DAY 1 & 2: UK / JAPAN

Fly overnight to Japan where you will arrive the next day. On arrival, you will be met by your tour leader who will take you by private coach to comfortable 4* hotel for 4 nights.

 

DAY 3: TOKYO GUIDED TOUR

Enjoy a full-day city tour by private coach beginning with a visit to the bustling Senso-ji Temple in the downtown area of Asakusa before moving on to wonderful Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden for a fantastic cherry blossom viewing. We will end the day by ascending Tocho (the Tokyo Municipal Government Building) for a panoramic view of Tokyo. Enjoy a welcome dinner tonight.

(Breakfast & Dinner included).

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DAY 4: TOKYO GUIDED TOUR

This morning we head to serene Meiji Jingu, a shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji who was the first emperor of modern Japan. We will then head to Ueno Park - one of the most famous places for cherry blossom viewing in Japan and home to some of the finest museums in the country. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure.

(Breakfast included) 

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DAY 5: TOKYO FREE DAY

Today you are free to explore more of Tokyo's attractions. We recommend the trendy nearby district of Harajuku and the electronics district of Akihabara. There are also some lovely parks for cherry blossom viewing.

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Alternatively, you might like to join a 1-Day optional tour to Kamakura (the political centre of medieval Japan) and Enoshima Bay, or a 1- day optional tour to Nikko, a superb temple town in the mountains north of Tokyo. Lunch is included on both optional tours.

 

(Breakfast included) 

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N.B. In order to make your journey to Kyoto more comfortable, we recommend that you pack a small overnight bag for your night’s stay in Hakone as the remainder of your luggage will be sent ahead separately to your Kyoto hotel. The cost of sending one standard-sized suitcase is included in our tour price. Additional baggage will cost extra.

 

DAY 6: TOKYO TO HAKONE 

Today we say goodbye to Tokyo and board the Bullet Train bound for Hakone, a peaceful mountain resort in the foothills of Mt Fuji. We check into the lovely 4* resort-hotel for the night. You are free to spend the afternoon strolling the mountain paths and relaxing in your hotel's soothing private indoor and outdoor hot spring baths. Enjoy a delicious dinner tonight.

(Breakfast & Dinner included)

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DAY 7: HAKONE TO KYOTO  

Following breakfast, we will explore the landscape of Hakone by private coach, ride in a cable car for a 360-degree panorama of the surrounding mountains and volcanic valleys of Owakudani and enjoy a wonderful cruise across Lake Ashi. Before departing for Kyoto, we will briefly visit Odawara Castle to see the beautiful cherry blossoms in the castle grounds. We will arrive in Kyoto in the evening, and we will check in to centrally located 4* hotel for 4 nights.

(Breakfast included)

 

DAY 8: KYOTO GUIDED TOUR

Enjoy a full day visiting the sights of Kyoto by private air-conditioned coach, beginning with the beautiful temples and blossoming gardens of Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion. We will then visit Sanjusangendo, a temple in eastern Kyoto renowned for its 1,001 unique standing Bodhisattva statues. After lunch, we will visit we will visit Kiyomizudera, a hillside temple offering fabulous views over the city.

(Breakfast & Lunch included)

 

DAY 9: KYOTO AT LEISURE - DINNER WITH MAIKO 

This morning is yours to enjoy at leisure. In the late afternoon, we will enjoy a walk in the famous Geisha district of Gion followed by a very special experience where we will enjoy a light dinner in company of a Maiko (apprentice Geisha) who will entertain us, and we will have the opportunity to take pictures with her.

(Breakfast & Dinner included)

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DAY 10: UJI & NARA DAY TOUR

Today we will take a day trip by private coach to Uji which is famous for the most delicious green tea. We will visit a lovely tea shop that has provided tea to the Shoguns and Imperial family. We will then go on to visit Byodoin Temple which you can find depicted on the back of a 10-yen coin. After lunch, we will head to the sleepy town of Nara, Japan's first permanent capital. In Nara we will visit Todai-ji Temple, home to the Great Buddha. Nara Park is a lovely place to stroll, relax and get close to the deer.

(Breakfast included) 

 

NB. We recommend that you pack a small overnight bag for your night's stay on Miyajima as the remainder of your luggage will be sent ahead separately to your Osaka hotel. The cost of sending one standard-sized suitcase is included in our tour price. Additional baggage will cost extra.

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DAY 11: KYOTO TO  HIROSHIMA/MIYAJIMA

Today we head to the moving city of Hiroshima. We first visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, and Peace Memorial Museum. After lunch we will take a short train and ferry ride to the beautiful island of Miyajima, once considered so sacred that commoners were forbidden. 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 we will spend a magical evening at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). Enjoy your farewell dinner in the evening.

(Breakfast & Dinner included)

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DAY 12:   MIYAJIMA TO OSAKA

Spend the morning at leisure exploring Miyajima Island. Board the cable car to the top of Mt Misen for great views of the surrounding area. There is also the wonderful aquarium to visit. Later today we will head to Osaka where you will check in here for 1 night. In Osaka explore Dotonbori district for shopping, entertainment, and eating.

(Breakfast included)

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DAY 13: DEPART JAPAN

It's time to say sayonara.

We will transfer to Kansai International Airport (Osaka) by private coach.

(Breakfast included)

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