8 Days / 7 Nights Departures: January - December 2023
Day 1: Tokyo, Japan
Airport transfer
Upon your arrival at Narita International Airport, meet our representative outside the arrival hall - they will be holding a sign with your name. Enjoy a convenient, hassle-free shared shuttle transfer to your hotel.
Day 2: Tokyo - Hakone, JapanTravel by bullet train to Hakone.
A 7-day standard class Japan Rail Pass is included, to cover all your intercity journeys for the period as specified in this itinerary. Please go to the Rail Pass exchange desk at any major station, present the rail pass vouchers provided and bring passports as ID. Give the start date as advised in this itinerary. The desk staff will then issue your actual Rail Pass. Once you have it in your hands, you can make free advance seat reservations at the ticket desk. Use the Rail Pass to catch a Hikari or Kodama bullet train 30 minutes to Odawara, the gateway to Hakone National Park. Free seat reservations can be made in advance at the station ticket desk. Hakone, one of Japan ́s most famous hot spring (onsen) areas and rich in unspoiled nature, is within easy travelling distance of Tokyo. The 2-Day Hakone Freepass is an excursion ticket offering full coverage of the popular sightseeing destinations in Hakone. Hakone Freepass allows you to get on and off freely within a specified area, as well as providing discount admission to various attractions in the area, and also includes return transportation on the Odakyu Line. With Hakone Freepass, you can also ride on 8 different types of transport in the area, such as the Hakone Tozan Line and the Hakone Ropeway, allowing you the freedom to thoroughly explore Hakone. Enjoy your trip to Hakone with the convenient Hakone Freepass.
Spend the night in a traditional Japanese Ryokan, a type of inn that originated in the Edo period. Feast on a local dinner and soak in the natural onsen hot spring baths.
Meals: B, D
Day 3: Hakone - Kyoto, JapanTake a train to Kyoto - the cultural capital of Japan and explore on your own.
From Odawara, you will take the Shinkansen to Kyoto today. The Shinkansen trains travel at speeds of up to 300km/hr and cover the 430km distance to Kyoto in approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival at Kyoto Station, make your own way to your hotel in Kyoto centre. Then the rest of your day is free to explore the old capital of Japan.
OPTIONAL TOUR:
Shared Tea Ceremony Experience
In this program, you can try making a cup of tea under an English-speaking instructor’s guidance as well as learn a wide range of Japanese culture including a tea room and tea tools, along with the history of the Way of Tea. This is a 1-hour small group experience, maximum of 9 participants. Please make your own way to and from the venue.
Please note: the minimum required age of participants is 4. With younger children, a private session can be arranged.
Meals: B
Day 4: Kyoto, JapanEnjoy a half-day excursion through the city to explore the shrines & temples.
A free morning to discover the city on your own. In the afternoon, join a shared bus tour around Kyoto to see the best highlights of the city. Start by visiting Fushimi Inari, an important Shinto shrine in Kyoto and famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates. Next, visit Sanjusangendo Temple, the name literally stands for "Hall with thirty-three spaces between the columns". Here you can find historical architecture as well as sculptures impressive sculptures. Finally, head to Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Japan.
OPTIONAL TOUR:
Bento Box Morning Shared Cooking Class
Morning Bento Class is a great way to learn about typical Japanese dishes such as sushi, tempura, and miso soup. In addition, you will learn the cultural background of the well-known Japanese "Bento". During the 3-and-a-half-hour class, your teacher will demonstrate and explain the tricks to making these beautiful dishes, then you will give it a try. After preparing you will enjoy the bento lunch you just made!
Meals: B
Day 5: Kyoto - Hiroshima, JapanTravel via train through the Japanese countryside to Hiroshima.
Catch a bullet train 90 mins from Kyoto to Hiroshima today, using the Rail Pass to make free advance seat reservations at the station ticket desk if you wish. The recommended schedule is below: Hikari 535 bullet train departs Kyoto at 8:29 am and arrives in Hiroshima at 10:32 am.
Meals: B
Day 6: Hiroshima, JapanExplore Hiroshima on your own.
The city of Hiroshima, now the largest city in the Chugoku Shikoku region, is also referred to as the "City of Water." Why not start the day with The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which is located at the centre of Hiroshima City. The A-Bomb Dome, also known as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, is what remains of the former Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. The building served as a location to promote Hiroshima's industries. When the bomb exploded, it was one of the few buildings to remain standing and remains so today. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the A-Bomb Dome is a tangible link to Hiroshima's unique past Hijiyama park is the perfect park to go to after spending the morning visiting the museums and the Peace Memorial Park. It's a good place to unwind, perfect for walking, and reading, and there are several things to see: on the one hand there's the Taman In Temple, with its buildings, statues and in the middle with a cemetery, and at the top of the park is the museum of contemporary art and a manga library for those interested in culture. Today is a free day and there are no services organised.
OPTIONAL TOUR
Hiroshima & Miyajima Full-Day Shared Tour
Join this round-trip tour and visit the popular world heritage sites Itsukushima Shrine and the Atomic Bomb Dome. After meeting your group at Hotel Granvia Hiroshima, take a bus then hop on board a boat and make your way to the historic and spiritual island of Miyajima. After meeting your group at Hotel Granvia Hiroshima, take a bus then hop on board a boat and make your way to the historic and spiritual island of Miyajima. Make your way to Hiroshima and view the sobering Atomic Bomb Dome, a memorial to the thousands that died in the atomic bombing of 1945. Finally, learn about the fascinating history of this World Heritage Site at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum.
Meals: B
Day 7: Hiroshima - Osaka, JapanTravel to Osaka for your last night on the tour with time to explore on your own.
Travel by Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka using your Rail Pass, the journey takes under 1.5 hours to cover 342km. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to further explore this vibrant city. Maybe start with a visit to Osaka castle. Built-in 1583 as the intended capital of Japan before the capital was moved to Edo (now known as Tokyo), it is now a symbol of Osaka. After Osaka castle, make your way to Umeda Sky Building and go up to the observatory. While enjoying the breathtaking sights, you can also directly feel the wind―which at 170 metres off the ground can get quite strong. Here, not only you can see all of Osaka but also you can see as far away as Awaji Island. The basement of the building houses the Takimi-Koji gourmet street with old-fashioned images of Osaka from the 1920s. Today is a free day and there are no services organised.
Meals: B
Day 8: Osaka - Tokyo, JapanTransfer back to Tokyo.
Please use the Rail Pass to catch a Hikari bullet train from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo today. Upon arrival at Tokyo Station, please take the Narita Express 1 hour to Narita Airport. Note that it stops at Terminal 2 before Terminal 1. Rail Pass users MUST reserve seats in advance at the Narita Express desks in Tokyo station before travel. It's a one-hour journey, there are departures about every half an hour from 6:18 am. to 20:03 pm, the seat reservation staff can advise you of the best departure time at least 2 hours before your scheduled flight departure time.
Meals: B