F.A.Qs.
For Japan escorted tours:
– Q1. What’s included in the tour package?
– Our Japan tours include almost everything (full-time tour escorting services from Hilo, economy-class hotel accommodations with some breakfast, transportation fees, luggage transfer fees, admission/entrance fees, airport shuttle services from/to Hilo Airport, etc.) Depending on which tour you are participating in, it might be slightly different. Please check the itinerary for the tour before registering.
– Q2. Do I need a passport to join your tour and get to Japan?
– Yes, you do. You will need a passport for entry to Japan and on other occasions, like proving your identity at hotels in Japan.
– Q3. Can I use a credit card to shop in Japan?
– Yes, you can. Japan is a cash-based society. However, credit cards are now widely accepted in Japan.
– Q4. How much cash (Yen) should I bring with me?
– You should bring at least enough to cover your meals (9 lunches & 10 dinners) which would cost around $300 – $500 per trip. One of our recommendations in Japan is to go eat at chain restaurants which are usually very reasonable and all over Japan. Also, there are always bank ATMs all over that you can withdraw cash instantly.
– Q5. Are there any washer and dryer or laundry facilities at hotels in Japan?
– Yes, there are. Most of the hotels that we use in Japan usually have coin-operated laundry for hotel guests.
– Q6. Should I bring my hair dryer to Japan to use at hotels?
– Yes but not recommended. You may not be able to use or damage your hair dryer in Japan because there are voltage differences between Japan and Hawaii, 100v and 115/120v. However, most of the hotels in Japan provide a hair dryer in the rooms as a room amenity.
– Q7. What is the time difference from Hawaii?
– There is a 19-hour (or 5-hour) difference from Hawaii to Japan and Japan is 1 day ahead. For example, if Hawaii is at 1 pm on Sunday, then Japan is at 8 am on Monday.
– Q8. Can I use my smartphone and/or tablet in Japan?
– Yes, you can. But there may be some roaming data charges if you don’t have any international contract with your provider. We recommend our customers to rent a pocket WiFi just to use WiFi internet connection so that you won’t be charged any roaming fees. You will be able to use internet and other apps that requires internet connection. During our tour, our guides will ask our customers to download “Line” app on their smartphones and join the tour group to get connected to the guides and other customers. By using this app, we will be connected each other all times. You will never be lost and also able to call your friends or family in Hawaii for free!!
– Q9. How much are baggage fees to check in my luggage with airline company?
– If you fly with the Hawaiian Airlines, you can check in 2 of your bags, suitcases, or boxes for free!! There are weight and size limitations, so please go visit the website of Hawaiian Airlines for more details (http://help.hawaiianairlines.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/80#jp).
– Q10. Is it very cold in Spring or Fall in Japan? Should I bring my jacket?
– Yes. Average temperatures of Tokyo, Takayama, and Kyoto, Japan in April or October are in the 50s – 70s degrees. It will be colder when we go up to the mountain sides like in Matsumoto and Takayama. You should bring your jacket or you can always pick it up at store in Japan.
– Q11. What kind of shoes should I wear in Japan?
– There will be some walking on our day trips in Japan, so regular running shoes or anything you feel comfortable wearing are good and recommended. Also, it is okay to wear slippers in Japan.
For the Big Island charter tours:
– Q1. What should I wear and bring with me?
– The weather may be cold depending on the areas you visit so we recommend that you bring long sleeve shirts and/or a jacket, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion, and medication to prevent motion sickness if necessary. Also, lava fields are consisted of sharp and loose rocks, so wearing sneakers or hiking boots paired with long pants is recommended.
– Q2. Can I see an active volcano with red lava very closely?
– Currently there are two eruption locations. One in Halema‘uma‘u Crater within Kīlauea Caldera and the other in the very remote middle east rift zone. The lava flows on the coastal plain have halted and there is no ocean entry for visitors to see. The best and closest place to observe a volcanic eruption within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park at present is from Jaggar Museum overlook. There, you may be able to see the red glow coming from the lava lake after sunset. Please note that volcanoes and lava flows are unpredictable and always changing, so we cannot guarantee that you will see the red glow.
– Q3. Can I visit Mauna Kea?
– No, we cannot take tour participants to the Mauna Kea summit and its visitor center (Onizuka Visitor Center). However we can make a stop at Saddle Road (elevation of 2,000 meters) that runs south of Mauna Kea.
– Q4. What is your online cancellation policy?
– Please note that cancellation fees are calculated based on the date we receive your cancellation request by email (inq@maikaiohana.com) or by phone (808-969-1030). The cancellation fee is $100 for any cancellation made within 3-7 days prior to the tour date. You will be charged the full price for any cancellation made within 3 days prior to the tour date.
