Tokyo FALL Omiyage Express Shop, Sightsee, Eat, Fun- A perfect way to spend the

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1 Tokyo Tokyo FALL Omiyage Express Shop, Sightsee, Eat, Fun- A perfect way to spend the Columbus Day Holiday Day Holiday Weekend Weekend 4nts/6days fr: $1695 dbl/tpl $1895 single October 3 rd -8 th, 2018 Omiyage is a gift or souvenir you give to friends, coworkers, and family after returning home from a trip. Omiyage is so much more than just an edible souvenir. Here in Hawaii, bringing back omiyage from Japan is almost a tradition. Join us as we discover Tokyo s backstreets and shopping arcades in search of the best small kine shopping this city has to offer. All the favorites are included; Tsukiji, Ameyoko, Asakusa and Harajuku Takeshita, as well as the lesser known Sugamo Jizo & Kappabashi Shopping Streets. They are a couple of Tokyo s hidden treasures! It s not over yet, as we have included a day trip to Kamakura, often called little Kyoto, with its hundreds of temples scattered around the hilly, green city. We will be visiting the Great Buddha at Kotokuin Temple along with free time to discover and enjoy shopping on Komachi-Dori Street. The street is lined with a variety of shops, cafes, and restaurants. When you are looking for fun, Tokyo delivers. You will leave understanding why Tokyoites are fond to say, to be tired of Tokyo is to be tired of life. Itinerary/Details Day 1 October 3 rd, 2018 Wednesday Depart from Honolulu Hawaiian Airlines #821 Departs Honolulu 3:20 pm Arrive Narita 7:00 pm + 1 International check in begins 3 hours prior to the departure time. Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines terminal. After clearing security, you will meet up once again at the gate area. Day 2 October 4 th, 2018 Thursday Narita-Tokyo After clearing customs, our local English speaking guide will be waiting and join us for the drive to the Sunshine City Prince Hotel, ideally situated in the Ikebukuro section of Tokyo. The hotel is less than a 10-minute walk from the Ikebukuro JR Station.

2 The lobby of the hotel connects to a huge shopping and entertainment mecca with four towers, including a 240-meterhigh skyscraper with an observation deck on the top. Sunshine City is typically open from 10:00am to 8:30 pm seven days a week. A 24-hour Family Mart located right off the lobby in case you would like beverages, some hot and cold food items, or a snack. The remainder of the evening is free. Newly remodeled Sunshine City Prince Hotel & lobby Family Mart in hotel lobby Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel free Day 3 October 5 th, 2018 Friday Tokyo (B/L) After breakfast at our hotel we will head out for a full day of touring. Please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am. If you've ever dreamed about melt-in-your-mouth, out-of-this-world sushi, then you might have heard of Tsukiji, the largest fish market in the world. Most of Tokyo, and even high-end sushi restaurants in Hong Kong and San Francisco, gets their fish from this cultural landmark near the center of Japan's capital city. Tsukiji sits on some of the most valuable real estate in Tokyo. At some point in the future, the inner market will be moving to reclaimed land on Tokyo Bay. The 2020 Olympics are coming, and the city is preparing. Opened in 1935, Tsukiji sprang to life after the Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed most of Tokyo in It has since become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. Every morning sightseers start lining up at 3 a.m. to watch the frozen tuna auction. The more expensive fresh tuna auctions where a single Bluefin once sold for nearly $1.8 million- are privately conducted. It is our first stop on tour and we will be here for 1.5 hours so that you have ample time to walk around and enjoy the outer market, visit knife-making artisan shops, tasting candies, nuts, and spices, and learning more about seasonal produce If you re a foodie, love markets, enjoy photography or simply like visiting unique places then you ll probably love Tsukiji. After a good stroll around the market, there s nothing like a sushi breakfast to complete the experience. There are plenty of sushi shops make sure to choose one where you see locals dining. If you don t feel like sushi, there are other options including ramen, donburi and more.

