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Discover Japan

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Japan is a country of contrasts, where ancient gods rub shoulders with modern technology, skyscrapers give way to paddy fields and crowds disperse into the tranquillity of a classical garden. This tour is the perfect introduction to this fascinating archipelago.

Places Visited

Australia - Tokyo (3N) - Mt. Fuji - Takayama (2N) - Kanazawa (1N) - Kyoto (3N) - Nara - Wakayama (1N) - Osaka (1N) – Australia

Days 1-2: Fly to Tokyo
Fly overnight with Cathay Pacific Airways to Tokyo, Japan's capital, for a three-night stay. Tokyo was once known as Edo and was a small fishing town. In 1868, as part of the Meiji Restoration, the emperor and capital moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was then renamed Tokyo.

Brisbane passengers may depart on Day 2.
Days 1-2: Fly to Tokyo
Day 3: Vibrant Tokyo
Head to the top of Tokyo Skytree for sweeping views of the city. Next, visit Asakusa and wander through Nakamise shopping street and Senso-ji Temple, one of Tokyo's most colourful and popular temples. Enjoy lunch and stop at the Imperial Palace to view the Nijubashi, two bridges that form an entrance to the inner palace grounds. This afternoon, stroll through the Hamarikyu Gardens and in the evening, enjoy a dinner cruise around Tokyo Bay.
Day 3: Vibrant Tokyo
Day 4: Overnight Yatsugatake
Take the speedy bullet train to Odawara and cruise on Lake Ashi before taking the Komagatake cable car for spectacular views of the lake below. Head up to Mount Fuji's 5th Station to enjoy the amazing views. Continue to Yatsugatake for an overnight stay.
Day 4: Overnight Yatsugatake
Day 5: Travel to Takayama
Drive to Takayama, stopping en route in Matsumoto, where you will visit Matsumoto Castle. The wooden interior of the castle provides a unique insight into the structure of Japanese castles. Stop at a sake brewery to learn about the process of making Japan's most revered liquor, before continuing through winding mountain passes to Takayama, one of Japan's most impressive traditional towns where you will feel you have stepped back in time.
Day 5: Travel to Takayama
Day 6: Takayama
Wander to the Miyagawa morning market and sample some of the region's fruit and vegetables. Later you will visit traditional houses and local museums, including the Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall, Kusakabe Folk Museum and the Takayama Jinya. Enjoy some free time to explore the local shopping streets which date back to the 17th century.
Day 6: Takayama
Day 7: Charming Shirakawa-go Village
Travel to the UNESCO World Heritage listed village, Shirakawago, famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. Try your hand at making traditional Japanese washi paper before continuing to Kanazawa, where you will visit the Nomura Samurai House. The garden inside the residence has a Japanese bayberry tree which is over 400 years old and a meandering stream surrounded by ancient and strangely shaped rocks.
Day 7: Charming Shirakawa-go Village
Day 8: Travel to Kyoto
Wander through the beautiful Kenroku-en Garden, one of Japan's top three gardens, and visit the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. After lunch, travel by coach to Kyoto for a three-night stay. Once the imperial capital of Japan until 1868, Kyoto is home to countless temples and shrines.
Day 8: Travel to Kyoto
Day 9: Kyoto tea ceremony
This morning you will visit the Ryoan-ji Temple complex which means 'temple of the peaceful dragon'. Next you will visit the famous Kinkaku-ji, a zen temple known as the Golden Pavilion. Head to a restored wooden townhouse where you will learn about traditional Japanese handicrafts such as origami, ikebana or calligraphy and participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Day 9: Kyoto tea ceremony
Day 10: Nara
Travel to Nara, the former imperial capital of Japan. Visit the Todai-ji Temple, the world's largest wooden structure, which is home to Japan's largest Buddha and numerous deer. You will also visit Issuien Gardens, meaning 'garden founded on water', derived from the fact that its ponds are sourced from the Yoshikigawa River. Return to Kyoto stopping en route at the unforgettable Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, which features in the movie Memoirs of a Geisha. It is famous for its thousands of orange torii gates and is dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are thought to be Inari's messengers, and you will see many fox statues here.
Day 11: Kyoto – Koyasan to Wakayama
Journey to Koyasan, the centre of Shingon Buddhism. Visit Kongobu-ji Temple and Garan temple complex. Okunoin is Japan's largest cemetery and holds the mausoleum of the founder of Shingon Buddhism, Kobo Daishi. Take a walk to the mausoleum, passing 200,000 tombstones belonging to feudal lords and prominent monks. Transfer to Wakayama to spend the night.
Day 12: Osaka Castle
This morning drive to Osaka, Japan's third largest city. See the spectacular Osaka Castle and explore the Dotonbori district, a restaurant mecca, where you can sample Osaka's plethora of mouth-watering bites. Take a cruise on the Yodogawa River before a farewell dinner tonight.
Day 12: Osaka Castle
Day 13: Depart Osaka
This morning is at your leisure before you are transferred to Kansai airport to board your overnight flight to Australia.

