Description

Japan (14D13N) – Experience the Land of the Rising Sun (incl. public transportation & walking tours)

Highlights:

• Japan was the first country to build dedicated railway lines for high-speed travel. You will experience a trip in the legendary bullet train when driving back from Hiroshima to Tokyo.
• Experience the seaside landscape and sacred Shinto shrines of Ise-Shima, famed for fresh seafood, particularly oysters.
• Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and learn about the city’s tragic past and how it rose again.

Tour Overview: 

Day 1 . Arrival in Tokyo

Welcome to Japan!

Upon arrival, our English speaking assistant will meet and greet you at the airport and assist you with the transfer to the hotel by the Airport Limousine Bus.

The rest of the day is at your free disposal. We recommend an exploration on foot in the vibrant neighbourhood of Shinjuku. It is a major commercial and administrative centre and also encompasses the buzzing clubs and karaoke rooms of neon-lit East Shinjuku and upscale bars and restaurants in the Skyscraper District.

Overnight in Tokyo.

Day 2 . Tokyo

Together with your guide, we’ll enjoy a full day of exploration around Tokyo using public transportation.

We’ll start in the exquisitely beautiful Edo period Hamarikyu Garden where seawater ponds change with the tides. A traditional teahouse on an island offers visitors a resting place to enjoy the scenery. This traditional green oasis stands in stark contrast to the surrounding skyscrapers of the adjacent Shiodome district.

Then it’s all aboard a boat for a cruise along the Tokyo River passing more of the city sights. The boat will dock in Asukasa where we’ll find the Sensoji Temple, a very popular and colourful Buddhist temple. Legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon.

No visit to Tokyo would be complete without checking out the shops! We’ll take a walk along Nakamise Street lined with boutiques, souvenir shops and street food outlets.

Our final stop is at the spacious Meiji Shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken.

Overnight in Tokyo.

Day 3 . Nikko

Today, we’ll take the Express Train from Shinjuku to Nikko. The train ride will take approximately two hours.

Nikko, located in the mountains north of Tokyo, is known for its rich nature, historic shrines and temples.

We’ll visit Toshogu Shrine, the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founding ruler of the Edo Period. The shrine comprises the gilded Yomeimon Gate, the main sanctuary set in a cedar grove, and the tomb itself. Initially a relatively simple mausoleum, Toshogu was enlarged into the spectacular complex seen today by Ieyasu’s grandson, Iemitsu, during the first half of the 1600s.

Lake Chuzenji is a scenic lake in the mountains above the town of Nikko. It is located at the foot of Mount Nantai, Nikko’s sacred volcano, whose eruption blocked the valley below, thereby creating Lake Chuzenji about 20,000 years ago.

Nature lovers will love the Kegon Waterfall. At a height of almost 100 metres, it is the most famous of Nikko’s many beautiful waterfalls. In fact, it is considered one of the three most beautiful falls in Japan.

Transfer back to hotel by Express Train.

Overnight in Tokyo.

Day 4 . Matsumoto

Breakfast and check out from the hotel. Take public transfer to Shinjuku Station, and continue by Express Train to Matsumoto. This is yet another chance to experience Japan’s famous, fast trains.

Upon arrival in Matsumoto we will be greeted by the guide who will take us on a tour of the city using public transportation.

The famous Matsumoto Castle is one of the most complete and beautiful among Japan’s original castles. It is known as a “hirajiro” – a castle built on plains rather than on a hill or mountain. Matsumoto Castle is unique for having both a secondary donjon and a turret adjoined to its main keep.

The Matsumoto City Museum is dedicated to showcasing the work of artists associated with the city. Its main attraction is the collection of works from the world famous Matsumoto-born artist Kusama Yayoi. She is internationally known for her bright and vivid hallmark pieces that include one of her most famous works, Pumpkin, on Naoshima Island.

Transfer to the hotel.

Spend the night in Matsumoto.

Day 5 . Nagoya

Breakfast and check out from the hotel. Public transfer to the station together with our assistant for the onward journey by Express Train to Nagoya.

Free Leisure in Nagoya. Enjoy the hotel or venture out to discover the town. The city’s Naka ward is home to museums and pachinko parlors (gambling machines). Naka also includes the Sakae entertainment district, with attractions like the Sky-Boat Ferris Wheel, which is attached to a mall. In northern Naka you will find Nagoya Castle, a partly reconstructed 1612 royal home displaying Edo-era artifacts.

