Jan
min : 1°C
max : 10°C
We Love —
- See Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and more on this incredible three or four-star journey throughout Japan!
- You'll discover the contrast of culture and architecture on your adventure and it is simply breathtaking to behold!
- With your JapanRail Pass included in your stay, as well as daily breakfast, you have the freedom to explore this country at your own leisure!
New Voyage Privé —
Carefully selected by our experts especially for you
Your Destinations —
Tokyo
Despite its love affair with manga pop culture, fashion, high-tech trends and conspicuous consumption, below the surface is a city that has its roots in ancient heritage. Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples stand close to skyscrapers as a reminder of a more contemplative time and at the heart of the hyperactive centre lies the serene Imperial Palace, the home of the ruling emperor that provides a tangible link to the city’s historical past.
Behind the shopping, entertainment and commercial Emporia can be found quaint wooden houses, private gardens with meticulously clipped bonsai trees and the Zen-like calm of the Hamarikyu Gardens. Discover the fascinating and exquisite culture of Japan where the ancient and modern worlds collide. The city’s reputation as a mega-expensive metropolis is ill-conceived and visitors can take advantage of inexpensive izakaya bars and neighbourhood cafes that serve delicious noodles and rice dishes.
Kyoto
If you go by an old shōtengai (shopping street) you can admire the ancient speciality shops: tofu sellers, fishmongers, pickle vendors and tea merchants.
Hiroshima
Osaka
Our Offers —
10 nights/ 11 days Japan Tour in 3* or 4* hotels
OR
12 night /13 days Japan Tour in 3* or 4* hotels
Your Itinerary In Brief —
10 nights / 11 days
Day 1 : UK - Tokyo
Day 2 : Tokyo
Day 3 : Tokyo
Day 4 : Tokyo
Day 5 : Tokyo - Kyoto
Day 6 : Kyoto
Day 7 : Kyoto
Day 8 : Kyoto
Day 9 : Kyoto - Hiroshima
Day 10 : Osaka
Day 11 : Osaka - UK
12 nights / 13 days
Day 1 : UK - Tokyo
Day 2 : Tokyo
Day 3 : Tokyo
Day 4 : Tokyo
Day 5 : Tokyo - Kyoto
Day 6 : Kyoto
Day 7 : Kyoto
Day 8 : Kyoto
Day 9 : Kyoto
Day 10 : Hiroshima
Day 11 : Hiroshima
Day 12 : Osaka
Day 13 : Osaka - UK
Your Tour Itinerary —
Upon landing at Narita Airport, pick up your luggage and head to your transfer desk for your shared shuttle transfer to the heart of Tokyo. Once in Tokyo, you will have the chance to take the subway to your hotel at your own leisure. Upon check-in, you will receive your pocket Wifi and have time to rest in your hotel, before heading out to the city to discover the cusine on offer.
Day 2: Tokyo
After breakfast, you enjoy time to explore the capital!The district of Asakusa, along the Sumida River, will immerse you in the unique and traditional universe of Tokyo where still lives the spirit of "old Edo". Its central point is the Sensoji Temple or Asakusa Kannon. Leadin ghere, you will find the shopping street "Nakamise Dori", where walkers will find many shops selling kimonos and all kinds of traditional items. This district is a popular outlet for Tokyoites, with its many cinemas, theatres and other entertainment options, especially its countless restaurants.
After your lunch, you will head to the district of Akihabara, the most famous in the world for its electronic, computer and electrical supplies. It is said that any electronic device can be found there and the products can be bought at reasonable prices. Try your hand at haggling to get your hands on the newest gagets, if not many shops have a tax refund service. There are more and more manga and animated stores emerging in Akihabara, which take the place of electronics stores. It is therefore in this neighborhood that you'll be able to release your inner Anime.
Day 3: Tokyo
Start your day with a visit to the Roppongi district. This is the trendy nightlife area of Tokyo offering cool restaurants, bars and nightclubs. You will also find a number of embassies here. The busy Roppongi crossroad just outside the subway station is fascinating a sight that is not to be missed. Visit the shopping streets of Azabu Juban, allowing you to savour the atmosphere of old Tokyo, then discover the symbolic Tokyo Tower. At 333 metres high, this tower holds within it the OnePiece theme park.
