14 day JAL Special

DAY 1 TOKYO – SAPPORO

Meet at Haneda Airport 

Depart from Haneda Airport 

Arrive at New Chitose Airport
Go to Sapporo via airport limousine bus.

Free time

DAY 2 SAPPORO – ASAHIKAWA/FURANO – SAPPORO

Stay at Sapporo Excel Hotel Tokyu

For tours departing on Apr. 29, May 20, June 10, Sept. 2 & 23, and Oct. 14

Asahiyama Zoo (Lunch at own expense)
You can take your time to see the very popular Asahiyama Zoo, visited annually by more than 1.5 million people. Please purchase your own lunch.

Patchwork Road (Drive-by) 
Take in the scenery from the Biei Patchwork Road.

Flower Land Kamifurano 
Flower Land Kamifurano: From June, visitors can take a stroll around a field of bright, colorful flowers. In April and May, customers will look at flowers in a greenhouse. Also, a Tractor Bus Ride (additional charge required, June 1 to Sept. 30 only) is available for a tour of the facility.

For tours departing on July 1 & 22 and Aug. 12

Asahiyama Zoo (Lunch at own expense) 
You can take your time to see the very popular Asahiyama Zoo, visited annually by more than 1.5 million people. Please purchase your own lunch.

Patchwork Road (Drive-by) 
Take in the scenery from the Biei Patchwork Road.

Farm Tomita 
Enjoy free time sightseeing at Farm Tomita. Lavenders are best viewed from late June to July. There are also other beautiful flowers blooming in full glory, painting the hills in stunning colors.

Arrive & Stay at Sapporo Excel Hotel Tokyu

Meet in the lobby of Sapporo Excel Hotel Tokyu for departure

Depart from Nakajima Koen Bus Stop 
Take the Hokkaido Chuo Bus airport limousine bus to New Chitose Airport.

DAY 3 SAPPORO – NAGOYA

Depart from New Chitose Airport

Arrive at Chubu Centrair International Airport 
Go to Nagoya via airport limousine bus.

Free time

Stay at a Hotel in Nagoya

Meet in the lobby of Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel for departure 
Walk to Nagoya Station

DAY 4 NAGOYA – TAKAYAMA

From Nagoya Station to Takayama Station 
The guide will meet participants at Nagoya Station. Board the JR Limited Express train to Takayama.

Arrive at Takayama Station 
Sightseeing around Takayama City on foot.

Yatai Kaikan (Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall) 
This popular facility displays some of the colorfully decorated festival floats used in the famous Takayama Festival. Enjoy seeing the many intricately made floats.

Kusakabe Heritage House 
Enjoy a visit to this historical Japanese-style townhouse and view a range of exquisite folk art and traditional handicrafts.

Kami-Sannomachi 
Located in Takayama’s old quarter, this street is lined with Edo period buildings, and provides visitors a glimpse into the past.

Arrive & Stay at a Hotel in Takayama Area

Depart from Hotel in Takayama Area 

Takayama Morning Market 
Enjoy walking around the bustling Takayama Morning Market, where a wide array of local specialties and other products are available.

DAY 5 TAKAYAMA – SHIRAKAWAGO – KANAZAWA

Shirakawago Observatory 
Enjoy an elevated view of the World Heritage-registered thatch-roofed village of Shirakawago. Great for photography!

Lunch at a Thatched Roof House 
Taste delicious regional cuisine dishes you can only enjoy in the countryside.

Wada Residence (traditional thatch-roofed farmhouse) 
This is one of the thatch-roofed houses, also registered as a World Heritage Site. Look around and be fascinated by the culture and history of the village.

From Shirakawago to Kanazawa Miboro Dam (Drive-by) 
On the way from Shirakawago to Kanazawa, enjoy seeing rural Japanese scenery such as the manmade Miboro Dam and the Hakusan Mountains. Enjoy sightseeing from the vehicle windows.

