Locally Owned & OperatedSince 1985 — Mahalo Hawai‘i!1150 S. King Street, Suite 102

Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96814

593-0700or Toll-Free

1-800-551-1226www.nonstop.travel

**

O V E R V I E W:One of Japan’s largest islands, Sado Island has an interesting history. Its culture can be seen in its unique traditional arts and entertainment. The Takayama Festival is rated as one of Japan’s three

most beautiful festivals alongside Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri and the Chichibu Yomatsuri. It is held twice a year in spring and autumn in the old town of Takayama, and attracts large numbers of spectators.

From delightful hot springs (onsen) to specially prepared, Kaiseki dinners, this tour has something for everyone! Join us!

2019 CHERRY BLOSSOMS SEA OF JAPAN, SADO ISLAND,

TAKAYAMA FESTIVAL & HIROSHIMAHot Springs Onsen Experience with 4 Seasonal Kaiseki Dinners!

12 Nights / 14 Days • 29 Meals (12 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches & 9 Dinners) Escorted from Honolulu • Includes English Speaking Local Guide

April 8 – 21, 2019 • Tour Managers: Delbert & Gale Nakaoka

V I S I T:Niigata • Sado Island • Yudanaka • Nagano • Matsumoto • Toyama • Takayama • Shirakawago

Kanazawa • Tojinbo • Kinosaki • Tottori • Tamatsukuri • Izumo • Yamaguchi • Hiroshima

TO U R H I G H L I G H TS:JR Super Express Train Ride • Niigata Furusato Village • Northern Cultural Museum

Jet Foil Ride to Sado Island • Oni Daiko Performance • Tarai-bune Boat Ride • Gold Mine Japanese Crested Ibis Conservation Centre • Takada Castle • Koboyama Park • Matsumoto Castle

Takato Castle Ruins Park • Takaoka Big Buddha • Zuiryuji Temple • Takayama Morning Market Takayama Jinya • Takayama Festival • Sannomachi • Ogimachi • Shiroyama View Point

Myozenji Temple • Omicho Market • Tojinbo • Fukui Prefectural Museum of Cultural History Mikata Goko • Wakasa Bay Cable Car • Amano Hashidate • Tottori Sand Dune • AEON Mall

Izumo Taisha • Matsue Vogel Park • Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaii

COMPLETE PACKAGES!

INCLUDES ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE FROM HONOLULU, 12 NIGHTS

HOTEL, 29 MEALS, TIPS FOR LOCAL TOUR GUIDES AND BUS

DRIVERS, ALL TAXES & FEES

$6288*

EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT PER PERSON

SAVE $100BOOK BY AUGUST 31, 2018†

SAVE $75BOOK BY SEPTEMBER 29, 2018†

SAVE $50BOOK BY OCTOBER 31, 2018†

DON'T MISS A THING!!WHISPER — Wireless Tour Guide System!

English narration directly to your ear!

Non-Stop Travel Exclusive!

* Fares are per person, USD based on double occupancy and INCLUDE ALL AIRLINE TAXES AND FEES. Airline fuel supplements, taxes and fees are subject to change and tour member is responsible for any increases. Some airline-imposed personal charges, including but not limited to baggage, priority boarding and special seating, may apply. For details visit www.tripadvisor.com/AirlineFees. After initial deposit, a $75 per person Non-Stop Travel (NST) Cancellation Fee will apply. Group departures may be cancelled, if there are less than 24 tour members. Final Payment to NST for “non-cruiseline” Air & Land package must be made by Money Order or Personal Check. NST does not guarantee that all tour members will fly together with Tour Manager. Tour Manager assignments, number of meals offered on tour, and the “final” tour itinerary are subject to change. NST reserves the right to correct errors or omissions including but not limited to, fares, fees and surcharges at any time. Deposit: $500 per person. Final Payment Due: 11/29/18. Cherry blossoms are subject to weather conditions.

† Early Booking Discount is per person. Purchase of Non-Stop Travel’s complete Air & Land package is required.

** Earn Rewards Every Time You Refer a Friend. For each “New-to-NonStop Travel” customer you refer, both you and your referral can receive a $25 discount off your next Non-Stop Travel escorted group.