Due to flight schedules, Perth passengers may arrive home on day 13.
Day 13: Depart Osaka
Day 14: Arrive Australia
Arrive home today.

Tour prices are per person, twin share

2017


2018


Additional Price Information:

Above prices include airline fuel surcharge. Subject to change.
Standard itinerary flies with Cathay Pacific from SYD, MEL, BNE, ADL, PER & CNS and Singapore Airlines from DRW
Single Hotel Room Option – From $1,160
Land Only (Tokyo to Osaka) 12 days from $9,180 per person
Brisbane and Cairns passengers may require stopovers in Hong Kong at an additional cost.
Adelaide passengers may require one night pre-tour accommodation in Tokyo and a stopover in Hong Kong at an additional cost.
Tour availability is updated each Monday. While every effort is made to ensure availability status is current, it is advisable to contact our reservations department on 1300 318 203. Limited seats denotes 5 seats or less available.

Australian passport holders do not require a visa for travel to Japan.

Phone Calls
International and domestic calls can be made from your hotel room. It’s a good idea to check call costs with hotel staff or your local guide before making calls, as this can be expensive. A service charge may also be involved. To call Australia – the international access code is 00, followed by the country code 61, then the local area code (omitting the first 0), then the number. .
 
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones are quite popular in Japan and you will find high quality coverage. Japan has active roaming agreements with most of the service providers. Please make sure you are aware of associated costs and have activated your international roaming prior to departure.
 
Internet & Email
Internet cafes can be found in all major cities and even in some small towns. This is often the easiest and cheapest way to stay in touch. Most hotels have a business centre with internet access, but at a slightly higher rate. Some hotels may have wifi which usually comes at an additional cost and may only be available in hotel lobbies. 

Tipping is not part of the culture in Japan and is therefore not expected.

Shopping can be a fun and entertaining component to any travel adventure.  In keeping with most people’s interests whilst on holiday, your tour will include a reasonable number of opportunities to shop for local goods and souvenirs.
 
We have included visits to establishments that not only provide an opportunity to purchase a locally produced, great-value souvenir; but you’ll witness first-hand how these local products are made, their history and how they support the local economy. We are aware that people like to take home souvenirs, so we endeavour to ensure the shops you visit have a reputation for quality, honesty, and authenticity.

The cost of all meals is included in your group tour cost. Breakfast is a combination of local and western food, usually served buffet style at the hotel you are staying in. Lunches and dinners consist of traditional cuisine and are served at reputable local restaurants. As is traditional in this region, lunch and dinner consists of small dishes of local cuisine which is then placed on the table for everyone to share so you can experience the variety of speciality dishes. The amount served is more than ample for the whole group. We aim to cater to the tastes of the majority of people and so the food is not too spicy or unusual in taste.
 
Drinks will be at each own expense and paid for at the end of each meal. Beer is widely available and cheap. Western style wine is very expensive to import and is not widely available except at upmarket restaurants. Bottled drinking water, soft drinks, and fruit juices are also widely available – remember that you should only have ice or fruit juices from a trusted restaurant, where they will use boiled or bottled water.
 

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Tailor Your Tour

If you like most of the itinerary which we have suggested but you'd like to change the route and the accommodation, speak to our specialist Tailormade team, who can build your perfect itinerary based around where you would like to go, what you would like to see and how much you'd like to spend. Just call us on 1300 318 203 and we'll help plan your dream holiday.


Discover Japan map View larger map
tour dossier pdf View Tour Dossier

Why Book This Tour?

This adventure is ideal for travellers with a reasonable amount of time to spend and who want to see the very best bits of Japan. We have designed the tour to make the most of the time available to showcase the key highlights of Japan and have incorporated travel by road to give the opportunity to see the beautiful Japanese countryside.

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