This 17 night journey takes in some of Japan’s finest World Heritage Sites, combining spectacular castles, ancient villages, beautiful gardens, mountain-top temple settlements and the history of Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima to create a unique and comprehensive experience.
You will begin in Tokyo, the neon-lit beating heart of Japan, home of the 200mph 'Bullet Train' and a city racing headlong into the future. The contrast with your later visit to the ancient capital of Kyoto is dramatic; a city where the legacy of the past is all around. Temples and shrines lie hidden down romantic backstreets and sliding wooden doors open to reveal exquisite gardens. The included Japan Rail Pass also opens up the possibility of day trips from Kyoto to Nara, Kobe or Osaka at no extra cost.
In the mountains of Tochigi you will find the town of Nikko; set in stunning natural surroundings, the sacred shrines and temples of the World Heritage Tosho-gu complex are a world apart. The retreat of Mt. Koya in the Kii Mountains of Wakayama Prefecture gives a chance to participate in the timeless Buddhist way of life that has spanned the centuries and to stay in an atmospheric temple lodging.
Your odyssey takes in Nara with its lovely deer park and impressive statue of Buddha before skipping through the centuries with a visit to Hiroshima, a city which has blossomed in the sixty years since the devastation caused by the A-bomb. The skeleton of the A-bomb dome stands as a poignant reminder of the horrors of war, yet just off the coast on Miyajima Island the tranquil 'floating' tori gate of Itsukushima Shrine offers a place of quiet reflection and timeless beauty. You'll stay on Miyajima Island and visit Hiroshima as an easy day trip.
The garden of Kenroku-en, samurai houses and a charming geisha quarter are all to be explored in Kanazawa, whilst the World Heritage village of Shirakawa-go, in the heart of the spectacular Hakusan National Park, provides a breathtaking vision of old Japan and a chance to stay in one of the unique gassho zukuri thatched houses.
Guiding is included for one day in each of Tokyo, Nikko and Kyoto allowing the chance to make some Japanese friends as well as gain expert insights into each of these destinations. The World Heritage itinerary will enable you to experience the places that have shaped the Japanese nation, giving you a sense of the history and culture of this ancient land.
Prices:
2012
Standard:
Twin: £2810 Single: £3460
Upgrade:
Twin: £3910 Single: £5450
Click for full details of pricing including extra nights
What's Included:
- 17 nights accommodation (3 nights Japanese-style)
- Breakfast each morning
- 7 evening meals
- Meet and Greet upon arrival at Tokyo Narita Airport
- All transport between destinations including airport transfers
- Excursion day from Kyoto (using included Japan Rail Pass)
- Tokyo Pasmo card for use on subway
- 8 hours private guide service in Tokyo & Kyoto
- InsideJapan Tours Info-Pack
- 1/2 day private tour in Nikko
- International Flights
- Local transport (buses, subways, taxis) at any destination except for that covered by the Nikko Free Pass
- Any entrance fees including those for shrines, temples and museums (except for Nikko)
- Baggage handling - you will be expected to carry your own bags for the duration of the trip
Supplements
No seasonal supplement
Black Out Dates
Please note that during certain Japanese holiday periods, the prices
detailed in this brochure are NOT valid for packages if any of the
nights' accommodation fall within the following dates:
29th December to 4th January New Year
29th April to 5th May Golden Week
9th August to 17th August Obon Festival
Included evening meals are in Nikko (2), Koya-san (2), Miyajima (2) and Shirakawago (1)
The listed accommodation in Shirakawago is a very traditional inn and the rooms are NOT en-suite. An En-suite alternative is available however - please ask us for details.
BACK TO TOP
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 Tokyo
Meals: None
On arrival in Narita Airport you will be met by our representative who will escort you to the platform for the Keisei Skyliner express train which makes the journey into Tokyo in 60 minutes. You will also be given taxi vouchers for the final transfer from the station to your hotel. Home for the next three nights is Asakusa, Tokyo’s historic district; an area where the bustle of street market traders, food stalls and traditional ryokan all set around the magnificent Senso-ji Temple reflects a way of life that, unlike the rest of the capital, hasn’t changed for centuries.
Day 2 Tokyo
Meals: Breakfast
To help you get the most out of your time in Japan’s capital, you will have a guide at your disposal today. The guide will take you to some of Tokyo’s most famous sights as well as some lesser known places of interest. Travelling around Tokyo by the efficient public transport network, this is your chance to get beneath the Japan’s surface with a knowledgeable local to answer all your questions.
