Auto Factory Tour of Germany

What comes to your mind when you hear the word "Germany"? Probably, most people will imagine a beer with a good head or crispy sausage. However, car lovers will definitely imagine Germany cars. If you love a car, this is the place to visit! Germany is well known as the automotive industry producing luxury and high-performance cars. In addition, there are four automotive companies' factories and museums such as Volkswagen, BMW,Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Porches.  Let's go on a car pilgrimage to Germany and enjoy seeing the automobiles!

Most sports-car enthusiasts dream of visiting to the factories in Germany because they can see the manufacturing process and a great collection of rare classic and antique cars only there. This tour is classified into the Lifestyle Tourism because this tour is designed for needs of sports-car enthusiasts. Moreover, it belongs to the Historical Tourism because this tour will not only make car lovers' dreams come true but also provide them an opportunity to learn the histories of the four automotive companies. 

Suggested Itinerary (3 Days)

Estimated Cost
$254 ( Include; Accommodation & Rented car & Tickets )

Transportation
Rent a car at SIXT in the Berlin Airport and get around by the car.
Enjoy driving on the Autobahn!

Day 1: Volkswagen Factory & Museum

Volkswagen has the Volkswagen Group, and it is the largest automaker whole the world.
Discover the history of the Volkswagen and see the manufacturing process of the cars all day!

Check into the Centro Hotel Alter Wolf hotel.

Day 2: BMW Factory & Museum

Check out the hotel & Drive from Wolfs-burg to Munich.

BMW was originally a company for producing car's engines.
You can see how luxury cars are made in the plant and rare classic cars all day!

Check into the Leonardo Royal Hotel Munich.

Day 3: Mercedes-Benz Factory & Museum → Porsche Factory & Museum

Check out the hotel & Drive from Munich to Stuttgart.

In the morning, you will go to the Mercedes-Benz factory & museum in order to learn history and the manufacturing process of the cars.

After noon, you will go to the Porsche Factory & Museum, and enjoy getting around the museum and taking a photo of a super car.

 Mercedes-Benz Factory & Museum

Porsche Factory & Museum

"Ski & Snowboard Tour" Whistler-Blackcomb Canada

Ski and Snowboard Tour

~Whistler-Blackcomb~ Canada

Dream destinations for skiers and snowboarders...Whistler and Blackcomb mountains are well known as a great destination for skiing and snowboarding, and people from all over the world visit there for obtaining its ultimate experiences. The mountains has variety of courses with 200+ marked trails, and accommodations, restaurants and transportation are prepared for visitors. Join us and enjoy exploring the largest scale ski mountains in the North America! 

Ski and Snowboard tour provides experiences for the people who enjoy winter sports in the nature, so it is classified into Sport Tourism; however, the tourist not only experience doing sports but also finds how the destination's nature is great through the skiing and snowboarding, so it also can be classified into Adventure Tourism.This tour appeals to from young people to old people who is looking for a wonderful skiing destination. 

In this tour, people also can see the reality of environmental problem by looking at melting glacier. Therefore, tourists will not only enjoy and see its positive part of nature but also learn how the nature is damaged, and they can develop their thinking about environment.

Itinerary (3 days)

Estimated price (Lift tickets, Hotels, Bus)
$650.00-

Day 1

Enjoy skiing or snowboarding at Whistler mountain!

The mountain is really huge and has a lot of courses, so you are better to check the map carefully before you go.

Accommodation:

Check in to Whistler Village Inn


Day 2

Enjoy skiing or snowboarding at Blackcomb mountain!

Check in to Pinnacle Hotel Whistler

Day 3

Morning: Ski or Snowboard 
Choice:    Whistler or Blackcomb Mt


Afternoon: Explore Whistler village (Shopping, Eating) 






Transportation

Vancouver 
         ⬇
         ⬇(Bus...Pacific Coach or Greyhound $18-)
         ⬇
Whistler village

History Tour in Gifu Prefecture

Experience Old Japan - History Tour in Gifu, Japan

Perhaps most foreign people imagine "Kyoto" when they are asked where old Japan could be felt in Japan. Even Japanese associate the question with Kyoto. However, Gifu Prefecture has places to appeal old Japan as well! so let's join the tour and experience old Japan in Gifu!