Arrive & Stay at a Kanazawa Area Hotel

Depart from Hotel in Kanazawa Area

DAY 6 KANAZAWA – KYOTO

Nomura Residence, Nagamachi Samurai District 
Visit a former residence of a samurai family from the Kaga Domain. Admire the traditional architecture and gaze at the beautiful Japanese garden.

Kenrokuen Garden 
This beautiful garden is considered one of the top three Japanese gardens.
It offers amazing seasonal views all year round.

Higashi Chaya–gai 
Wooden-latticed exteriors of teahouses line both sides of the stone-paved street here where something from the Edo period (1603-1868) still lingers in the air. This area is an Important Traditional Building Preservation District.

Hakuza Honten 
Feel free to purchase handicrafts, accessories, cosmetics and other items made with gold leaf.

Kanazawa Station 
Eat lunch on your own after arrival at Kanazawa Station.

Depart from Kanazawa Station

Arrive at Kyoto Station 
After arrival at Kyoto Station, participants will be guided on foot to New Miyako Hotel.

DAY 7 KYOTO – HIROSHIMA – KYOTO

Arrive & Stay at a Kyoto area Hotel 

New Miyako Hotel 
Please go to the following meeting location on your own (Sunrise Tours Desk inside Avanti).

Sunrise Tours Desk in Avanti (Across from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit) 
Board the bus from the Sunrise Tours Desk inside Avanti.

Nijo Castle 
A World Heritage site. Tour the historical castle completed in 1626, which was built to provide lodging for Tokugawa Shogun and as a palladium for Kyoto Imperial Palace. The impressive, elaborate carvings and decors in the Ninomaru Palace are a must-see.

Kinkaku-ji Temple 
A World Heritage site. The wooden architecture is covered in thin layers of pure gold and is surrounded by a beautiful pond.

Kyoto Imperial Palace (Except Mondays)
See the Kyoto Imperial Palace, which was used as the Emperor’s residence until about 150 years ago.

 Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (Mondays (and Tuesdays when Monday is a national holiday))
On Mondays (and Tuesdays if a national holiday falls on the preceding Monday), this tour will visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine instead of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It is famous for housing the God of scholarship. This shrine’s main hall is a designated national treasure. The shrine is especially great to see during the plum blossom and autumn leaf seasons.

Lunch (Japanese/Western style buffet lunch)

Heian Shrine 
Don’t miss the characteristic red architecture of this beautiful shrine built to celebrate the 1100 year anniversary of the founding of the city of Kyoto.

Sanjusangen-do Temple 
Visit the world’s longest wooden structure, housing 1,001 life-size statues of Buddhist Kannon deities dating back to the 13th century.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple 
The view of Kyoto from the World Heritage Site Kiyomizu-dera is superb. The historic shopping lane that leads to the temple adds to a wonderful experience.

DAY 8 KYOTO – NARA – KYOTO

8:30 – Sunrise Tours Desk in Avanti (Across from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit) – Participants will be taken from Kiyomizu-dera Temple to Kyoto Station, and then to the Sunrise Tours Desk inside Avanti. Afterward, please go to New Miyako Hotel on your own. (About 5 min on foot.)

8:30 – Arrive & Stay at a Kyoto area Hotel – [Day 3 Accommodation Facility in Nagoya] Choose from among the following facilities.
– Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel
– Castle Plaza
– Nagoya Kanko Hotel

