• Tokyo: city tour (3 nights)
• Mt Fuji & Hakone tour (optional)
• Takayama (1 nights)
• Shirakawago (1 nights)
• Stay in thatched roof Guest house
• Kanazawa (1 nights)
• Kyoto: city tour (3 nights)
• Nara tour
• Mt Koya (1 night)
• Temple stay in Japanese style Room
• Osaka (1 night)
• Extension option-
• Hiroshima & Miyajima (2 nights)
• Guaranteed departure

View Itinerary

Price & Departure dates

Day 1
Depart from Heathrow or your preferred airport for a scheduled flight to Tokyo. Meals on board.

Day 2 Tokyo
Arrive at Narita Airport in Tokyo, you are met by your tour assistant and transferred to your hotel for a 3 night stay. The rest of the day is at your leisure to adjust to the 9 hours time difference.

Day 3 Tokyo
Morning - City tour of Tokyo visiting a number of the main highlights of this magnificent City. The tour includes a visit to the Tokyo Tower where you can enjoy panoramic views across the city from the observation tower. We proceed to the peaceful picturesque setting of the Meiji Shrine, set in thick woodland and considered to be one of the finest examples of Shinto Architecture. Next we visit the 'Akasaka Guest House' for a photo opportunity. The Guest House is a magnificent 'Western Style Palace' built in the Baroque Architectural style. We then drive alongside the imposing National Diet Building, which is home to the Japanese House of Parliament. Our tour continues across Tokyo to the Imperial Palace East Garden, where we enjoy a pleasant walk in the East Garden of the Imperial Palace, which is filled with scenic and historic beauty. (Alternatively for tours on Monday & Friday we will visit the Imperial Palace plaza and famous Double bridge instead of the East Garden, including a visit to the inner moat and towering Palace walls surrounded by pine trees). Our tour will continue with a drive and stroll along Ginza high street, the famous shopping area of Tokyo. Our tour will disband at Ginza giving you the opportunity for shopping.We also recommend you visit the Sony Centre building to see the futuristic electronics on display. Ginza is also convenient for the subway to explore further.

Afternoon - free at leisure or take optional afternoon city tour, which includes Asakusa Kannon Temple and Sumida river cruise. (ask for details at time of booking).

Day 4 Tokyo - (Optional day tour -Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi and Hakone)
Free day to explore Tokyo at your leisure. We recommend a visit to Akihabara or Ueno shopping districts.

Alternatively purchase an optional full day guided tour excursion to either Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi & Hakone or to Nikko a designated World Cultural Heritage site and home to some of the most spectacular examples of ancient architecture in Japan. Ask for details at time of booking.

Day 5 Tokyo - Takayama
Self transfer to Takayama by Express train (ex Nagoya by bullet train). Upon arrival walk to your accommodation.

To ensure you have a smooth trip and due to luggage restrictions on bullet trains we offer a free 1 item per person luggage transfer from hotel to hotel between Tokyo & Kyoto. You will need to keep with you the light luggage you need for your 3 nights stay in Takayama, Shirakawago and Kanazawa.

Day 6 Takayama - Shirakawago (Dinner)
Free time in Takayama until your early afternoon self transfer to Shirakawago. Upon arrival make your own way to your Minshuku (Guest house) which is a traditional and unique thatched roof period farmhouse (Gasshozukuri).

 Rest of day you are free to explore at your leisure. Shirakawago has World Heritage designation and is truly a spectacular experience.

Rest of day you are free to explore at your leisure. Shirakawago has World Heritage designation and is truly a spectacular experience, which many believe is the 'hidden treasure' in Japan. Visiting Shirakawago is like stepping back in time, with uniquely crafted traditional wooden farmhouses (Gassho-Zukuri) set in a beautiful mountainous landscape.

Day 7 Shirakawago - Kanazawa (Breakfast)
Enjoy breakfast in your Guest house and free time until your departure to Kanazawa, arriving early afternoon. Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation. Rest of day you are free to explore Kanazawa at your leisure.

Day 8 Kanazawa - Kyoto
Free time until departure in late afternoon where you board an express train to Kyoto. Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation.

Day 9 Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto (Lunch)
Full day guided sight-seeing walking tour of Nara & Kyoto. In the morning we assemble at Kyoto station and travel with our Tour guide by train to visit Nara,the ancient capital of Japan. Our guided walking tour includes visiting Todaiji Temple housing the Great Buddha in one of the worlds largest wooden building. Afterwards we explore Nara Deer Park, home to 1100 tame deer and the magnificent Kofukuji Temple with its 5 storey pagoda. Return to Kyoto by train.

In the afternoon have free time for a quick lunch near Kyoto train station, before joining the afternoon guided walking tour of Kyoto. We walk to the magnificent Kiyomizu Temple with spectacular views across the entire city and then visit Todaiji Temple built to commemorate the great 16th century general Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Later we explore Yasaka Shrine and finally the Gion District where you may catch a glimpse of a Geisha rushing to a dinner appointment. The tour disbands in Gion, where there is plenty of places to eat and explore, with traditional restaurants and tea houses. (approx 8km walking).

Day 10 Kyoto
Free day to explore Kyoto at your leisure. We recommend a visit to Kiyomizu temple and Heian Shrine.

Day 11 Kyoto - Mt Koya (Dinner)
You will be met in the hotel reception by our English speaking assistant and together you will be transfered to Shin Imamiya. Upon arrival at Shin Imamiya take the self transfer to Mt Koya by train and cable car via Gokurakubashi. Afternoon free at leisure to explore Mt Koya.

