9D6N Autumn Discovery in North Japan

HIGHLIGHTS

Seasonal Scenery:

Autumn Leaves viewing at Hirosaki Castle & Park, Lake Towada, Morioka Castle Ruin Park, Dakigaeri Gorge, Old Samurai Residence “Aoyago House” & Kakunodate Town, Naruko Gorge, Wakamatsu Castle

Unique experiences:

Tsugaru Shamisen Live Performance (10min)(For Group 2 & 3), Apple Picking Experience, Kokeshi Painting Experience, Akabeko Painting Experience (40min), Ashikaga Flower Park Winter Illumination

Sightseeing & Shopping Experiences:

Neputamura Museum, Ouchijuku Village, Toshogu Shrine, Sano Premium Outlets

Special Gourmet Delights:

Sumptuous Japanese multi-course dinner Japanese Kaiseki or buffet in Ryokans/Hotels, local delights at restaurant

Hotel / Ryokan Stays:

04 nights of authentic Japanese Onsen experience in Minamida Onsen, Hanamaki Onsen, Bandai Atami Onsen & Nasu. 02 nights of centrally located hotels in Morioka & Tokyo

ITINERARY

Day 1 Assemble at Changi Airport for Check in

Group 1

JL038 SIN-HND 0215-0950

JL145 HND-AOJ 1315-1430

Group 2&3

JL036 SIN-HND 2225-0555

JL143 HND-AOJ 0940-1055

Day 2 Aomori – Hirosaki – Minamida Onsen 青森 - 弘前 - 南田温泉

Hotel: Hotel Apple Land or similar / Japanese room

Meal: Meal on Board / L (except Group1) / D

Group 1

Upon arrival at Aomori Airport, transfer to Hirosaki and visit Hirosaki Castle & Park (弘前城公園) ✿. This beautiful park is well-known for its magnificent autumn colors. Take a slow leisure walk around the park to see all the beautiful autumn leaves. Finally, transfer to Minamida Onsen town for hotel check-in. Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Japanese Set] and the natural hot spring at the hotel.

Group 2&3

Upon arrival at Aomori Airport, let’s proceed to a local restaurant for lunch [Tempura Set]. After lunch, transfer to Hirosaki and visit the Neputa Mura Museum (ねぷた村) where you can learn about the unique culture, traditions and food. You will also catch a live performance of Tsugaru Shamisen (10min). This is a traditional yet dynamic genre of music played with traditional instruments. Next, transfer to Hirosaki and visit Hirosaki Castle & Park (弘前城公園) ✿. This beautiful park is well-known for its magnificent autumn colors. Take a slow leisure walk around the park to see all the beautiful autumn leaves. Finally, transfer to Minamida Onsen town for hotel check-in. Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Japanese Set] and the natural hot spring at the hotel.

Day 3 Minamida Onsen – Towada – Kazuno – Morioka 南田温泉 - 十和田 - 鹿角 - 盛岡

Hotel: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Morioka Ekimae / Hotel Metropolitan New Wing or similar / Western room

Meal: B / L / D

After breakfast, the apple orchard is waiting for you. Enjoy Apple Picking which is just in season! Next, visit Lake Towada (十和田湖) ✿ – one of the well-known fall spots with yellow foliage from beech trees and red foliage from Japanese maple trees blending well with the picturesque scenery. Proceed to a local restaurant for lunch [Kiritanpo Hotpot Set]. After lunch, transfer to Morioka and visit Morioka Castle Ruin Park (盛岡城) ✿. This is a stunning traditional Japanese garden with over 300 trees that change color in the fall. Tonight, your dinner [Wanko Soba] is at a local restaurant. At the end of the day, transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Day 4 Morioka – Kakunodate – Hanamaki Onsen 盛岡 - 角館 - 花卷溫泉

Hotel: Hanamaki Onsen or similar / R.O.H.

