8D Remote Tohoku

8 Days Remote Tokoku (Specially Prepared for Pauline & Yitian) Tohoku has well and truly recovered from the catastrophes of 2011 when the earthquake and tsunami unleashed disaster upon the locals. Fast forward 3 years later, the resilience of the people and the region has shone.

Emphasis on food safety is perhaps the most stringent of standards. From a touring perspective, Northern Tohoku-Honshu charms travellers with some of the most fascinating landscapes, unspoiled onsen towns, serene temples and remote settings away-from-the-crowds. Be ready to uncover the many facets of Tohoku!

Yokoso Nippon!

Flights At A Glance: Fly xxJan

Singapore / Tokyo Haneda

SQ 636

2240/0610+1 (6h 30m) – Daily

Fly xxJan

Tokyo Haneda / Singapore

SQ 633

1640/2305 (7h 25m) – Daily

#04-20/21 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 19 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247909 Tel: (65) 6334 6120 Fax: (65) 6337 4166 (Business Reg. No. 199307023G) enquiries@countryholidays.com.sg Web. www.countryholidays.com.sg

DAY 01 SINGAPORE / TOKYO Make your way to Singapore Changi Airport for your flight departure to Tokyo.

Fly xxJan

Singapore / Tokyo Haneda

SQ 636

2240/0610+1 (6h 30m) – Daily

DAY 02 TOKYO / YAMAGATA / KAMINOYAMA ONSEN On arrival at Tokyo Haneda Intl Airport, be met at the arrivals by your English-Speaking driver and private vehicle and transfer to Tokyo Station for your shinkansen bullet train journey to Yamagata.

Train xxJan

Tokyo / Yamagata

Shinkansen Tsubasa #129 0856/1137 (2h 41m) – Daily

Arriving at Yamagata Station, be met by your English-Speaking guide at station platform and then be escorted to your private car and then proceed to visit the long-established Shoji-ya Soba Restaurant where the city of Yamagata has a long tradition of soba. Sample the creation of Shoji with freshly-made soba right before your eyes and enjoy the ultimate soba experience! Thereafter, we drive to Kaminoyama Onsen (40mins drive), an onsen town with lots of samurai houses from the Edo Period. There are a number of hot springs - Yumachi, Tokamachi, Shinyu, Takamatsu, Hayama, and Kawasaki - collectively referred to as Kaminoyama Onsen. With its abundant hot spring waters, the town is home to seven public bathhouses and five foot bath facilities. The area around Shinyu and Yumachi prospered as a castle town around Kaminoyama Castle (built in 1535) and still retains some of the old storehouses and mansions. Takamatsu and Hayama are on a quiet hill away from the center of the town with great views of the Zao mountain ranges. The area is dotted with shrines and temples which adds to the traditional atmosphere. Take a stroll around the buke-yashiki district to get the atmosphere of an old castle town before retreating to your ryokan in the mesmerizing environments of Meigetsuso.

Overnight: Meigetsuso, Kaminoyama Onsen (Yamagata) Meals: Lunch & Dinner

DAY 03 KAMINOYAMA ONSEN (YAMADERA EXCURSION) After breakfast, be met by your English-Speaking guide and private vehicle as we take an excursion to one of Japan’s most astonishing temple sites, Yamadera (45mins drive). Extended high up on a steep mountainside, experience the spectacular surroundings of the Risshakuji Temple, founded more than a millennium ago where during the Heian Period, Emperor Seiwa despatched priests to Japan’s northern frontiers Enjoy a hike up the mountain trail with 1000 stone steps and witness scenes and settings reminiscent of bygone eras. Enjoy mesmerizing views of the valleys from the Godaido Hall observation deck. Thereafter, return to base where you may spend time for lunch (on own expenses) and patronizing the shops. We then return back to Kaminoyama Onsen where you may relax and enjoy rejuvenating baths.

Overnight: Meigetsuso, Kaminoyama Onsen (Yamagata) Meals: Breakfast & Dinner #04-20/21 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 19 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247909 Tel: (65) 6334 6120 Fax: (65) 6337 4166 (Business Reg. No. 199307023G) enquiries@countryholidays.com.sg Web. www.countryholidays.com.sg

DAY 04 KAMINOYAMA ONSEN / MOGAMI RIVER / GINZAN ONSEN Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast and thereafter, be met by your English-Speaking guide and private vehicle as we travel to the beautiful 224km long Mogami River (1.5hrs drive), one of Japan’s three most rapid rivers which flows into the Sea of Japan. Enjoy a spectacular 1hr boat ride (with electric heater) witnessing mesmerizing views of the gorge and the Shiraito Waterfall. Disembark at Kusanagi and then spend some time for lunch (on own expenses) in the small village of Tozawa. Thereafter, we drive to the beautiful and remote onsen town of Ginzan Onsen (1hr drive), literally known as the “Silver Mountain Hot Spring”. Admire the nostalgic architecture and enjoy soaking in the therapeutic waters.