In this tour, I want you to experience Japanese culture, which still retains the same culture it had in the past, as a participant. In short, you'll taste through this tour a part of Japanese history, so the tour is classified into cultural tourism. The target for the tour is people who are interested in a different culture and history: young adults and older people. On the other hand, the tour is fewer activities for kids, so it might not be suitable for families. Mainly, participants walk around in two areas out of 5 areas in Gifu. Participants can enjoy Onsen (hot spring), which is one of Japanese symbols, with great nature, and they can also experience Japanese traditional culture. In Gifu, they can actually try it, not only watching! so they'll learn how Japanese ancients lived in the past and what their amusements were.

Suggested Itinerary (3 days)

Day 1:
Go to Hida Takayama Matsuri-no-mori (飛騨高山まつりの森)

In here, you'll see the big festival stands called matsuri-yatai. 

These stands are used for Takayama Matsuri festival, which is one of Japanese three major beautiful festivals (the festival is held on April 14-15th and October 9-10th every year). 

Also, you'll look at unique mechanical dolls, which are traditional entertainment

from Edo era (more than 100 years ago) up to the present. 

There is the biggest wooden drum in the world, and you can listen a performance by the drum, too.

(mechanical doll)

(wooden drum)

Check in Yunohirakan (湯の平館) 

In Gifu, there are many spots of hot spring called Okuhida-onsen-gou (奥飛騨温泉郷), 

and Japanese love taking a bath to relax their body. 

In Yunohirakan, you can definitely relax your body with nice hot spring! 

Day 2:

Check out the hotel, Yunohirakan

Go to Hida Folk Village - Hida-no-sato (飛騨民俗村-飛騨の里)

The village museum, which old living in Hida, Gifu is reproduced in abundant nature. You can watch old houses and agricultural tools. Also, you'll try some cultural things like playing old games and making traditional stuff. You might feel as if you have been transported to a past age!!

Check in Wanosato (倭乃里)

You can enjoy a room of old Japanese-style as well as hot spring. 

After dinner, people who live in Hida, Gifu talk a folk tale 

while sitting around Japanese-style fireplace. 

Also, you can listen history about plants and food in Hida 

with traditional sake called Kappo-sake!!

(Kappo-sake)

Day 3:

Check out the hotel, Wanosato

Go to Gifu castle (岐阜城)

Perhaps most travelers visit temples and shrines when they come to Japan, 

but also they should visit Japanese castle! Each castle has different beauty, 

and Gifu castle has a captivating point as well. 

My recommendation is taking a ropeway to see beautiful nature, 

especially you should take it in fall (the season of red leaves). 

Gifu castle is on the top of a mountain called Kinkazan, 

so taking a ropeway is a useful way to go to Gifu castle. 

Also, you can enjoy the beautiful view of Gifu!!

(taking a ropeway in the season of red leaves)

Participate in Cormorant fishing (ぎふ長良川鵜飼)

The cormorant fishing is the way of fishing, which has traditionally been protected, 

so it has a long history in more than 1000 years. 

This fishing is that an usho (cormorant fishing master) and u (cormorant birds) 

work together by using the flames of kagari-bi (fishing fire lanterns) 

reflecting on the dark surface of Nagara river.

(the season: from May 11th to October 15th)

Check in Juhachiro (十八楼)

This hotel is also old Japenese-style called Ryokan as well as Wanosato, 

which you'll stay for one night on the second day. 

Juhachiro has more than 150 years of history, so you can taste old atmosphere there. 

Also, the hotel is located near Nagara river, 

so the view of the river makes you feeling better!!

