| Date | Place and Hotel
♨=onsen |
Activity | B | L | D |
| Apr. 3 (Fri.) |
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Depart Honolulu to Kansai. |
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| 4 (Sat.) |
KANSAI AIRPORT HOTEL NIKKO | After arriving at Kansai airport, then walk to the hotel connected to the airport terminal. There is a convenience store outside the hotel door. |
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| 5 (Sun.) |
KYOTO ELCIENT HOTEL 
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Breakfast
around 5:30am and leaving the hotel around 7:00am. Going to Uji, in
the south part of Kyoto. Visit Byodo-in temple, a world heritage site, famous for
their green tea and during the Heian period it was the villa of a noble.From Bus
parking lot go to Byodo-in, walk the path to Ajirogi-no-michi, see cherry blossoms at Uji Koen along the Uji river. Next walk the
path to Sawarabi-no-michi see the Uji bridge, crosses over Uji river, one of three Japan's oldest bridge. Then see
Murasaki Shikibu Statue, she was a Japanese novelist, poet
& lady-in-waiting at the Imperial court during the Heian period. Next go
to Byodo-in Omotesando, a shopping road that leads toward
the temple, lots of Uji tea, souvenir shops. Then return to bus parking lot.
About 2 miles, 5700 steps, 2 hours (includes
sightseeing & rest time) Next going to Fushimi, the south part of Kyoto. Known for good quality underground water in making Japanese sake. And the water running in the canals within Fushimi comes from the river that’s connected to the ocean, so during the Edo period it was famous as a port town of Kyoto.Visit Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, housed in an old sake brewery presents the history of the sake and sake production in Fushimi. At the end of your visit, you can taste some of the sake. Next visit Teradaya (Inn), during the samurai period where Sakamoto Ryoma & Oryo’s love story began. Then go to Ryoma Dori Shotengai, a shopping street with the atmosphere of the Meiji restoration during the times of the Bakumatsu, just imagine them running through this street then. About 1 mile, 2800 steps, 1.5 hours (includes sightseeing & rest time) |
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| 6 (Mon.) |
KYOTO ELCIENT HOTEL     |
Keage Incline and Philosopher's Path,
Kyoto's famous walking trail with cherry blossoms (Kyoto's east side).
Breakfast at a nearby convenience store, departing about 5:00am. Get to Keage station and go to see Keage Incline, a slope with old railroad tracks that were used to carry boats, beautiful spot for cherry blossoms and walking. Next visit Nanzen-ji, famous for it's massive main entrance, and the Suirokaku water bridge, a Roman-style aqueduct made with red bricks & where the water flows in from Lake Biwa to Kyoto. Then walk at the Philosopher's Path, it follows a canal which is lined by hundreds of cherry trees, making this one of the city's most popular hanami (cherry blossom viewing) spots. Then visit Otoyo Shrine where lots of camellias blooming and visit Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), never got to finish covering it in silver, the construction represents the Higashiyama Culture of the Muromachi period. About 3 miles, 8400 steps, 3.5 hours (includes sightseeing & rest time). Lunch then go to hotel. |
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| 7(Tue.) | KYOTO ELCIENT HOTEL    |
Higashiyama area and Gion district, in Kyoto's east side. Famous with lots of sightseeing places and lots
of walking areas. Breakfast at nearby convenience store, departing about 5:00am. Walk to Gojo Ohashi bridge see the statue of Benkei & Ushiwakamaru (Yoshitsune) where they first met. Next go to Kiyomizu-dera, Sanneizaka, a busy pedestrian street with souvenir shops on a hill with an old townscape, the historic hill road links Yasaka shrine and Kiyomizu temple. Legend says if you fall down at Sanneizaka then you will die within 3 years. I think they just want you to be careful you don't fall especially for pregnant women. Visit Yasaka Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in the Gion district. Next visit Maruyama Park, the Shidarezakura of Gion (weeping cherry tree) is the attraction and is also a popular place for cherry blossom viewing. Then go to the Gion district, Nishiki Market known as the marketplace to obtain many of Kyoto's famous foods and goods. It is a long street full of shops that sell street food. You have to try their famous Tofu doughnuts.Return to hotel. About 3.5 miles, 10000 steps, 4 hours (includes sightseeing & rest time) |
