With two weeks to see the best of Japan's classic sights you can't beat this fantastic itinerary. Packed with contrasts, you are sure to get an insight into many aspects of Japan and its culture – past, present and future.
Your journey starts and ends in Tokyo, an immense, futuristic city made up of a host of distinct neighbourhoods each with its own unique character. With a wonderful abundance of street-level detail, Tokyo is a city that never fails to amaze visitors.
The perfect counterpoint to Tokyo is Kyoto, capital of Japan for over one thousand years and home to many of the country's finest temples, shrines and gardens - including a remarkable 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites!
Just down the railway tracks you will sample some of Japan's best food and drink in Kyoto's lively neighbour, Osaka. Following this, you'll head down the western seaboard to Hiroshima, a city that looks to the future whilst acknowledging its past.
Carefully woven amongst your urban stays are visits to more rural parts of Japan. In Hakone National Park you'll experience the steaming volcanic hot springs and natural beauty to be found in the foothills of Mount Fuji. High in the Japanese Alps, in the well-preserved historic town of Takayama, you will find traditional crafts, sake breweries and morning markets.
We believe that cultural experiences are the key to a fantastic trip to Japan, and this trip is packed with them. Riding the famous Shinkansen bullet train, enjoying traditional Japanese hospitality at an authentic ryokan inn, spotting a geisha scurrying from one teahouse to another in Kyoto, and wandering through Tokyo's famous Tsukiji Fish Market are just a few of the fascinating experiences that make this itinerary so stimulating and exciting.
Read below for a sample itinerary summary or come into our branch to discuss the tour in more detail.
ITINERARY SUMMARY: CLASSIC 3* GRADE
Days 1-3: Tokyo
Days 4-5: Hakone
Days 6-8: Kyoto
Days 9-10: Miyajima & Hiroshima
Days 11: Osaka
Days 12-13: Takayama
Days 14-15: Tokyo
DAYS 1 – 3: TOKYO. Discover the contrasts of modern Tokyo and take an optional day-trip to one of the many fascinating destinations outside the city
You will be based in Tokyo's historic Asakusa, famed for its bustling market street, Nakamise Dori, which leads up to the oldest temple in the city: Senso-ji. Here you can wind your way through curious streets filled with Kabuki theatres and rustic bars that reflect Asakusa's glory days as the entertainment district of Edo (old Tokyo). From Asakusa you might also like to board a boat down to Tokyo Bay, passing under the famous Rainbow Bridge to the man-made island of Odaiba – a glowing, futuristic paradise.
You will spend your second day with a private guide on a tour of the city, making use of Tokyo's world-class public transport network. Marvel at the green haven of Hamarikyu gardens surrounded by high-rise buildings, watch out for a wedding party at Meiji Shrine or visit Akihabara to wander through the electronic shops and manga cafes – your guide will take you anywhere you'd like to go.
If you fancy a break from the big city, on day three you'll have the chance to head out of Tokyo to one of the many fascinating destinations that lie just an hour or two away by train.
DAYS 4 – 5: HAKONE. Relax in a hot spring and soak up the beautiful natural scenery of Fuji-Hakone National Park
Your first trip on the bullet train will take you to Odawara, the gateway to Fuji-Hakone National Park. After a scenic bus journey into the mountains, you will arrive the hot spring town of Hakone where a stay at a traditional ryokan (Japanese inn) awaits.
Your afternoon will be free to spend exploring this area using your Hakone Free Pass and your personalised Info-Pack as your guide. Hakone has plenty to see and do, from tasting eggs boiled in volcanic waters to taking a boat trip across beautiful Lake Ashi.
The outdoor sculpture park and Picasso gallery are great to wander around for an afternoon – or maybe you will just sit back and relax in one of the many therapeutic hot spring baths that the area is famous for.
Hakone also boasts some the best views of Mount Fuji – but make sure you have your camera at the ready as Fuji-san is notoriously shy!
Days 6 – 8: KYOTO. Find modernity rubbing shoulders with history in the former capital city of Kyoto
On day six you will be whisked southwards on the bullet train to Kyoto, a must for all trips to Japan. Arriving at the massive architectural masterpiece that is Kyoto Station you would be forgiven for thinking that this is just another modern, glass-and-concrete city, but a short walk from your hotel will quickly prove otherwise.
Kyoto is a city alive with history and culture with a temple on every corner, and you'll spend your first evening on a private guided walking tour through Kyoto's Gion district. Here, if you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of one of Kyoto's elusive geisha making her way between her evening appointments!
On day seven you will have a full day to explore Kyoto – and the options are endless. To help you maximise your time, a private guide will meet you at your hotel and take you a tour of the city's top spots – from world-famous heritage sites like the Golden Pavilion to little-known hideaways such as Tofuku-ji Temple. If you have any particular preferences for the day feel free to let us know in advance, or you can just take advantage of your guide's local expertise.
