Himeji Castle - Considered Japan's most spectacular castle. Unlike many other Japanese castles, Himeji Castle was never destroyed in wars, earthquakes or fires and survives in its original form. It is both, a national treasure and a UNESCO world heritage site.
	Bizen Pottery is one of the six famous ancient medieval pottery styles in Japan, including Seto, Tokoname, Tamba, Shigaraki and Echizen. It is also known as "Imbe Pottery" based on the name of the area. Bizen Pottery traces its long history back to Sueki Pottery (earthenware fired with no glaze) in the Tumulus Period. The beauty of Bizen Pottery is in its unadorned simplicity. Its unglazed austere appearance caught the attention and admiration of tea ceremony masters in Sakai and Kyoto. In the Momoyama Period, a number of masterpiece tea bowls were created.
	Kinkakuji was built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga (1358-1409), who quit politics the following year to manage the affairs of state through the new shogun, his 10-year-old son. The beauty of the shogun's pavilion makes it difficult to imagine the era in which he lived out his retirement: the country was in turmoil and Kyoto residents suffered severe famines and plagues — local death tolls sometimes reached 1,000 a day.
	Amanohashidate - Heavenly Bridge.  A thin strip of land connects two opposing sides of Miyazu Bay. This sand bar is 3.3km long and covered with about 7000 pine trees. It can be viewed from mountains on either side of the bay or it can be traversed on foot. Visitors are recommended to view the "heaven's bridge" by turning their back to it, then bending over and looking at it upside down from between their legs.

Day 1   22 OCT: Honolulu ~ Osaka

0900    Your tour begins with a shuttle from Hickam to the airport.  Board a Japan Airline flight across the Pacific directly to the new Kansai International Airport in Japan

Day 2   23 OCT: Osaka (D)

1600    Exiting the airport, we board an Express train to Osaka City for hotel check-in at the  Swissotel Nankai Osaka.

1700    Welcome Dinner in the hotel’s banquet room; followed by a tour briefing

Day 3   24 OCT: Osaka~Kobe (B)

Free day to explore the bustling city of Osaka. The English-speaking hotel concierge will provide directions around the city and offer suggestions.

1300    Board your privately-chartered bus for a tour of the city visiting sites as the Floating Garden Observatory, and viewing the Tsutenkaku Tower and Osaka Dome.  Travel on to Kobe to visit the earthquake Memorial.

1730    New Otani Kobe hotel check-in. 

Dinner on own.

            Optional dinner cruise available.

Day 4  25 OCT: Kobe~Himeji~Bizen~Wake Town~Okayama (B/L)

0830    Your first stop is a visit to Japan’s most beloved and historical castle in Himeji.  This castle has been established as a World Cultural Heritage site.

1230    Try your hand a Bizen pottery making.  Well-known throughout the history of Japan, authentic Bizen pottery is highly valued and treasured.  It is one of the oldest potteries in Japan.  You will have an option to have your “masterpiece” shipped home for you.

1400    Enjoyed the color and excitement of a live performance by the Kiyomaro drum group of Wake Town.  Later, experience the heart-thumping frenzy of participate in a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony

            Enjoy the Okayama evening and spend the night at the Granvia Hotel Okayama.

Day 5  26 OCT: Okayama (B/L/D) 

0930    Visit Korakuen Garden, one of the 3 famous gardens of Japan.

1230    Local cuisine lunch and free time to explore an old-fashioned Japanese town.

1700    Relieve your walking muscles in the Tamatsukuri Spa (onsen) as you experience a night in a traditional Japanese inn (ryokan), sleeping on floor futons, wearing the yukata robes and having a traditional “enkai” dinner while enjoying some local folk entertainment.

Day 6   27 OCT:  Izumo ~ Matsue ~ Misasa  (B/L/D) 

1000    Visit to the Izumo Taisha Shrine and a local winery for tasting followed with a sumptuous Japanese style BBQ lunch.

