8-Day Tokyo and Yokohama Twin City Tour

In 1603, Edo, a fishing hamlet clustered around a crumbling castle, became the national capital, replacing Kyoto. By the 18th century it was already the largest city in the world; in the early 21st century Tokyo (its name since 1868) has a population of 11 million. During the national closure (1637-1868), Edo was the cradle of Japanese urban culture. After 1868 it became the nucleus for Western influences and rapid modernization. It was the city of firsts - railroads, stone buildings, factories, gas, electricity, trams and telephones. Presently, almost nothing of Edo remains, and most of older Tokyo was destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and incendiary bombs two decades later. Postwar reconstruction transformed Tokyo beyond recognition. Tokyo suffers from a total lack of urban planning. Yet behind busy central thoroughfares and in the suburbs, quieter residential districts have their own temples, shrines, markets, and main streets, and many retain their old village atmosphere. Today, Tokyo is one of the most vibrant and diverse metropolis in the world, a city of many faces: the Hedonistic Shinjuku; the funky teen culture at Harajuku; the ‘electronic town’ of Akihabara with the unique Anime and ‘Otaku’ venues; traditional neighborhoods at Ueno and Asakusa; the fashionable Omotesando; the upmarket shopping area of Ginza and Marunouchi; the ambitious development at Tokyo Bay; the contemporary architecture at Roppongi Hills... It is always delightful to spend a few days in Tokyo to experience its vibrance, to enjoy a wide variety of cuisines, to browse around shops and museums or enjoy a moment of serenity in one of its many parks.

Yokohama. Located 27 km. southwest of Tokyo, it seems that it is a continuation of Tokyo’s gigantic urban sprawl. Yokohama is the country’s second largest city and the largest port. Arrival of Commodore Perry in 1853 ended the Tokugawa Shogunate’s 200 years of seclusion policy, and Yokohama is one of the first ports opened to foreign traders in 1859. The city was rapidly developed into a base for foreign trade, and the first English language newspaper, the Japan Herald, was published in Yokohama in 1861. In 1872, Japan’s first railway was constructed connecting Yokohama to Shinagawa and Shimbashi in Tokyo. The city was destroyed twice during the first half of the 20th century: the great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and the American air raid in 1945. During the Korean War, Yokohama was a major transshipment base for American supplies and personnel. The city has undergone major reconstruction during the past five decades. Minato-Mirai 21 (Harbor Future 21), a waterfront development, is a major showcase of recent constructions: an area built mostly on reclaimed land comprised of a beautiful harbor; Pacifico Yokohama, a convention and meeting venue; Queen’s Center Mall; Yokohama Museum of Art; Yokohama Maritime Museum and Landmark Tower, Japan’s tallest skyscraper. Besides this, there are other areas that make Yokohama unique: the historic harbor town of Yamashita Park; the colonial Motomachi area, Sankeien Garden with its beautiful landscaping; and the Yokohama Chinatown.

Tour Itinerary:

Day 01: U.S. - Tokyo
Depart Honolulu for Tokyo.

Day 02: Tokyo
Arrive Tokyo’s Narita Airport, transfer to hotel.
Accommodation: Yokohama Bay Sheraton.

Day 03: Yokohama (B/L)
Day tour of Yokohama, visiting Yokohama Bay Bridge, Landmark Tower, Lunch at Yokohama Chinatown, Foreign General Cemetery, Yamashita Park and the Red Brick Warehouses.

Day 04: Yokohama (B)
Day free for you to explore Yokohama at your own pace.

Day 05: Yokohama Tokyo (B)
Transfer to Tokyo’s Shimbashi Station by local train; proceed to hotel.
Accommodation: Dai-ichi Tokyo Hotel.

Day 06: Tokyo (B/L)
Day tour of Tokyo, visiting Tokyo Tower, Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace East Garden, Lunch at a local restaurant, Hama-Rikyu Garden, Cruise on the Sumida River, Asakusa Kannon Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street.

Day 07: Tokyo (B)
Day free for you to explore Tokyo at your own pace.

Day 08: Tokyo - U.S. (B)
Transfer to Narita Airport for flight back to the U.S.