Japan Bonsai Tour 2011
4-14 February
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.
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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
- Visit Tokoname – the pottery centre of Japan
- 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 (3 nights Kyoto, 4 nights Tokyo and 1 night Okayama & 1 night Nagoya)
- 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
- Please note that the flight to Japan is not included in this tour
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 & 2: Depart UK/Arrival in Japan
Fly from London Heathrow to Kansai International Airport (Osaka).
Flights to
be arranged by you.
Transfer your hotel in Kyoto for 3 nights.
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: Nara
We take a short train trip to the town of Nara. There we walk to the Pagoda
of Kofuku Temple and visit Todaiji 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.
(Tonight you’ll need to pack your main luggage as this will be sent ahead to your hotel in Tokyo for your arrival. You will therefore need to carry a small overnight bag for the next 2 days)
Day 5: Kinashi Bonsai Village/Okayama
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 wonderful 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 for 1 night.
Day
6: Korakuen Garden/Tokoname
Today visit Korakuen, a traditional stroll garden in Okayama and one of Japan’s
three most beautiful gardens.
We’ll then board the Bullet train and head to Tokoname* - famous for ceramics and one of the so-called “Six Old Kilns of Japan”.
Later in the afternoon, we travel to our hotel in Nagoya for 1 night.
* indicates a new sight on the tour
Day 7: Tokyo
After breakfast, we speed 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 Tokyo for 4 nights.
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: Return to UK
Sadly it is time to say sayonara. Transfer to Narita Airport (Tokyo)
from where you depart for the UK. Flights to be arranged by you.
PRICE INCLUDES
- 9 nights hotel accommodation at centrally located 3 Star Hotels with Japanese breakfast daily
- 2 dinners
- 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
- International flights
- Travel Insurance (see below)
- Lunches and dinners (other than the Welcome and Farewell dinners)
TOUR DATES: 4-14 February 2011
- PRICE: £1,295 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.
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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 link below for a quote.
http://www.insurancereferrals.co.uk/?agent=WG569
TO BOOK NOW, CALL 020 7766 5267, OR EMAIL info@japanjourneys.co.uk
The balance of the price of the trip must be made 12 weeks prior to departure.