From Ayers Rock to Mt Fuji; from the Land of the Long White Cloud to the Land of the Rising Sun. October 2009 sees the cream of Southern Hemisphere rugby coming to Japan in a big way!

On 31st October 2009 Australia will take on New Zealand in Tokyo in the final match in this year's Bledisloe Cup series. This is a unique opportunity to witness two of international rugby's giants do battle in the amazing capital city of Japan. And one thing you can be guaranteed is there won't be a blood capsule in sight!

Japanese hospitality is the stuff of legends and interest in rugby has blossomed in recent years, so there will be plenty of local and international interest in this game, making for a fantastic atmosphere, quite unlike any other rugby match anywhere on earth!

Following the Wallabies or the All Blacks to Tokyo gives you a wonderful opportunity to not only enjoy the big match itself, but also to explore more of Japan and go beyond the bright lights of Tokyo to discover the heart of this ancient country.

InsideJapan Tours offer a fantastic 9-night self-guided package including 4 nights in Tokyo with match tickets, 2 nights in the shadow of Mt Fuji in the Hakone national park and 3 nights in Kyoto, the cradle of Japanese history and culture.

The trip can be priced to suit all budgets, and can even be tailored to include extra destinations and additional experiences.

Don't miss the action! This is sure to be the rugby trip of a lifetime

Destinations:
Tokyo | Hakone | Kyoto | Tokyo

Prices:

Contact us for full pricing information

What's Included:

Match ticket
9 Nights Accommodation
Airport transfers
Transport between destinations by Japan Rail Pass
Breakfast each day
2 Evening meals
Tokyo Transport Card to get you around the city and transfer to the match
Full Day Private Guiding in Kyoto (luxury package only)
Tailor-Made Info-Pack to make getting around Japan clear and simple
Telephone support whilst in Japan

What's NOT Included:

International Flights
Meals other than those detailed
Baggage Handling
Entrance fees to temples, shrines, museums etc
Local transport at each destination unless otherwise specified

Dates
The match takes place on Saturday 31st October. Our package has been designed for you to arrive in Japan on Friday 30th and head back home on Sunday 8th November. However, if you want to arrive earlier or head back later that is no problem. Similarly, if our package is too long for you let us know and we can provide a shorter alternative.

Flights
Our package does not include international flights leaving you free to find the very best fares on the internet or with your local travel agent.

Want to see more?
We can tailor your trip to suit exactly what you are looking for. Want different hotels? No problem. Fancy a three week stay? Just ask. We are here to make your Japan trip as good as it can be.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 Tokyo

Meals: None

Welcome to Japan! Today is a free day to settle in among the bright lights of Tokyo, following your long flight. After a quick recovery you can head out to start exploring this amazing city. You could easily spend the day simply exploring the exciting Shinjuku district, with its wealth of shops, restaurants and bars. Alternatively jump on Tokyo’s fantastic public transport network (using the included pass) and start to get to know Tokyo! In the evening Shinjuku is the place to be, with endless eating, drinking and nightlife options to get your trip off to the best possible start!

Day 2 Tokyo

Meals: Breakfast

Match Day! You can use the included transport pass to spend the early part of today exploring some of the varied and characterful neighbourhoods that make up Tokyo. From the traditional backstreets and temples of old Asakusa to the futuristic Odaiba development in Tokyo Bay, this city has something for everyone. In the afternoon it will be time to start your pre-match warm up, perhaps in one of the bars of Roppongi, Tokyo’s international party district. In the late afternoon you can use the included transport pass to transfer to the 56,000-seater Tokyo National Stadium in good time for the 17:30 kick off. This early evening start ensures a full evening of post-match analysis and a guaranteed good time back in Roppongi, or for a more uniquely Japanese experience perhaps the nightlife districts of Shibuya, or Shinjuku, conveniently close to your hotel!

Day 3 Tokyo

Meals: Breakfast

A full day of recovery or the chance to explore more of Tokyo. Sunday is one of the best days to enjoy Tokyo, with the Harajuku district and Yoyogi Park being the destination where workaholic Tokyoites head to let their hair down on their day off. Some of the teen fashions on display have to be seen to be believed, whilst the park plays host to an amazing array of hobbies and activities, from juggling and skateboarding, to theatre, sports, and even full-blown rock band performances. A great place to unwind and recover from the night before.

Day 4 Hakone

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

Time to leave Tokyo behind and head off to explore the rest of Japan! You will leave Tokyo in style aboard the famous Shinkansen (bullet train). Just an hour outside Tokyo lies the beautiful Hakone National Park overlooked by the perfect snow-capped volcanic cone of Mt Fuji, Japan’s most famous icon. Upon arrival you may wish to head straight out to enjoy the scenery, or may like to check out some of Hakone’s excellent museums, such as the Open-Air Museum, which showcases an amazing collection of both Japanese and western art and sculpture, in a beautiful hillside location. Tonight you can look forward to a stay in traditional Japanese style accommodation, with an opportunity to indulge in a relaxing hot-spring bath – somewhat different to the typical post-match rugby bath experience!

Day 5 Hakone

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

A full day to enjoy the Hakone region. A classic sightseeing route sees you explore the national park by mountain train, cable car, bus and even a pirate cruise ship! If the weather is kind there are plenty of fantastic viewpoints for catching a glimpse of Mt Fuji. Another night in your traditional Japanese style accommodation awaits, so you are sure to leave Hakone relaxed and refreshed.