Meet in the lobby of New Miyako Hotel for departure – Walk to Kyoto Station.
[Day 8 Osaka Sightseeing]
– As this is a walking tour, please wear shoes and clothing that are suitable for walking. The total walking distance is approximately 6 km.
– The tour may use Osakajokoen Station on the way to Osaka Castle instead of Temmabashi Station.
– If the Aqua Liner is out of service due to bad weather or other operational concerns, the tour will visit the Osaka Museum of History instead. If the Aqua Liner is unavailable on a Tuesday, when the Osaka Museum of History is closed, refunds will be issued by the guide on the tour day (JPY 1,700/Adult, JPY 800/Child).
– Vegetarian meals are available and must be requested at the time of booking.
From Kyoto Station to Osaka Station – (JR Special Rapid Service or Rapid Service, non-reserved seat)
Floating Garden Observatory, Umeda District – The open-air observatory overlooks the city of Osaka, Awaji Island and Mt. Ikoma. Enjoy panoramic views from 170 meters above the city.
Lunch at Hotel Granvia Osaka (Western-style meal)
Osaka Castle – Osaka Castle was founded in 16th century by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a remarkable shogun in the Sengoku period, and is known as the symbol of his power.
Board the Osaka Aqua Liner – Enjoy seeing the seasonal scenery with a cruise along the Ogawa River aboard the Aqua Liner water bus. See a view of the famous places and historic spots of Osaka from the river.
From Osakajokoen Station to Kyoto Station – [JR Local Train, non-reserved seat] [JR Special Rapid Service or Rapid Service, non-reserved seat]
Arrive at Kyoto Station – The tour ends at Kyoto Station.
Afterward, please go to New Miyako Hotel on your own. (About 5 min on foot.)
Arrive & Stay at a Kyoto area Hotel – [Day 6 – 8 Accommodation Facility in Kyoto] Choose from among the following facilities.
– New Miyako Hotel
– Kyoto Hotel Okura
– Kyoto Tokyu Hotel
– Karasuma Kyoto Hotel
– ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Kyoto

DAY 9 KYOTO – FUKUOKA

5:10 – 7:10 Meet in the lobby of New Miyako Hotel for departure – [Assistant] Take the airport limousine bus from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit Bus Stop to Itami Airport.
7:35 – 9:45 Depart from Itami Airport – JL2051 (7:35→8:45) or JL2053 (9:45→10:55)
8:45 – 10:55 Arrive at Fukuoka Airport – [Assistant] Take the subway to downtown Fukuoka.
Free time

DAY 10 FUKUOKA – KUMAMOTO

8:40 – Stay at Hotel Nikko Fukuoka
11:30 – 12:30 Meet in the lobby of Hotel Nikko Fukuoka for departure – Please meet at the Hotel Nikko Fukuoka 1st floor lobby.
[Day 10-12 Kyushu Sightseeing]
– Please note that except for dinner at Aso Plaza Hotel on Day 11, vegetarian options, etc. are not available.
– A rain poncho will be provided for the Yanagawa river cruise if it rains. As the cruise will take place outside in direct sunlight, we recommend wearing a hat in the summer months.
– The Beppu Onsen accommodation for the 10th night will be a Japanese-style room at Hotel Shiragiku (1 night stay with dinner & breakfast). Dinner will be a Japanese-style set menu (vegetarian options are not available). Breakfast will be a Japanese/Western buffet. An infant facility use charge of JPY 2,160 must be paid separately on site for each young child under 6 years of age.
– The Aso Uchinomaki Onsen accommodation for the 11th night will be a Japanese-style room at the Aso Plaza Hotel (1 night stay with dinner & breakfast). Dinner will be a Japanese-style set menu (vegetarian options available). Breakfast will be a Japanese-style set meal (no vegetarian option) or a Japanese/Western-style buffet. An infant facility use charge of JPY 1,080 must be paid separately on site for each young child between the ages of 4 and 6.
13:00 – 14:00 Hita City (Walk around traditional Mamedamachi, etc.) – Major Sights
– Kuncho Sake Brewery / Sake Museum (Tel. 0973-23-6262)
A sake brewery with over 200 years of history. Brewery tours, taste testing, and shopping are available. It is located close to Mamedamachi, so take a stroll there before or after a brewery visit.
– Mamedamachi
Old merchant houses and storehouses from about 200 years ago still stand, giving this area a nostalgic atmosphere of times gone by. The center of sightseeing in Hita.
14:40 – 15:10 Ohara Chaya – This Japanese-style restaurant is like a hidden getaway surrounded by a bamboo forest. Enjoy their Hana-tebo bento meal which mainly features mountain vegetables and is served in a bamboo basket.
18:10 – Kokonoe “Yume” Grand Suspension Bridge – Enjoy great views of Shindo Falls and other scenery from this bridge 173 meters above the river. This location is often visited in autumn by those hoping to see colored leaves.
Beppu Umijigoku (“Sea Hell”) – Umijigoku, or ‘sea hell,’ is the largest of the Hells of Beppu, with water at 98°C and features a beautiful cobalt blue color.

