Japan – Land of the Rising Sun – NEW

Japan –Land of the Rising Sun

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

This tour is the perfect introduction to Japan, an enthralling mix of ancient shrines, modern developments and stunning works of nature.

Mount Fuji Kenrokuen Garden

Available Feb, Mar, May, Jun, Sep to Nov 2022, Feb, Mar, May, Jun & Sep to Nov 2023 Fly from (flight upgrades available). Prices from

• Heathrow £3,799 (UK connecting flights available – call us for details) Room for Sole Use from £1,400

Hiroshima Kanazawa Japan

Takayama

Kyoto

Osaka

Nagoya Nara

Tokyo Mishima/ Mount Fuji

• Explore Himeji, Japan’s best-preserved feudal-era fortress • Take the train to Nara, Japan’s 6thcentury capital with its sacred deer • Experience bustling Osaka,

‘Japan’s Kitchen’ • Head to Kyoto and visit the famous red torii gates and Arashiyama bamboo forest • Journey to coastal Kanazawa with its famous gardens • Discover Shirakawa-Go’s traditional thatched houses and picture-perfect

Takayama, gateway to the Japanese Alps • Stay in modern Nagoya, home of the

Toyota Museum • Travel to Hakone National Park, and get a glimpse of fabled Mount Fuji, and enjoy a cruise on Lake Ashin • Spend two nights in futuristic capital

Tokyo, with an included tour, time at leisure and a sushi-making lunch offering the perfect mix of exploration and relaxation

You’ll start in bustling Osaka, from where you’ll explore Himeji’s awe-inspiring castle, Japan’s 6th-century capital Nara,and ancient, mesmerising Kyoto. Kanazawa’s gardens, Shirakawa-Go’s traditional thatched gassho-zukuri houses and picture-perfect Takayama are followed by Nagoya’s museums of the modern age, and (hopefully) some unforgettable views of majestic Mount Fuji from Fujinomiya and Hakone. Two days in Tokyo’s non-stop, neon futurescape – where gleaming modern towers and the latest technology share the landscape with temples and palaces – complete a fascinating journey. • 10 nights’ carefully chosen four- and fivestar bed and breakfast accommodation, plus one night on the aircraft • 14 meals (10 breakfasts, three lunches and one evening meal) • Outbound flight to Osaka, returning from

Tokyo, with coach travel and transfers throughout • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Your Hotels

