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Japan | Sample Itinerary  Despite its long history and prominent position on the global stage Japan remains a tantalizing mystery to most of the world. Boasting a truly unique cultural heritage and rich in scenic wonders, Japan offers all the ingredients for a memorable and invigorating holiday in the Far East.  

Okinawa Island Hopper

STAY IMMERSE INDULGE SAVOR

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Day 1 International Arrival in Naha (Okinawa Island) Mensoree (Welcome)! You will arrive from Tokyo to Naha International Airport in Okinawa and be greeted by airport staff who will direct you to your seat-sharing shuttle mini-van. From here we will transfer you to your hotel. If an airport assistant is required to attend your clients before 8:00AM or after 8:00PM, there may be a surcharge. As you watch the palm trees roll by and the tropical breeze waft through your hair, you will first notice that the Okinawan people are incredibly laid back, compared to their mainland counterparts. Originally a separate kingdom known as the Ryukyu, which was a popular trading hub for Japan, China and South-East Asian nations. The multiculturalism of past times can still be seen throughout Okinawa, from the food, to the people and their language. Okinawa has the highest populations of Centenarians anywhere on Earth. The secret to an Okinawan’s life is one you will soon experience first-hand: eat well and be happy! Your first day in Naha will be unguided. We will be making you expert PDFs on the city and dining so you may explore on your own. Overnight in Naha

Day 2 Naha –Churaumi(Aquarium)-Naha Today, enjoy anearly visit to Naha Market, where you will buy the essential food and protein needed to make Ryukyu cuisine. These ingredients will undoubtedly include Goya, a bitter melon that is mandatory throughout Okinawan cooking, and long thought to hold a key to Okinawan longevity. After an informative lesson on culture, and a delicious self-made lunch, transfer to the world-famous Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. In the Aquarium you will be able to see stunning exhibits of both Japan’s and Okinawa’s marine life, including the first exhibit to display live and fully-grown whale sharks! As the evening concludes, take a stroll through Naha with your guide. Here, down a back alley and off the beaten path, you will listen to traditionalOkinawan music. Okinawa is known for producing an incomparable amount of Japanese music and popular culture. At a local venue,you will get to hear the beautiful singing of Okinawans as the plucking of the sanshin (a three stringed instrument) lulls you into a gentle peace. Overnight in Naha  

Day 3 Naha –  Akajima/Zamami - Naha Today the beachwill beckon you. Transfer by private car to the ferry to reach some of Okinawa’s more remote Islands. Akajima and Zamami are famous among Okinawans for different reasons. The former will offer you a stunning coral reef, white sand beaches and utter isolation. The latter will offer you several choice restaurants and bars serving delicious fish and ice-cold Orion beer or a strong Awamoricocktail(a rice liquor unique to Okinawa and similar to Sochu). Whenever you are ready, simply take the ferry back to Okinawa, it departs regularly and we will give you detailed instructions. Overnight in Naha  

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Day 4 Naha – Ishigaki  You will arise early this morning for your final Okinawa adventure. Okinawa is known as the birthplace of karate. On the beach, we will give you a true ‘Karate Kid’ Experience. With your private master, you will train on the beach, the setting giving you center and focus. After your karate session, we will prepare a private seafood lunch for you. In the evening, you will fly from Okinawa to Ishigaki (If you’d like to extend your time on Okinawa island, there are still activities we can organize, ranging from scuba diving to exploring ancient Ryukyu castles.)

Upon arrival, a private transfer will take you to your accommodation. Enjoy walking the beach under the moonlight.

Overnight in Ishigaki

Day 5 Ishigaki  Today after breakfast, enjoy a full day of exploring Ishigaki’s stunning beaches on your own. If you have specific diving requests we are happy to assist as we know the best spots to see particular undersea life (Our favorite being the dive site where giant manta rays congregate and peacefully interact with divers). In the afternoon, enjoy a stunning glass bottom boat tour of Kabira Bay in Ishigaki. Here you will be able to see pristine coral reefs, undersea ecosystems and undisturbed marine life. Afterwards we will leave you on your own for the evening. If you would like anevening BBQ, dinner on the beach can be arranged. Overnight in Ishigaki

