Fall 2015 – Japan Escorted Tour (SOLD-OUT!)

June 2015 – Japan Escorted Tour (Tokyo, Kanazawa, Toyama, Takayama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima)

★Exclusive Japan Escorted Tour from Hawaii with Japanese Hospitality (J-tour #004)★

“Let’s Enjoy Japan’s Autumn Foliage and Local Food & Sake!”

– Escorted by Yosh Sato (UHH/HCC graduate & certified Sake master/food lover originally from Tokyo) & Mizuho (a hula girl dances for the Merrie Monarch festival originally from Tokyo). “We will welcome Hawaii locals to Japan and want you to experience good food, sake, services, shopping, scenery and a lot more! More importantly, we want you to experience what we enjoy most in Japan. Let’s enjoy Japan with us, Japan local style!!” by Yosh

Tour Highlights:

Travel with Japan locals and enjoy it all local style!
Witness the brightest colors of fall leaves in the beautiful Kurobe Gorge!
Enjoy the Japan’s best season for food and taste the freshest Fall-limited nama sake!
Sit back and relax in Onsen, the natural hot springs, with great mountain view!
Experience the traditional & modern cultures of Japan!
Slow-paced & small group escorted tour with lots of free times/days!

Tour Dates:

<12 Days/10 Nights> 11/01/2015 – 11/12/2015

(3 nights in Tokyo – 2 nights in Toyama – 2 nights in Takayama – 3 nights in Osaka)

*Wanna go earlier? or stay longer? No problem! We can arrange your hotels in Japan!

Tour Destinations:

**TOKYO** ⇒ Tsukiji Fish Market, Asakusa town – Sensoji Temple/Nakamise Shopping Streets/Tkyo Skytree/Solamachi Shopping Mall, Ueno town – Ueno Zoo/Ameya yokocho Shopping Streets/Tokyo National Museum, JR Tokyo Station & more…
**KANAZAWA** ⇒Omicho Market, Kenrku-en Japanese Garden, Higashi chaya streets & JR Kanazawa Station
**TOYAMA** ⇒ Kurobe Gorge & JR Toyama Station
**TAKAYAMA** ⇒ Sammachi Town & more…
**JR NAGOYA STATION** ⇒ Underground Shopping & Restaurant Streets
**OSAKA** ⇒ Dotonbori streets & more…
**KYOTO** ⇒ Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nishiki Market & more…
**HIROSHIMA** ⇒ Miyajima Island & more…

*On this tour, you will have time and days to visit your favorite places in Japan. We can always help you make your free-time plans.

Tour Prices (Land Tour Only):

Adult

– Double & Triple Occupancy

$1,890.00 per person + tax

– Single Occupancy

$2,090.00 per person + tax

* Japan Rail Pass (1-week ordinary class) included – travel freely in Japan!
* For child occupancy or any other pricing questions, please e-mail us.
* Maximum #: 20 PAX (10-15 PAX per escort)/minimum #: 10 PAX
* The tour prices are based on the exchange rate on 7/01/2015 and subject to change anytime according to the fluctuation of exchange rate between U.S. and Japan.
* Tour registration will begin on 7/01/2015 and end on 9/31/2015.

< Inclusions >

* 10-night budget or business-type hotel accommodations with 4 breakfasts (1 breakfast at each hotel location) – please note that Japanese hotel rooms are small in general. A list of hotels will be provided to you at least 2 weeks before the tour departure.
* Japan Rail Pass (1-week ordinary or upgrade available at extra cost) included
* Full-time services (tour guiding, escorting, interpreting, etc.) provided by English/Japanese speaking guide(s) from the beginning to the end of the tour in Japan.
* All transportation fees in Japan (11/2 airport limousine bus ticket from Haneda Airport to Oimachi Sta., a pre-paid JR SUICA card with 3,500 + 500 yen deposit charged (to cover train fares on the tour days and not to cover any on free times/days), 11/5 seven-day Japan rail pass (ordinary class or upgrade available at extra cost) or same as mentioned above, 11/6 Kurobe train fares, 11/12 airport limousine bus ticket from Osaka to Kansai Airport)
* Admission fee (11/5 Kenroku-en Japanese Garden)
* 2 luggage transfers per person from hotel to hotel or airport (by delivery company)