Day 6 Kyoto

Meals: Breakfast

Today you will board the Shinkansen once more and speed west to Kyoto, the home of Japanese culture and history. Upon arrival you will have an afternoon to start exploring. Why not head to Kiyomizu-dera, a classic Kyoto temple offering views over the city. In the evening you might like to take a stroll through the traditional backstreets of the Gion district where with luck you might spot a geisha or two, Kyoto’s famous female entertainers (no funny business here) as they make their way between appointments. Kyoto has some fantastic nightlife options, with a huge range of restaurants and bars to choose from, to suit all tastes and all budgets.

Day 7 Kyoto

Meals: Breakfast

A full day to explore Kyoto. Choosing where to start is the first challenge with so many sights and attractions vying for your attention. Your comprehensive Info-Pack will help you make sense of it all and highlight the top attractions and a few of our favourite lesser-know sights. If you tire of temples or are sick of shrines then why not take a boat ride down the Hozugawa River or check out the amazing modern architecture of the Kyoto station complex. Kyoto is also the place to experience something of Japan’s cultural arts, from flower arranging to tea ceremony. If you have a specific interest just let us know and we can make a suitable suggestion.

Day 8 Kyoto

Meals: Breakfast

You may wish to spend another day exploring Kyoto or may like to take advantage of your included Japan Rail Pass to make an excursion outside the city. Just 40 minutes away by train is Nara, famous for the huge bronze statue of Buddha at Todai-ji. The temple is in a beautiful location in the centre of a rambling park – just watch out for the inquisitive sacred deer! The vibrant modern metropolis of Osaka is a 30 minute journey and Hiroshima, infamous for the atomic bomb attack at the end of World War Two, is two hours by Shinkansen and makes a very worthwhile day trip.

Day 9 Tokyo

Meals: Breakfast

Today you will board the Shinkansen for the final time and head back east to Tokyo. Here will have a final afternoon to catch up on any last-minute sightseeing or souvenir shopping you may like to do. Then in the evening why not head out for a final big night out to celebrate the end of your Japan trip in style. Whether meeting the local salarymen at a down-to-earth after-work bar with sticks of chicken and a well-earned beer, or enjoying sunset over the city from the top floor bar of one of Tokyo’s deluxe hotels, Tokyo has a memorable evening in store for you whatever your tastes and budget.

Day 10 Depart

Meals: Breakfast

Time to say sayonara to Japan as you head for home.

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Pricing Information

Accommodation

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Toyoko Inn Shinjuku Kabuki-cho

Tokyo

Business Hotel

Located in the heart of Shinjuku's famous entertainment district of Kabuki-cho, the Toyoko Inn offers great value accommodation with all the amenities you will need. A light complimentary breakfast is also included.

Ichinoyu Honkan

Hakone

Ryokan (JP)

This is an inn with a rich history dating back to 1630 when the inn opened as a pioneer in the hot spring industry of Hakone. The Honkan (literally 'main building') featured in the famous series of Ukiyoe prints of the region produced by Ando Hiroshige and has been welcoming guests for the best part of the past 400 years. The Ichinoyu holds true to the traditional values of service for which Japan is famed. Being a famous onsen area the Ichinoyu has large communal baths for you to enjoy, some of which can be used privately.

Toyoko Inn Shijo Omiya

Kyoto

Budget Hotel

Located close to the centre of Kyoto and just a couple of minutes' walk from the main Shijo shopping street that runs east to west through the heart of the city. The hotel offers the usual Toyoko Inn facilities includng free high speed internet, air conditioning and a complimentary breakfast.

Toyoko Inn Nihon Bashi Ningyo-cho

Tokyo

Budget Hotel

Nihon Bashi is one of the oldest districts of Tokyo and this hotel is located just a short walk from the centre of this area. You will find a wide range of restaurants on your door-step and some quirky stores. The Mitsukoshi depratment store is also close by. The hotel offers free high speed internet, a complimentary breakfast and clean, comfortable accommodation.

Century Southern Tower

Tokyo

Superior Hotel

Located just 5 minutes walk from JR Shinjuku Station on the southern terrace opposite Takashimaya Times Square department store, the Southern Tower makes for the perfect base from which to explore not just Shinjuku but the whole of the central Tokyo and beyond. The hotel lobby is to be found on the 20th floor of a building which also houses Microsoft's Japan HQ. The lobby offers great views of the city and on clear days you can see Mt Fuji towering up in the distance. All rooms are stylishly decorated with modern earthy tones and high quality bed linen. The bathrooms have a range of beauty products provided and rooms come with flat screen TVs, direct dial phones and a free high speed internet connection. In the evenings you will have a choice of dining in the hotel with a superb Tepanyaki restaurant, an excellent Chinese, a French influences restaurant and a cafe bar for light refreshments.

Taiseikan Ryokan

Hakone

Superior Ryokan (JP)

The Taisekan is a quality ryokan located close to the Miyanoshita area of the National Park. The ryokan is accessed from th emain road via the inn's private funicular railway which takes you down into the valley. The rooms are beautiful and the inn serves high quality kaiseki cuisine for dinner. Both indoor and open air hot spring baths are available.

Hotel Granvia Kyoto

Kyoto

Superior Hotel

Located at Kyoto Station in what is most of the amazing buildings you will see anywhere in the World, the Granvia has a reputation as being amongst the best hotels in the city offering modern style and luxury along with first class service. The rooms are a good size and the interiors stylish and well designed. The location at the bustling hub of Kyoto Station is an ideal base from which to explore the city as all city buses and the subway come to Kyoto Station, as well as being the perfect location when making a day trip outside the city.

Mitsui Garden Ginza

Tokyo

Superior Hotel

With interiors by the famous Italian designer Piero Lissoni, the Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza is a stylish hotel on the south edge of Tokyo's most famous district. The hotel occupies the top floors of Ginza's tallest building and the views from every guest room are spectacular. The rooms have high quality furnishings and the beautiful bathrooms feature products from Shiseido.