The Colours of Japan
Overview
Let yourself be enchanted by the thousand colours of your first encounter with Japan. In this proposal we have combined the most beautiful stops for an unforgettable trip, with an English guide, private coach and super-fast trains. The modern cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima will alternate with the more traditional Kyoto, Nara and Kanazawa. You will see UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the white castle of Himeji and the mountain village of Shirakawa-go. You will immerse yourself in true Japanese-style relaxation in the renowned KagaOnsen spa district and there will be a choice of optional tours to explore the ancient temples of Kamakura and the coastal vistas of Enoshima, the evocative bamboo forest of Arashiyama and the charming alleyways of the geisha district of Gion. An unforgettable trip of great emotions.Escorted Experience
- 24-Hour Local Assistance
- Guaranteed Departures
- Fixed Dates
- Professional Guide Throughout
- Modern Airconditioned Vehicle
- First Class Hotels
Itinerary
Upon arrival at the airport, after passport control and baggage reclaim, transfer to Tokyo, the current capital. *Rooms are available from 15:00. English-speaking assistant available from the airport to the hotel for information and check-in. Airport-hotel transfer by public transport. Telephone assistance in English for the duration of the stay. Arrival assistance and transfer may be shared with other tour participants. Overnight stay in hotel.
Meal Plan: No Meal
Breakfast at the hotel. We will begin the visit at the Shinto shrine Meiji Jingu, to discover Japanese history and culture. We will continue with a walk in the Harajuku district, known for its fashion and unique stores. We will then visit the quaint neighborhood of Asakusa, with its Senso-ji temple, the oldest in the city, and Nakamisedori Avenue, famous for its traditional stores. Finally, we will take you to enjoy a splendid view of the megalopolis from the Sunshine 60 Observatory Overnight stay in hotel.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day free at leisure.--- Optional guided tour --- Visit Kamakura & Hakone *Not bookable on site Full-day guided tour in English. Depart for Kamakura and visit the famous Great Buddha, the monumental statue originally housed in Kotokuin Temple that has stood solitary below the Kamakura sky since 1495, when the temple was destroyed by a tsuna mi; and in followed by Hasedera Temple, with its splendid garden filled with hydrange as and colorful flowers. Next, we will continue to Enoshima, a picturesque island connected to the mainland by a bridge. An ideal destination for a day trip, Enoshima is a renowned beach destination, offering a unique combination of culture, relaxed atmosphere and breathtaking views. In fact, in good weather, it is possible to admire a stunning view of Mount Fuji against the backdrop of the ocean. The island, considered the home of the “goddess nude,” is known for the Enoshima Shrine, dedicated to the goddess of luck and wealth, Benzaiten. Meals not included. --- Optional Tours & Activities -- Alternatively, you may take part in several optional tours and activities on this day. For more information see all the experiences available on our website. Overnight stay in hotel.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
****Your luggage will be transported separately to Osaka by courier. Please remember to prepare hand luggage for one night in Kaga Onsen****
Breakfast at the hotel.
Full-day guided tour in English. Transfer to Tokyo Station by private coach and departure by Shinkansen (2nd class - reserved seats) to Kanazawa station. Full day dedicated to visiting Kanazawa, a town that will take you back to feudal Japan. Visit Kenroku-en, one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan, and the Nomura Family house-museum, where the samurai spirit has been handed down for 11 generations. To finish, walk among the ancient dwellings of Higashi Chaya, the geisha quarter. Transfer to the renowned spa resort of Kaga Onsen by private coach and check-in at the ryokan, where you can immediately relax with a nice hot bath. Dinner in traditional Japanese style included. Overnight stay in RYOKAN.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Dinner
Breakfast at the ryokan. Full-day guided tour in English. Depart by private coach to Shirakawago, the village with characteristic thatched-roof houses, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the visit, depart for Osaka by Shinkansen to Tsuruga, and proceed by express train to Osaka (2nd class - reserved seats). Upon arrival, after checking in at the hotel, you will be able to reach the center on your own while discovering the city's vibrant nightlife. Overnight stay in hotel.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
****Your luggage will be transported separately to Kyoto by courier. Remember to prepare hand luggage for one night in Hiroshima****
Breakfast at the hotel.
Full-day guided tour in English. Transfer to Himeji by private coach and visit to Kokoen Garden and the town's grand castle, belonging to the Sengoku period and listed as a UNESCO heritage site in 1993. The castle is nicknamed 'White Heron' because of its brilliant white colour. You will then continue on to Hiroshima, again by private coach. Arrival and check-in at your hotel in Hiroshima. Dinner included. Overnight stay in hotel.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Dinner
Breakfast at the hotel.
