10 Days / 9 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, JapanFree Day in Tokyo
Today you’re free to peel back the layers of Tokyo, and can do whatever you fancy. If you’re a food lover, wake up early and head to Toyosu (formerly Tsukiji) Fish Market to explore the bustling stalls with a wide array of fresh seafood. For the urban explorer, head to the famously busy scramble crossing at Shibuya, before venturing to the Maid Cafés and comic book stores of Akihabara “electric town”. For a break from the buzz of the city, venture to Hamarikyu Gardens or take a leisurely stroll around the Imperial Palace grounds for some quiet serenity. To see the city in full swing, spend the evening in Shinjuku to take advantage of some of the country's best restaurants, bars, clubs and karaoke boxes.
OPTIONAL TOUR:
Amazing Tokyo Full-Day Shared Tour
Visit all of the capital's must-see landmarks, on this Amazing Tokyo Group Tour. See the awe-inspiring Imperial Palace with its immaculate gardens, the ancient Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, and the impressive Tokyo Skytree and go on a pleasant cruise of Tokyo Bay passing under the famous Rainbow Bridge. Travelling in the utmost comfort, drive by the Harajuku, National Diet Building, Akihabara, Marunouchi, Kanda, Akihabara, Ueno Ame-Yoko market, and Kappa-Bashi shopping arcade. The Amazing Tokyo Group Tour is an ideal way to see all the highlights of Tokyo in a single day, making sure not to miss anything. The tour also includes a delicious chanko lunch.
Sushi Cooking Class Shared Afternoon Tour
Master the delicate art of authentic Japanese sushi making and learn everything there is to know about dashi, miso, mirin and sake. Impress friends with your ability to prepare traditional rice and toppings, creating a multitude of colourful and delicious sushi, including Rolled Egg, Sushi Rice, Inari Sushi, Tuna Roll, Cucumber Roll, California Roll, Nigiri Sushi and Miso Soup. Take your newly honed skills home to impress family and friends! It is possible to arrange for vegetarian, halal or all sorts of dietary requirements.
Meals: B
Day 3: 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 4: Hakone - Kyoto, JapanTrain from Hakone to Kyoto
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. From Odawara, you will take the Shinkansen to Kyoto. 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.
Meals: B
Day 5: Kyoto, JapanKyoto day tour
Dive into Kyoto’s stunning scenery by visiting three world heritage sites and some of the city’s most interesting cultural centres, all in one day. Amongst an array of historical highlights, discover why this ancient political capital of Japan is now the sightseeing capital. Start your day by visiting Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that comprises a number of impressive palaces, ruins and gardens. Then, make your way to Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the ‘Temple of the Golden Pavilion’, and gaze at the peaceful surrounding still waters and the backdrop of lush forest. Later, head to Kyoto Imperial Palace to learn about the fascinating history of the emperors that resided there from as early as 1869. If Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed on the day of your tour, visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, another impressive memorial with a captivating past encompassing Japanese politics and beliefs.
After lunch, follow your guide to Heian Jingu shrine and Sanjusangendo Temple, two culturally significant and intriguing properties. Finally, continue to Kyoto’s most popular temple, Kiyomizu-dera, was established hundreds of years ago before Kyoto was even named its capital.
Meals: B, L
Day 6: Kyoto, JapanAfternoon Kyoto tour
Spend the morning at your leisure, stroll through the streets of Kyoto or relax in your accommodation. At 1:45 pm make your own way to the meeting point and start your afternoon tour. During this tour, you will visit Todaiji Temple, a revered World Heritage Site and one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples. Enter the stately Buddha’s hall and marvel at the gigantic Buddha that welcomes you. Listen to your guide tell you how they built the statue as well as the history of this remarkable landmark of Nara. Explore Nara Park and watch the graceful deer nibbling at the grass hidden between the trees. You may even get the chance to feed crackers to some of the bolder deer, a rarity in Japan as well as the rest of the world. Make your way to Kasuga Taisha Shrine and admire the ornate interior filled with both bronze and stone lanterns. Finally, enjoy the view between Nara and Kyoto on your train journey back to the city.
Please Note: The tour may not visit Nara Nagomikan if it is closed or due to traffic conditions
Meals: B
Day 7: 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 8: 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 9: Hiroshima - Osaka, JapanTrain from Hiroshima to Osaka
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 10: 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 8:03 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