DAY 11 SAGA

8:40 – Stay at Hotel Shiragiku
10:30 – 11:40 Depart from Hotel Shiragiku – [Day 10-12 Kyushu Sightseeing]
– Please note that except for dinner at Aso Plaza Hotel on Day 11, vegetarian options, etc. are not available.
– A rain poncho will be provided for the Yanagawa river cruise if it rains. As the cruise will take place outside in direct sunlight, we recommend wearing a hat in the summer months.
– The Beppu Onsen accommodation for the 10th night will be a Japanese-style room at Hotel Shiragiku (1 night stay with dinner & breakfast). Dinner will be a Japanese-style set menu (vegetarian options are not available). Breakfast will be a Japanese/Western buffet. An infant facility use charge of JPY 2,160 must be paid separately on site for each young child under 6 years of age.
– The Aso Uchinomaki Onsen accommodation for the 11th night will be a Japanese-style room at the Aso Plaza Hotel (1 night stay with dinner & breakfast). Dinner will be a Japanese-style set menu (vegetarian options available). Breakfast will be a Japanese-style set meal (no vegetarian option) or a Japanese/Western-style buffet. An infant facility use charge of JPY 1,080 must be paid separately on site for each young child between the ages of 4 and 6.
12:00 – 13:00 Yamanami Highway – From Beppu City, pass by Kijima Kogen and Yufuin to reach the Yamanami Highway driving route which starts at Mizuwake Toge. Near Chojabaru, the road straightens, giving a direct view of the Kuju Mountains. Drive through Makinoto Pass and be greeted by a vast, sprawling grassland with the Five Peaks of Aso in the background.
13:50 – 14:40 Kuju Flower Park – See bright, colorful flowers from March to November such as pansies and nemophila blooms in spring; plumed cockscomb and lavender in summer; and salvia and cosmos flowers in autumn.
14:50 – 15:50 San-ai Resthouse – Enjoy the view of the Five Peaks of Aso and the Kuju Mountains while savoring a natural lunch buffet.
18:20 – Takamori Yusui Tunnel Park – This tunnel was originally excavated for railway use. However, the railway plans were cancelled before the tunnel was completed, leaving this tunnel closed on one end. Inside, visitors will find a well-maintained walking path and various wonders created by the abundant spring water flowing through the tunnel.
Shirakawa Riverhead – Here is the source of the Shirakawa River which cuts across Kumamoto City. This plentiful water source pumps out 60 tons of water each minute thanks to nearby Mount Aso.

DAY 12 FUKUOKA

11:30 – 12:15 Stay at Aso Plaza Hotel
12:55 – Depart from Aso Plaza Hotel – [Day 10-12 Kyushu Sightseeing]
– Please note that except for dinner at Aso Plaza Hotel on Day 11, vegetarian options, etc. are not available.
– A rain poncho will be provided for the Yanagawa river cruise if it rains. As the cruise will take place outside in direct sunlight, we recommend wearing a hat in the summer months.
– The Beppu Onsen accommodation for the 10th night will be a Japanese-style room at Hotel Shiragiku (1 night stay with dinner & breakfast). Dinner will be a Japanese-style set menu (vegetarian options are not available). Breakfast will be a Japanese/Western buffet. An infant facility use charge of JPY 2,160 must be paid separately on site for each young child under 6 years of age.
– The Aso Uchinomaki Onsen accommodation for the 11th night will be a Japanese-style room at the Aso Plaza Hotel (1 night stay with dinner & breakfast). Dinner will be a Japanese-style set menu (vegetarian options available). Breakfast will be a Japanese-style set meal (no vegetarian option) or a Japanese/Western-style buffet. An infant facility use charge of JPY 1,080 must be paid separately on site for each young child between the ages of 4 and 6.
14:40 – Kumamoto Castle & Josaien – The Kumamoto Castle walls and other sections were heavily damaged in the earthquakes in April 2016. Presently the castle grounds cannot be entered, but the restoration work can be surveyed from safe areas. Located in Sakuranobaba at the foot of Kumamoto Castle is Josaien, a facility with restaurants and souvenir shops.
Yanagawa (Riverboat ride, Ohana Estate & Garden) – Major Sights
– Yanagawa Canal Boat Tour Suigo Yanagawa Kanko Inc. (Tel. 0944-73-4343)
The 10-passenger donko boats are a great way to see the sights around Yanagawa’s canals with a relaxing tour. The down-river course takes about 1 hour and is JPY 1,500/adult.
– Yanagawa Ohana Estate & Garden (Tel. 0944-73-2189)
Formerly the home of Yanagawa’s ruling Tachibana family, this estate now operates as a ryokan and restaurant. On the grounds is a garden which offers a different view in each season.