Day 3 Tokyo
Meals: Breakfast
There are so many sights, sounds and flavours to experience on your free day in Tokyo. From tasting the freshest sushi at Tsukiji Fish Market to testing the latest technology at the Sony Building, you won’t run out of things to do! See the skyscrapers from the water as you cruise down the Sumida River from Asakusa, take in some high culture at the elegant Kabuki-za Theatre or lose yourself in translation among the glittering neon of Shinjuku.
Day 4 Nikko
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Speeding through the Tokyo suburbs by the Shinkansen ‘bullet’ train, you’ll travel north into the Japanese countryside and the small city of Nikko. Here you will be met by one of our tour guiding duo, Mr and Mrs Ota, who will take you on a tour of Nikko’s treasures. You’ll stop at Toshogu, Japan’s most lavishly decorated shrine complex and mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Look out for the original wood carving of three familiar monkeys, inspired by the Buddhist teaching that if we do not hear, see or speak evil, we ourselves shall be spared from evil. Lunch in a local restaurant is included on your tour.
Day 5 Nikko
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Nikko, meaning ‘sun light’, is home to a national park situated in a volcanic plateau and dotted with lakes, waterfalls and hot springs surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. Today may be the day to pull on your hiking boots and explore the many trails which criss-cross the national park. Lake Chuzenji is particularly beautiful for its autumn foliage. At the east end of the lake, Kegon Falls, cascading 96 metres into the Daiya River, is a wonderful sight.
Day 6 Kyoto
Meals: Breakfast
Travelling back though Tokyo on the world famous Shinkansen, you’ll zoom along the eastern seaboard to the ancient capital of Kyoto. The futuristic station building heralds what is at first glance a modern city with its fair share of concrete and neon. But scratch the surface and you’ll soon sense the real heartbeat of this historic city, a place where tradition and culture pulsate through every aspect of Kyoto life. Thanks to the mysterious geisha, ritualised tea ceremonies, time-honoured festivals and 17 UNSECO World Heritage sites, you’re never far from the unique and the spectacular as you explore this wonderful city.
Day 7 Kyoto
Meals: Breakfast
Kyotoites take great pride in their sensitivity to the seasons and accordingly different temples come into their own at certain times of year. Spring brings plum and cherry blossoms to Maruyama Park and the spectacular Kiyomizu-Dera. Wild irises and chrysanthemums bloom at Kamigamo Shrine in summer and full moon parties dedicated to the Buddhist protector deity, Bishamonten, are held at Kurama Temple. In autumn catch the red and gold foliage at Eikan-do. And with a bit of luck in winter, you’ll witness the iconic image of snow on the rooftop of the Golden Pavilion. A full day with a guide will help you to get the most out of your visit to Kyoto at any time of year.
Day 8 Kyoto
Meals: Breakfast
You may wish to spend another day in the old Imperial capital, or by way of contrast, take advantage of your included Japan Rail Pass to make an excursion to one of the more modern destinations nearby. The vibrant metropolis of Osaka (30mins) is famous for the down-to-earth attitude of its people and is considered one of the best places in all Japan for eating and drinking. Kobe (30mins) is another good option; an attractive, cosmopolitan port city famous for its fine local beef and its remarkable recovery from the devastating earthquake of 1995.
Day 9 Mt Koya
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Your Japan adventure delves further into the Buddhist religion as you travel to the sacred community atop Mount Koya where you will spend two nights in temple lodgings. Saint Kukai established a monastic retreat here in 816 which quickly became Japan’s most revered site in Shingon Buddhism. At 900m above sea level, the cedar lined peak has a magical tranquillity and as you wander among the 123 temples that make up the mountain village you’re sure to see monks going about their daily rituals just as they have for thousands of years.
Day 10 Mt Koya
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Enjoy the time to relax and reflect on Mount Koya. Stroll to Daimon, the great gate on the Western edge of Koya which on a clear day boasts unmatched views across to the distant Shikoku and Awaji islands. Visit the Reihokan or treasure house which holds over 5,000 paintings, statues and other Buddhist relics. For the more adventurous, follow any of the trails which lead out of the village up into the peaks of the Kii Mountains. As dusk falls take the eerie walk though the lantern lit cemetery of Okunoin before returning to your accommodation for Shoji-ryori, vegetarian Buddhist cuisine, and a relaxing soak in the temple bath.