3 If you finish early we encourage you to visit Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple, less than one block away. With an Indian-style exterior, was built in 1617 near Asakusa, but was burnt down in a huge fire that swept through Edo (Tokyo) in The Temple was then rebuilt on the present site, but destroyed again by the Great Tokyo Earthquake of The current main building was built in 1934.The main building possesses a distinctive ambience not found in other Japanese temples, due to its variety of architectural styles. Tsukiji Fish Market From here we are off to Ameyoko Shopping Street, famous throughout Japan for its wide variety of products. The name "Ameyoko" is a short form for "Ameya Yokocho" (candy store alley), as candies were traditionally sold there. Alternatively, "Ame" also stands for "America", because a lot of American products used to be available there when the street was the site of a black market in the years following WWII. You can get just about EVERYTHING here, clothes, bags, cosmetics, fresh fish, dried squid and spices are sold along Ameyoko. It is quite the scene to just walk around through the very crowded and narrow streets. An awesome place to sightsee, shop and eat! We will remain here for 1.5 hr., so you can shop at leisure. Its noontime and time for lunch at a local restaurant. Ameyoko- best spot to find omiyage items After lunch we are off to Asakusa, the traditional, low-rise, down, and dirty Tokyo of yesteryear. Although on the surface it s ye olde Japan, this was the first part of the capital to have significant western influence. It was even the site of Japan s first cinema. Attractions in the area include one of Tokyo s most historic temples Sensoji, and the impressive Kaminarimon Gate that marks the entranceway to the temple. Also, you can t miss Phillip Stark s Golden Poo on the roof of the nearby Asahi Breweries headquarters. Sensoji Temple dates to 645, but with the original destroyed in the air raids of 1945, today s building is a 1958 reconstruction. At the top of the steps, as a mark of respect, clap twice and bow your head. It s also customary to make a small offering by tossing coins into the wooden rack.

4 The Five Storied Pagoda was built in 1973 and amongst others; it stands in honor of comedians! Standing 54 meters high, reinforced with concrete and steel, and like all pagodas, running down the center is a giant pillar of Japanese Cypress tree wood. Once through the gate you ll be in Nakamise Shopping Arcade. The street is lined with colorful, lively stalls selling traditional knick- knacks, festival foods and rice crackers. There are over 50 shops along this shopping street. No worry, we will have time to shop and taste some of the food treats along the way. Asakusa and Nakamise Shopping Arcade One last stop this afternoon, Kappabashi-dori where a humongous Chef's head greets you, the heart of Kitchenware Town, a restaurant and kitchen supply shopping district located between two major touristy areas. Here you can find bargains on cups, bowls, trays and other pottery, lacquerware bento boxes make terrific jewelry cases along with seat cushion covers, chopsticks and sashimi knives. At the Kamata knife shop, located along the main thoroughfare (you can't miss this place there's a giant knife painted on the sign above the shop door), you can have your name engraved on the blade in kanji. Arrival back at our hotel will be approximately 5:30pm. After time to freshen up, meet your Panda Travel guide as we take a brief walking tour of the area around the hotel so that you are familiar with the many dining and shopping spots available. Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel free Day 4 October 6 th, 2018 Saturday Tokyo (B) After breakfast please meet your guide by 9:30am as we are off to for a full day of touring. Today we will be visiting a couple of Tokyo s most unique shopping streets, Sugamo Jizo Dori Shopping Street, Yanaka Ginza as well as the ever popular Takashita Dori in Harajuku area. Most Tokyo residents know of Sugamo as a ne er-visited stop on the Yamanote line if they know of it at all. Yet here lies one of the city s most interesting shopping streets. Think Center Gai or Takeshita Dori for your grandma. The average visitor to Sugamo s Jizo Dori is silver-haired but with a sparkle in the eye. Hordes of Japan s Greatest Generation flock to the district that postwar modernization forgot. Almost 1km in length, the Jizo Dori arcade has over 200 shops specializing in all manner of goods for the silver generation. You ll find comfy shoes and clothes in droves, many at Takeshita-like bargain prices. Some stalls sell the latest and greatest hearing aids, while others hawk designer walking canes. Japan s love of brand-name fashion evidently knows no age.

