JAPAN ALPS + EARLY SUMMER EVENTS TOUR
May 30 ~ June 10 (10 nights, 12 days)

Let's sightsee the Japanese Alps during the fresh green season. Delicious air and wonderful scenery are waiting for you. This tour also includes seasonal events such as a wedding boat, cormorant fishing, and firefly viewing. We will also visit Okazaki, the birthplace of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was the model for the drama ``Shogun'' Toranaga. Enjoy sightseeing in Japan during this time before the summer heat sets in.
 
Date Place and Hotel
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Activity B L D
May.
30
(Fri.)

 

Depart Honolulu to Narita airport.

 

 

 

31
(Sat.)

NARITA
ART HOTEL

Arrive at Narita airport, then go to hotel not far from the hotel. After check in you can ride the hotel shuttle bus and go to Aeon Mall for shopping and eating.

 

 

 

Jun.
1
(Sun.)

SHINJUKU

PRINCE HOTEL


From hotel we go to see Iris festival in Itako city. We can see one million iris plants that represent around 500 varieties. And main event of the festival is the Yomeiri-bune. This tradition began long ago here in Itako when boats were the primary mode of transportation. New brides would board boats with their in-laws and be rowed down the canal to symbolize them joining the groom's family. After lunch we go to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory. With favorable weather conditions, famous landmarks such as Mount Fuji, the Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, Meiji Shrine and the Tokyo Dome can be seen from the observatories. Then we go to the hotel. Check in early and explore Shinjuku, Japan's number one entertainment district. Shinjuku Golden Gai, Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho are within walking distance from the hotel. Japan's largest Hands and department stores are also located near the hotel. And if you want to go, let's to see the project mapping show projected on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building at night. The projection mapping display was recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest permanent architectural projection-mapped display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2
(Mon.)

SHIOJIRI

ROUTE INN

From Shinjuku Station we take the limited express Azusa to Matsumoto Station. Enjoy the scenery changing from the city to the countryside. Lunch is a popular ekiben Makunouchi bento box. After we arrive at Matsumoto Station, we visit Matsumoto Castle, it is a national treasure as the oldest castle keep of it’s kind in Japan. It’s contrasting black and white structure against the shining Japan Alps makes a splendid scenery. (One of 31 Japan’s most beautiful places selected by CNN). Then we go to the hotel. After dinner, we visit the Tatsuno Firefly Park to look fireflies. The best time to see fireflies is in June every year. Returning to the hotel around 9 pm.*We may not be able to see it depending on the weather.

 

 

 

 

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3
(Tue.)

SHIOJIRI

ROUTE INN

 

From the hotel we visit Kamikochi, is a popular resort in the Northern Japan Alps of Nagano Prefecture, offering some of Japan's most spectacular mountain scenery. We hike the simplest way along Azusa River from Taisho Pond to Kappa Bridge. It is a mostly flat terrain and requires no hiking experience and only 1 hours of time. Please let me know if you don't want to walk or want to go to Myojin Pond. After lunch we visit Daio Wasabi Farm, it is recognized as the largest wasabi farm in Japan. They sell varieties of wasabi-related products, and you can even try the wasabi ice cream. Then we visit Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, it holds the largest private collection of Ukiyo-e (woodblock prints), painting screens and old books in the world. Then we go back the same hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

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4
(Wed.)
TONAMI
MERCURE HOTEL

From the hotel we go to the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route. it is one of the world’s leading mountain sightseeing routes that runs through the Northern Alps, which is traversed by various means of transportation including cable cars, trolley buses and a ropeway. The main attraction of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is the magnificent scenery of the Tateyama Mountain Range, part of the Chubu Sangaku National Park. On the way we visit the Kurobe Dam, is at 610 ft, in height, it is the tallest dam in Japan.  And we view the 60 ft, high snow walls at Murodo. Then we go to hotel.