DAY 13 OKINAWA

8:30 – Tenjin Area (Tenjin Expressway Bus Terminal or Fukuoka Mitsukoshi 4F Boarding & Drop-off Area) Arrival – Drop-off will be at Tenjin Expressway Bus Terminal if the tour was conducted by bus, and the 4th floor boarding & drop-off area of Fukuoka Mitsukoshi if the tour was conducted by hired car. After drop-off, participants will be guided to the Duty Free shop inside Fukuoka Mitsukoshi Department Store and the tour will end.
10:05 – 10:55 Arrive at Fukuoka Airport – [Assistant] Go to Fukuoka Airport via route bus or taxi.
11:25 – 11:55 Depart from Fukuoka Airport – JTA065 (20:40→22:10)
12:25 – 15:25 Arrive at Naha Airport – [Assistant] Participants will be guided to the taxi boarding point.
16:25 – 16:55 Arrive & Stay at Okinawa Kariyushi Urban Resort Naha
17:05 – 17:25 Meet in the lobby of Okinawa Kariyushi Urban Resort Naha for departure – [Day 13 Okinawa Sightseeing]
– When booking, please enter your accommodation location for the night prior to this tour, email address, mobile phone number where you can be contacted on the day of the tour, and your boarding/disembarking locations. The tour may be cancelled due to weather conditions and the like. In that event, participants will be notified through the contact information they entered by the conducting company or their travel agent.
– The following are included in the tour charge: bus fare, tour conductor fee, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium admission fee, Nago Pineapple Park admission fee and cart ride fee, and multilingual audio guide fee.
– Only 1 child younger than 3 years of age per adult (16 years of age and older) may join the tour for free. However they will not have a bus seat or a lunch.
Said child will have to sit on their parent or guardian’s lap. For a second child or more, please make a reservation under the infant rate (3-5 years of age).
– Lunch is not included, so please have lunch on your own.
– The audio guide will be used on the bus. There will be no audio guide for each sightseeing facility.
– Emergency Contact (tour conductor for the day of the tour): 070-5278-6391
*The above number will be reachable after 7:50 on the day of the tour.
*Reception in Japanese (there are days when English reception is available)
– There will be no Japanese-speaking bus guide accompanying tour customers through sightseeing areas. While the tour conductor will provide information on the bus, at the sightseeing areas, tour customers will be moving about on their own.
18:45 – Nago Pineapple Park – Explore this theme park where visitors can see tropical fruits and plants.
Includes a pineapple cart ticket.

DAY 14 OKINAWA – TOKYO

14:00 – 14:30 Kourijima – After crossing the 1,960 m long Kouri Bridge on bus, participants can stroll around Kouri Beach.
15:50 – 16:25 Sightseeing at Ocean Expo Park & Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium – Take a look at the impressive world of the powerful Kuroshio currents. When visiting charged facilities other than the aquarium, please pay the admission fee on site.
18:15 – 18:50 Shopping at Okashigoten, Onna branch – Enjoy shopping for some tasty treats!