Japan Highlights

9 days - A popular holiday package to Japan including all the must-see locations ...

• Tokyo: city tour (3 nights)
• Nikko (optional)
• Mt Fuji tour
• Hakone - Lake Ashi
• Bullet Train
• Kyoto: city tour (3 nights)
• Nara (optional)
• Osaka - Osaka Castle (1 night)
• Guaranteed departure minimum 2 people

View Itinerary

Price & Departure dates

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 night stay. The rest of the 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 panoramic views across the city from the observation tower. We proceed to the peaceful picturesque setting of the Meiji Shrine, set in thick woodland and considered to be one of the finest examples of Shinto Architecture. 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 at leisure or take optional afternoon city tour, which includes Asakusa Kannon Temple and Sumida river cruise. (ask for details at time of booking).

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 motor coach 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 - Kyoto (Includes Lunch)
You will be picked up from your hotel and driven by deluxe motorcoach to Mount Fuji. Along the way you will enjoy the 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 sulphurous fumes and clouds of steam spiralling 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. Proceed to Odawara and take the Shinkansen (Bullet train) to Kyoto. Accommodation at the New Miyako hotel or similar (includes: Lunch).

Day 6 Kyoto
Morning sight seeing tour of Kyoto 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. Tour ends at the handcraft centre who provide an optional free return to your hotel in Kyoto or take optional tour to Nara (enquire at time of booking to include this tour in your itinerary). The optional afternoon tour included lunch at the Kyoto handicraft centre, visit to the Todaiji temple housing the Great Buddha, Kasuga Shinto Shrine with 3,000 lanterns and Nara Deer Park.

Day 7 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. (This highly recommended afternoon tour can be prearranged at time of booking).

Optional overnight stay in a Ryokan is available (inc Breakfast & Dinner) - Contact us for details..

Day 8 Kyoto - Osaka
Check out of your hotel in the morning and leave your luggage with the bellboy. You are then free to further explore Kyoto before you take you train to Osaka. Travel by yourself to Osaka with the train tickets that we provide. The JR train from Kyoto to Osaka, is a local train and does not require reserved seats. Therefore you can take the train whenever you like. Upon arrival at Osaka, check in to your hotel which is conveniently located just minutes on foot from the JR Osaka station.

We recommend arriving early afternoon so that you still have free time to explore Osaka city, which is easily navigated using the underground subways. A must-see sight in Osaka is the magnificent Osaka Castle located in the city centre. Then explore Dotonbori which is one of the most popular streets in Osaka and runs adjacent to a canal of the same name. Nearby Domi domi shopping and eating areas are one of most exciting districts in Japan. Shinsaibashi is probably the best shopping area and certainly the most frantic. If you want to explore more historic culture then visit the beautiful and peaceful Shitennoji Buddhist temple. Shitennoji is the oldest officially administered temple in Japan built by Prince Shotoku (574-622 A.D)

Day 9 Osaka - Homeward
You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the futuristic Kansai International Airport in Osaka for your departure flight homeward.

Group Departure Dates & Prices (£)

Ref	Every Thursday	Land Only (twin share)	Single supp	Upgrade to Sup/Deluxe
JH	Feb & Mar	1250	540	150
JH	Mid Mar & April	1300	550	150
JH	May	1300	550	150
JH	June	1245	515	150
JH	July	1245	515	150
JH	August	1245	535	150
JH	September	1250	515	150
JH	October	1300	550	150
JH	November	1300	550	150

We are happy to provide your flight tickets with the airline and departure airport of your choice - Flights from £550pp with full ATOL Protection...

** The peak season to Japan is cherry blossoms viewing (late March & early April), and autumn leave changing (October & early November). The first day of blooming (Kaika) in Tokyo usually comes at the end of March, with the trees reaching full bloom about one week later.

The price may be different around festivals period in Japan. Please contact us for confirmation. The hotel upgrade price is based on twin share, for single room upgrade please contact us.

Price Includes (The prices shown above are 'per person')

• Airport/hotel transfers.
• Sightseeing tours by professional English-speaking tour guide.
• All entrance fees whilst on guided tours.
• All Train tickets as specified in itinerary.
• Selections of quality accommodation in well furnished hotel rooms with private facilities.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary.

Price Does Not Include

• International Flights: We are happy to provide flights with full ATOL Protection.
• Optional tours & Ryokan stay.
• Travel Insurance.

Why choose to travel with Magical Japan?
From the moment you talk to our travel consultants, who have all travelled extensively in Japan, our experience ensures you will have a magical holiday. Our service includes meet & greet at airport to suit your specific flights. There are no additional entrance fees or transportation costs on any sightseeing tours that are already listed in our programme. Your tours are with officially qualified professional English speaking tour guides. Transfers are by air-conditioned deluxe coach and you will have time to enjoy each sightseeing place on foot. The tour itineraries are regularly checked and provide an ideal length of time to show you the sights, with free time to explore according to your own interests. Most importantly we Guarantee departure with minimum 2 people.

Flights If you require international flights, as an agent for many airline consolidators, we can obtain flights in various classes with reputable airlines such as ANA, BA, Virgin, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Finnair etc. For the cheapest deal we recommend you book your international flights at time of booking, as this can save you pounds off your final holiday price. Full ATOL Protection Available.

Your Accommodation for this tour Carefully selected quality accommodation in ideal locations, with upgrade to deluxe level available.

Your Meals Meals are as specified in the itinerary. Breakfast at hotels can be booked in advance or purchased in Japan on a daily basis. Alternatively, there are many places around the hotels where you can buy meals.

Other details of our tour arrangements Upon arrival at Tokyo Airport, you will be met by one of our assistants and directed to the limousine bus terminal. For each day of your itinerary (excluding free time), you will be met by English speaking guides at your hotel for escorted tours. You will be met and transfered from hotel in Kyoto to Osaka Airport by private transportation.

Our optional overland luggage transfer service can be arranged from hotel to hotel. This safe and affordable service carries your luggage by van between hotels to enable your transfer by bullet train to be more relaxed and enjoyable. Contact us for prices & details at time of booking.

We also recommend taking a Ryokan experience (Japanese guest house) on the last day in Kyoto. The supplement starts from £160 per person for 1 night with Japanese breakfast & Dinner included.

This tour is suitable for travellers of all ages, who are reasonably fit and healthy. Add on tours and city extensions are available, for details visit optional tours page.

Nijo Castle (Kyoto) is closed (Tue in Jul & Aug), therefore if your tour falls on these dates, we will visit Ryoanji Temple instead. Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed at weekends and on national holidays, we will visit Kitano Tenmangu, or Ryoanji Temple instead.

Our itinerary is designed according to the most up to date information available at the time. The above itinerary highlights the main attractions that are to be visited each day. In regards to expected transfer times and train times these may vary as they are subject to schedules and availability controlled by the various railway companies. It is extremely rare that itineraries ever need changes and we will always act in your best interest to handle any amendments if this did occur. However we reserve the right to change, amend or alter the itinerary if required, for example occasionally the tour sequence and duration of time spent in each city can change due to local conditions which are out of our control or due to heavy traffic conditions or bad weather. Please refer to the booking form for detailed terms & conditions.