Travelsphere Land of the Rising Sun

• Return flights from Heathrow with Cathay Pacific
• 10 nights in 4-star hotels plus 2 nights in flight
• 14 meals: 10 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
• All excursions included
• Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guide
• Overseas transfers and other transportation
• Audio Guide

• Tour of Japan’s capital, Tokyo
• Hakone, gateway to Mount Fuji
• Matsumoto Castle, Japan’s oldest existing castle
• Visit a wasabi farm
• Takayama, a traditional city in the mountains
• Ride the Bullet Train to Kyoto
• Sightseeing in Kyoto
• Arashiyama and rickshaw ride
• Sushi-making demonstration
• Visit the historic city of Nara
• Bullet Train journey to Hiroshima
• Hiroshima sightseeing tour and Miyajima Island
• Tour of Osaka

Day 1: UK – Tokyo

Today you’ll depart on your scheduled flight to Tokyo via Hong Kong.

Day 2: Tokyo

This evening you’ll arrive in Tokyo, where we’ll transfer you to your hotel. After time to settle in, why not head out for stroll to get your bearings.

Day 3: Tokyo

Your explorations of Japan begin here in dazzling Tokyo and take you first to the Meiji Jingu Shrine. This collection of buildings and tranquil grounds is dedicated to the first emperor of modern Japan. Next we’ll transfer to the district of Asakusa, where you’ll visit the fascinating Sensoji Buddhist temple, and head to the vibrant Nakamise shopping street.

Day 4: Hakone & Mount Fuji

A spectacular sight awaits us today, as we journey to Hakone. This is the gateway to Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain, and the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The scenery here is breathtakingly beautiful and we’ll take a cable-car ride to admire views of mountains, hot springs and crystal-clear Lake Ashi.

Day 5: Takayama

Your next base is Takayama, a traditional Japanese city in the mountains, and a day of discoveries starts with a visit to the perfectly preserved Matsumoto Castle. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Japanese Alps, it’s the country’s oldest five-tiered wooden castle and has been designated a National Treasure of Japan.

Day 6: Takayama

Your day out today starts early at Miyagawa morning market, where you’ll see and even sample the region’s exotic fruit and vegetables. We’ll then have the chance to see a traditional house and enjoy some free time in Takayama.

Day 7: Kyoto

A journey by train this morning takes us to Nagoya, where we board one of Japan’s famous Bullet Trains bound for Kyoto. Start the sightseeing as soon as we arrive in historic Kyoto. It’s filled with fascinating temples, ancient buildings and splendid gardens, and we’ll see highlights including Nijo Castle, built in 1603 for the first Shogun of the Edo Period.

Day 8: Kyoto

We’ll start the day by viewing the Kinkakuji Temple with its Golden Pavilion. Next we’re heading to the beautiful district of Arashiyama today, where a rickshaw ride through a bamboo forest promises to be an exhilarating experience. Sit back and enjoy the sight of the towering stalks swaying gently in the wind and casting shadows on the path. A sushi-making demonstration and lunch are also included before an afternoon of exploration in Nara.

Day 9: Kyoto

How you spend today in Kyoto is entirely up to you. You could take part in a Kendo lesson, a modern martial art which uses bamboo swords, or maybe enjoy a more genteel experience, a traditional tea ceremony. Kyoto is the birthplace of the tea ceremony and there are a number of places which offer you a chance to experience it for yourself.

Day 10: Hiroshima

We’re taking another Bullet Train today, and this time it will transport us to Hiroshima. This city is infamous as the target of the first-ever atomic bomb, dropped by the US at the end of the Second World War.

Day 11: Osaka

Osaka is the final destination of your tour, and you’ll journey here by road, so this morning is all about relaxing and admiring the view from your window. Your hotel in Osaka is located close to the city’s main shopping and entertainment district, so there’s plenty to keep you busy during a free afternoon.

Day 12: Osaka – UK

You’ll spend the first half of today discovering Osaka Castle and the Floating Garden Observatory at the top of the Umeda Sky Building. From here you’ll get panoramic views of the city and there will be free time for lunch if you wish. Later, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your flight back to the UK via Hong Kong.

Day 13: UK

You’ll arrive back in the UK today.

Days 2-4: Keio Plaza Hotel, Tokyo

Offering fantastic views over the city and located close to the popular sights, you will stay at the Keio Plaza Hotel. Hotel facilities include restaurant, bar, fitness room and pool(seasonal).

Days 5-6: Associa Takayama Resort

The 4-star Associa Takayama Resort is situated in Takayama. Hotel facilities include a restaurant and a bar. Bedrooms have private facilities, air-conditioning and a TV.

Days 7-9: Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

The 4-star Kyoto Tokyu Hotel is ideally located within reach of Kyoto”s main tourist attractions. Hotel facilities include a restaurant and a bar. Bedrooms have private facilities, air-conditioning, TV, complimentary Wi-Fi and tea/coffee-making facilities.

Day 10: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima

The 4-star Granvia Hiroshima is ideally located within easy reach of the main tourist attractions of Hiroshima. Hotel facilities include a selection of restaurants and a bar. Bedrooms have private facilities, air-conditioning, TV and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Day 11: Hotel Nikko Osaka

Hotel Nikko Osaka is a deluxe hotel located in a prime area of central Osaka. The hotel faces the famous tree-lined Mido-suji Avenue, the city’s main boulevard.

Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on 2 people sharing and don’t include any additional supplements. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment’s notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.