MELBOURNE TO TOKYO

Welcome to our fascinating tour to magnificent Japan! After we are collected by our chauffeurs, we are transferred to Tullamarine International Airport where we meet our Tour Director and fellow passengers, ready to board our night flight to Singapore. Here, we change planes for our direct flight to Tokyo Haneda Airport where we will arrive tomorrow afternoon local time.

Refreshments and meals inflight

ARRIVE TOKYO

Welcome to Japan! Upon arrival at Tokyo Haneda Airport, our English-speaking guide will greet us and assist with the transfer to our hotel. We’ll have time to unpack and settle in before we join together for a light supper in the hotel. Early to bed this evening so we’ll be refreshed and ready to begin our touring of this exciting city tomorrow!

OVERNIGHT:  Sheraton Miyako Tokyo, TOKYO

EXPLORING TOKYO

Following breakfast, we meet with our English-speaking guide and depart for a tour. First, we visit The Tokyo Skytree which is a TV broadcasting tower and Tokyo landmark. It is Japan's highest structure and the world's second tallest at its construction. We can get a good view of Tokyo in every direction.  We now drive to Shitamachi where we stop for lunch. Here, we also visit Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Dori. Busy street stalls surround the Asakusa Kannon Temple in Shitamachi (literally ‘downtown’). Asakusa is the city’s oldest Geisha district and also the home to Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. The streets around Senso-ji feature many traditional shops that sell Japanese crafts and souvenirs and are a delight to wander through. Nakamise Street connects the main gate of Senso-ji Temple (Kaminarimon gate) and the main hall. We have plenty of time to explore and pick up some souvenirs! Back at the hotel, we have time to freshen up before heading out for dinner on a Yakatabune, a traditional Japanese boat with origins dating back to the Heian period (791-1185).  What a wonderful evening! After dinner be taken by private coach back to the hotel.

OVERNIGHT:  Sheraton Miyako Tokyo, TOKYO 

MORE OF TOKYO

After breakfast, it is time to jump into another day of sightseeing visiting some of the iconic sites Tokyo has to offer. We start our day with a visit to the Imperial Palace Gardens. The current Imperial Palace is situated on the former grounds of Edo Castle (which no longer exists), an expansive park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the heart of Tokyo. After plenty of time for photo opportunities of the Nijubashi Bridge, the Palace, moats and the Gates, we take a drive past the beautiful Tokyo Station which is now a hotel, and on to the Tokyo National Museum. This museum houses one of Japan's largest and finest collections of art and archaeological artifacts, with over 100,000 individual items, including nearly a hundred designated national treasures. Now it’s time for a bit of fun as we experience the fine art of sushi making just as the Japanese do! And after making it, we eat it for lunch! This afternoon, we take a stroll around Ginza.  Ginza, Tokyo's premier upscale shopping, dining and entertainment enclave, is renowned for its plethora of department stores, boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. Each square metre of land in its central area commands a staggering value of over ten million yen, cementing its status as one of Japan's most prized real estate locations. Back at our hotel, we have time to freshen up before transferring to Kyoto Hyoki Shinbashi Branch Restaurant for dinner.

OVERNIGHT:  Sheraton Miyako Tokyo, TOKYO

TOKYO - KAWAGUCHIKO - GOTENBA

We say farewell to bustling Tokyo and head to the tallest mountain in Japan. We travel to the highest point possible via coach which is Mount Fuji 5th Station (depending upon weather conditions). We have plenty of time to look around before driving to Oshino Hakkai, a picturesque series of eight ponds in Oshino, a small village in the Fuji Five Lake region.  The eight ponds are nourished by snow melting from nearby Mount Fuji that has been filtering down the mountain via porous layers of lava for over 80 years, resulting in extraordinarily pure mineral-rich water that is cherished by the locals. We enjoy lunch here with time for photo opportunities of Mount Fuji before continuing to Lake Kawaguchiko. Here, we join the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway which is actually a gondola that ascends to an observation point near the summit of Mount Tenjo, from where Lake Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji can be seen. Don’t forget to bring your camera!  Later this afternoon, we travel to Gotenba for our overnight accommodation.