Roppongi Hills is just a short walk from Roppongi Station. This shopping complex offers a variety of cultural activities, over 230 shops, a cinema complex, a hotel, a TV station, offices and apartments, as well as green and open spaces to enjoy. The top floor of the Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills, hosts the Mori Arts Centre which includes the Mori Art Museum and a panoramic terrace offering spectacular views of Tokyo. The route from Shiba to Roppongi will introduce you to more traditional aspects of this area.
Today is another day to explore the city! Staying on the 'Otaku' theme (a Japanese term for people with interests in anime and manga fandom), visit the Harajuku district. Located on the west side of Tokyo, during the weekend you can see an abundant of teenagers dressed up as manga characters (cosplay), rock singers or Visual Kei ("GothicLolita").The Harajuku district is also known as host to one of the most famous Shinto temples, the Meiji Jingu, in the middle of an artificial forest planted around 1920. Wander down Takeshita-dori Street, ideal for fashion boutiques, cafes, restaurants, etc. If you want to get an idea of the "young" fashion in Japan, Takeshita-dori is a real trend laboratory. You must also take the opportunity to enjoy a delicious Harajuku crepe (crepe-style pancake with ice cream, fruit and chocolate sauce).
Not far from Harajuku, you also have the Shibuya district. Shibuya is the cradle of Japanese pop culture. In this lively area, you will find many shops, bookstores, cafes and bars, restaurants, cinemas, concert halls, and activities, where the Tokyo youth meet "to have fun". You will also have the chance to cross at the busiest crossroads in the world, the Shibuya Crossing. A few steps away, Yoyogi Park is one of Tokyo's largest city parks, featuring wide lawns, ponds and forested areas. In between, Koen-dori Street is more family-friendly with its department stores and fashion boutiques.
Day 5: Tokyo - Kyoto
Leave behind Tokyo and make your way to Kyoto on the next leg of your journey. Make your way to Tokyo station, with your passports to collect your Japan Rail Pass at a JR agency. With your Japan Rail Pass, climb aboard a Shinkansen that takes you straight to the former imperial capital of Japan.
Kyoto was the capital of Japan for more than a thousand years, from 794 to the restoration of Meiji in 1868, where the capital was transferred to Tokyo. Over the past centuries, this city has become the excelled in the field of arts, culture, religion and ideas. Spared by the bombings in the Second World War, many traditional houses, machiya (Japanese townhouses) are still standing.
Day 6: Kyoto
Today is your chance to discover Japan at your own leisure. Head north-east of Kyoto to explore Kinkaku-ji.Kinkaku-ji or "Golden Pavilion" is one of Kyoto's jewels. Entirely covered with gold, except for the ground floor, its silhouette is reflected in the pond that borders it. The walk along the lake offers magnificent views of the pavilion, which can only be seen from the outside. Built in 1397 by the shogun Ashikaga for his personal use, the Golden Pavilion was transformed into a Zen temple after his death. Destroyed by a number of fires, the current building dates from 1955 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Continue with a visit to Ryōan-ji temple. The Ryōanji temple is famous for its karensansui or rock garden, certainly the most beautiful Japan Zen movements inspired by the artist Soami (1455-1525). The garden stretches on a flat surface covered with white pebbles and is surrounded of earth walls. The garden contains 15 rocks arranged on the surface in 3 groups, there are no flowers but moss beds.
Then, why not visit Nishiki Market? This is the most famous market in the city of Kyoto, parallel to Shijo Avenue and accessible from Shijo Station (Karasuma Line) or Kawaramachi Station (Hankyu Line). This market extends over 400m of galleries and has an abbundance of cuisine to choose from.
Next, visit Nijō Castle. Built in 1603 as a residence for Tokugawa shoguns while in Kyoto, this castle is a reflection of the power of those who ruled Japan for more than 200 years. There are several beautiful gardens, and inside the castle are many works of art. End your day by going to Gion Ward. Here you will find beautiful streets, with typical Japanese architecture present in the houses, where the elegant maiko (apprentice geisha) live.
Not far away, the Yasaka Shrine is waiting for you to finish your day. Also known as "Gion Sanctuary", the Yasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine originally built in the year 656 for the syncretic Gozu Tennô deity and rebuilt from 1654 to 1664 in the Gion-zukuri style. This shrine is now dedicated to the Kami Susa-no-o, God of the Sea. This shrine is intimately linked to the history of Gion district in Kyoto.
