JAPAN SUMMER
MANGA TOUR 2024
14 - 22 August 2024
Tokyo
£2,999.00 per person
SOME OF THE MANGA TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
The holiday of a lifetime for fans of manga, anime, and all aspects of Japanese pop culture.
As well as visits to Akihabara and Nakano Broadway, we take you to the Ghibli Museum where the work of this wonderful Japanese animation studio can be admired!
Experience Tokyo in all its neon glory with the original Manga Tour.
We don't just visit Japan – we live it!
DAILY ITINERARY
14 & 15 AUGUST: UK-TOKYO
Fly overnight from London Heathrow on 14 August. Upon arrival the next day, you will be met by your Guide, who will take you to your hotel in Tokyo by private coach. Check in here for 7 nights.
16 AUGUST: NAKANO BROADWAY
After breakfast, we start with an orientation of Shinjuku visiting local hotspots and stopping off at a Manga Café before heading to Nakano Broadway – the mega-mall home to Mandarake and countless other manga and memorabilia specialty stores. Later today, we head to Tokyo's Studio Ghibli Museum, dedicated to the art and animation of Japan's most famous animation company.
17 AUGUST: HARAJUKU, MEIJI SHRINE, YOYOGI PARK
Today we go on to wacky Harajuku and beautiful Meiji Shrine nearby. As it's a Sunday, you'll be able to soak up the atmosphere of Yoyogi Park where young Japanese get dressed up in their finest gear as...1950s rockers, punks, and Cosplay dolls! Enjoy the bands in the park as we then move on to Omotesando and Takeshita Street – a great place for souvenir shopping.
18 AUGUST: TOKYO TOWER, ASAKUSA, RIVER CRUISE
Today we visit the iconic Tokyo Tower – Godzilla's favourite haunt – where you will gain access to the Special Observatory. We then go on to bustling Sensoji Temple in Asakusa – beloved by all Tokyoites. We then enjoy a pleasure cruise from Asakusa pier along the Sumida River to Hamarikyu one of Tokyo's loveliest gardens.
19 AUGUST: SHIBUYA & IKEBUKURO
Today we visit Shibuya and its iconic pedestrian crossing, considered to be one of the busiest crossings of the world! In Shibuya there are many department stores, and you will have some time to explore the area. Later today we head to the largest Pokemon Centre in Sunshine City Mall, Ikebukuro. In Sunshine City shopping mall, you can also enjoy the indoor theme park – Namjatown – and visit the nearby Animate Ikebukuro flagship store, with its 8 huge floors dedicated to manga, anime and gaming.
20 AUGUST: AKIHABARA
Akihabara After breakfast we visit Akihabara – Tokyo's "Electric Town" and home to dozens of anime, manga, and electronic goods stores.
21 AUGUST: FREE DAY/OPTIONAL TOUR
Today is yours to enjoy at leisure, or you may want to join one of our Optional trips. The first is a day out to the magical world of Tokyo Disneyland. Alternatively, how about a fully-guided tour to Mt. Fuji and the beautiful nearby resort of Hakone, returning to Tokyo by Bullet Train? If you decide to simply stay in Tokyo, you might want to visit the futuristic district of Odaiba, where you can spend time gaming at Sega Joypolis – an indoor gaming theme park, then go on to see the famous life-sized Gundam. Nearby is Toyota Megaweb– a gigantic car showroom featuring cars of the past as well as the future.
22 AUGUST: RETURN TO THE UK
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Narita Airport (Tokyo New International Airport) by private coach from where you will depart for the UK.
ACCOMMODATION
This business class hotel features compact well-equipped rooms with flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, and bathroom amenities. All rooms have free wi-fi. Computer terminals are available in the lobby along with 24-hour coin laundry.
Breakfast is a light Japanese breakfast consisting of rice balls, miso soup, some salad items, and also a little bread.
Located in the heart of Tokyo's entertainment district you are never far away from great places to eat and shop. There are plenty of Karaoke bars nearby as well as a baseball batting centre. Being very close to Higashi-Shinjuku metro station, and only 10 minutes' walk (or under 5 minutes by taxi) from JR Shinjuku station, Japan's biggest transport hub and a gateway to the whole of Tokyo, the city is truly at your fingertips.
DATES & INCLUSIONS
TOUR DATES: 14 - 22 AUGUST 2024
PRICE INCLUDES:
-
International scheduled return Economy class flights from London.
-
7 nights' hotel accommodation at a centrally located 3* hotel in Tokyo and breakfast daily.
