Japan Journeys - dedicated Japan specialists and the number one provider of Bonsai and Manga Tours to Japan from the UK All About Japan Journeys Japan Journeys FAQ Japan Journeys Testimonials Contact Japan Journeys
Call Japan Journeys now: 020 7766 5267
EnquireContact Japan Journeys
020 7766 5267
Any questions or queries please call or email us.

Travel Trust Association member

Member of the Travel Trust Association, through which all clients funds are held in trust

The independent traveller tour suited our needs perfectly.  A real plus point was the detailed itinerary and maps we were provided with.  This outline structure meant we were able to spend more time enjoying Japan and less thinking about which train etc. to get next, while also supplying some local insight Overall an amazing trip which was easy to customise, straightforward to book and I still struggle to believe how much we squeezed into the time.  Thanks for providing a formidable service, which Id have no hesitation in recommending.

Andy Gibbard (UK), Independent Traveller, 2010

I had a great time and everything worked like clockwork. Thanks for organizing it all - it could not have gone better. An amazing country and culture.

Jonathon Stott (UK), Independent Traveller, 2011

I enjoyed my trip very much and all the info you sent me was very useful. I loved staying in the ryokan and I would like to return to Japan, and will recommend you to my friends.

Linda Morris (UK), Independent Traveller, 2011

We had a great time and all thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The weather was lovely, lots of bright sunny days and only an hour of rain in Nikko. We found your schedule and tips very comprehensive and the daily directions and train times especially helpful.

Caffyn Family (UK), Independent Travellers, 2010

Japan JourneysTotal Japan - holiday of a lifetimeJapan Tour

Japan Western Odyssey
Tour for Independent Travellers

For our Western Odyssey Tour you will fly in and out of Kansai International Airport in Osaka and visit the best that the western mainland has to offer. You will see everything from the modern bustling cities of Osaka and Hiroshima to the smaller more traditional towns of Kurashiki and Tsuwano in rural Japan. No trip to Japan would be complete without visiting Kyoto, where you will start your adventure.

How Our Independent Traveller’s Tours Work

It’s quite straight forward to travel independently in Japan as so much of the signage is in English. Our independent itineraries are available for any departure date (with a few exclusions which coincide with Japanese National Holidays and some weekends). We’ll do all the work for you and provide you with an information pack to make your trip run as smoothly as possible. You can also add guided tours as indicated and if you do want your own personal guide we can arrange this too.

This Japan tour does not include international flights

TOUR INCLUDES:

Japan Journeys Western Odyssey Tour Visit the best that the western mainland of Japan has to offer
   

Japan Western Odyssey Tour Location Guide

View the Full Itinerary and optional tours

Kyoto is where you will find the Japan of silent temples nestling in bamboo groves, gardens of finely raked sand and bewitching geishaKyoto

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, Ginkaku-ji and Kiyomizu temples, although be aware that these do become crowded. For a more peaceful, intimate temple experience we recommend the temple complex of Daitoku-ji, in particular Daisen-in sub-temple, and the Arashiyama area to the west of the city.

Hiroshima, Miyajima island

You can also use the tram to take the scenic route to Miyajima islandHiroshima 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.

Tsuwano and Yonago

The highlight of Yonago is the garden of the Adachi Museum of ArtA quiet mountain town in rural Japan. The former samurai quarter houses some wonderful old building with colourful carp swimming up and down the roadside water channels. Just outside of town you can ride a cable car to the castle ruins for a beautiful view of the town and the surrounding mountains. The highlight of Yonago is the garden of the Adachi Museum of Art which have been named the best garden in Japan annually since 2003 by the Journal of Japanese Gardening.

With arching bridges and weeping willows flanking the Edo period canal, Kurashiki will give you a sense of where people lived and worked in old Japan.Kurashiki

In the Edo period Kurashiki was an important trading town for rice and later becoming known for textiles. Having largely escaped World War II bombing much of Kurashiki’s old storehouses, mills and shops remain in good condition. With arching bridges and weeping willows flanking the Edo period canal, Kurashiki will give you a sense of where people lived and worked in old Japan.

OsakaOsaka

Known as the “kitchen of Japan”, Osaka is renowned for its warm-hearted, lively locals. Osaka Castle dominates the city as the old mixes with the very modern skyline and the aquarium is not to be missed. The city comes alive at night with endless opportunities to wine, dine and party. The beautiful port city of Kobe is also a stones throw away.

 

 

Japan Western Odyssey Tour Itinerary

Days 1-2: UK-Osaka-Kyoto
Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Kansai International Airport (Osaka). From there you will transfer to your hotel in Kyoto for 4 nights.

Day 3: Kyoto
A rich history of religion, art and craft have combined to make this glorious city a spiritual home for the Japanese. For temples we recommend Kiyomizu-dera and Ginkaku-ji in the hills to the east of the city. Nijo Castle is also well worth a visit, and make sure you allow yourself plenty of time for the wonderful craft shops and delightful streets of Gion, the old geisha quarter.