After a breakfast in your hotel, you can take this morning to uncover Kyoto's Imperial Palace. The Kyoto Imperial Palace, located in Kyoto Gyoen Park, has been destroyed several times by many fires. Its current buildings date from 1855. It was the residence of the imperial family until the relocation of the capital to Tokyo in 1869. Following the visit, you will visit Heian-jingu Shrine.This sanctuary was erected in 1895 to commemorate the eleventh centenary of the founding of the ancient capital. It replicates on a reduced scale the first Imperial Palace built in 794. Its gardens and walks are famous for cherry trees in April, iris and lotus in early summer. On October 22nd, the Jidai Matsuri or Festival of the Elder Age ends.
Afterwards, you will visit the Sanjusangendo temple. This temple, rebuilt in 1266, is famous for its wooden statue of Bodhisattva Kannon with eleven faces, and considered a National Treasure. Surrounded by 28 statues of its guardians and a thousand and one smaller ones reproducing the same bodhisattva, this monument is also home to the longest wooden building in the world (at 118 metres long).
To end the day in style, head to Kiyomizudera temple. Founded in the late 8th century, Kiyomizudera Temple is located at the foot of Higashiyama Hill. The main building, considered a National Treasure, was rebuilt in 1633 by the Tokugawa shogunate. Its wooden terrace, supported by 139 giant pilings 15m high, overlooks a ravine and offers a magnificent panorama of the city.
Day 8: Kyoto
45 minutes from Kyoto, pay a visit to Nara (you can use your Japan Rail Pass to get there), the former capital of Japan. The main attractions for tourists are clustered around Nara station. Nara Park is better known as "Deer Park", where wild deer and tame deer are found roaming freely. To the west is the Kofukuji Temple, built in 710. A large number of high-value Buddhist statues are displayed in the National Treasury House, and the temple compound contains a five-storey pagoda which is reflected in the waters of Sarusawa Pond.
The Todaiji temple, housing the Great Buddha of Nara, is the most famous of the ancient monuments of the city. The Daibutsuden, where the bronze statue stands, is the largest wooden building in the world. Another point of interest is the Kasuga Grand Shrine, built in 768 and one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines. The vermilion red lacquered buildings form a striking contrast to the surrounding vegetation. 1,800 stone lanterns line the sanctuary and a thousand metal lanterns hang from the eaves of its corridors.
Day 9: Kyoto - Hiroshima
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then depart for your next stop: Hiroshima.
Hiroshima is marked by history and today symbolises peace. No building survived the blast of the atomic bomb of 1945, except for the dome of Genbaku, a remnant of the former exhibition palace. Around it was built the Park of the Peace Memorial in 1954. This includes the dome and a monument commemorating the victims of the bomb. Just opposite is the Peace Memorial Museum. To get there, take the tram from Hiroshima Station to Genbaku-Dome-Mae.
During your first visit to Hiroshima, here are some other places to visit. The city was indeed a dynamic centre at the time of Edo. A 10-minute tram ride from Hiroshima Station (Kamiya-cho stop) and a 15-minute walk, Hiroshima Castle was declared a national treasure in 1931 before being destroyed and rebuilt in 1958.
The Shukkeien Garden will delight walkers in search of green space. Located just 900 metres from Hiroshima Station, this 4-hectare garden was commissioned in the early 17th century by the Lord of Hiroshima, Nagaakira Asano. Its layout is inspired by Chinese Lake Xihu (west of Hangzhou) but also is home to many miniature landscapes. In the spring, cherry and plum trees delight visitors.
This morning, drive to Osaka for the last leg of your trip in Japan. Discover its castle and aquarium, but also its rich gastronomic and cultural districts, which all boast an individual atmosphere. Osaka Castle, once the largest in Japan, was built in 1586 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The five-storey fortress is a copy of the original building and contains a large number of documents and artifacts whose history is directly related to the Toyotomi family and Osaka from the past. Minami, the southern part of the city, is home to Osaka's traditional neighborhoods: Dotombori, which symbolises the city's festive and culinary reputation with its many restaurants and bars, Shinsaibashi, a fashion trendsetter like America-mura, or Nipponbashi and its many theatres.
Day 11: Depart from Osaka
This is the end of your wonderful trip throughout Japan. Depending on your departure time, you will enjoy the last moments in Osaka before heading to the airport. Take a last journey with your Japan Rail Pass to Osaka airport ath your own leisure and arrive in plenty of time for your flight.
13 Day / 12 Night Itinerary
When choosing the 13 Day / 12-night itinerary, you will follow the above tour up until day 8, at which point you will follow the below itinerary.
