Gardens of Japan Tour
November 2012
A tour of the exquisite gardens of Japan during the lovely autumn colours season. Visit historic Kyoto, with a wealth of exquisite gardens; delightful Nara: the idyllic island of Miyajima; the stunning gardens at the Adachi Museum, Korakuen (one of Japan's top three gardens) and the vibrant city of Tokyo.
Every Japanese temple and shrine has its own garden or is set in beautiful landscape. You’ll be able to enjoy the glorious colours at these gardens and en route whilst on tour.
Adachi Museum Garden
TOUR INCLUDES:
- Entry to Adachi Museum Garden and Korakuen– the best gardens in Japan
- Maple leaf viewing
- Visits to Kyoto Botanical Garden and temples with fantastic Japanese gardens in Kyoto
- Entry to the Imperial Palace and its lovely East Garden in Tokyo
- Escourted tour of Kyoto
- 9 nights hotel accommodation and 1 night in a ryokan (Japanese style inn)
- Travel on Japan’s famous Bullet Train
- Welcome Dinner and Farewell Dinner
- Services of a knowledgeable Japan Journeys Tour Manager throughout
Gardens of Japan Tour Location Guide
Kyoto
Kyoto is where you will find the Japan of silent temples nestling in bamboo
groves, gardens of finely raked sand and bewitching geisha. This city is home
to over 2,000 temples and shrines, exquisite crafts and some of the best cuisine
in the country. In short, Kyoto is the heartbeat of traditional Japan.
Not to be missed are Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu temples, although be aware that these do become crowded. For a more peaceful, intimate temple experience we visit the temple complex of Daitoku-ji, in particular Daisen-in sub-temple.
Hiroshima, Miyajima island
Hiroshima is an attractive, cosmopolitan city which has risen from the ashes
of the world's first atomic bomb attack on 6 August 1945. The hypocentre
of the explosion is now the Peace Memorial Park, a beautiful expanse of greenery
housing monuments to the tragedy. The park is flanked by the A-Bomb Dome,
the former Industrial Promotion Hall which is the only surviving building
from the blast, and the Peace Memorial Museum which tells of the bomb and
the devastation of Hiroshima.
A superb network of trams will transport you around the city to some of Hiroshima's other attractions, namely Hiroshima Castle and Hiroshima Museum of Art. You can also use the tram to take the scenic route to Miyajima island.
Okayama and Yonago
We will stop in Okayama to visit Korakuen considered one of the top 3 gardens in Japan. Korakuen’s design is unusual in that in has wide, lush lawns not often seen in Japanese Gardens. The highlight of Yonago is the garden of the Adachi Museum of Art which has been named the best garden in Japan annually since 2003 by the Journal of Japanese Gardening.
Gardens of Japan Tour Itinerary
Days 1-2: UK-Osaka-Kyoto
Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Kansai International Airport (Osaka).
From there you will transferred by private coach to your hotel in Kyoto
for 4 nights.
Day 3: Kyoto
Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Kyoto by Private coach. Some of the wonderful
temples and beautiful gardens you will visit in today’s tour include
Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) and the serene temple complex, Daitoku-ji
with 15 sub-temples and associated gardens. After lunch at the Kyoto Handicraft
Centre we go on to visit Kiyomizu-dera, a lovely hillside temple offering breathtaking
views over the city. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner.
Day 4: Kyoto
After breakfast, we tour the wonderful Kyoto Botanical Gardens with over 120,000
plants on show. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. After our return
to Kyoto, we tour the imposing Nijo Castle and its gardens.
Day 5: Nara
Today we take a short train trip to the nearby town of Nara and visit the spectacular
Todaiji Temple - the largest wooden building in the world which contains the
Great Buddha. Take a stroll in Nara Park and feed the deer. The afternoon is
yours to enjoy at leisure.
 Todai-ji temple |
 Nara Park |
Day 6: Hiroshima/Miyajima
After checking out we board Japan’s world-famous Bullet Train to Hiroshima.