Special Assistance: You must notify Non-Stop Travel (NST), at time of reservation, of any disability requiring special attention. NST reserves the right to cancel your booking or terminate your vacation if your special needs or disabilities are not suitable for the vacation or if you are not traveling with a companion who will provide all the assistance you require. Wheelchair and Electric Scooter access outside of the USA is severely restricted. 070918

H A N D S - O N AC T I V I T I E S:Sake Brewery Tour with Tasting • Soba Noodle Making • Strawberry Picking

U N E S CO W O R L D H E R I TAG E S I T E:Shirakawago

Tokyo

Nagano

Tojinbo

TottoriTamatsukuri Kinosaki

Izumo

Yamaguchi Hiroshima

Takayama

Shirakawago

Kanazawa

Sado Island

Niigata

Bus

Bullet Train

FerryAirplane

JAPAN

Matsumoto

2019 CHERRY BLOSSOMS SEA OF JAPAN, SADO ISLAND, TAKAYAMA FESTIVAL & HIROSHIMA DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

Day 1: Mon, Apr 08 – HONOLULU. Depart Honolulu on All Nippon Airways flt #181 at 12:30 pm.

Day 2: Tue, Apr 09 – TOKYO. Arrive Narita Airport at 4:00 pm. After entry formalities, transfer by coach to the hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner. GRAND NIKKO TOKYO (1 Night) (D)

*Baggage will be carried by truck from Tokyo to Nagano, skipping Sado Island. Prepare an overnight bag for 2 nights.

Day 3: Wed, Apr 10 – TOKYO – NIIGATA – SADO ISLAND. After a sumptuous breakfast buffet at hotel, transfer to Tokyo station by coach. Take the JR Super Express Train to Niigata. Sightseeing in Niigata by coach, visiting a Niigata Furusato Village, Northern Culture Museum, and Sake Brewery. Transfer to Niigata Port. Ride a Jet Foil to Sado Island. Arrive in Sado Island and transfer to hotel. Enjoy a Traditional Multi-course Kaiseki Dinner, featuring ingredients unique to Sado Island. Enjoy an Oni Daiko (Demon Drums) performance during dinner. HOTEL YAHAKATAN (2 Nights) (B, D)

Day 4: Thur, Apr 11 – SADO ISLAND. Full day sightseeing of Sado Island by coach, experiencing a Tarai-bune Boat Ride and making Soba for lunch. After lunch, visit the Sado Gold Mine and Japanese Crested Ibis Conservation Centre. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Fri, Apr 12 – SADO ISLAND – NIIGATA – NAGANO. Transfer to Ogi Port. Take ferry to Naoetsu Port. Explore the grounds of Takada Castle to view the more than 4,000 cherry blossom trees in bloom. Then transfer to the hotel in Nagano. RYOKAN BIYUNOYADO (2 Nights) (B, D)

Day 6: Sat, Apr 13 – NAGANO – MATSUMOTO – NAGANO. Full-day of cherry blossom sightseeing in Nagano and Matsumoto by coach. Take in the scenery at Koboyama Park, which is almost entirely covered in 2,000 cherry trees. Then view the cherry blossoms at the Matsumoto Castle. After a special Shinshu soba and sasa zushi lunch, enjoy the cherry blossoms at the Takato Castle Ruins Park. Return to the hotel for dinner. (B, D)

* Baggage will be carried by truck from Nagano to Kanazawa, skipping Takayama Prepare an overnight bag for 2 nights.

Day 7: Sun, Apr 14 – NAGANO – TOYAMA – TAKAYAMA. The beloved 52 foot Takaoka Big Buddha, one of three large Buddha statues in Japan (the other two are in Kamakura and Nara), is also known as Japan’s most handsome man. The statue was first created in 1745 from wood and painted in gold leaf. However, when two separate fires destroyed the statue, it was finally suggested that the Buddha statue be constructed from fire-resistant materials. It was no surprise that copper was chosen as the source of material considering that 90% of Japan’s copper statues, temple bells and structures were produced in Takaoka, Toyama. Next visit the Zuiryuji Temple, a Soto Zen Buddhist temple that is recognized by the Japanese government as a national treasure. Depart Toyama for Takayama. Takayama, located amongst the Japan Alps, it is known as “Little Kyoto” for its preserved historical structures. It was cut off from the rest of Japan for most of its history and thus has maintained a very unique and traditional atmosphere. Enjoy a Kaiseki dinner at the hotel. TAKAYAMA OUAN (2 Nights) (B, L, D)

