Self-Guided Adventure
Tailor-made
Hiroshima & Miyajima (Group Tour Add-On)
4 Nights: from US$2061 per person (twin share) Trip Code: AOHMS
Head west for a poignant visit to Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park and find out more about Hiroshima's much-loved food scene, then have a relaxing stay on sacred Miyajima Island amid verdant forests and traditional shrines. Read more >
After your Japan Enchantment Small Group Tour has finished there will still be so much to see, so how about extending your adventure in Japan with a Self-Guided trip west to Hiroshima and the island of Miyajima?
You will be quite adept at using trains to get around by the end of your Small Group Tour, so in this extension you will travel independently from Tokyo west to Hiroshima for one night, then to Miyajima for two. Hiroshima needs no introduction; just a mention of its name brings to mind images of the atomic bomb which was dropped there on August 6th 1945, and a trip to the city is not complete without a poignant visit to the Peace Memorial Park and Museum with its powerful message for peace, and the fitting memorial of the A-Bomb Dome. However, Hiroshima has rebuilt itself as a thriving modern city with a warm atmosphere and some truly delicious food - don't miss a visit to Okonomi Mura to try okonomiyaki savoury pancakes.
After a comfortable night in the city you will take the short ferry ride across Hiroshima Bay, past the floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, to spend two nights in a ryokan-style hotel on Miyajima Island. Miyajima is a spiritual island home to traditional temples and shrines, beautiful scenery, and some very curious deer. If you're feeling active then a hike or cable car ride to the top of Mount Misen will give you spectacular views across the bay.
After your three night stay in western Honshu you will return to Tokyo on the bullet train, and we've arranged a final night for you in the chic southern terrace area near Shinjuku Station. Take the opportunity to try out one of the fabulous restaurants in the Shinjuku area for your last unforgettable dinner in Japan.
The following day you will have a private car to take you directly from your hotel out to Narita Airport in plenty of time for your flight home.
Notes
This extension package is designed to be bolted on to one of our Small Group Tours. It works best when combined with Japan Enchantment. Please note that the extension is Self-Guided. This means you will not be travelling in a group or with a tour leader, but full instructions including details of your journeys and directions to your accommodation will be included in your complimentary InsideJapan Tours' Info-Pack.
What's included
- Four nights' accommodation
- Breakfast every day and two evening meals
- All transport between destinations using your Japan Rail Pass
- Airport transfer to Narita Airport at the end of your trip
- Your personalised InsideJapan Info-Pack
What's NOT included:
- International flights
- Local transport (buses, subways, taxis) at any destinations
- Any entrance fees including those for shrines, temples and museums
- Baggage handling - you will be expected to carry your own bags for the duration of the trip
Trip Highlights
- Visit Hiroshima's poignant A-Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park and Museum
- Tuck into Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki savoury pancakes
- Soak in an outdoor hot spring bath with superb sea views
- Journey to tranquil Miyajima and marvel at the vermillion floating torii gate
- Stay in a gorgeous ryokan-style hotel on Miyajima
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3380
What, where, when and how...
Hiroshima & Miyajima (Group Tour Add-On) - 5 Days
Destinations
Hiroshima & Miyajima (Group Tour Add-On) - 5 Days - Day by Day
Hiroshima & Miyajima (Group Tour Add-On) - 5 Days - Accommodation
Hiroshima & Miyajima (Group Tour Add-On) - 5 Days - Experiences
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Day 1
Speed west to learn about the history and culture of Hiroshima and pay your respects at the Peace Memorial Park.
This morning you'll part with your tour leader and group in Tokyo and make your own way to the bullet train station to start your Self-Guided Adventure. We will extend your Japan Rail Passes to cover the bullet trains and we'll provide full instructions for this journey. Remember to keep an eye out for views of Mount Fuji from the right hand side of the train as you pass through Shizuoka Prefecture.
Your journey to Hiroshima will take about five hours in total and will require an easy change at Shin-Osaka Station. Your hotel is very conveniently located next to Hiroshima Station, and there are plenty of buses, trams, or taxis to take you around, so you will be able to get from your hotel to various parts of the city without any trouble. You will have the rest of the day to explore Hiroshima and learn more about this fascinating city; a visit to the Peace Memorial Park and Museum is a must, and the castle, while not the original building, is set in lovely grounds and is sometimes lit up at night. We also recommend a stop at Okonomi Mura for a Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki pancake – you can top it with cheese, rice cakes, seafood, or whatever you fancy.Overnight: Sheraton Hiroshima
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Day 2-3
Cross over to Miyajima on the ferry and pass the famous vermillion torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine.
You can spend the morning in Hiroshima doing some last minute sightseeing and then head down to the port to take the little ferry across Hiroshima Bay to Miyajima Island. You will be greeted with the iconic view of the torii gate ‘floating' in the sea, and the vermillion buildings of Itsukushima Shrine reaching out into the sea.
The rest of the day and the whole of the next is yours to explore the island as you please. There's plenty to do on Miyajima, from a visit to some of the ancient temples and shrines, to a wander around the little shops selling various local delicacies, to a trip up to the top of Mount Misen for sweeping views of the Seto Inland Sea. You can hop on the cable car but if the weather is being agreeable, the two hour hike to the top is enjoyable – particularly in autumn when the leaves are turning. As the sun goes down and most of the tourists return to the mainland, we recommend making the most of the peace and quiet heading down to the waterfront to see the shrine lit up.
Your home on Miyajima will be Kurayado Iroha, a Japanese-style inn located in a modern hotel. Your generously sized room has sea views and there is a wonderful hot spring bath up on the roof offering a stunning vista of the Miyajima straits where you can relax before your traditional kaiseki course dinner.Overnight: Kurayado Iroha
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Day 4-5
Trade the vivid shrines of Miyajima for the bright lights of Shinjuku for your last unforgettable night in Japan.
On the fourth morning you will return to Hiroshima and onwards to Tokyo on the bullet train. Your Tokyo hotel is conveniently located only 5 minutes' walk from Shinjuku Station on the southern terrace, so you can easily access the huge department stores for some final shopping, or you can head over to the east side of the station where the best restaurants and bars are located for a last drink. Your hotel also has several restaurants for you to choose from, including teppanyaki and French cuisine.
Your adventure in Japan draws to a close. We've arranged for you to have a private car out to Narita Airport in plenty of time for your flight home, or if you would like to fly from Haneda Airport instead, please let us know and we can adjust plans to suit you.Overnight: Century Southern Tower
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