi, a suspension bridge linking the city of Kobe through Awaji Island to Naruto on Shikoku Island.  On arrival, we’ll visit the Eddy Naruto Hall, an interactive museum featuring images and experiences related to the Naruto whirlpools on the Onaruto Bridge.  Enjoy a walk on the Uzu no Michi Walkway, a pedestrian path on the bridge offering close-up views of the majestic whirlpools through glass viewing panels on the floor - 45 meters above the sea.  This afternoon, we’ll enjoy a performance of the exclusive Awa dance style by the dynamic Awa no Kaze dance troupe at the Awa Odori Kaikan in Tokushima City.  We’ll spend the night at an elegant onsen resort in Naruto on Shikoku Island.  Dinner will be provided for you tonight at the hotel.

Accommodations at AOAWO NARUTO RESORT or similar 

Tuesday, April 1  (Day 04)
NARUTO * SHODOSHIMA ISLAND  (B)(L)(D)
We’ll proceed to the Takamatsu Ferry Terminal - the launching point to take a car ferry to Shodoshima Island, an island in the Seto Inland Sea.  The island is best known for its olives and has a long history of soy sauce production.  On arrival, we’ll ride a ropeway through Kankakei Gorge, up to the observation deck of Kankakei National Park, offering panoramic views of the island.  The gorge is a nationally designated ‘Place of Scenic Beauty’ and is part of the Setonaikai National Park.  Shodoshima Olive Park features an attractive walking path through the olive tree grove including a replica of a Greek windmill.  Enjoy browsing through the shops offering various olive-related products, such as olive oil, olive cosmetics, olive flavored candy, and olive flavored ice cream.  We’ll continue on to visit the Marukin Soy Sauce Factory and Museum, one of the leading soy sauce companies on the island. The museum resembles a soy sauce factory and explains the production process of soy sauce along with all the tools required to produce this condiment.  Another related product of Shodoshima is tsukudani, (small pieces of konbu preserved in a sweet soy sauce and enjoyed with rice).   We’ll spend the night at an onsen hotel on Shodoshima Island.  Dinner will be provided for you this evening at the hotel.

Accommodations at BAY RESORT HOTEL SHODOSHIMA or similar 

Wednesday, April 2 (Day 05)
SHODOSHIMA * TAKAMATSU  (B)
We’ll proceed to Tonosho Port to board a car ferry back to Takamatsu city on Honshu Island in Kagawa Prefecture.  On arrival, we’ll visit Takamatsu Castle Park and view the ruins of this castle in a parklike setting with sea water moats containing ocean fish, including a Sea Bream Garden Park, bridges and waterways in a picturesque area.  We’ll visit Ritsurin koen, a scenic garden – once the summer retreat for the Lords of the Matsudaira Family, featuring pine trees winding around a series of ponds, bridges, and rock formations, including the ‘borrowed scenery’ of Mount Shuin in the background.  Enjoy a visit of Shikoku Mura, a village with an open-air museum featuring relocated and restored buildings such as work huts, a rice storehouse and a soy sauce brewery, all from the four prefectures of Shikoku from the Edo period to Taisho period.  We’ll spend the night in Takamatsu, a port city on the Seto Inland Sea.  Dinner will be on your own this evening to try some of the local specialties of this prefecture.

Accommodations at JR HOTEL CLEMENT TAKAMATSU or similar

Thursday, April 3  (Day 06)
TAKAMATSU * IMABARI  (B)(D)
We’ll visit the Setonaikai Museum of History & Folklore, an impressive building of natural local stone, located high above the Inland Sea on the Goshikidai Plateau.  It features an imposing tower recalling a pirate castle, several exhibition areas containing numerous ships and a whale skeleton.  The rooftop viewing deck offers a stunning view of the Inland Sea.  Enjoy a visit of Shikoku Aquarium, an oceanfront aquarium featuring four signature tanks containing aquatic life from the Pacific Ocean, the Seto Inland Sea, and a freshwater zone.  The exhibit also features a dolphin tank and an illustrated catalog of aquatic animals made in the mid-18th century.  We’ll continue on to enjoy a hands-on-activity to make your own bamboo fan at the Marugame Uchiwa Museum, featuring exhibits of fans and demonstrations of fan making.  We’ll spend the night in Imabari, a city best known for its towel production and fishing industry.  Dinner will be provided for you this evening at the hotel.

