Itinerary

Day 1

Depart from Heathrow or your preferred airport for a scheduled flight to Tokyo. Meals on board.

Day 2

Tokyo
Arrive at Narita Airport in Tokyo, you are met by your tour assistant and transferred to your hotel for a 3 nights stay. The rest day is at your leisure to adjust to the 9 hours time difference.

Day 3

Tokyo
Morning City tour of Tokyo visiting a number of the main highlights of this magnificent City. The tour includes a visit to the Tokyo Tower where you can enjoy panorama views across the city from the observation tower. We proceed to the peaceful picturesque setting of the Meiji Shrine considered to be one of the finest example of Shinto Architecture set in thick woodland. Next we visit the 'Akasaka Guest House' for a photo opportunity. The Guest House is a magnificent 'Western Style Palace' built in the Baroque Architectural style. We then drive alongside the imposing National Diet Building, which is home to the Japanese House of Parliament. Our tour continues across Tokyo to the Imperial Palace East Garden, where we enjoy a pleasant walk in the East Garden of the Imperial Palace, which is filled with scenic and historic beauty. (Alternatively for tours on Monday & Friday we will visit the Imperial Palace plaza and famous Double bridge instead of the East Garden, including a visit to the inner moat and towering Palace walls surrounded by pine trees). Our tour will continue with a drive and stroll along Ginza high street, the famous shopping area of Tokyo. Our tour will disband at Ginza giving you the opportunity for shopping (we also recommend you visit the Sony Centre building to see the futuristic electronics on display. Ginza is also convenient for the subway to explore further.

Afternoon - free to explore Tokyo at your leisure or take an optional tour excursion (ask for details at time of booking). We recommend you take the leisurely 30 minute Sumida river cruise to the famous Asakusa Kannon Temple, or why not visit Ueno amusement & shopping district & Akihabara shopping district famous for selling all kinds of electronic products where bargaining is expected.

Day 4

Tokyo - (Nikko optional tour)
Free day to explore Tokyo at your leisure or purchase an optional full day tour excursion to Nikko (ask for details at time of booking). The optional tour involves taking a Deluxe motorcoach to Nikko National park, a designated World Cultural Heritage site and home to some of the most spectacular examples of ancient 17th-century Architecture in Japan. The tour includes a visit to the magnificent Toshogu shrine, which houses the Mausoleum of the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. We will see the Five-Story Pagoda, Niomon Gate, Three Monkeys, Yomeimon Gate and Main Sacred Hall. We then travel along the scenic Irohazaka hairpin driveway for Japanese style lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we travel to the spectacular Kegon waterfall which is 100 meters in height. We continue our tour with a scenic drive alongside Lake Chuzenji (reported to be 161.5 meters deep) and MT Nantai.

Day 5

Tokyo - MT Fuji - Hakone
You shall be picked up from your hotel and driven by deluxe motorcoach to the the 5th station on Mount Fuji. Along the way you will enjoy scenery of rural Japan, panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and mountainous peaks. From our vantage point on the 5th station on Mt Fuji, we will enjoy spectacular views (weather permitting). Lunch will be provided at a Hotel/Restaurant in Hakone. In the afternoon we proceed to the Hakone National Park where we will take a cable car ride with the opportunity to see the magnificent volcanic Hakone mountain range below. We will then travel to the Owakudani Boiling Valley where you will see ancient volcanic craters with sulfurous fumes and clouds of steam spiraling from crevasses across the mountain side giving a truly mystical image. We then proceed with our tour for a boat cruise on Lake Ashi, which is set in serene natural beauty, where weather permitting spectacular views of Mount Fuji can be seen silhouetted in the lake.

Accommodation at Hotel with hot springs baths for that ultimate relax (includes: Lunch).

Day 6

Hakone
A free day to relax and enjoy the hot spring baths in your hotel or at other outdoor spar locations across Hakone.

Day 7

Hakone - Kyoto
Transfer to Odawara railway station, Odawara and take the Shinkansen (Bullet train) to Kyoto. Accommodation at the New Miyako hotel or similar (3 nights).

Afternoon at leisure to explore Kyoto.

Day 8

Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto
Full day site seeing tour of Kyoto & Nara including a visit to the Kinkakuji temple (Golden Pavilion) centred around one of the best examples of a Japanese Zen gardens in the world, Nijo Castle residence of the Tokugawa Shogun built in 1603, Nijo Castle is noted for its Ornate interior and 'nightingale floor' designed to sing when stepped upon to warn of Ninja assassins.(When closed visit Ryoanji temple). We then travel to the Old Kyoto Imperial Palace (on Sat/Sun & national holidays visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine or Hagashi Honganji temple instead). Finally we explore the Kyoto Handicraft Center where we enjoy demonstrations of Japanese traditional arts and crafts. Buffet lunch is provided at the Kyoto handicraft centre. After lunch we travel to the ancient capital of Japan, Nara. Our tour includes a visit Todaiji Temple one of the world's largest wooden buildings housing the Great Buddha. We proceed to the Kasuga Shinto Shrine the most famous and beautiful Shinto shrine in Nara with 3,000 antique stone and bronze lanterns. Finally we explore Nara Deer Park with more than 1,000 deer roaming freely around the 1,250 acres park. Return to your hotel in Kyoto (includes: Lunch).

Day 9

Kyoto
Day free at Leisure to explore the fascinating city of Kyoto or purchase an optional afternoon tour to the colourful Heian Shrine and inner garden and ponds, Sanjusangendo Hall, a renowned long wooden hall housing all of 1,001 statues that date back to the 13th century and magnificent Kiyomizu Temple with spectacular views across the entire city. Optional full day tour to Hiroshima also available. Visit the Peace Memorial Park, the Island of Miyajima and Torii Gate.

Day 10

Osaka to UK
Transfer to the futuristic Kansai International Airport in Osaka for departure to UK. Arriving UK later the same day.

General Information

Duration:

10 Days

Location Start:

Tokyo

Location Finish:

Osaka

Payment Types:

Cash, Paypal, Travellers Cheque

We Speak:

English