PKG Tour CodeJPN-SAKE2026
Sake, Sea & Scenery Tour (Mar. 6, 2026 to Mar. 15, 2026)
Depart on Mar. 6, 2026! Soak in the festive spirit of Niigata’s Sake no Jin, uncover artisan traditions and coastal beauty on Sado Island, and immerse yourself in the timeless heritage of Aizu and Kawagoe.
Feature
- Niigata: Join the excitement of the Sake no Jin Festival, sample regional brews at historic breweries, and explore the lively Pia Bandai market. Discover Niigata’s artisan traditions through rice cracker making, lacquerware polishing, and cultural treasures at the Northern Culture Museum.
- Sado Island: Cross the Japan Sea to discover this storied island. Ride in a traditional tarai bune tub boat, stroll the preserved streets of Shukunegi, try taiko drumming, and step into history at the Sado Gold Mine. Visit Toki Forest Park and savor a kaiseki dinner at a seaside hotel.
- Aizu-Wakamatsu: Explore the samurai legacy of Tsurugajo Castle and the unique architecture of Aizu Sazaedo. Create your own maki-e lacquerware, wander Nanokamachi Street, and experience the warmth of a traditional izakaya.
- Kawagoe & Tokyo: Step back in time along Kawagoe’s Edo-era streets and visit Hikawa Shrine before returning to Tokyo for a farewell dinner and final overnight stay.
- Culinary Experiences: Enjoy 26 included meals—regional specialties, market-fresh seafood, kaiseki dinners, izakaya evenings, and seasonal treats like strawberry picking.
- Relaxed Travel Style: Travel comfortably with a bilingual tour leader from Honolulu and expert local guides. Enjoy well-paced days with a balance of guided sightseeing and personal time, plus multi-night stays in each region for a smoother journey.
- WiFi router rental included!
- Experience the lively spirit of Niigata’s Sake no Jin Festival and journey through Japan’s coastal heartlands where tradition and flavor meet. From brewery tastings and artisan workshops to the serene landscapes of Sado Island and the historic heritage of Aizu, each day blends culture, scenery, and seasonal delights. With immersive activities, regional cuisine, and moments of relaxation in onsen waters, this 11-day, 9-night tour offers a rich and balanced way to connect with Northern Japan’s timeless beauty.
Schedule
- Day1
- Arrive in Tokyo and transfer to your hotel in the city center.
Relax after your flight and join the group for a welcome bento dinner — your first taste of Japan’s seasonal flavors.
dinner
Hotel Monte Hermana Tokyo or similar
-
- MorningBoard the shinkansen north to Niigata, known as Japan’s sake capital.
- AfternoonTaste a variety of regional brews at Ponshukan, tour Imayo Tsukasa Brewery, and explore the bustling Pia Bandai market filled with seafood and local specialties.
breakfastlunchdinner
ANA Crowne Plaza Niigata or similar
-
- MorningBegin with hands-on copper hammering in Tsubame
Elegant kaiseki lunch with a geiko performance. - AfternoonEnjoy rest of the day at Sake no Jin Festival, where breweries from across Niigata showcase their best creations
breakfastlunchdinner
ANA Crowne Plaza Niigata or similar
-
- MorningStart with a rice cracker-making experience, shaping and toasting your own snack.
- AfternoonVisit the Oumon Sake Brewery for a guided tasting, explore the historic Northern Culture Museum, and end the day polishing lacquerware chopsticks — a personal memento of Niigata craftsmanship.
breakfastlunchdinner
ANA Crowne Plaza Niigata or similar
-
- MorningTake a jetfoil ferry across the Japan Sea to Sado Island.
- AfternoonVisit Toki Forest Park to see the crested ibis, tour Obata Sake Brewery, and stop at Kirarium Sado
- EveningCheck in to your seaside hotel for a kaiseki dinner.
breakfastlunchdinner
Hotel Azuma or similar
-
- MorningExperience the island’s heritage with a tub boat ride, a stroll through the preserved streets of Shukunegi, and an energizing taiko drumming workshop.
- AfternoonVisit historic Sado Gold Mine
breakfastlunchdinner
Hotel Azuma or similar
-
- MorningSail back to Niigata
- AfternoonLunch and visit Sasaiwai Brewery.
Enjoy strawberry picking - EveningArrive at Aizu
Check in to the onsen hotel
breakfastlunchdinner
Aizu Area Onsen Hotel or similar
-
- MorningStep into samurai history at Tsurugajo Castle and the architectural wonder of Aizu Sazaedo.
