Friday, April 6, 2012
Inspired to Cruise
Everybody has their own reasons to cruise, whether they’re celebrating a special time in their life, reconnecting with friends and family, or just taking a break from the everyday grind!
Check out these stories from Princess Cruise passengers who were inspired to cruise and maybe get a little inspiration of your own!
For information and booking cruises worldwide please contact us or see the Cruise with Naka’s page at:
http://www.nakastrav … eatured-cruises.html
Be sure to ask about upcoming 2013 Japan cruises on the Sun Princess, coming out for sale later this month!
- To Escape the Ice Storm
- To Learn About Family Ancestry
- To Revisit Vietnam
- To Get Married…by Surprise
- To Bridge a Generation Gap
- To Revisit Wartime Memories
- To Surprise a Loved One
- To Cruise on the “Love Boat”
- To Visit Family Far Away
- To Dance with My Husband
- To Get Away with Girlfriends
- To Spoil the Grandkids
- To Take One Last Trip Before the Kids Leave the Nest
- To Marry Each Other…Twice
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Five Castles Designated as National Treasures in Japan
It is said that there were almost 25,000 castles one time in Japan, big or small. Today only 12 remain with the original Main Tower (Tenshu). Four of them and Nijo Castle in Kyoto are designated as National Treasures, regardless that Nijo Castle lost its Main Tower by a lightning strike in 1750.
1. Himeji Castle, Himeji City
Known as the White Heron Castle, Himeji Castle has attracted tourists and photographers from all over the world. Himeji Castle is also designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. As informed via the JTS Bulletin News October 2010, the 5-year major restoration of the Main Tower started in 2010, and now the Main Tower is completely covered with the roofed scaffolding. An observation facility, Egret’s Eye View, is built inside to let the visitors see the restoration process. Please advise your clients to make reservations online to secure the admission to the Egret’s Eye View as they limit the admission occasionally.
Castle Visitor’s Hours: 9:00 am-4:00 pm (Castle area closed at 5 pm),
until 5:00 pm from April 27 to Aug. 31.
Closed: Dec. 29 & 30
Admission to Castle: 400 yen ($4.80)
Admission to the Egret’s Eye View is additional: 200 yen ($2.40)
Access: 5 min. by bus or 15 min. walk from JR Himeji Station.
http://www.himejijo- … uri.jp/en/index.html
2. Nijo Castle, Kyoto City
Nijo Castle is also designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Originally this castle was built as an official residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun Ieyasu in 1603. The Ninomaru Palace, a National Treasure, is well preserved with elaborate architectural design and gorgeous interior decorations. There are three beautifully landscaped Japanese gardens in the property.
Hours: 8:45 am-4:00 pm (The gate closed at 5 pm)
Closed: Dec 26-Jan 4; every Tuesday in Dec, Jan, July and Aug
Admission: 600 yen ($7.20)
Access: About 15 min. by bus from JR Kyoto Station to Nijo-jo-mae Bus Stop, or by subway with one transfer.
http://www.city.kyoto.jp/bunshi/nijojo
3. Matsumoto Castle, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture
Constructed in the 16th century, Matsumoto Castle is one of the oldest surviving Japan’s castles. The six-story Matsumoto Castle against a backdrop of Japan Alps is amazingly beautiful. Seasonal events in the precinct are scheduled, such as the Castle lightning-up during cherry blossom season, Takigi-Noh (Bonfire Noh performance) and Japanese drum (taiko) performance.
Hours: 8: 30 am-5:00 pm (enter by 4:30 pm), until 6 pm during Golden Week (April 28-May 6, 2012) & summer season (Aug 4-19, 2012)
Closed: Dec 29-Jan 3
Admission: 600 yen ($7.20)
Access: 15 mn.walk from JR Matsumoto Station. Or 10 min. by bus.
http://welcome.city. … nts03+index.id+3.htm
4. Hikone Castle, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture
The construction of the castle began in 1603 and it took almost 20 years to build the whole castle. The 3-story Main Tower, a National Treasure, was built around 1606 and the top floor provides breathtaking view of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake.
Hours: 8:30 am-5:00 pm, year-round
Admission: 600 yen ($7.20), including the admission for Genkyuen Garden
Access: 10 min. walk from JR Hikone Station. Hikone Station is 5 min. from Maibara Station by JR rapid train. Maibara is 30 min. from Nagoya Station, or 40 min. from Shin-Osaka Station by Shinkansen, Bullet Train.