Transportation:

Seattle(SEA) to Narita(NRT) by airplane

↓

Narita to Tokyo by train

↓

Tokyo to Gifu Prefecture by bullet train

↓

Around Gifu by car, train, bus, or taxi

Estimated cost:

$750 for two people (only including hotels and tour)

Haunted History Tour: San Diego CA! - Niche Tour 2016

Haunted History Tour: San Diego California! 👻

Tour the downtown district of waterfront San Diego... In the dark ...with ghosts. Not sold yet? San Diego is often called “The Most Haunted City in the West Coast”, with it's haunted hotels, restaurants, homes, and parks, this is the perfect place for a “Haunted History tour”! Explore the Gaslamp quarter, the Whaley house, Old Town Julian and so much more!

Haunted History tours often appeal to those in the historic and cultural Niche market, which is often classified as traveling to learn  of a place of historical significance, but an argument could also be made to classify this tour as Adventure tourism, because their is an element of danger and fear present. A tour like this would appeal to young adults and thrill seekers, even families. This tour covers the entire city of San Diego, from the coastline to the desert inner city. It puts a fun twist on the historic city sites. I've always loved ghost stories so this is a tour that I would love this tour! These types of tours not only discuss the culture of the past the the historic significance but also the current culture of the city and how people are embracing the past!

Suggested Itinerary (3 Days) :
Budget estimated $550 for two people (Hotels and tours only)

Day One:

Check into the Grand Horton Hotel’s haunted Room 309!

This room is said to be haunted, with guest claiming to hear strange sounds and objects being tampered with!

walking tour of Downtown with Haunted San Diego Tours.

Day Two:

check out of the Horton hotel

Walking tour of the Whaley house! This house is supposedly haunted by the spirits of “Yankee Jim (a horse thief who was hanged nearby), a little girl who passed in the home, and Dolly a fox terrier who was also a resident of the home. http://Holloween.org/tourhalloween.htm (More fun during Halloween Season!)

Check into the Coronado Hotel.

This seaside Victorian Resort is crawling with stories of spirits who never check out!

Visit the Star of India Museum! This floating museum was built in 1863 and was the scene of many tragic deaths as a fishing boat.

Day Three:

Pioneer Park  , “In 1870, 10 acres of land were set aside for Calvary Cemetery in Mission Hills and became the final resting place for 1,650 souls.In 1870, 10 acres of land were set aside for Calvary Cemetery in Mission Hills and became the final resting place for 1,650 souls...” https://www.ghostsandgravestones.com/san-diego/pioneer-park.php

The old jail in the historic town of Julian. Surrounded in mystery, legend has it some prisoners were found hanging in the trees outside the prison.

Stay at the historic Hotel Cortez! Its doors opened in 1927, supposedly haunted by the spirits of a mother and son who died in the mid 1980’s !

Explore Tokyo

Tokyo 東京

Tokyo is considered to be one of Japan's most dynamic city in Japan. You certainly can experience Japanese own gracious hospitality and cultural riches. You will be definitely fulfilled  with happiness aglow...

Hotels in Tokyo

Enjoy genuine Japanese hospitality while staying in genuine accomodations which you have never experienced in your country.

Hosinoya 星のや

Sawanoya澤の屋

See more Sawanoya 

  Tokyo Station Hotel東京ステーションホテル

The Edo Sakura江戸さくら

Eating Establishments in Tokyo

 Tokyo is also known as the most exciting dining destination. You can taste Japanese food culture from Japanese traditional food to the local food. 