Day 8: Mon, Apr 15 – TAKAYAMA. After breakfast, explore Takayama’s Morning Market, where can browse the market stalls for local crafts and fresh farm products. Then visit the Takayama Jinya, a former government outpost. After lunch, experience the Takayama Festival. This festival is held to pray for a good harvest. The festival floats will be on display in the streets. Be on the look-out for the floats that are decorated with mechanical dolls that can move and dance. Later, explore the streets of Takayama. On some streets,

like Sannomachi Street, you can find many old homes, shops, coffee houses and sake breweries, some of which have been in business for centuries. Enjoy dinner at the hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 9: Tue, Apr 16 – TAKAYAMA – SHIRAKAWAGO – KANAZAWA. Start the day with a visit to Ogimachi, the largest village and main attraction of Shirakawago. Declared a World UNESCO World Heritage Site, the village is home to several dozen well preserved gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. The Shiroyama Viewpoint is north of the village center and offers nice views of Ogimachi and its farmhouses. Myozenji Temple, which is unique for its thatched roof rather than the typical tiled roof seen on most temples, is connected to the Myozenji-ke farmhouse next door where the priest of the temple lives. Stroll Omicho Market before transferring to the Kanzawa hotel. HOTEL NIKKO KANAZAWA (1 Night) (B, L)

*Baggage will be carried by truck from Kanazawa to Tamatsukuri, skipping Kinosaki Onsen. Prepare an overnight bag for 1 night.

Day 10: Wed, Apr 17 – KANAZAWA – TOJINBO – KINOSAKI. Enroute to Kinosaki, enjoy the view from Tojinbo, the basaltic cliffs of the Japan Sea. Stop at the Fukui Prefectural Museum of Cultural History. Then visit Mikata Goko (Lakes of 5 Colors). The level of salt as well as salt water, fresh water, and brackish water varies in each lake – resulting in each lake having its own distinctive color. Enjoy the view from above in the Wakasa Bay cable car. Transfer to the Kinosaki Onsen for the night. Relax in the open air hot springs onsen tonight. NISHIMURAYA HOTEL SHOGETSU-TEI (1 Night) (B, L, D)

Day 11: Thur, Apr 18 – KINOSAKI – TOTTORI – TAMATSUKURI. Enroute to Tottori, stop at Amanohashidate, a pine covered sandbar that spans the mouth of Miyazu Bay in the scenic, coastal region of northern Kyoto Prefecture. Viewed from the mountains at either end of the bay, the Amanohashidate Sandbar (which roughly translates to “bridge in heaven“) looks like a pathway between heaven and earth. The scene has been admired for centuries and is ranked among Japan's three most scenic views. Then stop at the Tottori Sand Dunes, the largest sand dunes in Japan. Soak in the healing waters of the open air onsen tonight. Stop at an AEON Mall before arriving at the hotel in Tamatsukuri. HOTEL GYOKUSEN (2 Nights) (B, L)

Day 12: Fri, Apr 19 – TAMATSUKURI – IZUMO – TAMATSUKURI. This morning, you will visit Izumo Taisha, one of Japan's most important shrines. There are no records of exactly when Izumo Taisha was built, but it is often considered the oldest shrine in Japan, being already in existence in the early 700s as revealed by the nation's oldest chronicles. Enjoy lunch here (on your own). Next visit the Matsue Vogel Park, an aviary park that houses four aviaries holding tropical birds – mostly toucans, turacos, hornbills and ibises. The park is also home to various birds from around the world, including rare and exotic birds. There are also a number of waterfowl to be found in the aquatic birds aviary. Vogel Park also boasts one of the largest greenhouses in the world, residence to various flowers of which most are found in bloom year-round. Then return to the hotel for the night. (B, D)

Day 13: Sat, Apr 20 – TAMATSUKURI – YAMAGUCHI – HIROSHIMA. Visit the Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaii and learn about what brought the workers to Hawaii to work in the plantations. Transfer to Hiroshima for the evening. RIHGA ROYAL HOTEL HIROSHIMA (1 Night) (B, L)

Day 14: Sun, Apr 21 – HIROSHIMA – TOKYO – HONOLULU. Transfer to Hiroshima airport. Depart Hiroshima Airport on All Nippon Airways flt #3132 at 2:15 pm. Arrive in Narita at 3:50 pm. Depart Narita Airport on All Nippon Airways flt #184 at 8:20 pm and arrive Honolulu at 8:40 am on the same day. Aloha and Welcome Home! (B)

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Shirakawago (1995).