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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
Free day to explore
Tokyo at your leisure. We recommend a visit to Akihabara or Ueno shopping districts.
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 - Takayama
To ensure you have a smooth trip and due to luggage restrictions on bullet trains
we offer a free 1 item per person luggage transfer from hotel to hotel between
Tokyo & Kyoto. Therefore leave your main luggage with the porter/bell desk
by 7.30am. You will need to keep with you the light luggage you need for your
3 nights stay in Takayama, Shirakawago and Kanazawa. Make
you own way to Shinagawa or Tokyo station and transfer to Takayama by Express
train (ex Nagoya by bullet train). Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation
(approx 5min walk) Day
6
Takayama - Shirakawago (Dinner)
Free time until departure at 11.10am by local bus
to Kanazawa (12.54pm arrival). Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation
(approx 10min walk). Rest of day you are free to explore at your leisure. Shirakawago
has World Heritage designation and is truly a spectacular experience, which
many believe is the 'hidden treasure' in Japan. Visiting Shirakawago is like stepping
back in time, with uniquely crafted traditional wooden farmhouses (Gassho-Zukuri)
set in a beautiful mountainous landscape. Day
7 Shirakawago
- Kanazawa (Breakfast)
Free time until departure at 11.15am by local bus
to Kanazawa (12.30pm arrival). Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation.
Rest of day you are free to explore at your leisure. Day
8 Kanazawa
- Kyoto
Free
time until departure in late afternoon where you board an express train to Kyoto
(approx 120min).
Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation.
Day
9
Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto
Full day sight-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 garden in the
world.Then to 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 to 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
10 Kyoto
Free day to explore Kyoto at your leisure. We recommend
a visit to Kiyomizu
temple and Heian
Shrine. Day
11 Kyoto
- Mt Koya (Dinner)
Free luggage transfer to Osaka, therefore
leave your main luggage with the porter/bell desk by 7.30am. (1 item per person).
Recommend you take overnight bag for nights stay at Mt Koya. You
will be met in the hotel reception by our English speaking assistant and transfered
to Shin Imamiya. Leave Shin Imamiya for Mt Koya by train and cable car via Gokurakubashi
by yourself. Afternoon free at leisure to explore Mt Koya. Mount
Koya is home to over 117 temples and is where we stay overnight in 'Japanese style'
accommodation at the magnificent Temple for the Shingon Esoteric sect of Buddhism,
which is still in use by monks today. The peaceful temple is set in beautiful
wooded mountainous countryside, 1000m above sea level and is ideal to relax, meditate
and learn more of buddhist monk rituals (include: Vegetarian
'monk style' Dinner at Temple).
Day
12 Mt Koya -
Osaka (Breakfast)
Wake early
to see the morning Buddhist Ceremony with the monks at the temple and for your
Vegetarian Breakfast. The monks are more than happy for you to attend or watch
the ceremony, however this tour is designed for cultural interest and not for
any particular religious practice. Leave Mt Koya to Osaka by cable car and train
via Gokurakubashi by yourself. Upon arrival at Osaka make own way to accommodation.
Afternoon free at leisure. Day
13 Osaka
(Departure)
Take
airport limousine bus from your hotel to the futuristic Kansai International Airport
in Osaka for departure to UK.
Extension
option - Hiroshima
(2
nights) £299 per person
Day
12 Mt
Koya - Hiroshima
Leave Mt Koya to Hiroshima via Osaka by cable car and bullet train
by yourself. Upon arrival make own way to accommodation. Afternoon free at leisure. Day
13 Hiroshima
Free
day to explore Hiroshima at your leisure. Optional tours available to Hiroshima
& Miyajima. Contact us for details.
Day
14 Hiroshima
- Osaka
Leave Hiroshima to Osaka by Bullet train by yourself. Afternoon free at leisure. Day
15
Osaka to UK
Take airport bus from hotel to the futuristic Kansai International Airport in
Osaka for departure to UK.
Arriving UK later the same day. This
is a self guided tour. Departure date can be arranged according to your requirements.
Group
Departure Dates & Prices (Land-only) (£)
|
Ref
|
Month
|
Land
Only (twin share)
|
Single
traveller
|
Triple
share
|
Upgrade
to Sup/Deluxe Twin share
|
|
GWH
|
Jan,
Feb, June, Jul, Aug, Sep, Dec
|
1780
|
pls
enquire
|
pls
enquire
|
pls
enquire
|
|
GWH
|
Mar,
Apr, May, Oct, Nov
|
1850
|
pls
enquire
|
pls
enquire
|
pls
enquire
|
| Buy
your flight tickets Now
and save £££s
on your holiday! (Flight
Prices from £500pp incl TAX)
| Price
Includes (The
prices shown above are 'per person') - Airport
to hotel transfers.
- Meeting
assistance at Narita airport.
-
Local bus Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa.
- Trains:
As specified in itinerary, Ordinary class reserved seats.
- Sightseeing
tours by professional English-speaking tour guide.
- Selections
of quality accommodation in well furnished hotel rooms with private facilities.
- Meals
as specified in the itinerary.
- Free
luggage transfer from hotel to hotel between Tokyo & Kyoto, Kyoto & Osaka
(1 item per person).
Price
Does Not Include - Travel
Insurance.
-
International
Flights
-
Optional
tours 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 and free luggage transfer from hotel to hotel etc.
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 inportantly we Guarantee
departure. Flights
As agents of many airline consolidators, we can obtain flights in various classes
with reputable airlines such as BA, Virgin, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Finnair
etc. We will book airline tickets according to availability unless you specify
at the booking stage. We can also provide land-only tours if you prefer to organise
your own flights and save airmiles. For the cheapest deal we recommend you
book your international flights at time of booking, as this can save you £££s
off your final holiday price. Your
Accommodation for this tour Carefully
selected quality accommodation in ideal locations, with upgrade to deluxe level
available. Overnight accommodation on Mount Koya is in 'Japanese style' rooms.
Your
Meals Breakfast at hotels can be booked in advance. 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.
To ensure
our travellers have a relaxing and enjoyable holiday, a hotel to hotel luggage
transfer service (1 piece of luggage per person) is provided Tokyo - Kyoto.
The tour itineraries are regularly checked and provide an ideal length of time
to show some of the main sights in Japan, with free time to explore and enjoy
according to your own interests. Magical
Japan operates with a top quality tour guide service. We also recommend Ryokan
experience (Japanese guest house) on the last day in Kyoto. The supplement
starts from £160 per person for 1 night with Japanese Dinner included. 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. Suitable
for travellers of all ages. Add on tours and city extension available, for details
visit optional
tours
page. The
itinerary is designed according to the most updated information of flights schedules
available, although occasionally the sequence in which cities are visited and
duration of time spent in each city can change due to local conditions which are
out of our control. The above itinerary highlights the main attractions that are
to be visited each day. MT Fuji - Hakone - We reserve the right to change or amend
our tour itinerary due to heavy traffic conditions or bad weather.We reserve the
right to change, amend or alter the itinerary, although we will act in your best
interests to handle any amendments. Please refer to the booking form for detailed
terms & conditions. | 
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