Spend the night in Nagoya.

Day 6 . Ise-Shima

Breakfast and check out from the hotel. Public transfer to the Nagoya Station together with our assistant for our onward journey by Express Train to Ise-Shima, a beautiful peninsula that juts out into the sea.

Upon arrival, we’ll set off on an exploration by water. The Kashikojima Espana Cruise sails around Ago Bay, home to numerous islands and pearl oyster rafts. During the cruise, the ship stops at a model pearl factory to see the nucleus feeding operation of cultured pearls.

We will also visit the Yokoyama Observatory which offers fantastic views of Ago Bay to the South, the Pacific Ocean to the East, and the Kii Mountains to the West.

Spend the night in Ise-Shima.

Day 7 . Ise-Shima

Spend the day exploring Ise-Shima together with our guide!

First stop is the Futami Okitama Shrine located in a phenomenal location with a fantastic view of the ocean. Stroll the shrine grounds and be greeted with the fresh breeze off the waves and the sound of the splashing tide, soothing body and mind. The shrine is extremely popular as it is believed to bring good luck in matchmaking and marital harmony.

Meoto Iwa has become a classic Ise destination. The two rocks of Meoto Iwa are tied together by large shimenawa, giving the appearance that they are close companions.

Ise Jingu is an extensive shrine complex and an iconic destination for pilgrims. It has 125 exceptional and important shrines of all sizes including Kotai Jingu and Toyoke Dai-Jingu. One of its most significant buildings is Ise Jingu (Naiku), also known as the Inner Shrine which dates back to the 4th century.

We’ll end the day at Okage Yokocho Street, a bustling shopping street of the Oharai town offering delicious dining experiences.

Spend the night in Ise-Shima.

Day 8 . Osaka

Meet our assistant at the hotel and take public transfer to the station to catch the Express Train to Osaka, a port city and modern metropolis.

Upon arrival, we will be escorted tothe hotel for check in. Rest of the day is free at leisure. Osaka is known for its modern architecture, nightlife and hearty street food.

Spend the night in Osaka.

Day 9 . Osaka

Let’s head out and explore the city!

The best place for an overview of the city is the Umeda Sky Building. The 173 metre tall building consists of two towers that are connected with each other. We’ll head up to the ‘Floating Garden Observatory’ on the 39th floor which links the two towers.

History buffs will relish a walk around Osaka Castle which dates back to 1583 and was the largest castle at the time.

In Dotonbori District we get to experience the city’s most famous entertainment area with its abundant dining and shopping choices.

In Shinsekai, a district developed before the war and then neglected in the decades afterwards, we’ll find Tsutenkaku Tower, the nostalgia-evoking symbol of Shinsekai.

Overnight in Osaka.

Day 10 . Hiroshima

Wake up and head to the train station together with our assistant to catch the bullet train to Hiroshima.

On arrival we’ll visit Hiroshima Castle, also called the Carp Castle. Its main keep is five stories high, and its grounds are surrounded by a moat.

But Hiroshima is most well-known for its tragic past. The city was largely destroyed by an atomic bomb during World War II – an event which changed Japan, and the world, forever.

However the city rose from the ashes and the beautiful Peace Memorial Park is now an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Atomic Bomb Dome has become a symbol of peace, visited by pilgrims from around the world and is a testament to the resilience of the city’s people.

Overnight in Hiroshima.

Day 11 . Hiroshima

Hiroshima is such a fascinating city, it deserves another day.

Together with our guide and by public transportation, we’ll start the morning with a ferry ride to Miyajima to visit the Itsukushima Shrine. This centuries-old shrine is the source of the island’s fame and is known worldwide for its iconic ‘floating’ torii gate.

We then take the Misen Ropeway up Mount Misen to the observatory. On clear days, it affords spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea and as far as Hiroshima City. There are also a number of Buddhist structures near the peak.

Overnight in Hiroshima.

Day 12 . Tokyo

We have to say goodbye to Hiroshima today and take the bullet train back to Tokyo. An assistant will bring us to the station.

On arrival in Tokyo, the rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Tokyo.

Day 13 . Tokyo

Wake up at leisure as the entire day is free to do as we please!

Overnight in Tokyo.

Day 14 . Departure from Tokyo

Sadly, it’s the end of the tour and time to say goodbye to Japan. After breakfast transfer to the airport for the onward flight.

End of services.

Duration: 14 Days/13 Nights