The Atomic Bomb Dome and the moving Peace Memorial Park and Museum are sights
not to be missed. We will then make the short trip by ferry to the lovely island
of Miyajima. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and fantastic views of the o-torii
(the red floating shrine gate) of Itsukushima Shrine, one of Japan’s
most beautiful views. By late afternoon the day-trippers will have left the
island, and you will spend a magical evening in a ryokan (traditional
Japanese inn) where a delicious Japanese dinner and breakfast are included.
Day 7: Miyajima-Okayama-Yonago
This morning you will have some free time to explore a bit more of
Miyajima Island. Then we head to Okayama to visit Korakuen, one of Japan’s
three most celebrated gardens. Korakuen is at its most spectacular during the
autumn season. Late afternoon we transfer to the town of Yonago located on
the Sea of Japan coast where we will stay one night.
Day 8: Yonago
Today we visit the Adachi Museum famous for its spectacular 6 gardens
(and its collection of contemporary Japanese art). In the afternoon we board
the train and Bullet train(s) to Tokyo where we will check into our hotel
for four nights.
Day 9: Tokyo
Today we visit the Imperial Palace (home of Japan’s Emperor)
and its lovely East Garden and then move on to the bustling district of Shinjuku
and the gardens at Shinjuku Gyoen (which include a Japanese garden and a French-style
garden)
Day 10: Tokyo
Today we will take in some of the best sights Tokyo has to offer. We
will visit Meiji Shrine, one of the most beautiful shrines in Japan, and the
nearby lively district of Harajuku.
Day 11: Tokyo at leisure/Optional tour
Today is yours to enjoy at leisure. You may wish to do further sightseeing
or shopping in this lively city. Enjoy a farewell dinner in the evening. Alternatively
you can join one of the following superb optional tours:
Nikko: Join a fantastic guided excursion to Nikko, a beautiful temple town in the mountains north of Tokyo. You will visit Toshogu Shrine, a mausoleum to one of Japan’s most famous shogun, and drive through the picturesque countryside to Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Waterfall before heading back to Tokyo.
Mt Fuji: Join a wonderful guided excursion to the beautiful Hakone & Mt Fuji region. Ride in a cable car for a superb view of the surrounding mountains and volcanic craters, and even board a pirate ship to cruise around Lake Ashi! A delicious lunch of yakitori (grilled chicken) is included. Return to Tokyo on Japan's world-famous Bullet Train.
Day 12: Depart Japan
Transfer to Narita Airport (Tokyo) for your flight back to the UK.
GARDENS TOUR PRICE INCLUDES
- Scheduled return Economy class flights from London Heathrow
- 9 nights hotel accommodation at centrally located comfortable business hotel on a bed & breakfast
- 1 night in a traditonal Japanese ryokan (inn) including a delicious dinner and a breakfast
- 7 Day Ordinary Class Japan Rail Pass
- Welcome and Farewell dinners and 1 lunch
- All train and subway fares (other than on free days)
- Sightseeing and entrance fees to all gardens, parks, temples, shrines and other attractions on tour
- Services of a knowleadgeable Japan Journeys Tour Manager throughout
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE
- Travel Insurance (see below)
- Optional Tours
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
PRICE: £TBC per person on a twin/double
room shared basis
Land-Only Price: £TBC per person on a
sharing basis (not including flights, for non-UK passengers only)
- SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT:£TBC
- Optional Tour to Nikko:£TBCper person
- Optional Tour to Mt Fuji and Hakone:£TBCper person
- To make a booking, a deposit of 10% per person is required.
- The balance of the price of the trip must be made 12 weeks prior to departure.
- Full terms and Conditions
If you wish to extend your trip, you can do so for an additional£TBCperson per night for a Twin room or£TBCper person per night for a Single room.
TO BOOK NOW: CALL 020 7766 5267
EMAIL info@japanjourneys.co.uk
INSURANCE
Travel can be a great experience, but it can also be fraught with problems, so
when going anywhere it is essential you are properly covered with good travel
insurance. You should be protected against cancellation, curtailment and loss
or damage to your belongings as well as medical emergencies and have peace
of mind if the unexpected happens.
Japan Journeys in association with Holiday Extras, is now able to offer excellent low cost cover to their customers.
Please click on the image below for a quote.
TO BOOK NOW, CALL 020 7766 5267 OR EMAIL info@japanjourneys.co.uk
