Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 Kyoto
Meals: Dinner
The tour group convenes in Kyoto. Your Tour Leader will come to the airport to meet you and escort you back into Kyoto and on to your hotel in the downtown area. The first night’s dinner is on us at a restaurant a short walk from the hotel. A leisurely stroll around the historic Gion area is a great way to follow dinner or there is always Karaoke if you wish!
Day 2 Kyoto
Meals: Breakfast
Today is a full day in Kyoto; if you wish, join the Tour Leader who will lead a walking tour around this fascinating city. Kyoto is the country’s old Imperial Capital and is home to a phenomenal 17 UNESCO World Heritage sights. Walking around Kyoto is by far the best way to absorb the atmosphere and contrasts of this modern bustling yet ancient city. One of our favourite places to visit is Nijo Castle with its “Nightingale Floors” designed to warn inhabitants of an approaching Ninja threat! This evening will be free to explore the city’s many restaurants, perhaps trying some of Kyoto’s famous tofu, said to be the highest quality in the country!
Day 3 Amanohashidate
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Today marks the start of our adventures along the Japan Sea Coast. From Kyoto we take a direct train up to Amanohashidate; the name literally means “Bridge of Heaven” and refers to the two mile pine tree studded sandbar which dominates the landscape. Amanohashidate is officially one of the three most scenic views in Japan and a sight which has to be seen to be believed!
The scenery in this area is spectacular so to make the most of it this afternoon we will take a cable car up to Kamamatsu Park from where the best views are to be had. Locals swear by looking at the view upside down between their legs making the sandbar appear as if it were a bridge suspended in the air!
Before heading back down you may like to stop at Naraiji Temple which is on the pilgrim route of 33 holy Kannon Temples in western Japan. Depending on the mood we will take a speed boat or ferry back across the bay to Chionji temple before the short walk back to the hotel where you can take advantage of the hot spring baths followed by a fresh seafood dinner overlooking the bay.
Day 4 Kinosaki Onsen
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
We move on this morning by train to the well known hot spring town of Kinosaki-Onsen. Kinosaki is famous for its seven “Sotoyu” public hot springs dotted about the quaint Japanese town.We will leave our bags at the Ryokan and then head out to sample the natural hot springs dotted around the town.From simple traditional bath houses to outdoor bubbling Jacuzzis and cave pools each of the onsen is said to have different healing properties.You can join in the locals by donning yukata and wooden 'Geta' shoes to strolll about town and dip in the various baths. If you feel you are are already clean enough, you could instead take a cable car to the Onsenji Temple or head to the top of the mountain for great view over the town. The town has many gift shops, cafes and restaurants open well into the night catering for all the keen bathers - A great way to relax in the traditional Japanese style!
The included dinner this evening will be traditional style in the Ryokan. If the public baths are not your thing tonight, there are beautiful hot spring baths available for private use at the ryokan.
Day 5 Matsue
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Today we will make use of a minibus which will pick us up from our Ryokan and take us to Matsue, via the unique sand dunes of Tottori as well as some fantastic seascapes along the way.
We will leave our bags in the minibus and explore the various changing scenery along the way.We will stop at the the unusual Gembudo caves to admire their interesting basalt rock formations.From here we will pass through mountain roads, cliffs overlooking the Japan Sea and drive through small fishing villages as we travel up the coast to Tottori and Japans stunning sand dunes - Japan’s only “desert” - which have been here for over 10,000 years. To make the most of the “desert” experience you can take a donkey or even a short (and expensive) camel ride!
From Tottori we will head to the station in our minibus and take a train to Matsue, our base for the next three nights. Matsue is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture and as such has a wealth of things to see and do. On our first night we will enjoy an included group meal at a local restaurant.
Day 6 Matsue
Meals: Breakfast
Today is a full day in Matsue and the Tour Leader will lead the group out for a visit to the Adachi Museum of Art. This fascinating museum is home to an impressive collection of 1,300 modern Japanese paintings by master painters of the modern era. There are displays of the works of some prominent ceramic artists, as well as wood sculpture and gold laquerware.
Perhaps the main draw of the Adachi Museum though is the stunning beauty of the Japanese gardens, whose creator travelled all over Japan to collect plants and rocks to create this exquisite vision. A moss garden, dry landscape garden and pond garden are amongst the different examples designed to be enjoyed in all four seasons of the year. In early summer we will be lucky enough to see the gardens in full bloom against a blue sky backdrop.
This afternoon we’ll make our way back to Matsue City and have time to check out the symbol of this historic city, Matsue Castle Fortress. Built in 1611 with 5 stories (and one hidden “fighting” floor), the castle has wonderful views of the surrounding areas and is one of only 12 twelve surviving castle to survive the wars, fires and earthquakes in the post feudal era since 1868.
Day 7 Matsue
Meals: Breakfast
This morning the Tour Leader will take a trip out to see Japan’s oldest and most important Shinto shrine, Izumo Taisha, an hour outside Matsue. The halls and main buildings are considered National Treasures of Japan and as such attract a phenomenal 450 000 visitors a year.
For lunch here the Tour Leader might suggest the local buckwheat noodles (Warigo-soba). Darker and more solid than regular soba noodles, they’ll make a tasty way to fill up while sightseeing.