5 As one might suspect, health-related products feature high on the shopping lists of the elderly; on Jizo Dori, you ll find at least eight drugstores, two pharmacies and three kampo apothecaries. Don t let the bizarre potions displayed in the windows put you off. These traditional Chinese recipes have undergone a few thousand more years of R&D than those painkillers in your purse. Those with a sweet tooth might try the herbal ice cream. Sugamo is a clearinghouse of all things traditional primarily, food. One shop after other offers Japanese confectionaries, rice crackers, green tea and cooking ingredients. Samples of traditional sweets and savories abound, try shio-daifuku rice balls with sweet red bean paste and a sprinkle of salt. These are Sugamo s answer to the crepes of Harajuku. But even more than the foodstuffs, Sugamo is best-known for is red-hot granny panties. Aka-pantsu are said not only to improve the wearer s health and vigor, but also ward off evil spirits and bring happiness. So, what s the reasoning? Well, for starters red is considered auspicious. The Japanese also believe that the center of a person s well-being is in the lower back/belly region. So, keep your midsection warm and protected, and be rewarded with strength and happiness or so they say. To pick up a pair of aka-pantsu, swing by any of the area s several outlets of Maruji. Also on offer are red boxer shorts, long johns, body warmers and socks. Some items even sport a Sugamo logo or zodiac sign. Two stores that we will be pointing out are Sugi Yohoen which stocks dozens of honeys, jams and juices, plus nihonshu (sake) infused with ginger. You can sample almost everything at the tasting counter. The other is Chirimen for cute, modern takes on furoshiki cloths and yukata, plus wallets, coffee mugs and other everyday items. Stroll around this unique area, experience the city of old in Sugamo and enjoy the Japaneseness" of this street. From here we are off to Yanaka Ginza, one of the last remnants of Tokyo s past. With more of Tokyo being modernized and rebuilt to make room for its ever-growing population, enjoy the opportunity to explore Yanaka before it s gone forever. While not a big shopping street, Yanaka Ginza is prized for it atmosphere of how life was back during the Edo Period. There are approximately 70 shops along this 175-meter-long street. What s also special about Yanaka Ginza is that you can find old and new crafts, old and new food, as well as souvenirs and gifts. A Western-style bakery that boasts an oven made with stone from Mount Fuji stands next to a shop that sells traditional Japanese sweets. There s a shop entirely devoted to items handcrafted from bamboo, a tiny stall where you can get T-shirts custom-printed with illustrations of various animals, and a shop that sells traditional wooden and straw-rope sandals. What s also special about Yanaka is the window it offers on everyday life of the neighborhood. Yanaka Ginza sells everything practical that locals could need. Some of it is familiar: a drugstore, small grocery, fish shop, butcher, and clothing and handbags from the cheap to the fashionable. As well, you will find unique offerings, a shop that sells just pickled vegetables and another offering various kinds of fish paste. Enjoy free time here to walk around, shop, browse and have lunch on your own while experiencing everyday life in a Japanese neighborhood. Two shops we recommend you consider stopping at are Mammies Apple Pie Shop and directly across the street is a wonderful recycled kimono shop. The quality of the fabric and prices are incredible. This afternoon we are off to visit the Meiji Shrine, located right in the middle of one of Tokyo`s most popular areas is an amazing urban oasis, Meiji Jingu. It is a shinto shrine that is dedicated to the souls of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. After the Emperor s death in 1912, the Japanese Diet passed a resolution to commemorate his role in the Meiji Restoration and the construction of a shrine where his soul would be enshrined was undertaken. The area around an iris garden in Tokyo where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken had been known to visit was chosen as the