Day One – Fly to Japan Overnight flight. Day Two – Arrival You’ll meet your tour manager when you arrive in Osaka, and transfer into the city, heading to your hotel for a threenight stay. The rest of the day is at leisure, as you relax and unwind after the journey. Day Three – Included Himeji Castle Board the coach and head to Himeji’s extraordinary White Egret castle – perhaps Japan’s finest fortified palace and certainly the best-preserved feudal-era castle in the country. Enjoy a tour of the extraordinary 14th-century fortress and then take a relaxing stroll around the adjoining Kokoen gardens (entry included), before an included lunch and tour of a traditional sake brewery. Day Four – Included Nara and Osaka sightseeing This morning you’ll board the train to Nara, Japan’s Sixth-century capital, where sights include Todai-ji temple’s Great Buddha, the sacred deer of the Nara Koen Park and Kasuga Taisha shrine, one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines and famous for its traditional lanterns. Return to Osaka by train for a guided exploration of Dotonbori, known as ‘Japan’s Kitchen’, with its restaurants and street vendors. Day Five – Included Kyoto tour Head to Kyoto for a one-night stay. Discover the highlights of Japan’s former imperial capital, including Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine’s red torii gates, the spectacular Kiyomizu-dera temple, which offers breathtaking views of the city and the famous Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion. After lunch, enjoy some free time wandering the lovingly restored streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka before you head to Arashiyama’s bamboo forest. Day Six – Included Kanazawa sightseeing Journey to coastal Kanazawa today and visit the exquisite Kenroku-en Garden, one of the world’s great horticultural treasures. Here you’ll get a glimpse of Japan’s past at Nagamachi’s Nomura Samurai House and, if time allows, visit the Higashi Chaya-Gai geisha district, followed by a gold leaf-decorating class. Overnight in Kanazawa. Day Seven – Included Shirakawa-Go and Takayama sightseeing Board the coach for the scenic journey to the UNESCO-listed village of Shirakawa-Go, where several thatched gasshozukuri farmhouses, built to withstand the snows of winter, are beautifully preserved. You’ll visit the Wada-ke house, built by one of the region’s wealthiest families, then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before journeying to the pictureperfect surroundings of Takayama, a charming, laid-back gateway to the Japanese Alps, then continue to Nagoya for an overnight stay. Day Eight – Included Nagoya and Fujinomiya sightseeing Join your guide this morning as you head to the nearby Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, which documents the fascinating history and development of Toyota, which began life as a textile machinery company in the 1920s. Continue to Fujinomiya and the Mount Fuji World Heritage Centre, where you’ll visit the Fuyinomiya Sengen shrine, which sits in the centre of the town and dates back to the 10th century. You’ll spend the night in nearby Mishima, where an included dinner and hot springs (onsen) await at your hotel. Day Nine – Hakone National Park and Tokyo Journey north today to beautiful Hakone National Park, dominated on clear days by the cone of Mount Fuji. You’ll visit the atmospheric Hakone Shrine, shrouded in dense forest, near the shore of Lake Ashin, then take a cruise on the lake and ride the cable car above the Owakudani Valley. After the tour, travel through the volcanic landscape to Tokyo for the first of two evenings in Japan’s pulsating capital. Day 10 – Tokyo city tour Join your guide for a fascinating day that will include Asakusa, ancient Buddhist Senso-ji temple and nearby, traditional Nakamise shopping street. Enjoy an entertaining lunch that includes a sushi-making experience, a bird’s eye view of the city from the observation floor of Shinjuku’s government buildings, a stroll along the tree-lined avenues of Yoyogi park, the Meiji Shrine and a visit to worldfamous Shibuya Crossing – a chaotic four-way sea of humanity. Day 11 – Tokyo at leisure Make the most of the final day of your tour as you enjoy vibrant, cacophonous Tokyo at your leisure. Day 12 - Fly back to the UK Transfer to the airport for your flight at the end of a fascinating adventure in Japan. Arrive home in the evening.

Excel Hotel Tokyu

Excel Hotel Tokyu, Osaka nights 2–4

Located just 200 yards from the Namba Shrine, this hotel boasts modern spacious rooms with air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, as well as a restaurant, fitness centre and a lively bar. Kyoto Tokyu, Kyoto nights 5

Boasting a wonderful location in downtown Kyoto, this hotel has three restaurants, a bar and a gym. Rooms are contemporary and spacious, and come with air conditioning and tea-making facilities.

Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel

Kanazawa Tokyu, Kanazawa night 6

This central, comfortable hotel provides guest accommodation in spacious, modern rooms with big windows. There are two restaurants, one Japanese and one French, to choose from. Nagoya Tokyu, Nagoya night 7

Rooms at this downtown hotel are contemporary and feature European furniture, along with air conditioning, a TV and mini-bar. Facilities at the hotel include an indoor pool, a fitness centre and three restaurants.

Nagoya Tokyu Hotel

Fujisan Mishima Tokyu, Mishima night 8

Boasting sweeping views toward Hakone National Park, this hotel is located close to the Mishima Taisha Shrine. Rooms are modern, with air conditioning and TVs. Amenities at the hotel include a traditional Japanese onsen (hot spring) and a restaurant. Akasaka Excel Tokyu, Tokyo night 9–11

Located in central Tokyo, the Akasaka Excel is the perfect choice for visitors looking to explore the city easily. The rooms are comfortable and stylish, with air conditioning and tea-making facilities. There are two restaurants to choose from, along with a variety of shops.