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Travel Experts to Japan

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GENERAL INFORMATION

• Country Quickfacts
• Things to know before you go
• Arrival Guide

CITY MODULES

• Imperial Tokyo, 3 days
• Tokyo Sightseeing Ideas
• Historical Kyoto, 3 days
• Kyoto & Nara, 5 days
• Kyoto Sightseeing Ideas
• Nagoya, 3 days
• Nagoya Sightseeing Ideas
• Traditional Japanese Inn, 3 days
• Osaka, 3 days
• Hiroshima, 3 days
• Nagasaki, 3 days
• Sapporo, 3 days
• Okinawa Stopover, 3 days

TRAVEL IDEAS

• Essential Japan, 8 days
• The Golden Route, 7 days
• Japan In Depth, 8 days
• Tokyo and Osaka Highlights, 7 days

SMALL GROUP ADVENTURES

• Japan, Land of the Rising Sun

ASIA STAYS OF DISTINCTION

• The Amandari, Ubud
• Palais De Chine, Taipei
• Peninsula Hotel, Beijing
• Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong
• Lake Palace, Udaipur
• The Peninsula, Shanghai
• Rambagh Palace, Jaipur
• Hotel Seiyo Ginza, Tokyo
• The Imperial Hotel, Delhi
• Raffles Hotel, Singapore
• Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok
• Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai
• Amanpuri, Phuket
• The Amansara, Siem Reap
• La Residence Phou Vao, Luang Prabang
• Gems of South East Asia, 10 days

Kyoto geishas

 

Japan Independent Travel Ideas

The Golden Route

7 days

TOKYO • HAKONE • KYOTO

Somewhere between the elegant formality of Japanese manners and the candid, sometimes boisterous exchanges that take place over a few drinks, between the sanitized shopping malls and the unexpected rural festivals, everyone finds their own vision of Japan.

Day 1. Arrive Tokyo.
Upon arrival into Tokyo, you will be met and given the appropriate bus tickets for the transfer to your hotel. The representative will show you the departure point for the bus. Check-in to your hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 2. Tokyo sightseeing.
The morning tour includes a half-day of sightseeing starting from the Hamamatsu-cho Bus Terminal. You will visit the Tokyo Tower observation deck offing excellent views of the city before heading to the Imperial Palace Plaza. Unfortunately, entrance inside the palace is forbidden but non-the-less, the gardens outside of the palace are beautiful and offer some excellent photo opportunities. Next visit Asakusa Kannon Temple & Nakamise Shopping Arcade. Later, drive through the Ueno area which offers a glimpse of what old Tokyo would have looked like without the high rises and the neon of the shopping arcades. The tour will disband upon arrival at Akihabara or Tokyo Station. The tour guide will help you with directions back to your hotel or you can continue on exploring this amazing city at your leisure. We recommend a visit to the Ginza and maybe Harajuku Street famous for its trendy shops and anime style fashions. (B)

Day 3. Tokyo to Hakone.
Leave Tokyo by bus from the Keio Plaza Hotel (Pick up service to Keio Plaza hotel is available) to Hakone National Park. En route, drive half way up Mount Fuji to the 5th Station for a view of the surrounding countryside. (When the drive to the 5th Station is closed in winter due to snow, you will go to the highest possible point.) Later enjoy a cruise on Lake Ashi followed by Hakone Ropeway with a view of Owakudani Valley.

Overnight in Hakone. (BL)

Note: You will be without your main luggage during your Hakone stay. Your luggage will instead be transported to Kyoto to await your arrival.

Day 4. Hakone to Kyoto.
Depart from Odawara Station for Kyoto aboard the Shinkansen - The JR Express Bullet Train. Then, drive to the city of Nara. Enjoy Buffet-style lunch at a local restaurant followed by sight seeing at the Togaiji Temple, Nara Park and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Return and overnight in Kyoto. (BL)

Day 5. Kyoto.
Today is a full day of sightseeing around Kyoto. This will include the Golden Pavillion - Kinkakuji Temple, Nijo Castle (when closed, visit Ryoanji Temple instead), Kyoto Imperial Palace (when closed, visiti Nishi-Honganji Temple instead), Sanjusangendo Temple's Hall, Heian Jingu Shrine and Kiyomizu Temple. (BL)

Day 6. Kyoto.
This day is free at leisure to explore Kyoto, go shopping or take on of our Kyoto Optional excursions. (B)

Day 7. Kyoto to Osaka Airport.
Your last morning is at leisure until ready to depart by bus to Osaka Airport. (B)

DEPARTURES 2012:

January: 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
February: 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 28, 29
March: Daily
April: 1-22
May: 5-31
June: Daily (except 2,3)
July: 1–8, 15–18, 21-15, 28-31
August: 1, 4, 5, 15, 18-22, 25-29, 31
September: 1-4, 7-12, 15-19, 21-26, 28-30
October: 1-2, 6-10, 12-17, 19-23, 26-31
November: 2-7, 9-14, 16-20, 23-28
December: 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19

Please request prices for the time you wish to travel & advise your preferred hotel category - Moderate, First Class or Deluxe.

PRICE INCLUDES:

Train rates within Japan, 6 nights hotel accommodation with private facilities and air conditioning; sightseeing as indicated; meals as indicated by BLD, transfers where indicated.

NOT INCLUDED:

International air fare, optional excursions, items of a personal nature such as laundry, dry cleaning, phone calls, drinks, cancellation and medical insurance, excess baggage charges and Government departure taxes.

HOTELS:

Please click the hotel below for details on accommodation

CITY	MODERATE	FIRST CLASS	DELUXE
Tokyo	Shinagawa Prince Hotel	Keio Plaza Hotel	New Otani Hotel
Hakone	Yumoto Fujiya Hotel *Western-style room	Only Moderate Available *Western-style room	Only Moderate Available *Western-style room
Kyoto	Karasuma Hotel	Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto	Kyoto Hotel Okura

Note: The above itinerary is valid between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012. Please check for itinerary updates for departures that fall outside of the validity period.