-
Fully guided tours daily
-
Sightseeing and entrance fees to all temples, shrines, museums and other on tour attractions (save for the entrance ticket to Namjatown) including access to the Main Observatory at Tokyo Tower.
-
Airport Transfers by private coach in Japan for those passengers arriving and/or departing with the main group (post extension passengers will need to arrange their own airport transfer upon return).
-
All subway and train fares per itinerary above.
-
Services of a knowledgeable Japan Journeys Guide throughout.
-
All Japanese sales taxes and service charge
-
Full financial protection via Japan Journeys' membership of the Travel Trust Association through which your monies are held in a Trust Account until you return home
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE
-
Travel Insurance (see below)
-
Lunches & Dinners
-
Optional Tours
Main Tour Price: £2,999.00 per person (on a shared basis - Including flights)
Land-Only Tour Price: £2,199.00 per person (on a shared basis - Not including flights, for non-UK passengers only)
Single Room Supplement: £299.00
BOOKING INFORMATION
To make a booking, a deposit of 10% of the total price is required.
-
The balance of the price of the trip must be made 12 weeks prior to departure.
All price estimates are based on a minimum of 20 persons travelling.
All price estimates are based on current rates of exchange.
- EXTEND YOUR TRIP -
JOIN OUR FANTASTIC KYOTO EXTENSION!
Add an extra week to your stay and discover another side to this fascinating and beautiful country. After the Japan Manga tour, speed off on the magnificent Bullet Train to visit Hiroshima, an attractive, cosmopolitan city that has risen from the ashes of the world's first atomic bomb attack, and stay the night in a traditional Japanese ryokan (Inn) on the nearby beautiful island of Miyajima.
After a lovely night at your ryokan, head to Japan's cultural heartland, Kyoto. Kyoto is where you will find the Japan of silent temples nestling in bamboo groves, gardens of finely raked sand, and bewitching geisha. This city is home to over 2,000 temples and shrines, exquisite crafts, and some of the best cuisines in the country. In short, Kyoto is the heartbeat of traditional Japan. From Kyoto, you have the opportunity to take excursions to the nearby Nara and lively Osaka. At the end of this self-guided tour, head back to Tokyo for your final night in Japan.
We will provide you with all the information you need to travel around Japan independently.
INSURANCE
Travel can be a great experience, but it can also be fraught with problems, so when going anywhere it is essential you are properly covered with good travel insurance. You should be protected against cancellation, curtailment, and loss or damage to your belongings as well as medical emergencies and have peace of mind if the unexpected happens.
Japan Journeys in association with Holiday Extras, is now able to offer excellent low-cost cover to their customers.
OPTIONALS
OPTIONAL TOUR A: DISNEYLAND TOKYO
Enjoy the dreams and magic of the seven different themed lands in Tokyo Disneyland for one day! By day, experience the fantastic rides and attractions. By night, enjoy the superb Electric Parade.
Please let us know by the balance due date if you would like to join this optional tour.
Price: £110.00
OPTIONAL TOUR B: MT.FUJI & HAKONE
Mount Fuji and the beautiful resort of Hakone, returning on the world-famous Bullet Train!
Please let us know by the balance due date if you would like to join this optional tour.
Price: £185.00 per person (including lunch)
OMEI EXPRESSWAY – FUJI SKY LINE – 5TH STATION
Enjoy the scenery of rural Japan driving along to Mt. Fuji. A panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and peaks of mountains can be seen at 8,000 ft. altitude.
LUNCH!
Grilled Chicken Lunch (please let us know if you require a vegetarian option).
HAKONE ROPEWAY – NATIONAL PARK
Enjoy the latest double-wired gondola with a 360-degree panorama for a breath-taking view of the volcanic Hakone Mountains.
OWAKUDANI BOILING VALLEY
The ancient crater where sulfurous fume and clouds of steam rise from crevasses.
We suggest trying black-coloured shell eggs (eggs boiled in sulfurous hot spring water).
PIRATE BOAT CRUISE ON LAKE ASHI
Cruise across peaceful Lake Ashi, enjoying the picturesque and serene natural beauty of the crater lake.
RETURN TO TOKYO
Return by Bullet Train (Tour disbands at Tokyo station)
MEET HARU-CHAN
(はるちゃん)
Greetings to all our otakus out there!
Meet our Manga Tour mascot, Haruka Aoyama (青山 春香), or Haru-chan ( はるちゃん) for short!
Just so you know, Haru-chan is 16 and lives in Nakano.
At weekends she hangs out in Shibuya with her best friend, Emi-chan.