- AfternoonCreate your own maki-e lacquerware
Stroll Nanokamachi Street - Evening
breakfastlunchdinner
Aizu Area Onsen Hotel or similar or similar
- Day9
- MorningTravel south to Kawagoe, where Edo-era streets and Hikawa Shrine reveal a nostalgic side of Japan.
- AfternoonReturn to Tokyo
- EveningA farewell dinner
breakfastlunchdinner
Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo or similar
- Day10
- Enjoy a leisurely day in Tokyo with time for last-minute shopping or sightseeing
Transfer to Haneda Airport for your evening flight to the U.S. (Late check out)
breakfast
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S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
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01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06$4290 | 07 |
08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
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Arrangement
※Displayed price is based on adult (2 adults per room).
Remarks
- Booking Policy
Rates:The mentioned prices may fluctuate due to the changes of surcharge, fees, taxes or currency status without prior notice. The actual prices will be officially confirmed at the time of booking. Please kindly verify with your H.I.S. representative.
Reservation: The reservation must be made 65 days before the start of the tour. - Pertinent Information Before Travel - Hotel :
-The hotel rooms are considerably smaller than western ones.
-The ceilings are much lower, giving a perception of the scope of the rooms.
-The normal double beds are French-sized (140cm x 200cm), with a few hotels featuring double rooms with a double bed.
-Rooms with double beds or smoking rooms must be specially reserved and, because of the scarcity, cannot be guaranteed.
-The pajamas and yukata provided by the hotel are only for use in the hotel. - Pertinent Information Before Travel - Trains (if included) :
-The spaces for suitcases on Japanese trains are very limited (this is the reason for the separate transport of the luggage in our packages).
-For the packages that mention the JR Pass, our assistant or guide will help with reserving the train (for the tours with a guide, we cannot guarantee that the whole group can sit together). It is only possible to reserve the trains after arriving in Japan and there may be no availability for the trains mentioned in the program.
-2nd Class tickets (regular) are used in the packages. Usage of 1st class tickets must be booked and requires extra fees.
-Please refrain from talking loudly on the train.
-Talking on the phone on the train is forbidden.
-Please note that it is very difficult to reserve train tickets during specific periods such as "Golden Week" consecutive national holidays, Bon Holidays and the end of the year/New Year period.
-Commuter trains and arterial roads in big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka are crowded during the rush hour, and in the mornings and evenings. - Pertinent Information Before Travel - Meals (if included) :
-Japanese meals rarely include desserts. Sometimes there will be a small plate with fruits that accompany the main dish.
-In some typical restaurants it is obligatory to take off your shoes. We recommend wearing stockings or socks (this is not obligatory).
-For special food needs and requests (allergies, vegetarians, etc.), please state them during your reservation, so that we can inform the restaurants. - Pertinent Information Before Travel - Visits (if included) :
-Often during temple/shrine visits, guests will have to take off their shoes. We advise wearing socks (not obligatory, but do not go barefoot).
-Cultural properties may be under renovation and covered.
-Itinerary may change due to inevitable causes such as closing, natural disasters, traffic jams, etc. - Pertinent Information Before Travel - Others (if included) :
-You are not allowed to stand and smoke on the street. Smoking is permitted only in designated smoking areas.
-Surcharge for arrival between 20:00 and 07:00.
-Guide / Assistant: Assistant from the airport to the hotel in English (day 1). Assistance service available for a maximum of 4 hours. After 2 hours from the originally scheduled landing time, the assistant may no longer be available. During peak seasons, assistance may be available separately at the airport and at the hotel. In case of arrival during the closure of the JR offices at the airport and in Tokyo, customers will not be able to be accompanied to validate the Japan Rail Pass and will therefore have to make changes and bookings independently in the following days. Guide in English (day 2 and day 4) Telephone support (emergency number) for the duration of the stay.
-Surcharge for arrival between 20:00 and 07:00 - Travel Arrangement Options
If you plan to extend your trip, we can also arrange any travel items as follows.
-Hotel Accommodations other than specified in the itinerary
-Japan Rail Pass and Rail Tickets
-Japan Air Pass and Domestic Flights
-Airport Transfers
-Day Tours
=Travel Insurance
etc.
We can also arrange your international flights between any cities in the U.S. and Japan at our special airfare. Please ask your agent for more details.