6 building s location. With the passing of the resolution, construction began in 1915, formally dedicated in 1920 and finished in When you enter the grounds of the shrine, probably the first thing that will get your attention is the, torii (the traditional gate to a Shinto shrine) you pass under. It is enormous and majestic, completely impossible to miss. Actually, there are three torii in total between the Harajuku entrance and the main building. But once you pass under the first one, you enter the forest which blocks out the sights and sounds of the city. While walking along the path to the shrine you will pass huge barrels of sake. These barrels are donated every year by Meiji Jingu Nationwide Sake Brewers Association to the enshrined deities at the shrine, and they make for a great photo opportunity for the visitor. About five minutes past the sake barrels you`ll come to the entrance of the main shrine area, from where you can see the Mode Gakuen building far behind in the distance. The two buildings really contrast each other. Mode Gakuen, an icon of the modern age and Meiji Jingu an icon of ages past, but still relevant in the modern era as it one of the main places for News Years prayers and is still very culturally important. Being that it is Saturday, we may be lucky to see a Shinto wedding procession in front of the main building. You won t be able to see an actual wedding ceremony itself, but the processions are very impressive. They are quite solemn, led by the priests and miko (women or girls who assist in the ceremonies), and the bride and groom walk under a large red parasol. We are now off to one of the more youthful spots, Harajuku, the area around Tokyo's Harajuku Station. It is the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles while also offering some historic sites and shopping for adults. The focal point is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, which are lined by many trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothes stores, crepe stands, and fast food outlets geared towards the fashion and trend conscious teens. On Sundays you can experience teenage culture at its most extreme. This is the day when many young people gather around Harajuku Station and engage in cosplay ("costume play"), dressed up in eccentric costumes to resemble anime characters, punk musicians, etc. Enjoy some free time to stroll around and enjoy the area. There is a Daiso, a 107yen shop half way up Takeshita Dori that always a great shopping spot. By the way, the crepes make for a wonderful as a snack, do try one! From here we make our way back to our hotel, arriving at approximately 5:15pm. The remainder of the evening is free. Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel Day 5 October 7 th, Sunday Tokyo (B) After breakfast, enjoy a complete free day in Tokyo to do whatever you please. There is still much to enjoy and quite a bit to do right at your door step. Ikebukuro offers plenty of entertainment, shopping, and dining opportunities. It is the battle ground between the Tobu and Seibu conglomerates which operate large department stores on each side of the station. Recently it has also seen fierce competition from two of Japan's largest electronic retailers, Bic Camera, and Yamada Denki. Enjoy time at Sunshine City, a huge shopping mall connected to our hotel. It has four towers including a 240-meter-high skyscraper with an observation deck on the top. The main tower is actually the second highest building in Tokyo. The

7 Sunshine City Prince Hotel is housed in one of the smaller towers at the complex. The lower levels of Sunshine City are a monstrous maze of shops and tourist attractions, as well as a theatre. The tower s elevator is an attraction in its self, being the fastest in the world it takes only thirty-five seconds to reach the top. The highlight of the ride would have to be the illuminated dolphins and unicorns, ambient music and beautifully dressed lift operators making the trip to the top an interesting journey. The centre opened in 1978 and is Tokyo s oldest City within a City. It sits on land that was once occupied by Sugamo Prison. The Sunshine International Aquarium is a popular attraction where there are plenty of great underwater exhibits to entertain the whole family. There are the usual sharks, stingrays, tropical fish and sea life, but the most popular exhibits are the penguins, seals and sea otters which are well worth the entry fee. The aquarium sits on the 10th Floor, which gives it the title of the world s highest aquarium. There are feedings at the aquarium every hour and one of the largest tanks holds over 120 tons of water. The seals do performances during the day. Another great family attraction is the planetarium, where you can learn about the solar system and the universe. The Cosmic Safari takes visitors on a journey to see the wonders in outer-space. The Bunka Kaikan building is home to the Ancient Orient Museum which has an amazing collection of artifacts and is well worth a look. The Sunshine City complex is also home to the Namco Namja Town. Namja Town is a collection of food theme parks and other interesting dining establishments. The centre has a series of kittens as mascots and there are plenty of them to choose from in the gift shop. Some of the food parks include Ice Cream City and the Tokyo Dessert Republic. Then for the Gyoza lover, there is Ikebukuro Gyoza stadium, the list goes on with dozens of tasty attractions. There is a small fee to enter the complex and then the fun begins. There are various carnival amusements at Namja town too, like a haunted house, merry-go-round, and video shooting games. Make sure you go hungry as there is so much to try across the two jammed packed floors of food and adventure. One store no visitor to Japan should miss is Tokyu Hands, a shop that can only be described as a cross between a hardware store and a hobby shop. It is a great place for gift shopping, as many of the items for sale can t be found outside Japan. This store is one of their largest and has a rather odd attraction If you would prefer to do more sightseeing, the following 2 optional day tours are available. Please ask your Panda Travel agent for more details. Enjoy a full day tour to Mt. Fuji & Hakone? The pick up at our hotel is at 7:30am. The tour is offered with a bus trip in both directions and on the return dropped back at the hotel or with Bullet Train return. With this option the tour ends at the Tokyo Station and the guide will give you directions on connection train to the hotel. There is also a Tokyo Grand Full Day Tour with lunch. The pickup time at the hotel is at 7:30am and includes a lunch. The return to the hotel is approximately 6:00pm.