On your third day in Kyoto you will have more time to explore the delights of the city independently. Perhaps you'd like to go food shopping at Nishiki Market, or hire a bike to discover the spacious Imperial Palace grounds. Or, perhaps you'd prefer to visit Ryoan-ji's Zen garden, count the vermillion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine, and test the anti-ninja security measures at Nijo Castle. A day trip to Nara, another ancient capital of Japan, is also highly recommended. The choice is yours!
DAYS 9 – 10: MIYAJIMA & HIROSHIMA. Mingle with monkeys and befriend the deer on Miyajima Island, home to one of Japan's most iconic view
More enchanting scenery and culture awaits you on Miyajima Island, just off the coast of Hiroshima in the Seto Inland Sea National Park. Here you will be staying in a Japanese-style ryokan with a treat of an evening meal included. This tranquil island is famous for Itsukushima shrine with its "floating" red torii gate - and for the resident monkeys and deer!
On your second day in Miyajima we recommend taking a trip to Hiroshima, where a visit to the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum are a must. The city will be forever linked to the tragic events of August 6th 1945, yet today you will find a friendly, bustling city many times the size of wartime Hiroshima. Don't forget to try Hiroshima's famous savoury pancakes - okonomiyaki - for lunch.
DAY 11: OSAKA. Explore vibrant Osaka, famous for its delicious food and fun-loving atmosphere
Travelling back to the mainland, you will head back east to the vibrant, laid-back city of Osaka. Here you will be staying in the exciting Nanba district – a short walk from the iconic Glico "running man" in the heart of Dotonbori's entertainment arcades.
Don't forget to head over to Osaka castle where street food stalls abound – or visit the city's famous aquarium, a conservation centre for whale sharks.
DAYS 12 – 13: TAKAYAMA. Swap city lights for mountain scenery as you discover the Japanese Alps by bicycle in the picturesque Hida district
On day twelve, hop on board the Shinkansen and speed west to Nagoya, before wending your way through beautiful alpine scenery on an express train to Takayama. Takayama was renowned throughout the Edo Period (1603-1868) for the high quality of its craftsmen, many of whom worked on some of the great temples of Kyoto. During your stay we recommend that you visit the Hida Folk Village, an open-air museum filled with traditional rural buildings, and take some time to learn about the town's famous festivals at the Festival Float Museum. A delicious kaiseki-style meal is included at your family-run inn tonight.
After a restful night's sleep you will have the opportunity to head deeper into rural Japan and take a cycling tour through the rice fields and farming villages of Hida, accompanied by an English-speaking guide.
As well as the beautiful mountain scenery the tour will visit a natural spring, a local temple, minka farmhouses and an orchard. After this insight into traditional life, your afternoon will be free to continue exploring Takayama. Meat lovers must try the local Hida beef – arguably as good as the more famous Kobe variety!
DAYS 14 – 15: TOKYO. Conclude your trip amongst the towering skyscrapers of Shinjuku
Leaving the Japanese Alps behind, today you will return to Tokyo for a taste of the high rise area of West Shinjuku, the location of several scenes from the famous film Lost in Translation.
Although skyscrapers now appear all over the city, this area still holds its own in terms of modern architecture, crowded with monolithic structures such as the NS building with its giant pendulum, the award-winning Cocoon Tower, and the towering Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building with its dizzying views across the city.
On the east side of Shinjuku you will find Tokyo's largest entertainment district, Kabuki-cho. There's never a dull moment in Shinjuku and your stay here will certainly leave an indelible impression!
Day 15 will see your adventures in Japan come to an end, and this morning you will be catching an airport limousine bus from your hotel to Tokyo Narita in plenty of time for your flight home.
If this sounds like the perfect introduction to Japan for you, come inside or give us a call to discuss this itinerary with our staff.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Self-guided itinerary visiting some of Japan’s top destinations
- Stay in an authentic Japanese style inn
- Discover the neon lights of Tokyo
- Explore Kyoto's shrines and temples with assistance of a local guide
- Relax in Hakone's hot spring baths
- Visit the beautiful island of Miyajima and world famous Hiroshima
- Cycle through traditional countryside
FULLY-TAILORED
This itinerary can be fully tailored to make sure everything is perfect for you:
- Flexible travel dates
- Wide choice of accommodation at every grade
- Large range of experiences to choose from
- Possible to extend the itinerary with further destinations
- Personalised travel documents walking you through every step of the journey
DATES: Fully-flexible, all year round
DURATION: 14 nights
GUIDE PRICE: This tour can be tailored to suit, from 2* to 5* deluxe. Below are some example prices:
Classic (3*): from £2,900 per person
Superior (4*): from £4,700 per person
Example prices do not include international flights and are based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Guide price per person,
based on the details shown in the Itinerary. Excluding international flights.
Prices start from £2,900
Subject to availability and change. Terms and conditions apply.
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Holiday Name : Best of Japan
Reference : IJ
Reference : IJ
