FULLY ESCORTED SMALL GROUP TOUR. AN IN DEPTH 17 DAY COMPLETE PROGRAMME. UNBEATABLE VALUE £ 2,895 PER PERSON.
 Departure on the 2nd Thursday of each month Code JP17D
TOKYO-FUJI-TSUMAGO-MAGOME-TAKAYAMA- SHIRAKAWAGO-KANAZAWA-KYOTO-NARA-KOYASAN-HIROSHIMA
City hotels, traditional inns, temple stay, bullet train, boat trip, Japanese gardens, ancient towns, hot spring bath, world heritage sites, wonderful mountain scenery, authentic Japanese food and more: A complete Japanese experience

Price includes: International flights, airport/hotel transfers by train and local transports, modern city hotels and Japanese style accommodation (minshuku or ryokan) as stated or similar with daily breakfast, meals as stated, shinkansen bullet trains (ordinary class) and local trains, buses, taxis, guided sightseeing, excursions, boat trip, admission fees.
Price excludes: insurance, local airport tax, meals other than stated, optional entertainment and any service not specified. Price is per person sharing twin or double room. Single room supplement is £495 per person.
Please note:  Japanese style accommodation will generally be in tatami-mat rooms with low tables and futons. Ryokan have en-suite facilities in the rooms but  family run minshuku  do not. Occasionally, there will be a need to walk to and from train/bus stations. Clients must be able to carry their own luggage on and off trains and through stations. Good tip : travel light. Approx. group size: 16 persons. Departure guaranteed regardless of number of people. Deposit required for this tour is £800 per person as air tickets need to be issued at time of booking.

Day 01 Departure from U.K. international airport. Schedule flights to Tokyo .

Day 02 TOKYO (D) On arrival at Narita airport you will be met and transferred by train to your hotel in city centre. At leisure to explore central Tokyo. Evening welcome dinner at a typical Japanese restaurant. Overnight at Keio Plaza hotel (modern 4 star hotel).

Day 03 TOKYO (B) All day Tokyo walking tour with guide visiting Asakusa, the old residential Shitamachi neighbourhood around Yanaka. Enjoy a boat cruise on Sumida River to the Hamarikyu gardens with a chance to experience a Japanese tea ceremony. Visit to the Meiji shrine and its gardens before finishing in Shinjuku of modern Japan.

Day 04 FUJI 5 LAKES (B) Transfer by bus to to the stunning Fuji lakes with the opportunity to marvel the sacred Mt Fuji. Exploration of the caves at the foot of Fuji mount and a lake side walk. In the evening, enjoy a local onsen (hot spring spa). Overnight at Sunide Village.

Day 05 MAGOME (B/D) Transfer by train and by local bus to Tsumago, a well preserved Naksendo town: visit to the ancient houses and the folk museum. Enjoy a pleasant walk along the ancient trail among beautiful scenery of the Magome pass. Overnight in a minshuku with typical Japanese sunken earth and wooden bath.

Day 06 TAKAYAMA (B/D) Transfer by taxi and train to Takayama. Explore the San-machi area with its old merchant houses. The town is well known for its crafts: Lacquer, pottery, furniture. Enjoy dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in a traditional ryokan.

Day 07 TAKAYAMA (B/D) Visit to morning market along the river. Free time to explore the old town or shopping or visit to museums such as the Hirata Kinenkan restored house and gardens.

Day 08 SHIRAKAWA-GO (B/D) Travel by bus to Shirakawa-go. Visit to Ogimachi village, the Unesco world heritage site. The village is famous for its Gassho-zukuri, large wooden houses with steep thatched roofs designed to withstand heavy snow. A Japanese dinner will be served here and overnight in the Gassho zukiri minshuku.

Day 09 KANAZAWA Travel by train to the beautiful town of Kanazawa. Check-in at Miyako hotel. Rest of day is at leisure to explore the Kenrokuen Garden, Nagamachi Samurai house and the Geisha quarter. Overnight at Castle Inn hotel.

Day 10 KYOTO (B) Travel by train to Kyoto (3 hrs), Japan’s Capital for more than a thousand years. On arrival, check-in at Kyoto Tower hotel in central Kyoto. Evening exploration of he Nishiki-koji covered market, the Gion district famous for its ryotei (private restaurants) and maiko.

Day 11 KYOTO (B) Guided Kyoto tour will include the Silver Pavilion Ginkakuji and the Kiyomizu-dera temple, the world's largest wooden structure recently nominated as the 7th wonder of the world. Afternoon transfer  to the ancient Capital of Nara (710-784). Visit to the old merchant district of Nara-machi with its narrow streets, shops, cafes and restaurants. Visit to Todai-ji temple with its largest wooden Buddha statue. Overnight at Kyoto Tower hotel.

Day 12 KOYA-SAN (B/D) Travel by train along the scenic Nankai railway line and by cable car to mount Koya, with a beautiful valley full of very tall cedar trees. This Unesco world heritage site is home of Buddhism since the 9th century and you can find hundred of temples in the areas. Enjoy a guided tour to the vast Okunoin cemetery with thousands of graves and memorials to feudal lords and visit to Kobodaishi's temple, the Kongbuji. Overnight stay in the elegant Shukubo Daien-in temple run by the monks with optional evening meditation and dinner will be Shojin-ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine).

Day 13 HIROSHIMA (B) Optional Buddhist early morning service. After breakfast, check-out and travel by train to Hiroshima. Visit to the Genbaku Dome peace memorial (Unesco world heritage site). Overnight at Sunroute hotel. Day 14 HIROSHIMA  (B) Transfer to Miyajima island to visit the famous Itsukushima shrine. Overnight at Sunroute hotel.

Day 15 TOKYO Return by bullet train to Tokyo. Overnight at Keio Plaza hotel. Day 16  At leisure or last minute shopping if time allows. Transfer to airport for departure.

Day 17 Arrive home at U.K. airport in the morning.