Overnight: Ryokan Fujiya, Ginzan Onsen Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

#04-20/21 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 19 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247909 Tel: (65) 6334 6120 Fax: (65) 6337 4166 (Business Reg. No. 199307023G) enquiries@countryholidays.com.sg Web. www.countryholidays.com.sg

DAY 05 GINZAN ONSEN / HIRAIZUMI / HANAMAKI ONSEN After breakfast, be met by your English-Speaking guide and private vehicle and set off to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Hiraizumi (2.5hrs drive), where it once was on the same status as Kyoto in political and religious importance. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed city provides a setting that takes you back in time to the Heian Period more than 900 years ago. We first visit the Takkoku no Iwaya, a temple constructed partially in the rock face of a cliff. It was built and dedicated to the god of warriors in the 9th century, during the Japanese expansion northwards and the ensuing battles with the indigenous Emishi people. Thereafter, we continue to the Chusonji – established in 850 as a temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism. The temple came to prominence when the northern branch of the Fujiwara clan moved their base to Hiraizumi. Thereafter, enjoy time for lunch (on own expenses) before continuing our drive to Hanamaki Onsen in Iwate Prefecture (1hr drive), a popular onsen town village renowned for its healing and therapeutic properties. Arrive at the beautiful Yusen Shidate set on the banks of the Toyosawa River.

Overnight: Yusen Shidate, Hanamaki Onsen Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 06 HANAMAKI ONSEN (EXCURSION TO TONO) Today, be met by your English-Speaking guide and private vehicle as we set off the rural town of Tono, notable for its rustic landscapes and traditional farming culture with many traditional thatched-roof farmhouses known as “Nambu Magariya” named after the lords who ruled in the Nambu region. Tono is also renowned for its distinctive Japanese folklore where pioneering folklorist Yanagita Kunio came during the Meiji Period to publish stories of the “Legends of Tono” and these tales are told till today and performances are held regularly in the folk villages and museums in the town. Visit the Tono Furusato Village displaying well-preserved farmhouses, storehouses and watermills that will take you back in time. Worth a visit is the beautiful Takamuro Suikoen with a beautiful large pond around rustic buildings. Recommended are visits too to the Tono Monogatarikan Museum which uses movies, sculptures, illustrations and displays featuring moving lights and shadows to bring the local folklore from Yanagita Kunio’s “The Legends of Tono” to life. After some time for lunch (on own expenses), we return back to Hanamaki Onsen where you may spend the rest of the day luxuriating in the beautiful winterscapes while taking a rejuvenating onsen bath.

Overnight: Yusen Shidate, Hanamaki Onsen Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

#04-20/21 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 19 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247909 Tel: (65) 6334 6120 Fax: (65) 6337 4166 (Business Reg. No. 199307023G) enquiries@countryholidays.com.sg Web. www.countryholidays.com.sg

DAY 07 HANAMAKI ONSEN / MORIOKA / TOKYO After breakfast, be met by your English-Speaking guide and private vehicle and transfer to Morioka (50mins drive) for boarding of your Shinkansen bullet train journey return to Tokyo.

Train xxJan

Morioka / Tokyo

Shinkansen Komachi #14

1050/1304 (2h 14m) – Daily

Arriving at Tokyo Station, you will be met by your English-Speaking driver at station platform and then be escorted to your private vehicle for transfer to your hotel for check in. Spend the rest of the day at leisure and enjoy shopping, dining in the bustling districts such as Ginza or Shinjuku.

Overnight: Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo Meals: Breakfast

DAY 08 TOKYO / SINGAPORE Spend a leisure morning in Tokyo and later in the afternoon, be met by your English-Speaking driver and private vehicle for transfer to Tokyo Haneda Intl Airport for your flight return to Singapore.

Fly xxJan

Tokyo Haneda / Singapore

SQ 633

1640/2305 (7h 25m) – Daily

Meals: Breakfast

END OF TOUR

#04-20/21 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 19 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247909 Tel: (65) 6334 6120 Fax: (65) 6337 4166 (Business Reg. No. 199307023G) enquiries@countryholidays.com.sg Web. www.countryholidays.com.sg

TOUR PRICE PER PERSON: - The following prices are based on 2 Persons travelling together; - The prices stated can only be indicative and may be adjusted once we have your date of travel, the exact number of people in your groups and other specific requirements.

Package:

BEST Price Per Person

2N in Meigetsuso, Kaminoyama Onsen (Yamagata) 1N in Ryokan Fujiya, Ginzan Onsen 2N in Yusen Shidate, Hanamaki Onsen 1N in Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

TO BE ADVISED

GRAND TOTAL (2 PERSONS)

TO BE ADVISED

Cost includes: - One-way Green Seat Bullet train from Tokyo – Yamagata; - One-way Green Seat Bullet train from Morioka – Tokyo; - All accommodations with daily breakfast & dinner as stated; - Other meals as stated; - All visits, activities and admission as stated unless stated as “Optional” or “At Leisure” - Services of Private Driver & Private Vehicle as stated; - Services of Professional English-speaking Guide as stated;

Cost excludes: - International airfare on Singapore Airlines from Singapore to Tokyo; - Visas if any; - Gratuities to driver/guides; - Personal and other expenses not stated; - Travel Insurance; - Any extra meals other than specified; - Any expenses incurred beyond our control due to natural disaster, weather conditions, etc.