トリトン Toriton(Sushi)    

 祇園辻利  Giontsujiri(Japanese Sweets)

Yayoikenやよい軒

 一蘭 Ichiran(Ramen)

 富久鮨 Fukusushi(Sushi)

 原宿餃子楼 Harajuku Gyozaro(Gyoza)

Activities 

 Tsukishima

 Tokyo Skytree 

 Asakusa

 Tokyo Tower

Harajuku and Meiji Shrine

Kawagoe

Transportations 

From SEA(Seattle, WA, US) to NRT(Tokyo-Narita, Japan)

Delta approximately $1,067(round-trip)

All Nippon Airways approximately $1,603.91(round-trip)

 Japan Airlines approximately $1,700.30(round-trip)

 From NRT to Tokyo

 Narita Skyliner 2,470yen(approximately $24.70)

Around Tokyo

By train: East Japan Railway Company, Seibu Railway

By rental car: NIPPON RENT A CAR, NISSAN Rent a Car

By taxi: NIHON KOTSU

Side Trips

Fuji Five Lakes(Fujigoko) 富士五湖

The majestic Five Lakes offers spectacular views. Mt. Fuji is UNESCO listed mountain which is also known as Japan's highest mountain and the most well-known icon. 

Kamakura 鎌倉

Kamakura is also famous city located in Kanagawa prefecture. Since Kamakura was once a political center Japan as well as Nara and Kyoto were in the past, you can certainly feel the ancient Japanese culture.

Enoshima 江ノ島

Enoshima is also located in Kanazawa prefecture as well as Kamakura where you can reach for  only 20 minutes by train. The island offers a variety of attractions, including a shrine, park, observation tower and caves. 

Three Day Suggested Itinerary

Transportation

From SEA(Seattle, WA, US) to NRT(Tokyo-Narita, Japan)

Delta $1,067(round-trip)

All Nippon Airways $1,603.91(round-trip)

 Japan Airlines $1,700.30(round-trip)

From NRT to Tokyo

Narita Skyliner 2,470yen(approximately $24.70)

Day1 Arrive Tokyo By airplane

Welcome to Japan. Upon arrival at Tokyo Narita Airport, transfer by Narita Skyliner to your centrally located hotel. You enjoy Japanese traditional dinner at Sawanoya澤の屋.

• Arrive at Tokyo Narita Airport by airplane(All Nippon Airways)
• Transfer by Narita Skyliner to your hotel
• Check in at Sawanoya澤の屋
• Dinner at Sawanoya澤の屋

Day2 Tokyo Sightseeing By train

See the Tokyo Skytree which is the world's highest free-standing broadcasting tower. Your tour continues to Asakusa, and you visit Sensoji Buddhist temple, which is one of the most colorful and popular temple.

• Tokyo Skytree (Tembo Deck $20)
• Lunch at トリトン Toriton(Sushi) 
• Enjoy Japanese sweets at 祇園辻利   Giontsujiri(Japanese Sweets)
•  Visit Asakusa
• Visit Sensoji Buddhist temple
• Dinner at Sawanoya澤の屋

Day3 Tokyo Sightseeing By train

Today continue your City Tour with a visit to Harajuku.  Harajuku is the influential center city where lots of teenage culture and fashions have been made, and at the same time it offers historical sights. You can enjoy both historical and famous places in Harajuku.

• Breakfast at Sawanoya澤の屋
• Visit Takeshita Street
• Lunch at Yayoikenやよい軒
• Visit at Meiji Shrine
• Relax at Yoyogi Park
• Dinner at Sawanoya澤の屋

Day 4 Tokyo- Enoshima By train

Enoshima is located in Kanagawa prefecture, where it takes for one and a half hour from your station by train. You can see many cuddly cats in the mainland. If you are an cats lover, you will definitely like there. Even if you are not, you can certainly enjoy your stay at Enoshima. There are many restaurants at which you can eat the local food, which you have probably never tasted in your country.

• Breakfast at Sawanoya澤の屋
• Arrive at Enoshima by train
• Lunch at Uomitei 魚見亭
• Look around the mainland
• Enjoy a sunset at Enoshima
• Dinner at Sawanoya澤の屋

Day5 Depart Tokyo

Transfer to Tokyo Narita Airport by Narita Skyliner.

A tip: Travel to Tokyo often takes lots of time. Sometimes it requires an overnight flight. So you had better make your flight arrangements to arrive before the first day of your trip.