Optional guided excursion: Kyoto Day Tour
Join a guided coach tour. As well as visits to Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Temple), Sanjusangendo Temple and Kiyomizu Temple, today's tour also includes a delicious buffet-style lunch.

Day 4: Nara at leisure
Whilst smaller than Kyoto, Nara is no less rich in attractions, with 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sights. The most outstanding of these is Todai-ji temple, the largest wooden building in the world and home to the Great Buddha statue – Japan's biggest. Other essential sights include Yakushi-ji and Horyu-ji temple, whose buildings include some of the world's oldest wooden structures.

Optional guided excursion: Nara Afternoon Tour
Spend the afternoon on a guided coach tour to Nara. Your guide will take you around Todaiji temple and Nara park followed by visits to Kasuga Taisha Shrine before heading back to Kyoto by coach.

Day 5: Kyoto
Spend another day in Kyoto where you may wish to venture out west to the leafy suburb of Arashiyama. Here you will you will find the magnificent bamboo forests and a hill top monkey park where you can feed monkeys and enjoy a rewarding view of Kyoto.

Day 6: Hiroshima/Miyajima (Start using your 7-Day Japan Rail Pass today)
Check out of your hotel and board the Bullet Train to Hiroshima. The Atomic Bomb Dome and the moving Peace Memorial Park and Museum are sights not to be missed. Make the short trip by ferry to the lovely island of Miyajima. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and fantastic views of the o-torii of Itsukushima Shrine, one of the most famous sights in Japan. 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-Tsuwano
After breakfast on Miyajima Island you will make your way to the pleasant and relaxing town of Tsuwano affectionately referred to as “Little Kyoto”. You will find koi carp swimming in the waterways along the  beautiful streets of Tonomachi where you can explore the well preserved samurai houses and visit the Katsushika Hokusai Museum of Art, home to a fantastic collection of work by the famous nineteenth-century artist Hokusai. Tonight you will stay in a ryokan.

Day 8: Yonago
Today journey east to visit the renowned Adachi Museum famous for its spectacular 6 gardens (and its collection of contemporary Japanese art).  The landscape gardens are composed of the best pines and rocks collected from all over Japan and can be enjoyed in any season. In the late afternoon board the train to Kurashiki where you will stay the night.

Day 9: Kurashiki
Wake up in the picturesque town of Kurashiki. Take a stroll along Kurashiki’s beautiful canals and visit a selection of traditional, feudal era warehouses that have been converted into an eclectic collection of museums the finest of which is the Ohara Museum. In the afternoon board the train and bullet train to Osaka where you will stay 3 nights.

Day 10: Osaka
Osaka is Japans third largest city and will give you a taste of modern Japan. Spend the day enjoying the sights of Osaka including the lively Dotonbori district for shopping, eating and entertainment; Osaka castle and the wonderful Osaka aquarium.

Optional Tour: Osaka Bay Half Day
 On this tour you will visit the Osaka aquarium, one of the biggest public aquariums in the world. You will then board a replica of Christopher Columbus’ flagship boat the, Santa Maria, for  sightseeing cruise around Osaka Bay.

Optional Tour: Ukiyoe & Okonomiyaki Experience
 For those wanting to get creative you will get the opportunity to make your own ukiyoe or woodblock print today. You can also sample the well known Osakan dish of okonomiyaki which is best described as a thick savoury pancake.

Day 11: Osaka
Spend a day at leisure in Osaka or take a day trip to the beautiful port town of Kobe. Considered one of Japan’s most attractive city, Kobe is sandwiched between the sea and the Rokko Mountain range where you can take a cable car to the top for a panoramic view of the city. You may wish take the opportunity to dine on world famous Kobe beef.

Day 12: Depart Japan
Transfer to Kansai International Airport (Osaka) for your flight back to the UK.

Price Includes

Not included in Price

PRICE: from £1,345 per person based on twin/double room occupancy.
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: £250

OPTIONAL GUIDED EXCURSIONS:
Kyoto 1 Day Tour: £100 per person
Nara Afternoon Tour: £60 per person
Osaka Bay Half Day: £95 per person
Ukiyoe & Okonomiyaki Experience: £80 per person

All price estimates are based on current rates of exchange and are subject to availability. All prices are good for travel before the end of 2011 but exclude blackout periods which coincide with Japanese National Holidays and some weekends.

To make a booking, a deposit of £200 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.

TO BOOK NOW: CLICK to download a reservation form
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.

Holiday Insurance

Other Japan Journeys tours for independent travellers

Total Japan
Our ‘Total Japan’ itinerary is a classic 8 night itinerary which includes visits to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island in the west of Japan		 Essential Japan
Our second itinerary, ‘Essential Japan’, is also a classic, a 13 night itinerary which takes in the beautiful Japan Alps.
Total Japan Tour for Indepent Travellers Essential Japan Tour for Indepent Travellers

 

Back to Top