This afternoon will be free to explore the rest of Matsue as you wish. You may like to check out the old Samurai house which contains items detailing the life of a Samurai in the Edo period. The Horikawa River Pleasure Boat might be a good option for a relaxing hour of sightseeing in Matsue as it winds its way around the river allowing you to admire the picturesque Shiomi Nawate Street from an alternative angle.
Day 8 Hagi
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
This morning we will enjoy breakfast in the hotel and then travel by train continuing west along the Japan Sea Coast to Hagi, a historic castle town with many links to the Meiji restoration.
We will arrive before lunch and be able to leave our bags in the hotel before heading out this afternoon. We will be staying at the Grand Hotel, one of the best hotels in the town and well situated for sightseeing.
This afternoon the Tour Leader will lead a stroll through the old Joka machi area of town with its original Edo and Samurai style houses painting a truly Japanese picture. We can take a look inside the old Kikuya Merchants House which has been kept the way it was giving you an insight into how the Japanese use to live all those years ago. Strolling through the old samurai-residential quarter we can head to the ruins of the castle in the very pleasant Shizuki-koen Park where the energetic ones can make the short climb up Mt. Shizuki for views over the town and sea.
The included dinner this evening will be served at the hotel.
Day 9 Hagi
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Hagi is ideal for cycling and walking so today will be free to explore the town in your own time. You may like to hire a bicycle from one of the many rental cycle shops in the town or you could have an even more leisurely day and use the city loop bus to travel around the town.
Hagi is famous for its 380 year old traditional “Hagi-yaki” pottery, so today would be an ideal time to take a trip to one of the many pottery kilns in the area to see for yourself how the pottery is made.
A pleasant way to spend the afternoon would be to take a walk to the two temples where the local lords, who played such an important part in the Meiji Restoration, are enshrined. The temples’ entrances are lined up with hundreds of stone lanterns making for a dramatic scene at dusk.
If the weather is nice you may just prefer to relax on the beach and soak up the laid back atmosphere of Hagi.
Day 10 Tsuwano
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
This morning we continue our journey in the hauntingly beautiful natural surroundings and make our way in the minibus to Chomonkyo Gorge. Here we will stop and take a 2 hour gentle walk through the gorge which is known for its steep cliffs, fantastically shaped rocks, cascading falls and deep pools.
After the gorge we will head though the Akiyoshi Plateau to the largest cave system in Japan and the second largest in Asia, Akiyoshido. The cave here is a magnificent example of natural art and you can actually walk through 700 metres of this subterranean landscape which is lit in a golden glow to enhance the stunning surroundings of golden rock, crimson and pink stalactites and eerie limestone pools.
In the afternoon we will then head on in our minibus to the traditional town of Tsuwano. We can spend a couple of hours wandering up the main street of Tonomachi lined with temples, museums, sake breweries and gift shops. The area is also known for the huge 60 year old Koi Carp that live in the Tonomachi's stream. We will spend a night in traditional family run accommodation with an evening meal included.
Day 11 Kurashiki
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Today we will have the morning free to explore more of the town of Tsuwano before travelling on the local train and Shinkansen Bullet Train back east to Kurashiki.
Kurashiki is famous for its black-tiled warehouse buildings which were originally used to store the rice paid as a tax and brought by boat from the surrounding farmlands in feudal Japan. Many of the warehouses have now been converted into museums and other attractions in this bustling tourist town. Along the canals that carried all that rice one can now find galleries such as the Ohara Art Museum, the Folkcraft Museum and the Archaeological Museum as well as houses with their white walls and black tiles that tell the history of old Kurashiki.
You will have an afternoon to stroll at will through the old part of the town which makes Kurashiki a beautiful place to visit.
Dinner is included at the Ryokan this evening. The Ryokan has a history dating back to the Meiji era and serves wonderful locally sourced traditional food.
Day 12 Kurashiki
Meals: Breakfast
Today will be fully free to explore all that the nearby surroundings has to offer. It is easy to get around Kurashiki on foot or by bicycle and there will be plenty to do in the old town of Kurashiki, whether it be admiring the galleries or shopping in the craft shops.
You could also make the short journey to nearby Okayama's Korakuen Gardens - one of Japan's top three gardens and a chance to see the famous rare Japanese Cranes which are being bred in captivity here.
This evening, try one of Kurashiki's local restaurants for dinner.
Day 13 Osaka
Meals: Breakfast
From Kurashiki this morning we will take a local train and then Shinkansen to Japan’s second city where our journey ends. Osaka is the concrete beating heart of the Kansai region and home to the best food, drink and entertainment in all of Japan. Osaka is a city buzzing with energy and life. The hotel is located in the vibrant Namba district, about a 10 minute walk from Namba station.
This evening we will have a farewell group meal and there’ll be one last chance for Karaoke!
Day 14 Osaka
Meals: Breakfast
Sadly our adventures on the Japan Sea Coast are over and we say our goodbyes to everyone. The Tour Leader will supply your ticket for the transfer back to the airport making sure you arrive there in good time for your flight home. We hope you remember us again for more adventures in Japan.
