DAY 1: ARRIVE IN JAPAN
Welcome to Japan! Our friendly Meet & Greet service representative will be waiting in the Arrivals lobby and holding a sign with your name on. The Meet & Greet will direct you to the Narita Express train or Airport Limousine bus bound for Tokyo. Check in to your clean and comfortable hotel in the fantastic neon-filled district of Shinjuku for 3 nights.

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DAY 2: TOKYO
A city that offers an infinity of possibilities. Thanks to its excellent transportation system, Tokyo is a safe and easy city for solo travellers. Explore Tokyo's past in the lively, traditional Asakusa district, shop in the fashionable districts of Shibuya and Harajuku and dine on Japan's finest cuisine. Tokyo is relatively straightforward to navigate, and our Information Pack will make travelling around the city a breeze.

OPTIONAL GUIDED EXCURSION:  TOKYO DAY TOUR
Enjoy a full day of sightseeing by coach in Tokyo, with lunch included and the opportunity to meet other travellers. Your guide will show you the highlights of this vast metropolis, from the Imperial Palace and serene Meiji Shrine to the ‘Electric City’ of Akihabara.

 

DAY 3: TOKYO
Enjoy a further day of exploring in Tokyo or use your Japan Rail Pass to venture further afield to Kamakura, a former capital of Japan.
 

OPTIONAL GUIDED EXCURSION: NIKKO
Join a fantastic, guided excursion to Nikko, a beautiful temple town in the mountains north of Tokyo. You will visit Toshogu Shrine, a mausoleum to one of Japan's most famous shoguns, and drive through the picturesque countryside to Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Waterfall before heading back to Tokyo.

 

DAY 4: TOKYO TO HIROSHIMA
Depart Tokyo in the morning and board the Bullet Train, Hiroshima bound. You will arrive at Hiroshima in the afternoon, with plenty of time to visit the Peace Memorial Museum. The museum is located inside the Peace Memorial Park. You will be staying for two nights in a 3* or 4* hotel in Hiroshima.

 

DAY 5: MIYAJIMA AT LEISURE
A short trip from Hiroshima will take you to the island considered to be the “Island of Gods”. Miyajima offers lovely scenery and fantastic views of the o-torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine. It seems to be floating on top of the water, making it one of most famous sights in all Japan. Spend a relaxing day exploring Miyajima island and head back to Hiroshima during late afternoon.

 

DAY 6: HIROSHIMA TO OSAKA
Embark on the Bullet train and head to Osaka. Explore Dotonbori district for shopping, entertainment, and eating. You will stay one night in a 3* or 4* style hotel in the heart of Osaka.

 

DAY 7: OSAKA TO MOUNT KOYA
Leave early in the morning to get to Koya-san. One of the holiest mountains of Japan and a World Heritage Site, it is the base of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. At Koya-san you will be staying in a temple lodging, and will taste the vegetarian cuisine, known as shojin ryori, prepared by the Buddhist monks. You can attend the early morning prayer service tomorrow: a nice opportunity to immerse yourself in the monks' way of life.

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DAY 8: MOUNT KOYA TO KYOTO
After breakfast, you have plenty of time to discover the Okunoin cemetery where many feudal lords, samurai, and famous monks found their final resting place. A walk through the cemetery will lead you to the mausoleum of the founder of the Shingon sect, Kobo Daishi, and its Torodo Hall with 10,000 lanterns eternally lit. Later in the afternoon head to Kyoto where you will stay in a comfortable, superbly located 3* or 4* star hotel in the heart of Kyoto for 5 nights. 

 

DAY 9:   KYOTO
The former imperial capital gives you a better understanding of Japan's ancient history of religion, art, and craft, making it, together with Nara, the capital of the traditional Japanese culture. There are plenty of temples, shrines, and gardens around Kyoto. We suggest you visit Kiyomizu-dera and Ginkaku-ji in the hills to the east of the city. After that, make sure to visit the Nijo Castle, a seventeenth-century palace which was the residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, a shogun (military governor) whose clan ruled Japan for 260 years. Next, you might want to check the wonderful craft shops and wooden teahouses in Gion, the old geisha quarter.

 

OPTIONAL GUIDED EXCURSION: KYOTO DAY TOUR

Join a guided coach tour. As well as visits to Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Temple), Sanjusangendo Temple and Kiyomizu Temple, today's tour also includes a delicious buffet-style lunch.

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DAY 10:  NARA
Whilst smaller than Kyoto, Nara boasts a wealth of monuments, with 8 UNESCO world heritage sites. Among them, you will be impressed by the Japan's biggest Great Buddha statue in the Todai-ji Temple. Other essential sights include Yakushi-ji and Horyu-ji Temples, all at a walkable distance from Nara-koen and its sacred deer. In the evening make your way back to Kyoto.

 

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DAY 11: KYOTO
Today explore Fushimi-Inari Taisha, a Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. If you are feeling energetic, the hike to the highest peak of the mountain takes 2 to 3 hours. In the afternoon you will have plenty of time to visit the Kodai-ji Temple with its peaceful Zen gardens.

 

DAY 12: KYOTO
For your final day in Kyoto, you may wish to venture out west to the leafy suburb of Arashiyama. Here you will find the magnificent bamboo forests and a hill-top monkey park where you can feed monkeys and enjoy a rewarding view of Kyoto.
Optional guided excursion
Spend the afternoon walking around the beautiful area of Arashiyama. The tour includes visits to Tenryu-ji Temple, Sagano bamboo grove, Jojakko-ji Temple, and Togetsu Bridge with an English-speaking guide.

 

DAY 13: DEPART JAPAN
Transfer from your hotel to Kansai International Airport (Osaka) from where you depart.