COLORFUL TOUR WITH KAWACHI WISTERIA
APR. 28 ~ MAY 9 (10 nights, 12 days)

Date	Place and Hotel ♨=onsen	Activity	B	L	D
Apr. 28 (Mon.)		Depart Honolulu to Fukuoka.
29 (Tue.)	FUKUOKA HOTEL GRANVIEW	Arrive at Fukuoka airport, then we go to hotel.
30 (Wed.)	KOKURA RIHGA ROYAL HOTEL	Leaving the hotel, we take a ferry to Nokonoshima Island and visit  Nokonoshima Island Park. We can see many flowers (Livingstone daisy, poppy, azalea, marigold). Then we go to Ichiran no Mori factory. Ichiran is a Fukuoka-based ramen chain restaurant that is loved by people from all over the world. The factory produces 90,000 bowls’ worth of noodles, 70,000 bowls’ worth of soup and about 100,000 portions of char siu pork daily. Enjoy a fresh Ichiran ramen after a brief factory tour and museum tour. After lunch we go to see Futamigaura, the stunning contrast between the white torii gate standing near two rocks and the blue hues of the sky and the ocean creates a stunning, sacred atmosphere. Then we go to the hotel.	×	×	×
May. 1 (Thu.)	KOKURA RIHGA ROYAL HOTEL	From the hotel we visit Kawachi Wisteria Garden, it is a beautiful scenery known for their tunnels of wisteria in different varieties and colors. (One of 31 Japan’s most beautiful places selected by CNN). Lunch is Fugu(blowfish) cuisine at Shunpanro Restaurant with a history of over 130 years. This restaurant is the first officially permitted blowfish restaurant in Japan. Enjoy blowfish cuisine at the restaurant that Emperor Showa also visited. After lunch we ride a ferry & go to Ganryu-Jima Island, famous for being the location of Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro’s duel. Then we go back the same hotel.	×	×	×
2 (Fri.)	YUDA ONSEN ROUTE INN♨	From the hotel we go to the Hinoyama Observatory. The nice view of Shimonoseki and Moji across the Kanmon Strait can be seen all at once from here. Then we visit the Motonosumi Inari Shrine, it was selected by CNN Travel as one of the "31 Most Beautiful Places in Japan. Impressive point of this shrine is the 123 repetitive red torii gates from Ryugu wave splash. After lunch we go to see the Akiyoshidai, the plateau with the highest concentration of karst formations and also visit the Akiyoshido, Japan’s largest and longest limestone cave. Then we go to the hotel in Yuda onsen.	×	×	×
3 (Sat.)	YUDA ONSEN ROUTE INN♨	From the hotel we visit Yuda Onsen Station & ride the SL Yamaguchi and go to Tsuwano Station. Please enjoy the steam locomotive journey of about 2 hours and the eki-ben. After arrive the station we go to Unrinji, has found popularity across Japan and overseas as Cat temple, and it receives visitors from around the world. There are various unique cat figurines at this temple with a legend of cats. Next visit Hagi pottery Festival, held every May. Traditional Hagi pottery boasts 400 years of history. More than 50 shops and potteries are open over the course of this five-day pottery market.Then we go back to the same hotel.	×	×	×
4 (Sun.)	HIGASHI HIROSHIMA ROUTE INN	From the hotel we go to go to see Underwater Koinobori, an unusual kind of koinobori that actually swims in the river. Koinobori means “carp streamer,” they are carp-shaped windsocks traditionally flown in Japan to celebrate Children’s Day (May 5). After lunch we go to the island of Suo-Oshima, which is a sister island of Hawaii’s Kauai Island and is known as the Hawaii of Setouchi. Its strong ties with Hawaii can be traced back to the almost 4,000 islanders who emigrated to Hawaii. We visit the Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaii. Many of the items on display are primary source documents, which allow visitors to get a closer look at the history of Hawaiian immigration. Next go to see Kintaikyo, Japan’s one of three unique bridges. Then we go to the hotel.	×	×	×