< Exclusions >

* Roundtrip airfare from Hawaii to Japan
* Meals in Japan (except for some breakfast mentioned above)
* Travel insurances
* Passport fees
* Incidental hotel charges such as room service, laundry service, phone calls, etc.
* Wi-Fi rental fee for smart phones
* Personal expenses (food, omiyage, etc.)
* All other transportation fees on free times/days

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1	11/1	Hawaii	Depart from Honolulu, Hawaii
Day 2	11/2	Tokyo	ARRIVAL DAY Arrive in Tokyo, Japan (Haneda or Narita Airport) Transfer to hotel by airport limousine bus Check-in at hotel in Tokyo
Day 3	11/3	Tokyo	FREE DAY Buffet breakfast at hotel (included) Travel on your own or join us for a half-a-day trip to the old Edo town in Asakusa & Tokyo Skytree!
Day 4	11/4	Tokyo	1-DAY TRIP Tsukiji Fish Market (inside & outside) Ueno Town (Ameya Yokocho Shopping Streets, Ueno Park, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo National Museum, etc.) JR Tokyo Station Shopping Mall
Day 5	11/5	Kanazawa Toyama	TRANSFER DAY Check-out at hotel in Tokyo Transfer to Kanazawa by Hokuriku Shinkansen (the newest bullet train) Kanazawa town (sushi lunch at Omicho market, Kenroku-en Japanese Garden, Higashi chaya streets, omiyage shopping & dinner at Kanazawa Sta.) Transfer to Toyama Sta. by bullet train Check-in at hotel in Toyama
Day 6	11/6	Toyama	1-DAY TRIP Light breakfast at hotel (included) Transfer to Kurobe Unatsuki Onsen Sta. by bullet train to go to Kurobe Gorge Mini train ride in Kurobe Gorge to view the Fall leaves
Day 7	11/7	Toyama Takayama	TRANSFER DAY Light breakfast at hotel (included) Omiyage shopping at Toyama Sta. Transfer to Takayama Sta. by Limited Express train Check-in at hotel in Takayama Sit back & relax in private Onsen, the natural hot springs! or holoholo in old Takayama town
Day 8	11/8	Takayama	FREE DAY Local style buffet breakfast at hotel (included) Enjoy free day in Takayama! or join us for private local sake tasting!
Day 9	11/9	Takayama Nagoya Osaka	TRANSFER DAY Transfer to Nagoya Sta. by Limited Express train Enjoy shopping and Nagoya food at Nagoya Station (underground shopping/restaurant streets) Transfer to Osaka Sta. by bullet train Check-in at hotel in Osaka Night holoholo tour in Dotonbori
Day 10	11/10	Osaka Kyoto	FREE DAY Breakfast at hotel (included) Travel on your own or join us for 1-day trip to Kyoto (Fushimi-Inari shrine, Nishiki Market, etc.)
Day 11	11/11	Osaka Hiroshima	FREE DAY Travel on your own or join us for 1-day trip to Hiroshima (Miyajima Island, etc.)
Day 12	11/12	Osaka	LAST DAY Check-out at hotel in OSaka Transfer to Kansai Airport by airport limousine bus Check-in at the airline counter Return to Hawaii

*Scroll down to see tour images (or click here)

Flight Schedules/Air Tickets:

Please note that this is a land tour only and does not include airfare. When you book your flights to/from Japan, we highly recommend to book through one of the airlines below that arrive at Haneda Airport in Tokyo (or Narita Airport) and depart from Kansai Airport in Osaka

*Hawaiian Airlines:

