Japan Bonsai Tour 2010
6-16 February 2010

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As the number one provider of Bonsai Tours to Japan we are proud to offer you this superb tour with exclusive access to some of the world’s greatest bonsai nurseries and collections, including a visit to the wonderful Kokufu show – Japan’s most important Bonsai exhibition. Visit Kyoto, Nara and Tokyo and take in Japan’s cultural highlights – a mix of the ancient and the modern.

TOUR INCLUDES:

• Entry to the Kokufu Bonsai-ten – the biggest annual bonsai event in Japan
• Visit to Kinashi Bonsai Village – the largest bonsai village in Japan, with over 270 gardens
• Visit to Omiya Bonsai Village – a lovely bonsai village near Tokyo
• Guided tours of Kyoto, Tokyo and Nara
• Visit to Korakuen – one of Japan’s top 3 most celebrated gardens
• Travel on Japan’s famous Bullet Train
• 9 nights hotel accommodation (4 nights Kyoto, 4 nights Tokyo and 1 night Okayama)
• Japanese Breakfast daily
• Welcome Dinner and Farewell Dinner
• Airport transfers from Kansai International Airport to Kyoto on arrival and from Tokyo to Narita International Airport on departure
• Services of a knowledgeable Japan Journeys guide throughout

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 & 2: UK/Japan
On arrival at Kansai International Airport (Osaka) transfer by private coach to your hotel in Kyoto.

Day 3: Sightseeing in Kyoto
After breakfast, depart on a full day tour of Kyoto by private coach. Visit the beautiful Temple and gardens of the Golden Pavilion and then enjoy a series of Zen Buddhist rock gardens at Daitoku-ji Temple. Then on to the Kyoto Handicraft Centre where you have time to have lunch and browse a multitude of craft shops. Visit the stunning Kiyomizu Temple perched on the slopes of a hillside.
Enjoy a delicious welcome dinner tonight.

Day 4: Kinashi Bonsai Village/Okayama
You’ll need to pack a small overnight bag for tonight as we spend one night in Okayama (the rest of your baggage remains in Kyoto). After checking out of the hotel in the morning, we travel westward on the Bullet Train to Shikoku - the smallest and least explored of Japan’s 4 main islands. Here you have all day to explore Kinashi Bonsai Village – the largest Bonsai village in Japan where, amongst other sights, you can view field upon field of miniature black pines. Later in the afternoon, we travel to our hotel in Okayama.

Day 5: Korakuen Garden/Himeji Castle/Kyoto
After checking out of our hotel, visit Korakuen, a traditional stroll garden in Okayama and one of Japan’s three most beautiful gardens. On our return to Kyoto we stop to visit Himeji Castle, the most magnificent and imposing of all Japan's remaining castles. Later, return to your hotel in Kyoto.

Day 6: Nara
We take a short train trip to the town of Nara. There we walk to the Pagoda of Kofuku Temple and visit Todai-ji temple - the largest wooden building in the world, which contains the Great Buddha - Japan’s largest. Take a stroll in Nara Park and feed the deer. You can either remain in Nara or return to Kyoto as the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

(Before departing on today’s excursion, you’ll need to pack your main luggage as this will be sent ahead to your hotel in Tokyo for tomorrow’s arrival. You will therefore need to carry a small overnight bag tomorrow)

Day 7: Tokyo
After breakfast, we board the Bullet train to Tokyo. Upon our arrival in Tokyo around lunchtime we will go straight to the Kokufu Bonsai-ten, the largest and most prestigious bonsai event held in Japan. You also have the opportunity of visiting the nearby wonderful Ueno Green Club, where bonsai nursery owners from all over Japan set up stalls. We then check into our hotel in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo.

Day 8: Omiya Bonsai Village
We travel northward today by train to visit a selection of beautiful nurseries at Omiya Bonsai Village in Saitama-Prefecture. Upon our return to Tokyo we visit the lively Ameyoko-cho market in Ueno.

Day 9: Tokyo at leisure
Enjoy today at leisure. For many of you this will be a chance to revisit the Kokufu Bonsai-ten and Ueno Green Club.

Day 10: Shunka-en and Asakusa
Today we visit the Shunka-en Bonsai Museum which is owned by the Bonsai Master Kunio Kobayashi who has worked on 12 Kokufu Bonsai-ten prizewinning trees. We then take the subway to the bustling Sensoji Temple in Asakusa before returning to our hotel. We will have a Farewell Dinner this evening.

Day 11: Depart Japan
Sadly it is time to say sayonara and after breakfast we transfer to Narita Airport (Tokyo) by private coach..

PRICE INCLUDES

• Meet & Greet service upon arrival in Japan
• 9 nights hotel accommodation at centrally located 3 Star Hotels with Japanese breakfast every morning
• 2 dinners
• Private air-conditioned coach transfers to/from airports in Japan
• Private air-conditioned coach tour of Kyoto on Day 3
• All long distance and local train, subway and taxi fares for sights visited on Days 3-9
• Sightseeing and entrance fees to all named attractions on tour
• Services of a knowledgeable Japan Journeys Guide throughout
• Separate baggage transfer for one piece of luggage per person from Kyoto to Tokyo

NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE

• Travel Insurance (see below)
• Lunches and dinners (other than the Welcome and Farewell dinners)

TOUR DATES: 6-16 February 2010

• PRICE: £1,775 per person on a sharing basis
• SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: £225
• EXTEND YOUR TRIP for an additional £45 person per night (sharing) or £65 per person per night (for a single room).

• 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
• All price estimates are based on current rates of exchange and are subject to availability.

INSURANCE
Details of Japan Journeys travel insurance policy are below.
All passengers should click here to obtain a quote. We recommend you select the best coverage possible i.e. Platinum protection.
It is a condition of booking that you must have insurance cover at least equivalent to that described above.
For insurance details click here for a full Summary of Cover offered by our Platinum level protection.
If you would like to book your insurance through Japan Journeys, please do so using this link:

TO BOOK NOW, CALL 020 7766 5267, download a Reservation Form OR EMAIL info@japanjourneys.co.uk
The balance of the price of the trip must be made 12 weeks prior to departure.