8 Sunshine City Mall Ikebukuro Shopping Area Seibu Department Store Don Quijote Accommodations: Sunshine City Prince Hotel Day 6 October 8 th, 2018 Monday Tokyo Kamakura-Yokohama-Haneda (B) It is our last day in Tokyo, but still much you can do! After a leisurely breakfast, please meet up with your guide by 10:00am as we make our way to Kamakura, less than an hour from Tokyo. Famed for its Great Buddah at Kotokuin Temple, Japan s first feudal capital is a popular day trip destination. Once here, we will visit the Great Buddha of Kamakura, a bronze statue of Amida Buddha, which stands on the grounds of Kotokuin Temple. With a height of meters, it is the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan. The statue was cast in 1252 and originally located inside a large temple hall. However, the temple buildings were destroyed multiple times by typhoons and a tidal wave in the 14th and 15th centuries. So, since 1495, the Buddha has been standing in the open air. The Great Buddha rises serenely from its base, with gorgeously draped garments that you can hardly believe are forged from bronze. The serene expression is so evident; you feel the peace the artists intended to convey. The Great Buddha of Kotoku-in is an iconic image that represents Japanese culture. It is not just big, but beautiful. Our next stop is at Komachi Dori, the main shopping street in Kamakura. It is always busy with visitors year-round, tourists and locals alike. There is a good mix (product and price-wise) of places to spend your yen from shops selling everything Hello Kitty to fancy pottery and restaurants serving traditional meals to stalls selling snacks. One recommended must stop is at Hato Sabure, Kamakura s dove cookies, sold here since sold since 1894 and continues to be a popular snack, reminding many people of their childhood days. The cookie is somewhat between a shortbread cookie and a butter cookie. Bring some home and you will be loved forever! Enjoy free time here to explore and have lunch on your own. From here, to Yokohama and a visit to Sankeien Garden, a classical Japan garden covering over 175,000 square meters, renowned for its seasonal beauty. It contains many historical houses and buildings that are recognized as being culturally significant by the government. These buildings were brought to the park from locations all over the Japan, and include a three-storied pagoda located high up on a hill deep inside the garden. This pagoda, originally constructed in Kyoto in the mid-1400s, was relocated to Sankei-en in 1914.

9 The entire garden, opened to the public in 1904, was once the private home of Tomitaro Sankei Har, an extremely wealthy silk merchant. As you stroll through the park you will find bridges, streams, small waterfalls, bamboo groves, and ponds. The house that Hara and his family lived in is huge; a sprawling, flat dwelling with dozens of spacious, interconnected tatami rooms, overlooking a private green lawn. Our last stop today before making our way to the airport is at Lazona Kawasaki Plaza, a large shopping complex, known as the "land of anything you could ask for". With over 300 stores, including the ever popular Uniqlo, LOFT, Daiso, and BIC CAMERA, enjoy free time to explore, last-minute shopping and maybe pick up an early dinner. Now, off to the Haneda Airport to begin the check-in process for our flight home this evening. Hawaiian Airlines #856 Departs Haneda 11:55 pm Arrive Honolulu 12:30 pm