– Departing Flight: [ HA457 ] – Sunday, November 1, 2015, 5:40 PM

from Honolulu (HNL) to Tokyo – Haneda, Japan (HND)

– Returning Flight: [ HA450 ] – Thursday, November 12, 2015, 9:15 PM

from Osaka – Kansai, Japan (KIX) to Honolulu (HNL)

*Japan Airlines:

– Departing Flight: [ JL089 ] – Sunday, November 1, 2015, 5:35 PM

from Honolulu (HNL) to Tokyo – Haneda, Japan (HND)

– Returning Flight: [ JL792 ] – Thursday, November 12, 2015, 10:10 PM

from Osaka – Kansai, Japan (KIX) to Honolulu (HNL)

* Also, Delta Air Lines offers flights from Honolulu to Narita Airport in Tokyo and from Kansai Airport in Osaka to Honolulu. However, if you arrive in Narita Airport, you will need to take an airport limousine bus to go to Haneda Airport once and change to another bus to go to your hotel in Tokyo. Narita Airport is located in Chiba prefecture and much further from your hotel in Tokyo than Haneda Airport.
* Please book your flights after receiving a confirmation of the guaranteed tour departure from us. We will notify you by September 31, 2015 or when the minimum tour participant requirement of 10 PAX is met.
* If you plan to fly on an airline that arrives in Narita Airport, please notify us in advance so that we can provide you with instructions to meet the tour group in Japan or direction to our hotel in Tokyo.

Tour Registration:

To register for the tour, please click here or download & fill out a tour registration form and mail it (or drop off at our office) with a deposit fee of $100 per person to:

Attn: Yosh Sato
Japan Tour Sales at Maikai Ohana Tours
260 Kamehameha Avenue, Suite 209, Hilo, HI 96720

Final Tour Payment(s):

The balance payment (tour price + tax – $100 deposit) will be due on or by August 31, 2015 if the tour departure is guaranteed before that date or otherwise by September 31, 2015. We will notify you of the balance payment. A personal check, cash or credit cards (by Paypal or at our office) are acceptable.

Cancellation Policy:

If you need to cancel your tour reservation, you must advise us in writing (by letter signed by the person who has made the reservation or e-mail). Please note that any cancellation request by phone will not be accepted. Then we will confirm your cancellation and notify you of any cancellation fee(s) if any. If you cancel your reservation, one of the following cancellation fees applies:

> anytime prior to the departure date ( Today – 11/01/2015): no cancellation fee ($100 deposit only)
> 31 to 17 days prior to the departure date (10/1 – 10/15/2015): 50% of total tour price
> 14 to 0 days prior to the departure date (10/16 – 11/1/2015): 100% of total tour price

*Deposit will be refunded to you if the tour is cancelled by us or due to the minimum participant requirement.

Terms and Conditions:

You must have a valid US passport to travel to Japan.
Participants with Non-US passport may require to obtain visa from the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu before the tour departure. Please contact at 808.543.3111.
You must be in good health condition and able to walk long-distance (at least 0.5 mile a day)
Daily tour schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances.
Due to limited storage space on public transportation, it is recommended to carry only 1 carry-on and 1 bag or backpack per person.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended to purchase for your protection.
Your hotels will be determined and notified to you at least 2 weeks before the tour departure date. All rooms will be budget/economy-class/business type: twin-bedrooms for double occupancy and single-bedrooms for single occupancy with non-smoking or smoking (can be treated with room freshener).
Credit cards are widely accepted to make your payments in Japan. However, it is recommended to exchange and carry some amount of cash to be expensed for your own needs. Local shops (100 yen shops, etc.) and small restaurants may not accept credit cards.
A minimum of 10 tour participants is required to guarantee the departure of the tour.