5. Inuyama Castle, Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture
Inuyama Castle was constructed in 1537 and the Main Tower is considered Japan’s oldest. The castle stands on the steep cliffs overlooking Kiso River. The external corridor on the top floor provides superb view of Kiso River, and mountain ranges over the city.
Hours: 9:00 am-5:00 pm (enter by 4:30 pm)
Closed: Dec 29-31
Admission: 500 yen ($6.00)
Access: 20 min. walk from Inuyama Station. Inuyama Station is 25 min. from Meitetsu Nagoya Station by limited express train on Meitetsu Railways.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Mele Mei 2012
Mele Mei is a month-long celebration of the unique music of Hawaii. Started in May 2011, Mele Mei 2012 represents anchor Hawaiian music and hula events throughout the entire month of May. Events in Mele Mei are held throughout Waikiki and will take place at various hotels, venues and the beach. Beginning on May 1st, and every weekend leading up to the Festival, partner events are scheduled including Lei of Stars dinner concert (Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame); Hawaii Book and Music Festival; International Hula Conference (Waikiki Improvement Association); Ka Leo Kiekie Contest, Hula Palua Competition, and Legends of Steel luncheon concert (Maiki Aiu Foundation); Slack Key All Stars Concert (East Hawaii Cultural Center); cultural walking/music tours of Waikiki; and several Hawaiian concerts for Mother’s Day.
On April 27th a media brunch will kick off Mele Mei to welcome participants, government officials, music educators from around the state, media and special guests. The brunch will feature music and comments from keynote speakers and provide media information on the events occurring in the four weeks to follow.
Additionally, there will be two concert events that weekend to kick-off Mele Mei on Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28, 2012. Both concerts will feature Na Hoku Hanohano Award winning artists.
For more information and a complete listing of all special offers, visit the Mele Mei web site at http://melemei.com/index.html.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Okinawan Languages - Myakufutsu, the language of Miyako Island
Do you know about the languages of Okinawa? Check out this article for some interesting information about the different languages of Okinawa, which are different both from Japanese and from each other. We’ll be going to Miyako Island this October to check out their unique kind of Okinawan on the Naka’s Travel Hawaii United Okinawa Association Study Tour and Okinawa Naha Matsuri Tour from October 4th - October 15th 2012
We’ll also be visiting Ikema Island, which has a unique dialect all its own, even though it is just across the bridge from Miyako Island!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Kama’aina Discount for 2012 South Pacific Solar Eclipse Cruise
If the winter solstice has you in a celestial state of mind, Celebrity Cruises is set to host one cruise itinerary in 2012 that’s sure to be out of this world. The 19-night South Pacific Solar Eclipse Cruise, aboard the 1,950-passenger Celebrity Millennium, is due to embark on November 2, 2012, from Honolulu en route to Sydney. Given that one of the best places to view the total solar eclipse will be from the southern Pacific Ocean, cruising is just about your best bet for viewing this cosmic phenomenon firsthand.
Port calls on the lengthy voyage will include exotic stops like Hilo, Hawaii; Pago Pago, American Samoa; Suva, Fiji; and a trio of locales in New Zealand: Tauranga, Auckland, and the Bay of Islands. Given the repositioning nature of this transpacific sailing, you can expect a substantial amount of time spent at sea, with at least a dozen days spent in transit, including November 14, the date of the solar eclipse.
Happily, the Celebrity Millennium will be fittingly “Solsticized” ahead of the occasion in May 2012, meaning that it will be retrofitted and refreshed with many of the venues, experiences, and design elements that have made the line’s Solstice class of ships so popular. Expect AquaClass spa-inspired accommodations, a Celebrity iLounge, new Specialty Restaurants, and Ice-Topped Martini bar, Cellar Masters Wine Bar, and more.
Special Kama’aina Rates for the solar eclipse-themed sailing start at just $2,009 per person ($106/night), for inside cabins; upgrade to oceanview from $2,269 ($119/night) or a balcony for $2,709 ($143/night).
Special offer: Book between January 9 - February 5, 2012 and receive a $300 discount per stateroom!
Contact Naka’s Travel Service for more information, book a Celebrity Cruise online now or see more cruising options on the Cruise with Naka’s page.