#04-20/21 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 19 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247909 Tel: (65) 6334 6120 Fax: (65) 6337 4166 (Business Reg. No. 199307023G) enquiries@countryholidays.com.sg Web. www.countryholidays.com.sg

Hotels Kaminoyama Onsen (Yamagata): Meigetsuso – Built on a 10,000 square metre property, Meigetsuso is located a 10-minute drive from Kaminoyama Onsen Station. Guests can enjoy the various flora of the Japanese Garden and Free Wi-Fi is available at the lobby. Rooms are equipped with air conditioning/heating, an en suite bathroom, and a fridge.

Each room also comes with a seating area, a flat-screen TV and free toiletries. At Meigetsuso Ryokan, all meals are served at the guest rooms. For dinner, a Japanese-style course meal is served. For breakfast, guests can choose between a Western-style or Japanese-style breakfast. Guests can unwind and relax in the indoor and outdoor public hot spring baths. Private outdoor baths are also available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Massages, yoga lessons and Pilate’s lessons are offered at a surcharge. Guests can also visit the library with a courtyard view for some quiet reading. The property is a 20-minute drive from the Saito Mokichi Memorial Museum and a 30-minute drive from one of the most famous skiing and snowboarding resorts, the Zao Onsen Ski Resort. Guests can also access the Kaminoyama Castle within a 10-minute drive from the property. http://www.meigetsuso.co.jp/

Ginzan Onsen: Ryokan Fujiya – Husband-and-wife owners Atsushi and Jeanie Fuji recently enlisted architect Kengo Kuma to renovate this 350-year-old ryokan, about a three-hour bullet-train ride from Tokyo. He did away with communal onsen (baths), instead paying homage to the Ginzen Onsen area’s famed hot springs with fantastically simple private baths - many made of cypress wood. From a distance, the front facade looks fresh but not radically out of place. http://www.fujiya-ginzan.com/index.shtml

#04-20/21 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 19 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247909 Tel: (65) 6334 6120 Fax: (65) 6337 4166 (Business Reg. No. 199307023G) enquiries@countryholidays.com.sg Web. www.countryholidays.com.sg

Hanamaki Onsen: Yusen Shidate – Yusen Shidate features indoor/outdoor hot spring baths and spacious rooms with a terrace and a private open-air hot spring bath. Free WiFi is available at public areas. Each room is air conditioned and equipped with a flat-screen TV, a balcony and a safety deposit box. A refrigerator, an electric kettle and a green tea set are also available in rooms. Private bathroom comes with free toiletries and a hairdryer. Guests can enjoy the beautiful scenery while soaking in the open-air bath. Yusen Shidate Ryokan’s 24-hour front desk offers a luggage storage service and safety deposit boxes. Guests can take a stroll in the garden, get a soothing massage or relax in the shared lounge. A Japanese set menu is served for breakfast, while a kaiseki (Japanese multicourse) meal is served for dinner. All meals are served in a private dining area. http://www.shidate.info/

Tokyo: Mandarin Oriental – Boasting fine restaurants and an award-winning spa on the 37th floor, Mandarin Oriental offers 5-star luxury in the historical Nihonbashi area in the heart of Tokyo. Among the most spacious in Tokyo, rooms feature gorgeous city views. Mitsukoshimae Subway Station and JR Shin-Nihonbashi Train Station are directly connected to the hotel. This hotel was selected as one of Top 25 Hotels in Japan by TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Award 2014. Rooms at the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo pair wide windows with chic design inspired by Japanese aesthetics. A full range of modern amenities are offered, including a satellite flat-screen TV. Bathrooms have a large bathtub and separate shower. The hotel is a 5-minute walk from Tokyo Stock Exchange and an 8-minute walk from JR Tokyo Station. Ginza area is a 5-minute subway ride and the Imperial Palace is a 3-minute subway ride away. Akihabara Electric Town and popular Tsukiji Fish Market are both within a 10-minute drive or taxi ride from the property. Guests can work out to city views at the 38th-floor fitness room, or relax in the hot tub or sauna. The spa offers exclusive Asian and Western-fusion treatments in a tranquil setting. The hotel’s concierge helps with sightseeing. Among the hotel’s 9 dining options is Sushi Sora, offering traditional culinary experience and skyline views. Cantonese and French cuisines also tempt the tongue.

Mandarin Bar pours cool cocktails. http://www.mandarinoriental.com/tokyo/

#04-20/21 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 19 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247909 Tel: (65) 6334 6120 Fax: (65) 6337 4166 (Business Reg. No. 199307023G) enquiries@countryholidays.com.sg Web. www.countryholidays.com.sg