(Registration status as of 8/11/2015: AVAILABLE – GUARANTEED DEPARTURE NOW)

Download the brochure for this tour below in full detail:
– Fall 2015 – Japan Escprted Tour (11/01/2015 – 11/12/2015)**

Download Adobe Reader for free here:

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is highly recommended for all tour participants. Our partner, Allianz Travel Insurance, offers several options to cover your Japan trip. To get an instant quote, please visit one of the links below:

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Tour Itinerary (with images):

Free airport shuttle in Hilo area for 11/1 departure only

Just arrived in Japan!! So exciting!!

Now time to take an airport limo bus!

We made it to our hotel in Tokyo!

Now find good Izakaya for the first night in Japan!

Time to Kampai at Izakaya! Local tyle!

Gate of Sensoji temple in Asakusa

Nakamise shopping streets at Sensoji temple

The night view from the top of Skytree is beautiful!

Let’s eat sushi and buy some omiyage at Tsukiji Fish Market now!

Tsukiji Fish Market (inside)

Wholesalers at Tsukiji Fish Market (inside)

Now it’s past 9 am. Time for regular customers to shop some freshest dried seafood at lowest prices!

Enough shopping… Now time to kaukau the best sushi in Japan!

A set of all kine bluefin ahi nigiri! Otoro, chutoro, akami, negitoro, aburi….. Ono!!

Pick up some bento to eat on the bullet train at Tokyo station!

Time to catch Hokurikku Shinkansen (the newest bullet train) to go to Kanazawa on the back side of Japan!!

Designer’s seats are so comfortable! (ordinary seats shown & upgrade to Green or Gran Class available at extra fees)

Now we are in Kanazawa and can smell good food in there!!

Now we are at Omicho market in Kanazawa where locals go shopping!

Our next destination is “Higashi chaya gai” or east green tea cafe town that was built in 1820.

Found sake barrels and local sake shops!

OMG! So many local sakes!!

Sake shops and bars all over in Kanazawa! Sake prices are about 50% cheaper than Hawaii, too!

Taste some local limited sake when you can! Try Junmai (pure sake) or above!

Kenroku-en Japanese Garden is beautiful when it’s in Fall!

Huge kuro matsu or black pine!

Japanese maples – so pretty!

Today we will go see the beautiful Fall leaves in Kurobe Gorge by riding cute train. Must try some foot bath on the way

Cute train ride to Kurobe Gorge!

Amazing ! Train goes along Kurobe river!

Yes. This is in Japan!

Finally, we made it to the end of the train line or the deep in Kurobe mountains.

Must try this local favorite Shiraebi tempura don (white shrimp tempura bowl in Toyama!

Sushi is very oichi in Toyama. This is know as “Toyama Bay Sushi” and also locals’ favorite!

Traditional wrapped Sakura traut sushi is a must to try!

For dessert, how about some local mochi?

Limited express train ride from Toyama to Takayama

Now we can relax in Onsen or foot bath in Takayama!!

One of the private Onsen on top of the hotel building with a great view! So relaxing!

Now it’s time to drink Shirakawa cha (local green tea) or sake!

How about trying some local cuisine or premium Hida beef? (Japan’s #3 beef)

Or Takayama ramen for dinner?

Holoholo in old town of Takayama and shop at the morning market!

Try local favorite dango mochi on the way!

Pick up some local sake and craft beer!

In the afternoon, you can visit Shirakawago Japanese village that is a world heritage site.

Enjoy sake tasting at each sake brewery in the old town!

At Nagoya station, we will have lunch and try Nagoya style food like this one, the longest fried shrimp in Japan!

Nagoya = Miso katsu! (on the left). Curry udon noodle is oishi, too!

For dessert, would you like to try An-covered mochi with match green tea? or the next one?

Japanese cakes or tart?

Now it’s time to take Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) to go to Osaka!

Now we are in Osaka!

Night holoholo in Dotonbori streets in Osaka! Let’s find some good local food and maybe sake!

Must try Osaka’s local food like this one, Okonomiyaki!

Now we are in Kyoto! At Fushimi Inari Shrine, it is the god of fox and the main shrine for businesses. Owner of business? This is the one you want to pray for success!