Japan: Land of the Rising Sun

Japan: Land of the Rising Sun

This 13-day tour of Japan will introduce you to the cultures – old and new – that define this small but influential archipelago. Beginning in tech-mecca Tokyo and finishing with three nights in Kyoto, this immersive tour will also introduce you to lesser-known cities through Japan’s centre and southern reaches. Discover scenic beauty on the Hakone ropeway, sip the best sake in Takayama, find out about the Hiroshima of today and wonder at the floating torii gate of Miyajima. You’ll have a local to guide you through these lesser-known destinations and reveal layers of culture and history, plus an included Japan Rail Pass to get from A to B in style and comfort.

Activities

• Nikko – Toshogu Shrine
• Hakone – public onsen
• Hakone – Cable car/Ropeway
• Hakone – Lake Ashinoko boat cruise
• Takayama – Hida Folk Village
• Takayama – Market visit
• Takayama – Sake brewery tasting
• Hiroshima – Peace Park & A – Bomb Dome
• Hiroshima – Peace Museum
• Hiroshima – Miyajima Island
• Himeji – Himeji Castle
• Kyoto – Temple/Shrine entrance (2)
• Kyoto – Gion District walk

Highlights

• Soar high above Lake Ashi and (on a clear day) get a glimpse of glorious Mt Fuji on a ride on the Hakone ropeway.
• Be impressed by the efficiency and ultra modernity of Japan’s bullet trains as you zip from place to place with your included 14-day Rail Pass.
• Explore traditional Japanese culture in Edo-period Takayama and visit a folk village, tour a 600-year-old market and a enjoy a sake brewery tasting.
• Visit the Peace Park for moving insight into the devastation of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, then cruise to peaceful Miyajima Island where wild deer roam the streets.
• Finish your tour with three nights in Kyoto, Japan’s cultural capital and home to literally thousands of temples, the Gion District where Geisha entertain the wealthy elite and renowned Kyoto sushi.