SMALL TOWN WINTER LIFE TOUR For Winter Lovers
Feb. 7 ~ 17 (9 nights, 11 days)
| Let's enjoy winter in Japan. There are fun unique to winter such as the Local Winter Festivals, Snow Monsters, Snow monkeys, and the snow-covered scenery of Shirakawa-go. There will also be many surprises that cannot be expressed with itineraries. Local winter festivals are not held for tourists, but as a local custom, giving a glimpse of winter life in the countryside. This tour is perfect for those who love Japanese winter. Enjoy a luxurious trip limited to six people. |
| Date | Place
and Hotel ♨=onsen |
Activity | B | L | D |
| Feb. 7 (Fri.) |
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Depart Honolulu to Chubu International Airport. |
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| 8 (Sat.) |
CHUBU AIRPORT |
After arriving at Chubu International Airport, we go to the hotel that's connected to the airport terminal. There is a convenience store and some eating place nearby. |
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| Feb. 9 (Sun.) |
TAKAYAMA GREEN HOTEL♨ 
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From the hotel we visit Chiyobo-Inari, which has an annual visitors of 2 million, is believed to be beneficial for prosperous business and well-being of the family. Chiyobo Inari is a shrine but more interesting thing is a shopping street in front of the shrine. There are restaurants for local cuisine, Japanese sweets shops, pickled vegetable shops, etc. After lunch we visit Shirakawa-go, famous for their traditional Gassho-Zukuri houses, it is a Unesco world heritage site and only during winter season you can see the snow-covered Shirakawa-go. Then we go to the hotel. |
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| 10 (Mon.) |
NAGANO HOTEL MERCURE♨   
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From the hotel we visit the beautifully preserved old town of Takayama Sanmachi area called Little Kyoto. Also, only during this winter period, you can tour a sake brewery in Takayama that you cannot normally. Then we visit Miyagawa Morning Market, this market has been continuing about 200 years selling fresh vegetables, dry mushroom, chili, folk art crafts, etc. Next, we visit Daio Wasabi Farm, one of Japan’s largest farm located where flowing water from the Northern Alps. There is a wide variety of wasabi related products in the shop & you can try the wasabi soft cream. Lunch is Hon Wasabi Meshi. It's a simple lunch with wasabi on top of rice. Enjoy the taste of real wasabi. After lunch we visit The Matsushiro Imperial Underground Headquarters, are the ruins of World War II-era military facilities. That are open to public since 1989, in hopes to pass it down as a precious "war remains" that conveys the importance of the peaceful world to as many people, for generations to come. Then we go to the hotel. |
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| 11 (Tue.) |
NAGAOKA NEW OTANI  .jpg) |
From the hotel we visit the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. We can see monkeys bathing in a natural hot spring while snow is piled up. The trail to the park is 1 mile in both directions. A short staircase at the trail entrance and a final steep staircase and sloped path at the end of the trail / entrance to the park itself, the trail is completely level and easy to walk. After lunch we visit Uonuma town to see unique festival, The Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival. During this festival, the groom is showered with ice water to pray for marital harmony and Childhood. Then we go to the hotel. | × |
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| 12 (Wed.) |
NIIGATA
ART HOTEL  
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From the hotel we go to Tsubame-Sanjo, famous as a production town. We visit Tsubame Industrial Materials Museum. We can experience to make Cup tsuchime hammering, using a hammer to add elegant tsuchime dimpling to the surface of a provided copper cup. Then we go to TSUBAMESANJO Regional Products Center. Our big sales floor features nearly 10,000 unique items including kitchen utensils, pots, and tools in addition to locally made metal works. Then we visit Teradomari Fish Market Street, a market lined with seafood and souvenir shops. The street is also commonly known as “Sakana no Ameyoko". Lunch is specialty Crab Ramen. After lunch we visit the Ponshukan, is a sake “theme park” where you can sample leading local sake brands, purchase sake-related goods. Then we go to the hotel. |
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| 13 (Thu.) |
YAMAGATA HOTEL YUSA♨ 
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From the hotel we go to Niigata’s Senbei Kingdom, where rice is famous in Niigata and visit a senbei factory & shop. Then go to Murakami, famous town for salmon. Visit Iyoboya Kaikan, it is a salmon museum. Iyoboya means salmon in Murakami language. Next visit Sennensake Kikkawa, a salmon specialty store that has been around for 400 years. You can see lots of salmon hanging from the ceiling and you can buy a variety of salmon items. Lunch is a Salmon cuisine. After lunch we go to the hotel. If you want to go to Costco after arriving at the hotel, we will take you there. |
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| 14 (Fri.) |
OMAGARI
ROUTE INN 
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After leaving the hotel we ride the Zao Ropeway to see snow covered trees called “Juhyo” (Snow Monsters). After lunch we visit Ginzan onsen town, Ginzan Onsen is one of the most historical and picturesque Onsen towns in Japan. The town offers an amazing preserved nostalgic townscape from 19th century. It was chosen as “Japan’s most charming winter village” by CNN. Next go to the hotel. Then when it gets a little dark, we go to see the Hiburi Kamakura Festival. It is an important intangible folk cultural asset and is a mystical festival of flamboyant fire circles dancing in the snow. The fire circles that appear one after the other invite the visitors into the winter nights of fairy tales. Returning to the hotel around 8 pm. |
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| 15 (Sat.) |
OMAGARI ROUTE INN  |
Departing hotel at a leisurely time. From the hotel we go to the Snow mobile land, enjoy riding the snow mobile. Then we go to Akita Furusato Village where you can experience kokeshi painting. Lunch is Akita's specialty Kiritanpo. After lunch we go back to the same hotel. When it gets a little dark, we go to see the Rokugo Kamakura Festival. It is an important intangible folk cultural asset where young men hold green bamboo and are divided into north and south, and pray for abundant harvests by having an intense battle. Returning to hotel around 9 pm. |
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| 16 (Sun.) |
SAITAMA PALACE HOTEL  |
From the Omagari station riding the E6 series Akita shinkansen go to Omiya station. Lunch is Iwate Beef Ekiben. Pulling the string attached to the side of the Ekiben, it heats the contents. After arriving Omiya station, we go to the hotel. After check-in hotel then you can enjoy shopping at places like Daiso, Big camera, Tokyu Hands, Uniqlo, etc. near the hotel. |
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| 17 (Mon.) |
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From hotel go to see The Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel which is called the underground temple. The average annual precipitation in Japan is about twice that of the world’s average, making it extremely important to prevent flooding especially in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area where the population is concentrated. The Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel is one of the world’s largest and visually striking flood-prevention facilities. After lunch we go to Aeon Mall for last minute shopping before going to Narita airport for your departure. |
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