OVERNIGHT:  Hotel GLAD, GOTENBA

GOTENBA TO TAKAYAMA

This morning, we depart Gotenba and start our journey to Takayama. On arrival, we explore the Sannomachi Street - Takayama Historic Old Town. It has been beautifully preserved with many buildings dating back to the feudal ages when the city thrived as a wealthy merchant town. We check into our hotel and have time to freshen up for dinner.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT:  Mercure Hida Takayama, TAKAYAMA

TAKAYAMA TO KANAZAWA

Today we make our way to Shirakawago and neighbouring Gokayama regions which line the Shogawa River Valley in the remote mountains that span from Gifu to Yoyama Prefectures. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995, Gokayama is known for its gassho zukuri farmhouses. Gassho-zukuri means "built like hands in prayer", is represented by the steep thatched roofs of the farmhouses. This architectural style has evolved over many generations - the roofs were built without nails and are intricately designed to withstand large amounts of snow. Some of these farmhouses are more than 250 years old. We have time for lunch before continuing to Kanazawa. Here, we settle in for the next two nights.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT:  Kanazawa Sainoniwa, KANAZAWA

PLEASE NOTE:  Tomorrow morning, you will be required to bring your luggage to the front bell desk by 8.00am. It will be delivered the following day to the hotel in Kyoto. Please prepare an overnight bag with your necessities for tomorrow night in Kanazawa and Thursday’s clothing.

EXPLORING KANAZAWA

We have planned a wonderful day of exploration. First we explore the Kanazawa Castle, which from 1583 to the Edo Period's end, was the Maeda Clan's seat, ranking second in size and wealth only to the Tokugawa holdings. Despite fires, the Ishikawa-mon Gate from 1788 still stands, facing Kenrokuen. Kanazawa University once occupied the grounds until the 1990s, when efforts to rebuild the castle began. We now have time for some retail therapy before lunch in a local restaurant. This afternoon, we have plenty of time to wander through the magnificent gardens. Kenrokuen, meaning "Garden of the six sublimities," embodies the essential attributes of a perfect garden: spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water, and broad views. Its water system, dating back to 1632, feeds streams and ponds like Kasumigaike and Hisagoike. The iconic Kotojitoro Lantern, over two meters tall with two legs, symbolizes Kenrokuen's beauty and harmony. Later this afternoon, we visit the Nagamachi Samurai District. Nagamachi, situated at the base of the former Kanazawa Castle, was an area where samurai and their families once lived. It still retains an historic ambiance with its preserved residences, earthen walls, private gates, narrow lanes and water canals. We’ll take our time as we explore the streets. A highlight of the area is Nomura-ke, a meticulously restored samurai residence at its heart. Here, visitors can immerse themselves in the lifestyle and artifacts of the prosperous samurai era.  Return to the hotel for some time at leisure and dinner this evening.

OVERNIGHT:  Kanazawa Sainoniwa, KANAZAWA

KANAZAWA TO KYOTO

After breakfast, we transfer to Kanazawa Station and take the bullet train to Tsuruga Station (economy class and reserved seats).  Here we change for the super fast express train to Kyoto. On arrival, we embark on an afternoon sightseeing tour. First up is the Higashiyama District; this traditional district is loved by visitors for its typical architecture, its magnificent temples and paved streets where there are many cafés and craft shops. It’s now time to experience a traditional Tea Ceremony, a window into the heart of Japanese culture, drawing together many arts into a single place for guests to enjoy a unique moment together. Later, we’ll stroll around the Gion District; it is known as the “geisha district” because it is one of the city’s hanamachi where geisha live and work. It’s now time to check into our next two night’s accommodation.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement, suggest purchasing a lunch box to eat on train

OVERNIGHT:  Hilton Garden Inn, KYOTO

MORE OF KYOTO

Get ready for another fascinating day today as we drive to southern Kyoto to visit an important Shinto Shrine, the Fushimi Inari Shrine. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari which belongs to the shrine grounds. Next we make our way to Nara. View Todai-ji Temple which is the landmark of Nara that was built in the 8th century to serve as the head Buddhist temple in Japan. The most notable part of the temple is the Daibutsuden, the largest wooden building in the world, where you can find a 15-meter-tall bronze Buddha. You will also see several deer strolling outside the temple or in the nearby Nara Park. Make your way over to Nara Park a large park in central Nara. It is the home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. Considered the messengers of the gods, Nara's over 1000 deer have become a symbol of the city and have even been designated as a natural treasure. Deer crackers are for sale around the park, and some deer have learned to bow to visitors to ask to be fed. Nara's deer are surprisingly tame, although they can be aggressive if they think you will feed them, so make sure not to tease them with food. They are accustomed to humans who are only allowed to feed them “deer crackers (shika senbei)" sold in packs of about 10 for 200 yen. It’s important to follow this order: 1. Bow to the deer. 2. Let the deer bow back. 3. Feed the deer a cracker. Back in Kyoto, we have time to freshen up for our special evening.  Tonight, we enjoy a traditional Kaiseki Dinner while being privately entertained by a Maiko, an apprentice Geisha.

