14 days Japan Western Explorer

A fantastic and comprehensive semi independent tour to the beautiful western areas of Japan a great price...

• Osaka (2 night)
• Takayama (1 nights)
• Shirakawago (1 nights)
• Kanazawa (1 nights)
• Kyoto: city tour (3 nights)
• Nara tour
• Mt Koya (1 night) Temple stay
• Hiroshima & Miyajima tour (2 nights)
• Osaka (1 night)
• Extension option: Okayama (Korakuen Garden & Kurashiki tour).
• Guaranteed departure

View Itinerary

Price & Departure dates

Day 1
Depart from Heathrow or your preferred airport for a scheduled flight to Osaka. Meals on board.

Day 2 Osaka
Arrive at Kansai Airport in the metropolitan city of Osaka, you are met by your tour assistant and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to adjust to the 9 hours time difference.

Day 3 Osaka
Today you are free 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 frenetic. 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 4 Osaka - 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 Osaka & 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 Osaka 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 5 Takayama - Shirakawago (Dinner)
Free time until departure at 12.50pm by local bus to Kanazawa (13:40pm 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 6 Shirakawago - Kanazawa (Breakfast)
Free time until departure at 11.10am by local bus to Kanazawa (12.25pm arrival). Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation. Rest of day you are free to explore at your leisure.

Day 7 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 8 Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto (Lunch)
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.

Day 9 Kyoto
Free day to explore Kyoto at your leisure. We recommend a visit to Kiyomizu temple and Heian Shrine.

Day 10 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 11 Mt Koya - Hiroshima (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 12 Hiroshima - Miyajima
A full day tour includes visiting Itsukushima Shrine at Miyajima with its breathtaking beauty and tranquil atmosphere. Then we explore the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, near the epicenter where the atomic bomb exploded. We also visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, featuring exhibitions of items related to the nuclear bomb.

Day 13 Hiroshima - Osaka
Self transfer to Hiroshima station and leave Hiroshima by Bullet train to Osaka. Self transfer to hotel, which is located close to the station. Rest of the day free at leisure.

Day 14 Osaka (Departure)

Take airport limousine bus from your hotel to the futuristic Kansai International Airport in Osaka for departure to UK.

Extension option - Okayama

Okayama - We stay in Okayama which is famous for its gardens. Take a tour to see the beautiful Korakuen Garden, regarded as one of the best gardens in Japan and is one of Japan's official Three Great Gardens. We also visit the historic city of Kurashiki located in Okayama Prefecture. The city has a preserved canal system that dates back to the Edo Period (1603-1867), used when Kurashiki served as an important rice distribution center for Japan.

Additional nights in Osaka are available.....Ask for details

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	weekly departure	contact us for details	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 tickets 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 Osaka & 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 ANA, 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 Osaka 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 Osaka - 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.