Full-day guided tour in English. Transfer to Miyajima Island by private coach and ferry. Visit Miyajima, "an island where men and gods coexist", to discover the splendid Itsukushima Shrine, made up of a series of stilted structures dating back to the 6th century, known mainly for its majestic torii, a sacred portal that stands on the coast. For lunch, enjoy okonomiyaki (a typical dish of the region cooked on the griddle) at a local restaurant. Visit to the Peace Memorial Museum and Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome, the famous building that survived the 1945 bombing and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Departure from Hiroshima for Kyoto by Shinkansen train (2nd class, reserved seats). Arrival in Kyoto and transfer to hotel on foot. Overnight stay in hotel.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Full day dedicated to visiting Kyoto and Nara in English with private coach. Visit to the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, the temple symbol of the city made famous by the novel by writer Yukio Mishima, and Ryoan-ji Temple with its Zen garden of rocks. In the afternoon, transfer by private bus to Nara and visit Todai-ji, a temple where the Great Buddha, one of the largest bronze statues in the world, is enshrined. The building is located in Nara park, home to numerous deer in semi-freedom. Return to Kyoto, stopping enroute at the Fushimi Inari Taisha to admire its endless red portals. Lunch included. Overnight stay in hotel.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day free at leisure.--- Optional guided tour --- Visit Kyoto & Arashiyama *Not bookable on site. Morning dedicated to a guided tour in English of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, founded in 798 (the current buildings are reconstructions from 1633), and its surrounding s (Sannen-zaka) and a walk through the heart of the Gion district. In the afternoon visit to one of the most fascinating places in the city: Arashiyama, where you will find the Togetsu Bridge, which has stood over the Oi River for hundreds of years inspiring artists of every era, Tenryu-ji Zen Temple with its exquisite garden looking out to the mountains, and the famous Bamboo Forest, immersed in a unique and evocative atmosphere. Return to the hotel. Overnight stay in hotel.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
*Rooms are available until 11 a.m. Breakfast at the hotel.
Own transfer without assistance to the airport by public transport according to availability (tickets included). Departure from Airport.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Inclusions
HOTEL: Tokyo (3 nights) Kaga Onsen (Ryokan/1 night) Osaka (1 night) Hiroshima (1 night) Kyoto (3 nights) in selected category.
GUIDE/ASSISTANT: Assistant from the airport to the hotel in English language (day 1). Assistance service available for a maximum of 4 hours. After 2 hours from the original scheduled landing time, the assistant may no longer be available. During peak seasons, assistance may be available separately at the airport and at the hotel. English speaking guide (days 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). Possibility of being with travelers of other nationalities.
Telephone support (emergency number) for the duration of the stay.
TRAIN: Shinkansen (2nd class, reserved seats) Tokyo - Kanazawa, Kanazawa – Tsuruga, Hiroshima - Kyoto; Express train Tsuruga - Osaka.
TRANSFER: Private coach for visits and transfers (days 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). For private coach transfers there is the possibility of being with travelers of other language-speaking, exceeding the maximum number of participants. By public transport from Tokyo airport to the hotel in Tokyo, from the hotel in Tokyo to the train station (day 4) and from the train station to the hotel in Osaka (day 5) NB. Over 8 pax private coach will be used. Public ferry from Hiroshima to Miyajima and vice versa (day 7). Limousine bus ticket Kyoto Station - Osaka Kansai Airport (in case of early morning flight, the limousine bus may not be available. In this case the cost of the ticket will not be refundable).
MEALS: 9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners. (in case of early morning fl ight, breakfast cannot be guaranteed or refunded.
LUGGAGE: Tokyo - Osaka, Osaka - Kyoto (1pc / pp).
For each additional package fee to be paid on the spot.
N.B.: The above program contents and conditions may vary.
Exclusions
Flight and airport taxes
Insurance
Tips, personal extras
Drinks during meals
Optional tours & activities of your choice
Optional guided tours of your choice
Supplement for overnight assistance for arrivals in Japan between 8 pm and 8 am. (in the case of arrival during times when public transport is not available, taxis will be used at an additional cost).
Notes
Hotels used or Similar
TOKYO: Sunshine City Prince Hotel or similar
KAGA ONSEN: Kasuikyo Hotel (ryokan) or similar
OSAKA: Miyako City, Osaka Honmachi or similar
HIROSHIMA: ANA Crowne Plaza Hiroshima or similar
KYOTO: Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar
ROOM UPGRADE: Possibility, with extra charge, to have a larger room in the same hotel in Tokyo and Kyoto (Osaka, Hiroshima and Kaga Onsen not available).
We have based our quote on the Basic Room. **Large room(Approx. 30 square metres)- applies for Tokyo and Kyoto only. (Rates available on request).
Child and triple-sharing rates available on request.
OPTIONAL GUIDED TOURS *Not bookable on site
It is possible to book guided tours in English in Kamakura and Enoshima and/or Kyoto and Arashiyama on the pre-arranged days of the itinerary together with other travellers (from a minimum of 2 people to a maximum of 28 people). Possibility of getting together with travellers of other nationalities, exceeding the maximum number of participants. These tours can be sold only in combination with our tours and must necessarily be requested before departure. Should the number of participants be less than 5, the tour may be made by public transport.
Minimum 2 pax
Maximum 28 pax
Check-in at the hotel will be at 15:00 hours.
Breakfast at the hotel on the last day will not be served or refunded if the return flight from Japan is too early in the morning.