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| 8 (Wed.) |
KYOTO ELCIENT HOTEL   |
In the western outskirt of Kyoto, Arashiyama area, Hozugawa, Bamboo Grove, and enjoy
Kyoto's natural scenic beauty. Breakfast at nearby convenience store, departing about 5:30am. From Arashiyama station see Togetsukyo bridge, and to Arashiyama Park see the cherry blossoms and to the Observatory deck see nice scenic views. Then walk the path to the famous Bamboo Grove and after go to Saga-Arashiyama station. After finish walking ride a Torokko (Romantic train) sightseeing train and enjoy the natural beauty of this rural region during this cherry blossom season. Then take the Hozugawa River cruise and after go back to hotel. About 1.5 miles, 4200 steps, 2 hours (includes sightseeing & rest time) |
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| 9 (Thu.) |
KYOTO ELCIENT HOTEL   |
Ninna-ji, Ryoan-ji, Kitano Tenmangu in
Kyoto's north side. Breakfast at nearby convenience store, departing about 6:30am. From Ninna-ji station go to Ninna-ji temple, a world heritage site, see the late blooming Omuro sakura. Next visit Ryoan-ji temple, site of Japan's most famous rock garden (Kare Sansui Garden, dried-up landscape-style Japanese garden). From Ryoan-ji station with the train go to Kitano Hakubaicho station, see the Yokai (monster) Street, long ago the yokai paraded here. Next visit Kitano Tenmangu shrine, a nationwide head shrine of Tenmangu shinto shrines. Students come to pray for success in their studies during exam times. Then visit Hirano Shrine, known for it's gardens & famous for it's beautiful cherry blossom trees (about 50 types, 400 trees). Return to hotel. About 2 miles, 5700 steps, 4 hours (includes sightseeing & rest time) |
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| 10 (Fri.) |
KYOTO ELCIENT HOTEL   |
Ponto-cho, Kamogawa, Kyoto old imperial palace, Nijo castle, a flatland castle in the center of Kyoto. Breakfast at nearby convenience store, departing about 5:00am. From Kawaracho station to Ponto-cho, called hanamachi, pleasure district, in the old days red light district. Next go to Kamogawa, the riverbanks are popular walking spots with pathways running alongside the river and you can see cherry blossom trees. Next see Sanjo-gawara, the river beach near the Sanjo bridge is well known as a execution site as well as the place where heads cut off from criminals were exposed to public view during the samurai period. Next see Sanjo Ohashi bridge, to see slash marks made during the famous Ikedaya incident in 1864. Ruins regards to Ikedaya incident remains. Then see Kyoto Gosho (old imperial palace), the Imperial Family's residence until 1868. Next see Nijo Castle, was the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo period. Is now a world heritage site, you can see numerous varieties of cherry trees planted throughout the castle grounds. Then return to hotel. About 3 miles, 8400 steps, 4.5 hours (includes sightseeing & rest time) |
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| 11 (Sat.) |
KYOTO ELCIENT HOTEL 
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Breakfast at nearby convenience store,
departing about 5:00am.
Fushimi Inari Shrine, Mt. Inari mountaintop (from Fushimi Inari shrine to Mt. Inari mountaintop walking course). There are lot of steps & slope. Then return to hotel. About 3 miles, 8400 steps, 3 hours (includes sightseeing & rest time) |
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| 12 (Sun.) |
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Breakfast at hotel, departing about 9:00am. From hotel visit Sakai Hamono (Japanese knives) Museum, next go to Sakai Plaza of Rikyu, it introduces tea master Sen no Rikyu of the 16th century, he was the most profound influence on the Japanese “Way of Tea" and tea ceremony. You can try the green tea served by tea masters there. After that go to Aeon Mall for last minute shopping before going to Kansai airport for your departure. | × |
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