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Japan Touring
Land of the Rising Sun
14 Days Tokyo to Kyoto from £1199, Escorted Small Group Journey.
Tokyo (1 night), Nikko (2 nights), Hakone (2 nights), Takayama (2 nights), Hiroshima (3 nights) and Kyoto (3 nights)
Travelling in a small group, with no more than 12 people, this tour offers a personalised experience and allows the group to blend more freely with the local culture. A western tour leader residing in Japan will be your guide and enthusiastic fountain of knowledge, looking after the main tour logistics whilst you explore the country with like minded people. This tour has been created to enhance your Japanese experience, so there is a lot of walking involved and accommodation is in traditional Japanese inns, also known as Ryokans.
Highlights Include · The dynamic city of Tokyo with its high-tech gadgets and time-honoured traditions · Nikko in the densely forested mountains of the Tochigi-ken prefecture · Journey into the mountains by cable car and view Mount Fuji · Bullet train to Takayama · The A-Bomb Dome and Peace Museum · Miya-jima and its floating Torii gates and the grand Itsukushima-jinja Shrine · The feudal fortress of Himeji · Kyoto's gold-plated Kinkaku-ji temple
Takayama
Nikko
Tokyo Hakone
Kyoto
Hiroshima
Departures: Selected Saturdays Day 1: Arrive Tokyo Today make your own way to the Kinuya Hotel which is the joining point for your escorted tour. Spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring the city at your own pace. Your group leader will contact you later on today to arrange a group meeting for the evening, followed by dinner. Day 2-3: Tokyo - Nikko Spend the day with your guide exploring the best of Tokyo. Visit Ueno Park, with its cherry blossom backdrop, a selection of museums and the upmarket Ginza shopping district. On day three travel by road to Nikko through the unique countryside that makes Japan such a fantastic destination. Nikko has been a sacred site since the middle of the 8th century and the colourful shrines and holy temples dotted throughout the area are inspiring evidence of this.
Tokyo
Day 4-5: Hakone In the hot spring region of Hakone, we take a boat across Lake Ashino-ko followed by a picturesque cable car journey over the surrounding mountains. You may be lucky to catch an elusive glimpse of a postcard view of Mount Fuji, looming in the distance. For those that are keen, there is the opportunity to bathe in the outdoor onsens (hot spring baths), with separate springs for men and women. Day 6-7: Takayama Travel to Takayama by the world famous Shinkansen bullet train, which reaches speeds of up to 270km per hour. The speedy journey takes approximately four hours. Takayama is well-known for its traditional inns, sake breweries and the outdoor museum of the Hida Folk Village. There is free time here to explore the city and enjoy the many folk
art galleries, local markets and museums. Alternatively just wander the streets and take in the sights and sounds of this delightful little town which is nestled among the Japanese Alps. Day 8-10: Hiroshima Take the train to Hiroshima, a bustling metropolis with a tragic past. There is free time here for you to explore the city and learn about its infamous history. The ruins of the ABomb Dome building, one of the 11 structures left partially standing after the nuclear blast in 1945, is a reminder of the horrifying past events. Around its perimeter is the Peace Park with monuments and a museum dedicated to Hiroshima and international peace. Spend the afternoon at the nearby island of Miyajima and view the famous `floating' Torii Gate and the grand Itsukushima-jinja Shrine. Day 11-14: Kyoto Leaving Hiroshima you will travel approximately one hour to Kyoto via Himeji-jo Castle. Built in 1580, the castle is a fantastic example architecture and an insight into the ancient world of Japan. A further hour on and you will arrive in Kyoto, where with over 2000 temples, shrines and gardens, there is plenty to see and do. Some highlights, not to be missed, are the extravagant gold-plated Kinkaku-ji Temple or the cultural performance at Gion Corner, the geisha district. Kyoto also boasts a varied nightlife that should be experienced.
Prices Include
Kyoto Bamboo Forest
· Accommodation (12 nights in traditional inns, 1 night western hotel) · 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners · Transport and sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary · Services of an English-speaking guide
Prices Exclude
· Rail transport All travellers must arrive with a 14-day Japan Rail Pass (see page 125 for details) · Drinks, porterage and items of a personal nature · Local payment JPY22000 for local services, transport and hotels which cannot be paid from abroad. · International airfares
Tour Prices
Prices per person, in £'s from Land of the Rising Sun
Twin 1199 1243 1199 Single 01Jan08-31Mar08 1199 01Apr08-31Oct08 1243 01Nov08-31Dec08 1199 Single passengers will share a twin room with a fellow traveller of the same sex
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Mount Fuji
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