Accommodations at IMABARI KOKUSAI HOTEL or similar 

Friday, April 4  (Day 07)
IMABARI * SHIMANAMI KAIDO * FUKUYAMA  (B)(D)
Enjoy an interesting visit of Towel Museum Ichihiro, a unique facility showcasing various high-quality towels, including an exhibit demonstrating the towel making process from start to finish.  A permanent gallery in the museum features a display of a large colorful quilt made by Kathy Nakajima, a famous Hawaiian quilt artist.  Various works of art created with towels are on display throughout this interesting museum.  We’ll continue on to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Seto Inland Sea on the Shimanami Kaido, a scenic expressway connected with bridges and passing over six small islands.  We’ll make a stop at the second island, Innoshima, and visit the Murakami Kaizoku Museum containing artifacts and memorabilia of the Murakami Pirates, who controlled the Setonaikai throughout the Sengoku period.  Although called pirates, they were responsible for maritime traffic, security, and trade in the Inland Sea.  We’ll continue on to visit Kosanji Temple, an impressive temple belonging to the True Pure Land Sect of Japanese Buddhism, located on Ikuchijima Island, the third island.  Many of the buildings are modeled after some of Japan’s most famous temple buildings: Nikko Toshogu’s Yomeimon Gate and Byodoin’s Phoenix Hall.  A highlight of the temple is the Cave of 1,000 Buddhas, a long cave with images illustrating the tortures of Buddhist hell.  We’ll continue on to spend the night in Fukuyama in Hiroshima Prefecture, a city noted for its beautiful flowers and geta sandals.  Dinner will be provided for you this evening.

Accommodations at FUKUYAMA NEW CASTLE HOTEL or similar

Saturday, April 5  (Day 08)
FUKUYAMA * KURASHIKI * OKAYAMA  (B)(D)
Enjoy a leisure stroll through the town of Tomonoura, a picturesque old-fashioned fishing town in Fukuyama situated at the bay facing the Seto Inland Sea – part of the Setonaikai National Park.  The town features a fishing townscape with many photogenic alleys lined by rustic old house and has been picked as a filming location for several international and local movies such as “The Wolverine”.  We’ll continue on to Kurashiki, a picturesque and historic town with its preserved canal area.  Enjoy a stroll through the Bikan Historical Quarter along the Kurashiki River Canal, with boutiques, cafes, and museums.  We’ll visit the Ohara Museum of Art, Japan’s first museum of Western art, featuring three buildings: The Main Gallery, the Annex featuring works of art by Japanese artists, and the Craft Art Gallery displaying ceramics, woodblock prints, stencil dyeing and more.  Subject to confirmation, we’ll enjoy the Kurashiki Kawafune Nagashi, a peaceful and relaxing boat cruise on the Kurashiki River along the canal through the town.  We’ll continue on to spend the night in Okayama, capital city of Okayama Prefecture.  Dinner will be provided for you this evening.

Accommodations at ANA CROWNE PLAZA OKAYAMA or similar

Sunday, April 6  (Day 09)
OKAYAMA * AKO (B)(D)
We’ll visit Okayama Castle - also known as ‘Crow Castle’ due to its black exterior and was originally built during the Sengoku period.  The original castle was destroyed during WWII but reconstructed in 1966.  Built under the instructions of Toyotomi Hideyoshi along the banks of the Asahi River which acts as a natural moat.  Enjoy a stroll through Korakuen Garden, regarded as one of Japan’s three best landscaped gardens and designated as a “Special Place of Scenic Beauty”.  The garden features seasonal flowers, a large pond, streams, walking paths, spacious lawns and a crane aviary.  We’ll visit the interesting Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum to see some of the finest cutting weapons ever produced and how they are made and maintained.  Subject to availability, we may be able to see a master swordsmith at work.  We’ll continue on to spend the night in Ako, Japan’s salt capital and home to the tale of the 47 Ronin.  Enjoy a visit at the Ako Marine Science Museum that provides a good overview of the area’s salt making history, the geological history of the Seto Inland Sea and Ako’s natural environment.  Enjoy a hands-on-activity at salt making at their Salt Farm “Shio-no-Kuni”.  Dinner will be provided for you this evening at our hot spring hotel.