OVERNIGHT:  Hilton Garden Inn, KYOTO

PLEASE NOTE:  Tomorrow morning, you will be required to bring your luggage to the front bell desk by 8.00am. It will be delivered on Day 13 to your hotel in Osaka. Please prepare a bag with your necessities for two nights in Hiroshima.

KYOTO TO HIROSHIMA

Before leaving Kyoto, we visit the Sagano Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama. Enjoy a morning stroll in the bamboo groves in Sagano Bamboo Forest. Then we enter the Tenryuji Temple, the most significant temple in Kyoto's Arashiyama district. It holds the top rank among the city's five great Zen temples and is a registered World Heritage site. Tenryuji serves as the head temple of its own school within the Rinzai Zen sect of Japanese Buddhism. The most captivating spot inside the temple grounds is the landscaped garden that features a pond surrounded by rocks and pine trees set against the great Arashiyama Mountains. We’ll have some shopping time as we return to the river. For more than four centuries, the Togetsu-kyo Bridge has stood as a distinguished landmark in the Arashiyama District of western Kyoto. Crafted from wood, this historic bridge stretches gracefully across the Katsura River, commanding a picturesque vista in the shadow of Arashiyama Mountain. After lunch at a local restaurant, we depart for Kyoto Station to take the Bullet train to Hiroshima Station (economy class and reserved seats). Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.

OVERNIGHT: Hilton Hotel, HIROSHIMA

HIROSHIMA

We start our day by visiting the historical Peace Memorial Park and Museum. The park’s main facility is the Peace Memorial Museum. Consisting of two sections, the East Wing shows the history of Hiroshima before the bombing, the lives of the people during WWII, and the efforts of Japan to promote international peace. The West Wing, on the other hand, exhibits a more moving collection of articles, from the personal belongings left by the victims. We then stroll through the park and pass by the Cenotaph and the Genbaku Dome (A-Bomb Dome), the ruins of the former Industrial Hall of Hiroshima. After our lunch break, we now take the ferry to Miyajima Island. See the Itsukushima Shrine, formally known as Itsukushima, earns its fame and name from its iconic "floating" torii gate. This architectural marvel, built over water, creates a stunning sight, particularly during high tide. The shrine complex includes a prayer hall, main hall, and noh theatre stage, all connected by boardwalks above the sea, making it a unique and revered destination. Return to Hiroshima, dinner this evening will be at a local restaurant near the hotel (Okonomiyaki).

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT:  Hilton Hotel, HIROSHIMA

HIROSHIMA TO OSAKA

This morning, we will be transferred back to Hiroshima Station where we board the bullet train to Shin Osaka Station (reserved seats, economy class). Upon our arrival in Osaka, we depart for a sightseeing tour. We see Osaka Castle which stands as a majestic symbol of Japan's rich history and enduring cultural legacy. Situated amidst the bustling modernity of Osaka city, this imposing fortress transports visitors back to a bygone era of feudal lords, samurai warriors, and intricate castle architecture. Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended the castle to become the centre of a new, unified Japan under Toyotomi rule as it was the largest castle at the time. The castle tower is now entirely modern on the inside and even features an elevator for easier accessibility. It houses an informative museum about the castle's history and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This afternoon stroll around Dotonbori, a restaurant mecca that has long been referred to as Osaka’s former entertainment and pleasure district. A short walk from this street leads to the touristy area of Ebisubashi, with the famous billboard of the Glico Running Man and a view of the Dotonbori River. Checking into our hotel, we’ll have some time to relax before heading out. Dinner this evening will be at a local restaurant and it will be a beautiful time to discuss our favourite moments from our holiday in Japan.

Lunch at own expense and arrangements

OVERNIGHT:  Doubletree by Hilton Osaka Castle, OSAKA

HOMEWARD BOUND

Sadly, we’re coming to the end of the tour and it’s time to say goodbye to Japan. We transfer to Osaka (Kansai) Airport and check in for our flight to Singapore departing mid morning.

Meals inflight

ARRIVE MELBOURNE

Our Singapore Airlines flight touches down at Melbourne Airport very early this morning. After clearing Customs and Immigration, our chauffeurs will be waiting for us in the arrival lounge. We’re sure you will arrive home with a sense of well-being, appreciation and love for the amazing country of Japan.