Free overland large luggage transfer to Osaka, therefore prepare an overnight carry bag for your stay at Mt Koya.

Mount Koya is home to over 117 temples and is where we stay overnight in 'Japanese style' accommodation at the magnificent Temple for the Shingon Esoteric sect of Buddhism, which is still in use by monks today. The peaceful temple is set in beautiful wooded mountainous countryside, 1000m above sea level and is ideal to relax, meditate and learn more of buddhist monk rituals (include: Vegetarian 'monk style' Dinner at Temple).

Day 12 Mt Koya - Osaka (Breakfast)
Wake early to see the morning Buddhist Ceremony with the monks at the temple and for your Vegetarian Breakfast. The monks are more than happy for you to attend or watch the ceremony, however this tour is designed for cultural interest and not for any particular religious practice. Leave Mt Koya to Osaka by cable car and train via Gokurakubashi by yourself. Upon arrival in Osaka, check in to your hotel which is conveniently located just minutes on foot from the JR Osaka station. Afternoon free at leisure.

A must-see sight in Osaka is the magnificent Osaka Castle located in the city centre. Then explore Dotonbori which is one of the most popular streets in Osaka and runs adjacent to a canal of the same name. Nearby Domi domi shopping and eating areas are one of most exciting districts in Japan. Shinsaibashi is probably the best shopping area and certainly the most frantic. If you want to explore more historic culture then visit the beautiful and peaceful Shitennoji Buddhist temple. Shitennoji is the oldest officially administered temple in Japan built by Prince Shotoku (574-622 A.D)

Day 13 Osaka (Departure)

Take airport limousine bus from your hotel to the futuristic Kansai International Airport in Osaka for departure to UK.

Extension option 1- Hiroshima (2 nights) - from £440 per person based upon twin share

Day 12 Mt Koya - Hiroshima
Leave Mt Koya to Hiroshima via Osaka by cable car and bullet train by yourself. Upon arrival make own way to accommodation. Afternoon free at leisure.

Day 13 Hiroshima - Miyajima

Free day to explore Hiroshima at your leisure. Optional tours available to Hiroshima & Miyajima. Contact us for details.

Day 14 Hiroshima - Osaka
Leave Hiroshima to Osaka by Bullet train by yourself. Afternoon free at leisure. (Optional 1 night extension to Okayama is available to see the beautiful Castle & Korakuen gardens which are regarded as one of the best gardens in Japan).

Day 15 Osaka - Homeward
Take airport bus from hotel to the futuristic Kansai International Airport in Osaka for your departure flight.

Departure date can be arranged according to your requirements.

2017 & 2018 Departure Dates & Prices (£)

Ref	Weekly Monday & Saturday	Land Only (twin share)
JE	10th April - May 2017	£2625
JE	June - September 2017	£2435
JE	Oct - November 2017	£2625
JE	January - Feb 2018	£2555
JE	1st March - 19th March 2018	£2755
JE	20th March to 9th April 2018	£2775

The price may be different around festival periods in Japan. Please contact us for confirmation.

Price Includes (The prices shown above are 'per person')

• Airport to hotel transfers.
• Meeting assistance at Narita airport.
• Public transport tickets: Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa.
• Trains: As specified in itinerary, Ordinary class reserved seats.
• Sightseeing tours by professional English-speaking tour guide.
• All entrance fees whilst on guided tours.
• Selections of quality accommodation in well furnished hotel rooms with private facilities.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary.
• Free luggage transfer from hotel to hotel between Tokyo & Kyoto, Kyoto & Osaka (1 item per person).
• Guaranteed departure

Price Does Not Include

• International Flights: We are happy to provide flights with full ATOL Protection.
  
• Optional tours
• Travel Insurance.

Optional Tours & Ryokan Experience
A stay at a traditional Ryokan (Japanese style Inn) is a highly recommended experience, with excellent standards of service. We can arrange a 1 night Ryokan stay on your last day in Kyoto. The supplement starts from £160 per person for 1 night with Japanese breakfast & Dinner included.

This tour is suitable for travellers of all ages, who are reasonably fit and healthy. Add on tours and city extensions are available, for details visit optional tours page.

FAQ and further Tour information
Please see our FAQ page for further essential tour information. Note, the overnight accommodation on Mount Koya is a temple stay in a 'Japanese style' room for an unique experience to understand Buddhist Monks life.

Additional Tour Notes:

Nijo Castle (Kyoto) is closed (Tue in Jul & Aug), therefore if your tour falls on these dates, we will visit Ryoanji Temple instead. Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed at weekends and on national holidays, we will visit Kitano Tenmangu, or Ryoanji Temple instead. Hiroshima & Miyajima optional guided day tour usually operates Mon - Wed, Frid -Sunday.

Our itinerary is designed according to the most up to date information available at the time. The above itinerary highlights the main attractions that are to be visited each day.In regards to expected transfer times and train times these may vary as they are subject to schedules and availability controlled by the various railway companies. It is extremely rare that itineraries ever need changes and we will always act in your best interest to handle any amendments if this did occur. However we reserve the right to change, amend or alter the itinerary if required, for example occasionally the tour sequence and duration of time spent in each city can change due to local conditions which are out of our control or due to heavy traffic conditions or bad weather. Please refer to the booking form for detailed terms & conditions.