Day 11 Nara
Meals: Breakfast
You will be heading to Nara today, an ex-capital city of Japan with a history even longer than that of Kyoto. The small city is dominated by Nara Park which makes for a wonderful stroll although watch out for the cute deer stealing your info-pack! You will also want to visit Todaiji temple, the World's largest wooden structure and home to the Daibutsu giant Buddha statue.
Day 12 Miyajima
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Leaving Nara this morning, you will take a local train before you hop on the Shinkansen ‘bullet’ train for the journey to Miyajima. Japan’s most holy island, Miyajima is just a short ferry ride across the water from Hiroshima and yet couldn’t feel further removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. The rural and mountainous island is home to many Shinto shrines, including the famous vermilion torii gate which appears to float in the sea in front of Itsukushima Shrine. The 2,000 locals work hard to preserve the maple leaf forests and animals are allowed to roam freely around the town, so look out for the sacred deer and wild monkeys! There are numerous walking trails among the shrines and a cable car will take you to within a 30 minute hike to the top of Mount Misen. At 535m, it is the highest peak on Miyajima and offers spectacular views across the Seto Inland Sea. You will be staying Japanese style here with breakfast and dinner included.
Day 13 Miyajima
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
We would recommend making a day trip to Hiroshima today. Hiroshima hardly warrants an introduction; the city is of course infamous for the tragic events of August 6th 1945. Yet the city has risen phoenix-like from the ashes and is now a bustling metropolis looking firmly to the future whilst still honouring the past. The skeleton dome of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall remains in the centre of the city’s Peace Park as a moving reminder of that day. The Peace Museum in the centre of the park explains the lead up to the atomic bomb and provides a heartbreaking tribute to the victims and survivors of the attack. The citizens of Hiroshima work tirelessly to contribute to the abolition of nuclear weapons throughout the world in order to achieve world peace.
Day 14 Kanazawa
Meals: Breakfast
The journey to Kanazawa will see you travelling across western Japan, around the shores of Lake Biwa and along the northern Sea of Japan coastline. Sheltered by the sea and the Japan Alps, Kanazawa grew to prominence in the 15th century and remained unscathed from the warring samurai factions. The city’s lack of heavy industry meant Kanazawa also escaped the bombing of World War Two, allowing the city to maintain its vibrant culture to this day. Kanazawa is home to Kenrokuen, a garden made up of the six attributes (spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water and broad views) that make the perfect garden according to Chinese theory.
Day 15 Kanazawa
Meals: Breakfast
The Nagamachi samurai quarter and the old geisha area of the Higashi pleasure district offer an illuminating look at Japan’s past. In pretty wooden streets lit by old-fashioned street lamps, tea houses sit alongside craft galleries and elegant restaurants. Kanazawa is also home to many interesting museums including the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Ishikawa Prefecture Traditional Products and Crafts Museum and the Nagamachi Kaga Yuzen Silk Centre which demonstrates the 18 step dyeing process to produce yuzen silk for kimonos.
Day 16 Shirakawago
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
The UNSECO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go is a beautiful, rural village where 150 gassho-zukuri farmhouses remain. The village was historically a refuge for persecuted families who braved the harsh snowy winters under their steep-sided thatched-roof houses making a living by producing silk. Today the village is a popular tourist destination as visitors bus in to explore the farmhouses which are open to the public. However, you will stay long after the last tourist bus has left and overnight in a gassho-zukuri house. A hearty home cooked dinner is included in your stay and your hosts will explain the history of the house, taking you up into the loft.
Day 17 Tokyo
Meals: Breakfast
Leaving behind the ancient, rural environment of Shirakawa-go, you’ll return to Tokyo for a day that truly highlights the contrasts that make Japan the country it is today. Your final night in Japan will be among the bright neon lights of Shinjuku, the perfect place for some last minute shopping, a great meal out and a taste of karaoke if you fancy!
Day 18 Depart
Meals: Breakfast
Sadly your Japan adventure must come to an end. You will take the Airport Limousine Bus out to Narita Airport. We wish you a pleasant flight home.