 

 

 

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5
(Thu.)
TONAMI
MERCURE HOTEL

From the hotel we go to the Kurobe Gorge the deepest V-shaped gorge in Japan. Board the Kurobe Gorge Railway from Unazuki Station and ride a trolley through the rich nature of Kurobe Gorge.Please enjoy a 1 hour, 20 minutes journey through spectacular nature. After arriving at the terminal station Keyakidaira Station, we visit the surrounding observation deck, man-eating rock, and Okugane Bridge. After lunch, take the Kurobe Railway from Keyakidaira Station to Unazuki Station and return to the same hotel.

 

 

 

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6
(Fri.)
INUYAMA
HOTEL INDIGO


From the hotel we go to Gokayama village (One of 31 Japan’s most beautiful places selected by CNN). It is also famous for the gassho-zukuri houses on a small scale compared to Shirakawa-go but with less tourists you can enjoy the country-side sceneries leisurely. And we go to Shirakawago, a small traditional village famous for a building style known as gassho-zukuri. It is one of UNESCO'S World Heritage Sites. Lunch is Hida beef sukiyaki, pot is set per person. After lunch we visit the beautifully preserved old town of  TakayamaSanmachi Area called Little Kyoto. After shopping and enjoying a walk, we go to the hotel. In the evening, we ride a sightseeing boat to see Ukai Cormorant fishing on the Nagara River, has a long tradition as a typical scene of summer in Gifu City and it has a history of 1300 years or more.  

 

 

 

 

 

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7
(Sat.)
HAMAMATSU
MERCURE HOTEL


From the hotel we visit the Tokugawa Art Museum, is houses over 10,000 artifacts, with the bequests of Ieyasu Tokugawa comprising the core, and holds daimyō family treasures collected and inherited by many generations of the Lords of Owari, starting with Ieyasu’s ninth son, Yoshinao Tokugawa. After visiting the museum, we see the attached Tokugawa Garden, is a Japanese garden with walkways winding around a central pond in the style of major daimyo gardens from the Edo period. After lunch we visit the Hatcho Miso Factory. Produced using a long-established process of manufacture, Hatcho Miso comprises just approximately 0.2% of the total volume of miso produced in Japan. Enjoy the miso loved by Shogun Ieyasu. Then we go to the hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

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8
(Sun.)
HAMAMATSU
MERCURE HOTEL

From the hotel we visit the Kasui Lily Park. we can enjoy a vast amount of blooming lilies (2 million flowers of 150 different kinds). Not only for enjoying the sight of lilies, you can also relax by the sweet scent of them filling the air.we visit the Unagi Pie Factory. Known for its unique name, Unagi Pie was created for families to enjoy this snack together in the evenings. We can join a factory tour that explains the production process. We visit Sonei temple Wind Bell Festival and to see hydrangea. Approximately 4,000 wind bell and 3,000 hydrangeas are in bloom. Then we go back the same hotel.

 

 

 

 

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9
(Mon.)
TOKYO
 HOTEL CHINZANSO

From Hamamatsu station, we ride the N700 series shinkansen and go to Shin Yokohama station. Then we visit Shin Yokohama Ramen Museum, is a unique museum about ramen, a popular noodle dish. Our seven ramen shops are showcased in a street-scape replication from the year 1958, Japan. Choose your favorite ramen restaurant for lunch. Then we go to the hotel. Enjoy the luxurious feeling at Chinzanso, a high-class hotel. At night, we can watch fireflies in the hotel garden. *We may not be able to see it depending on the weather.

 

 

 

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10
(Tue.)

From the hotel we go to the teamLab Borderless, opened in February, 2024, in Azabudai Hills, near Roppongi. With two never-before-seen exhibitions, plus old favorites, there’s a lot to see. Then we go to Asakusa. Enjoy riding the rickshaw and shopping. Next go to Narita Aeon Mall for shopping & eating. Then we go to Narita airport for your departure to Honolulu.

 

 

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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