5 (Mon.)	MATSUE HOTEL ICHIBATA♨	From the hotel we visit the Flower village Hana Yume-no-Sato. We can see Shibazakura and Nemophila (blue ground-covered flower). After lunch we go to the Kagura Monzen Toji Village, located atop a small mountain in the northern part of Hiroshima Prefecture, we can enjoy watching Hiroshima Kagura while enjoying a charming traditional Japanese townscape. Kagura is a sacred dance where people wearing gorgeous costumes and expressive divinity's masks perform with taiko drums, flutes, and other musical accompaniment. It has been performed as a Shinto ritual dedicated to the local divinities in order to pray for a good harvest. Today, it is enjoyed by people as a local entertainment indispensable for festivals and other celebrations. Then we go to the hotel.	×	×	×
6 (Tue.)	MATSUE HOTEL ICHIBATA♨	In the morning, visit the mythical town of Izumo. We visit the Inasa no Hama. The legend “transfer of the land” written in Kojiki (A Record of Ancient Matters), takes place on this beach. It is believed to be the place to welcome multitudes of gods in Japan once a year. Then we visit Izumo Taisha, it is one of Japan's most important shrines. There are no records of exactly when Izumo Taisha was built, but it is often considered as the oldest shrine in Japan. After lunch we visit the Matsue Vogel Park. Inside the greenhouse, focusing on begonia and fuchsia, about 10,000 flowers are in full bloom all year round. In the bird section, visitors can encounter 400 birds of 90 species such as rare owls, adorable cute penguins and other bright and colorful tropical birds. Next visit to Yushi-en Garden, cut peony flowers are then used to gracefully cover the ponds of Yushi-en Garden. They are laid on wire mesh to offer the sight of vivid and warm colors of floating flowers. We can admire this sight once a year in this season. Then we go back the same hotel.	×	×	×
7 (Wed.)	TOTTORI HAKUTO KAIKAN♨	From the hotel we visit the Adachi Art Museum, it houses a collection of modern Japanese artworks & paintings, with a beautiful award winner Japanese garden. One of 31 Japan’s most beautiful places selected by CNN. Then we go to watch the Yasugi Bushi, a traditional folk song & dance of the Dojo Sukui (a dance scooping small eel-like fish with a basket). After lunch we go to JNR Kurayoshi Line, an abandoned railway track. If you walk a little on the tracks with a Stand by Me mood you can see scenery of the track and bamboo groves. Next visit the Pear Museum Nashikkokan. Learn and experience the history and cultivation of Tottori's specialty pears. Taste 3 varieties of fresh pear any time of the year. Then we go to the hotel.	×	×	×
8 (Thu.)	MIYAZU ROYAL HOTEL♨	From the hotel we go to see the Tottori Sand Dunes, those that want to can ride the camel. One of 31 Japan’s most beautiful places selected by CNN. Then we go to see the Sand Museum (The exhibition theme for 2024 is France.) displaying sand sculptures. After lunch we go to Toyooka Kaban Bag Tanaka, 80% of Japan’s bags are made from Toyooka of high-quality, you can experience making bag. Next go to Izushi, a small castle town now part of the city of Toyooka in northern Hyogo. It is famous for its old-Japan atmosphere. Visit Theater Eirakukan, built during the Meiji period (1868 ~ 1912). Then we go to the hotel.	×	×	×
9 (Fri.)		From the hotel we go to see the Amanohashidate, one of three Japan’s best scenic views. It is a natural-made sand bar covered with many pine trees. View it from top of view land, bend down and look between your legs. Then we go to see Kaisen Bridge, this unusual bridge turns 90 degrees when ships pass through the waterway. Next go to Aeon Mall for lunch and shopping, they have Daiso, Uniqlo, MUJI, etc. Then we go to Kansai Airport for your departure flight to Honolulu.	×

 HOTELS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE TO SAME OR BETTER CLASS
DUE TO THE WEATHER SITUATION THE TOUR COURSE MAY CHANGE
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Hand-Made Tours
Direct calls to Evelyn: (808) 520-0018
E-mail:handmadetourshawaii@gmail.com