Meal: B / L / D

After breakfast, visit Dakigaeri Gorge (抱返り渓谷) ✿ – A Scenic gorge with a pristine blue-green mountain stream and unspoiled primeval woodlands. Enjoy the vibrant autumn colors at Dakigaeri Gorge Autumn Leaves Festival. After lunch [Inaniwa Udon Set] at a local restaurant, head to the Old Samurai Town Kakunodate “Aoyagi Residence” (角館町武家屋敷通り) ✿, one of the excellent showcases of samurai architecture and housing. At the end of the day, transfer to Hanamaki Onsen town for hotel check-in. Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Buffet] at the hotel.

Day 5 Hanamaki Onsen – Naruko Gorge – Sendai – Bandai Atami Onsen 花卷溫泉 - 鳴子峡 - 仙台 - 磐梯熱海温泉

Hotel: Hananoyu or similar / Japanese room

Meal: B / L / D

After breakfast, let’s head to Naruko Gorge (鳴子峡) ✿. It is a beautiful forested gorge that transforms into one of Tohoku’s most popular autumn color spots. Proceed to a local restaurant for lunch [Gyutan Set]. After lunch, enjoy a Kokeshi Painting Experience at Miyagi Zao Kokeshi Kan. These traditional wooden dolls are one of the region’s popular souvenirs, symbolizing hopes for bountiful harvest, good luck and fortune. Finally, transfer to the hotel for check-in. Tonight, enjoy the Japanese Set dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Day 6 Bandai Atami Onsen – Aizu Wakamatsu – Ouchijuku – Nasu 磐梯熱海温泉 - 会津若松 - 大内宿 - 那須

Hotel: Hotel Sunvalley Nasu or similar / Western room

Meal: B / L / D

This morning, visit Wakamatsu Castle & Park (鶴ヶ城) ✿, also known as Tsuruga Castle, a concrete replica of a traditional Japanese castle in northern Japan. After that, you will get to experience the folk arts - Akabeko Painting (赤べこ絵付け). Akabeko is a traditional toy from Aizu region and is very popular as a charm to ward off sickness. After lunch [Wappameshi Set] at a local restaurant, continue your journey at Scenic Thatched Roof Houses “Ouchijuku Village” (大内宿), a former post town along the Aizu West Road trade route, which connected Aizu with Nikko during the Edo Period. Finally, transfer to Nasu for hotel check-in. Tonight, enjoy your dinner [Buffet] at the hotel.

Day 7 Nasu – Nikko – Sano – Ashikaga – Tokyo 那須 - 日光 - 佐野 - 足利 - 東京

Hotel: Tokyo Prince Hotel or similar / Western room

Meal: B / - / -

This morning, start your day at Toshogu Shine (東照宮). Toshogu Shrine is the most famous sightseeing attraction in Nikko and is popular for its many colorful buildings richly decorated with gorgeous carvings. Thereafter, transfer to Sano Premium Outlets (佐野プレミアムアウトレット) for shopping. The stores here are the outlets of internationally known brands of fashion, sports food, household goods and electronics, and range from everyday items to luxury goods. Lunch will be at your own expense at the outlets. After that, head to Ashikaga Flower Park Illumination (あしかがフラワーパーク). The illumination event has over 4.5 million lights that decorate the gardens. The display was awarded a gold prize for being the number-one illumination display in the country. Their gardens are adorned with thousands of lights, original wisteria light tunnels, and other themed sets. Finally, transfer to Tokyo city for hotel check-in and free at leisure. Enjoy your own dinner during free & easy time in Tokyo.

Day 8 Tokyo – Singapore 東京 - 新加坡

Meal: B / - / -

Group 1&2

JL035 HND-SIN 0010-0645

Group 3

JL711 NRT-SIN 1800-0045

After breakfast, free at your own leisure until departure.

Bid farewell to Japan today as we depart for Singapore. We hope that you have enjoyed this vacation with JTB and we look forward to helping you create your next perfect moments, always!

Day 9 Singapore 新加坡

Arrive Singapore