Accommodations at KAMENOI HOTEL AKO or similar 

Monday, April 7  (Day 10)
AKO * ARIMA ONSEN (B)(L)(D)
We’ll travel on to visit the grounds of Himeji Castle, a hilltop castle regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical castle architecture, known as ‘White Heron Castle”, due to its brilliant white exterior.  Himeji Castle is considered as one of Japan’s three premier castles and a National Treasure.  Weather permitting, the cherry blossoms should be in full bloom around the castle grounds.  We’ll visit the Azuki (sweet red beans) Bean Museum, a facility to learn about the cultivation and processing of this treasured food product, considered a treasured food item used in Japanese ceremonies.  We’ll enjoy some samples of delicious azuki dishes in the museum restaurant.  We’ll continue on to the charming onsen town of Arima to spend the night.  Enjoy a stroll along the Arima River and browse through the many shops and cafes in the town.  Several interesting museums and shrines can be reached easily by foot as well as a public hot spring foot bath.  We’ll spend the night in this elegant onsen hotel.  Dinner will be provided for you this evening at the hotel.

Accommodations at ARIMA GRAND HOTEL or similar 

Tuesday, April 8  (Day 11)
ARIMA ONSEN * OSAKA  (B)(D)
View an extensive collection of automatic playing instruments mainly from Europe and the U.S. over a hundred years old at the Rokko Garden Terrace, a hilltop plaza atop Mt. Rokko where you can enjoy a panoramic view from the Akashi Strait to the Osaka Plain - one of the most scenic spots in Japan.  At the Rokko Music Box Museum, enjoy a ‘concert without a performer’ in an intimate hall with a full-sized ‘music box’ that fills the hall with sound.  A shop with various souvenir music boxes are also available.  Enjoy strolling on the casual walkways and the quaint shops and cafes along the way.  The most conspicuous aspect of Japanese buildings is the ingenious and creative use of wood at the Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum.  As the only museum of carpentry tools in Japan, this facility exhibits seven sections highlighting he history and beauty of Japanese woodworking over the years.  The exhibits appeal to the visitors five senses, utilizing videos and an audio guide system, a place to smell the wood’s aroma, and a hands-on display that people can actually touch. We’ll continue on to Kobe to view Kobe Port Tower, an iconic symbol of the waterfront, offering panoramic views of the city and the harbor.  We’ll continue on to spend two nights in Osaka.  Dinner will be provided for you this evening at the hotel.

Accommodations at HILTON OSAKA or similar

Wednesday, April 9  (Day 12)
OSAKA  (B)
Experience a visit to Nifrel, a futuristic attraction that is partially an interactive zoo, a science museum, and an aquarium, offering experiences with animals and nature.  The exhibits are visual as well as educational and will deepen your interest in living creatures and nature.  Enjoy an exciting interactive museum that allows you to experience the process of brewing beer through observation experiences as well at newly opened Asahi Beer Museum located inside the Asahi Breweries Suita plant.  Experience the Super Dry Go-Ride, a realistic ride through four screens that show the beer brewing process as though you are riding in a beer can.  The museum promotes ‘smart drinking’ by offering a wide variety of drinks to meet the needs of each visitor.  Dinner will be on your own this evening.

Accommodations at HILTON OSAKA or similar

Thursday, April 10  (Day 13)
OSAKA  (B)
Enjoy the morning exploring Osaka city at your leisure for your own activities.  In the afternoon, we’ll transfer to the Kansai International Airport for our evening flight home to Honolulu, arriving in the morning on the same day due to the crossing of the International Dateline.  A late meal will be served on board the flight.

The tour price is based on double occupancy and a minimum group size of 25 passengers.  A fare adjustment may apply for groups of 20 or less.  The rate is based on tariffs and exchange rates effective 6/30/2024. 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 due to unforeseen issues, weather & safety concerns.

Land portion based on 150 Yen = $1.00 U.S.

2025 General Conditions
Tour Registration Form