Photos
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Pricing Information
| 2012 | |||
| Standard Price: | £2810 (Single Price: £3460) | ||
| Upgrade Price: | £3910 (Single Price: £5450) | ||
Extra Nights: |
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Standard Grade |
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| Start: Twin Share pp £65
Single pp £65
End: Twin Share pp £65 Single pp £80 |
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Superior Grade |
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| Start: Twin Share pp £90
Single pp £110
End: Twin Share pp £115 Single pp £175 |
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Accommodation
Asakusa Blue Wave Inn
Tokyo
Moderate Hotel
The Blue Wave Inn is located just a stone's throw from Sensoji Temple, the oldest and most venerated in Tokyo. Rooms are modern and bright and fully en-suite. The Ginza and Asakusa subway lines are just a short walk away meaning access to the rest of Tokyo is easy and the nearby Tobu line provides direct trains to Nikko.
Nikko Oedo Onsen Kirifuri
Nikko
Japanese Style
The Oedo Onsen Kirifuri is a Japanese style ryokan hotel designed and operated by Oedo Onsen, a hot springs specialist company from Tokyo. As you would expect, there are some great hot spring baths here to try both indoors and outside. Massage and spa services are also offered and you will also find a swimming pool (summer only), indoor tennis court, table tennis room, karaoke room and gift shops. The Kirifuri is located in the green countryside of Nikko, a 15 minute ride by complimentary shuttle bus from Nikko station. Some great walks as well as the World Heritage sights of Nikko are close at hand.
Karasuma Kyoto Hotel
Kyoto
Moderate Hotel
The Karasuma Kyoto Hotel is located right in the centre of Kyoto and enjoys easy access to all of the city's main sights. There are also numerous shops and restaurants on the doorstep here. Rooms are moderately sized but clean and comfortable and fully en-suite. The hotel features its own restaurant, Starbucks coffee shop and bar. English speaking staff are usually available.
Muryoko-in
Mt Koya
Shukubo (JP)
Meaning ‘immeasurable light’, Muryoko-in is a Buddhist temple that forms part of the monastic complex of Mount Koya. Its origins date back over 1000 years and today it offers 30 simple, Japanese style rooms for those wishing to experience a night in this magical environment. Guests are treated to ‘shojin ryori’, strictly vegetarian Buddhist monk dishes, and also have the chance to participate in the morning ceremony. This includes ‘goma’ or fire meditation
Comfort Hotel Nara
Nara
Moderate Hotel
The Comfort Hotel in Nara is ideally located just a couple of minutes walk from JR Nara station. Rooms are moderately sized but clean and comfortable and fully en-suite. Nara Park is about 10 minutes away on foot and there are numerous restaurants and shops en-route!
Yamaichi Bekkan
Miyajima
Ryokan (JP)
The Yamaichi Bekkan is a family run ryokan located directly opposite the pier and just a short from Itsukushima Shrine. All four rooms are fully en-suite and at such a small establishment you can be sure of personal service. The ryokan acts as a restaurant as well and is well known for its high quality food. The owners are a real delight and can advise about sightseeing in English.
APA Hotel Kanazawa Chuo
Kanazawa
Business Hotel
The APA Hotel Kanazawa Chuo is a modern business hotel situated in the centre of town. All the rooms are western style with en-suite bathroom and are of a moderate size. On the ground floor there is a branch of 'Seattle's Best' coffee shop and the hotel also boasts a top floor spa, sauna and relaxation space.
Minshuku Koemon
Shirakawago
Minshuku (JP)
The Minshuku Koemon is a thatched roof inn which is conveniently located in the southern half of the village close to the Doboroku Matsuri Exhibition Hall. Housed in a traditional Gassho Zukuri House, the inn offers warm welcome and traditional ambience. The inn has just 5 rooms and bathing facilities are shared use. Stays here include two home-cooked meals which use ingredients local to the area.
Shinjuku Sunroute Plaza
Tokyo
Moderate Hotel
The Shinjuku Sunroute Plaza is conveniently located on the south side of Shinjuku station and opened in late 2007. The building has a sleek and modern design throughout, from the spacious lobby area to the well-appointed guestrooms, which offer flatscreen TV with video-on-demand and spacious bathrooms. The hotel has its own restaurant and bar and also a guest lounge providing internet access and complimentary hot drinks. The hotel is in a fantastic location in the lively Shinjuku district of Tokyo, with an endless choice of shopping, dining and entertainment options within a few minutes' walk. The hotel is also just two minutes on foot from Shinjuku station, offering easy access to other areas of the city.
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