Please note: On your first day of the 12-night itinerary, you will not have an included trasnfer. You will have to exchange your Japan Rail Pass with the JR agents at the airport, so that you can take the Narita Express N'EX, to Tokyo Station, at which point you will take the subway in central Tokyo to your hotel.
This morning, we advise you to visit Arashiyama (JR Sagano Line, Saga-Arashiyama Station, 15 minutes from Kyoto Central Station). During the Heian period (794-1192), Arashiyama was the favourite promenade destination of the imperial court. The landscape is reminicent of this time, and even today, you can stroll in a bamboo forest, admire the cherry blossoms in spring or the red maple in autumn, participate in the feast of the full moon, and for thrills, it is also possible to sail on the rapids of the Hozu River.We suggest you first visit the Tenryuji Temple, known for its Zen garden, then cross the famous bamboo forest at which point you will arrive at Okochi Villa. Then, you could venture to the temple Gio-ji with its moss garden and take the bridge to Taketsuky for your return. For some quality family time, visit the Monkey Mountain, an animal park dedicated to monkeys in the Arashiyama Mountains.
Day 9: Kyoto
45 minutes from Kyoto, pay a visit to Nara (you can use your Japan Rail Pass to get there), the former capital of Japan. The main attractions for tourists are clustered around Nara station. Nara Park is better known as "Deer Park", where wild deer and tame deer are found roaming freely. To the west is the Kofukuji Temple, built in 710. A large number of high-value Buddhist statues are displayed in the National Treasury House, and the temple compound contains a five-storey pagoda which is reflected in the waters of Sarusawa Pond.
The Todaiji temple, housing the Great Buddha of Nara, is the most famous of the ancient monuments of the city. The Daibutsuden, where the bronze statue stands, is the largest wooden building in the world. Another point of interest is the Kasuga Grand Shrine, built in 768 and one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines. The vermilion red lacquered buildings form a striking contrast to the surrounding vegetation. 1,800 stone lanterns line the sanctuary and a thousand metal lanterns hang from the eaves of its corridors.
Day 10: Kyoto - Hiroshima
Hiroshima is marked by history and today symbolises peace. No building survived the blast of the atomic bomb of 1945, except for the dome of Genbaku, a remnant of the former exhibition palace. Around it was built the Park of the Peace Memorial in 1954. This includes the dome and a monument commemorating the victims of the bomb. Just opposite is the Peace Memorial Museum. To get there, take the tram from Hiroshima Station to Genbaku-Dome-Mae.
During your first visit to Hiroshima, here are some other places to visit. The city was indeed a dynamic centre at the time of Edo. A 10-minute tram ride from Hiroshima Station (Kamiya-cho stop) and a 15-minute walk, Hiroshima Castle was declared a national treasure in 1931 before being destroyed and rebuilt in 1958.
The Shukkeien Garden will delight walkers in search of green space. Located just 900 metres from Hiroshima Station, this 4-hectare garden was commissioned in the early 17th century by the Lord of Hiroshima, Nagaakira Asano. Its layout is inspired by Chinese Lake Xihu (west of Hangzhou) but also is home to many miniature landscapes. In the spring, cherry and plum trees delight visitors.
Today, we recommend you visit Miyajima Island. Easily accessible with your Japan Rail Pass, board a train to Miyajimaguchi Port. From there, take a ferry to the sacred island of Miyajima.
Known as the "Island of Gods on the beautiful Seto Inland Sea", this shrine has long been a sacred place, since the sanctuary of Itsukushima was established there in 593 (the buildings date from the 12th century). This sanctuary, dedicated to the guardian goddess of the seas, has the particularity of being partially built on the water, with buildings on stilts and its torii a few tens of metres offshore.
The beautiful landscape of the island, its stunning beaches and intruiging hiking trails make it a popular destination in summer. But autumn or spring also have great charms, be it with flamboyant maple trees or cherry blossoms. It is for all these reasons that the island of Miyajima has been classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. Tour the island and Itsukushima shrine.
The construction of the shrine on stilts and pontoons is due to the sacred status of the island. Visitors had no right to land on the island; they had to arrive by boat, pass under the floating torii and dock on the pontoons. A Noh theatre stage, also on stilts, is located near the temple. Nowadays the island still preserves its sacred status, and it is forbidden to be born there or die there.