1300    Enter the quaint town of Matsue and visit the home of Patrick Lacfacio Hearn.

1430    You’ll be taken to the slopes of Mt. Daisen where you’ll be able to pick apples from a local apple farm.

1700    Spend another relaxing night at the Misasa Onsen, complete with “enkai” dinner and yukata.

Day 7   28 OCT:  Tottori ~Hamasaka~Kasumi~Miayzu (B/L/D)

1000    See the incredible and unusual sand dunes of Tottori followed by a succulent Japanese-style Seafood BBQ.

1330    A visit to the Daijoji Temple will provide glimpses of the traditional monochromatic ink paintings used as traditional decoration on paper doors.

1600    Visit Amanohashidate (bridge to heaven) one of Japan’s top 3 scenic destinations, then take a cable car ride as you behold the scenic sites of Miyazu city. 

Eve.     Dinner at the Miyazu Royal Hotel

Day 8 29 OCT:  Kyoto ~ Osaka (B/D)

1130    A day of sight-seeing in Japan’s most-visited and traditional town of Kyoto.  You’ll visit the  “golden” temple of Kinkakuji followed by an excursion to a movie set depicting a typical Edo-period experience.

            Lunch on own

1700    Welcome back to where your journey started at the Swissotel Nankai Osaka.  We’ll enjoy our farewell dinner together at a great local restaurant.

Day 9 30 OCT:  Osaka ~ Honolulu (B)

            Leisure on own.  Your local guide will tell you where to get those last-minute souvenirs.

1500    Hotel check-out.

1900    Express train to Kansai International Airport

2200    Depart to Honolulu

1000    Welcome Home!

Quality of Experience:

Value is defined as not just the lowest price, but the quality and experience that exceed expectation.  Searching out the best, most interesting and fun activities for our tours is an ongoing effort at the Hickam AFB Information Tickets & Travel.  We strive to offer places and experiences you may never find on your own…we make your experience a dream come true!

Escort Services: 

A bilingual Hickam ITT escort as well as a bilingual Japan escort will be with the group for the duration of the tour.

COST: $2,950.00 per person based on double occupancy and 4 in Ryokan (Japanese-style inn)

Cost subject to change due to fluctuating exchange rates and air/hotel increases.

With 2 in Ryokan: $3250.00/p

Single Supplement:     $3550 .00/p with 2 in Ryokan

                                    $3400.00/p with 4 in Ryokan

DEPOSIT:     $400.00 per person is required at time of sign up.

TOUR PACKAGE INCLUDES:  International/domestic airlines, hotel accommodations (based on double occupancy), transfers, exclusive use of a fully air-conditioned coach with English speaking guide, all tours & meals listed on the itinerary and round-trip transfer from the ITT office to the Honolulu airport.

TOUR PACKAGE EXCLUDES:  Airline & airport departure tax, optional tours, travel insurance, personal expenses and any services not listed in the above itinerary.

COME MEET THE GANG..… (We will contact your with the date)

Please attend the pre-trip meeting for this Japan tour.  Balance of payment is due at this time.   We accept Visa and MasterCard, personal checks, traveler’s checks or cash.  Please bring your current passport to this meeting.

CANCELLATION POLICY:  A 10% administration fee will be charged for tour cancellation.  However, should the customer cancel the tour for other than health reasons (documentation is required), additional penalties may apply as determined by individual airline/hotel vendors’ fee.

The listed package price is based on a minimum of 15 passengers.  The tour is subject to cancellation if the minimum required 15 passengers are not met.  In this case, all monies will be refunded to the customer without penalty.   

TRAVELING DOCUMENTS:  Passengers on tour must possess a current passport of at least six months validity.  No visas are required for Japan.

HEALTH – IMMUNIZATIONS: Not required.  However, updating your health record is recommended. 

TRAVEL/ TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE:  Available upon request 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CALL:  

Tel:                  808-448-2295

Fax:                 808-448-9283

On-line:           www.hickamservices.com

Email:              mark.saruwatari@hickam.af.mil