Day 6 Ishigaki – Taketomi –Ishigaki  Today you will depart by a 15-minute ferry for the tiny island of Taketomi. Though the island is tiny, it packs-in several thrills for travelers. For a unique welcome, you will be met by a buffalo-drawn cart, complete with a guide telling you folk stories about Okinawa while playing the sanshin. For those who wish to control the pace of their tour, renting a local bicycle is the best option to zip around the tiny island. Taketomi is famous for the exceptionally preserved Ryukyu village in the center of town, as well as the stunning ‘star sand’ beaches (beaches with sand made from the exoskeletons of small starfish and similar creatures). You will have plenty of time to explore both. In the evening you may either take a ferry back to Ishigaki, or you can choose to stay locally on one of the minshuku or ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) which exist on Taketomi. Overnight in Ishigaki or Taketomi

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Day 7 Ishigaki - Iriomote Today by 45-minute ferry, transfer from Ishigaki to Iriomote. Iriomote is Okinawa’s second largest island, but has a population barely over 2,000 inhabitants. The majority of this land is part of Iriomote National park, a verdant but rugged mixture of dense jungles, isolated beaches, rich waterfalls and mangrove swamps Your private guide will meet you at the port and transfer you to your accommodation. Along the way, they will discuss some of the options for your time in Iriomote and how adventurousyou wish to make your time here. In the late afternoon, and evening, we will leave it up to you as to which beach activities you would like to explore. We can set up fly fishing, sea kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, or any other activity which comes to mind. Tomorrow you will have a grand adventure into the jungles of Iriomote. Overnight in Iriomote

Day 8 Iriomote  In the early morning you will rise for your jungle adventure. Your guide will lead you deep into Iriomote’s mangroves by kayak. Here you will have a chance to explore either the Urauchi or Nakama Rivers. You will be able to explore dense jungles, hike in search of the rare Iriomote cat, and swim in lush river estuaries and waterfalls on this full day experience.

In the evening, return to your hotel or Ryokan, tired and full of memories of the wild.

Overnight in Iriomote

Day 9 Iriomote – Departure or Extension Today you will begin your return to Okinawa. Or if you wish to get lost further, you can continue exploring Iriomote or the ‘end of the earth’ island of Yonaguni, to set sight on mysterious undersea ruins and dive with hammerhead sharks. Either way, you will leave Okinawa with a completely new perspective on the identity of Japan.

 

*End of Proposed Itinerary*

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Values | What Makes us Tick

Our founder’s vision was to build a cultural bridge between the developed Western world, his world, and the often-misunderstood Oriental world, a region he remains passionate about to this day. While a sustainable bottom line and growth matter in every business venture, we deliberately stay small and boutique, passing over high passenger volume for an artisanal approach to travel. D I S C R E T I O N We do not sell, disseminate or manipulate any information you provide us with. Any discussions we have with you before, during or after the tour are private and will remain so indefinitely. Our branding is very discrete and mostly invisible so that you don’t feel like a customer, a tourist, but rather a respected guest in the old-fashioned sense of the word.

I N T E G R I T Y We understand that an honest business is a sustainable business. We will never allow ourselves to compromise on quality, value or sincerity. If we can’t or won’t do something, we will tell you upfront. If we make a mistake, we will own up to it. If we think you are making a wrong travel decision, we will tell you directly, and explain why.

F L E X I B I L I T Y When you engage Mandarin Journeys to plan your travel, you are not buying a product and we simply don’t offer prepackaged trips, as it would be an insult to your individuality. Trip planning starts with a dialogue, so we may get to know your expectations, wants and desires. Only then do we plan a suitable holiday and suggest the individual experiences that make up a great journey. During your trip, we are open to changes as much as the logistics will reasonably allow, so that once again, you feel like a guest, an explorer even, not a tourist. We may charge a modest fee for changes, but those will fade in comparison with the value and enjoyment you get from working with a flexible partner.

Mandarin Journeys is a low-impact company; by limiting our passenger volume and working exclusively with responsible local partners, our environmental footprint is extremely low for a travel company. Every guide must abide by our strict service guidelines and we lean heavily towards hotels with LEED certification or at the very least a verifiable sustainability policy.

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Destination(s) Japan China VietnamTaiwan Laos CambodiaTibet Thailand MongoliaIndonesia Burma Bhutan

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