The door "Ôtorii" is the symbol of Miyajima. The torii is made of camphor wood lacquered with vermillion. From almost 17 metres high, its main pillars are 10 metres in circumference. Although seemingly solid planted in the ground, it actually rests only by its own weight on the sand. The torii is located 200 metres from the sanctuary, in the sea, and it is possible to access it on foot at low tide.
This complex consists of the main sanctuary and several secondary shrines and other buildings connected by large pontoons and galleries. The whole stretches on the sea on each side of the sanctuary and at high tide, the building seems to float on the water. The main sanctuary, the Heiden (offering pavilion), the Haiden (office pavilion), the Hairaiden (purification pavilion) and the galleries have been classified as National Treasures.
Day 12: Hiroshima - Osaka
This morning, drive to Osaka for the last leg of your trip in Japan. Discover its castle and aquarium, but also its rich gastronomic and cultural districts, which all boast an individual atmosphere. Osaka Castle, once the largest in Japan, was built in 1586 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The five-storey fortress is a copy of the original building and contains a large number of documents and artifacts whose history is directly related to the Toyotomi family and Osaka from the past. Minami, the southern part of the city, is home to Osaka's traditional neighborhoods: Dotombori, which symbolises the city's festive and culinary reputation with its many restaurants and bars, Shinsaibashi, a fashion trendsetter like America-mura, or Nipponbashi and its many theatres.
Day 13: Depart from Osaka
This is the end of your wonderful trip throughout Japan. Depending on your departure time, you will enjoy the last moments in Osaka before heading to the airport. Take a last journey with your Japan Rail Pass to Osaka airport at your own leisure and arrive in plenty of time for your flight.
Your Tour Hotels —
Our members will stay at the following 3* or 4* category hotels in a Standard Room (or similar) with meals as per itinerary.
3* Category Hotels
Kyoto: Hearton Hotel Kyoto in a Twin Room with Breakfast (or similar)
Hiroshima: Hotel Sunroute Hiroshima in a Moderate Twin Room with Breakfast (or similar)
Osaka: Hearton Hotel Nishi Umeda in a Standard Twin Room with Breakfast (or similar)
4* Category Hotels
Kyoto: Kyoto Tokyu Hotel in a Standard Floor Twin Room with Breakfast (or similar)
Hiroshima: ANA Crowne Plaza Hiroshima in a Standard Floor Twin with Breakfast (or similar)
Osaka: Cross Hotel Osaka in a Comfort Twin Room with Breakfast (or similar)
2 Adults
Your Options —
Pre-paid SUICA transportation card, already charged with ¥1,500
The Card is already topped up with 1500 yen ready for use (on top of a 500 yen deposit). The price of your journey is deducted automatically after every single use. If you all of the credit on the card, you can top up easily at train stations. It can also be used as a sort of electronic wallet to pay for small purchases in convenience stores, vending machines, or even to pay for parking. You can also keep your Pasmo Card for future use, as it is valid for 10 years. Or return it at the train station at the end of your trip to get back the 500 yen deposit. One card for each person.
Advantages:
● A prepaid card with 1500 yen ready for use
● Can be used on public transport in Tokyo and all other major Japanese cities
● Can be easily topped up on the machines at train stations
● Can be used as an electronic wallet
Your Journey —
Flights: The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
Transfers: An airport shared limousine bus from Narita Airport to central Tokyo is included in the 10-night itinerary. For the 12-night itinerary, you may activate your JapanRail Pass on arrival and therefore use that as transport from the airport. All other transfers are at your own leisure. It may be possible to upgrade to shared taxi transfer from Tokyo airport to your hotel at the next stage of the booking process for an additional fee.
JapanRail Pass: A 7 day (10-night itinerary) or 14 day (12-night itinerary) Japan Rail Pass for train and shinkansen trips is included in this offer. We recommend you to activate your Japan Rail Pass when moving from Tokyo to Kyoto (or for the 12-night itinerary, you may use for the duration of your trip).
The following trips are covered by the JR Pass:
- Train journey from Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen, approximately 2h45.
- Train journey between Kyoto and Hiroshima by Shinkansen, approximately 2h30
- Train journey between Hiroshima and Osaka by Shinkansen, approximately 2h
- Train between Osaka and Kansai Airport, approximately 50 minutes
- Any train journeys on JR lines that you want to do during the validation period (for example some day trip outside Tokyo or Kyoto).
The Japan Rail Pass does not cover:
- Subway and buses in Tokyo and Kyoto (you can pay by prepaid transportation card)
- Private lines (that are not JR)
- Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen
