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Japan, 10 Days · Classic tour
Central Japan
The soul of an astonishing destination
Come and be amazed by the places that make Japan the most unique destination in Asia: Tokyo, a city full of contrasts, Kawaguchiko, an idyllic spot in the mountains, the open-air museum of Iyashi no Sato Nenba and Nagoya, the country's third largest city. We'll take in the delicate beauty of Kyoto, the rural landscapes of the Japanese Alps in places like Tsumago and Matsumoto, the Jigokudani Monkey Park, the thermal springs in Kusatsu and the uniqueness of Nikko.
Will you join us?
Departure date
Departures from December 2024 till March 2025
From
Dublin, Knock, Galway, Shannon, Donegal, Cork, Kerry county...
Travel details
City of origin - Tokyo
Departure with destination Tokyo. Night on board.
Tokyo
Arrive in Tokyo and transfer to the hotel on public transport. First meeting with our guide. At the end of the afternoon we'll head out to get to know this fascinating country by taking the metro (tickets included) to the Shinjuku area. You'll be able to see the sheer number of people who use this ultramodern and efficient public transport system, and we'll find that Shinjuku is one of the most lively places to come at night. Welcome dinner included. Return to the hotel.
Tokyo
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning we'll take an extended, five-hour tour of this impressive city with our guide. The frenetic activity and ultramodern neighbourhoods of the city coexist in harmony with fantastically peaceful areas. We start with a brief stop at the Zojoji Temple to take a good photo of the Tokyo Tower. In this temple hundreds of jizo statues stand out, serving as guardian stone deities of children, to whom wool hats, bibs and windmills are given as offerings. We will then go to the famous Shibuya crossing, the busiest crosswalk on the planet. We'll go to the Meiji Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife. We continue on to the lively Harajuku neighbourhood, where you can find the most varied 'looks' of the city, with shops and boutiques displaying the most eccentric styles. From there we continue with our bus through the elegant Omotesando Avenue, which serves as an important commercial hub. We will skirt the Imperial Palace and its gardens and make a stop to visit the famous Nijubashi Bridge. We'll then make our way across the Akihabara district, nicknamed the 'Electric Town' for being a centre for Japanese manga and anime, before passing by Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall. We'll also visit Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest and most important Buddhist Temple and its 55-metre tall pagoda, and the Nakamise Shopping Street, full of small stalls which are ideal for purchasing souvenirs. Lunch at a local restaurant included. Free afternoon.
Tokyo - Mount Fuji - Kawaguchiko
Breakfast at the hotel. We'll make our way towards the beautiful area of Mount Fuji, passing through stunning landscapes en route. First stop will be Arakurayama Sengen Park, with its breathtaking pagodas and stunning views of Mount Fuji. We'll then arrive in Kawaguchiko, an idyllic town with small houses, flowers and mountains next to a gorgeous lake. When we arrive, we'll explore the Fuji Sengen shrine. This magical place is the traditional departure point of the pilgrimage through the lofty forest up to the mountain. We'll give our thanks in the shrine for the chance to visit this wonderful place. We'll also take a boat trip on Lake Kawaguchiko. After, we'll begin our climb up to Mount Fuji on the road to the 5th station, which is surrounded by spectacular forests and scenery, ultimately reaching an altitude of 2,305 metres. Return journey to Kawaguchiko, with time to stroll around the lake. We'll stay in a ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn) and bathe in its onsen (hot spring).Traditional Japanese dinner included.
Kawaguchiko - Iyashi no Sato Nenba - Toyota - Kyoto
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we'll take a beautiful road which winds around lakes to Iyashi no Sato Nenba, a pocket-sized town that was destroyed by a cyclone in 1966, before later being restored as an open-air museum dedicated to traditional mountain towns.Its typical houses have been converted into artisan shops, restaurants and traditional museums.We'll then go to admire the Shiraito Falls, widely considered the most beautiful waterfalls in Japan with water cascading more than 150 metres. Lunch at a service area included. Then we'll head to Nagoya, Japan's third-largest city and located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Here we'll visit the Toyota Museum, a must-see for any automobile lover.Onward journey to Kyoto, check-in and overnight stay.
Kyoto
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning departure to spend all day in the city that was the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868, when the seat of the Imperial Court was found here. Kyoto was the only major Japanese city not to be bombed during the Second World War, and has therefore retained its rich artistic heritage. What's more, the Kyoto Protocol, intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, was signed here in 1997. We'll also see the city's main tourist attractions. Sights will include the district of Arashiyama; the Togetsukyo Bridge, which translates as 'moon crossing bridge' and commands wonderful views; the Tenryuji Temple, one of the five great Zen temples of Kyoto; and the mystical bamboo forest. We'll also see the stunning Shinto Shrine of Fushimi Inari, the Imperial Palace and the Kinkakuji Temple, better known as the Golden Pavilion, with its magnificent gardens. After that, we'll take a stroll through Gion, the city's most traditional neighbourhood and where, if we're lucky, we might spot some elusive geishas. Time at leisure.
Kyoto - Tsumago - Matsumoto - Nagano
Breakfast at the hotel. We'll travel through rural landscapes to Tsumago, a small town made up of wooden constructions and one of the most beautiful in Japan, and have free time for a walk around. Lunch at a local restaurant included. We'll then continue on to Matsumoto, a town where we'll visit a striking 16th century castle also known as the 'Crow Castle'. Overnight stay in Nagano.
Nagano - Monkey Park - Kusatsu - Ikaho Onsen
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we'll venture into the stunning Japanese Alps. In Nagano we'll see Zenko-ji, a place of pilgrimage which is home Japan's first Buddhist image, and attend the Gomakuyo ceremony which will bring us good fortune. Then we'll travel through tall mountains to the Jigokudani Monkey Park. We'll have lunch and stroll through its forests, admiring as we go the rivers and thermal springs where colonies of macaque monkeys live and bathe. After that, we'll drink in the beautiful mountain scenery (we'll be 2172 metres up) as we pass by semi-active volcanoes on our way to Kusatsu, a delightful spa town with a lively central square. We'll go to the Yumomi show where the actresses and songs will tell us about the traditional method used for cooling the hot springs. We'll then take a stroll through the city's park, which has an open-air onsen, before continuing on to Ikaho and going to our accommodation. Arrival at Ikaho, a picturesque thermal city. We will take a stroll through its historical centre and we will stay in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese-style accommodation, where we can enjoy its thermal baths. Traditional Japanese dinner included.
Ikaho Onsen - Nikko - Tokyo
Breakfast at the hotel. After that, we'll continue on to Nikko, a fabulous town where we'll visit the striking Nikko Tosho-gu temple where the highlight is the hall with the Crying Dragon. We'll also visit the Taiyuinbyo mausoleum, an impressive and fantastically peaceful place, and take a stroll along the river in the Kanmangafuchi Abyss with hundreds of Jizos watching us as we go! We'll have some free time in the city centre before setting off on the return journey to Tokyo, where we'll arrive at around 19.00.
Tokyo - City of origin
Breakfast at the hotel. You'll have free time until the agreed time for your transfer to the airport. Flight with destination the city of origin. Arrival. End of the trip and our services.
Your trip includes
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Return flight.
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Accommodation in selected hotels or similar category.
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Transport in vehicles appropriate to the size of the group.
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Transfers as per itinerary.
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Visits in a guided tour that are detailed in the program and not considered as optional.
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Bilingual Spanish- and English-speaking local guides.
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Transport for 1 suitcase of standard dimensions up to 30 kg per person.
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Diet: 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners.
Your trip doesn't include
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Any other service not previously mentioned as included.
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Insolvency protection.
Destinations Visited
Expected Hotels (or similar)
In this section you will find a selection of hotels according to the category specified in the itinerary.
Flight
Overnight stay on board.
Important remarks
- Triple rooms in Japan are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- Please check with your international vaccination centre about the recommended healthcare measures in Japan.
- Depending on the return flight, the trip may be one day longer.
- In Japan double beds are not common. If you want to have rooms with double beds during your trip, you must let us know in advance. We will do everything possible so that you can enjoy them, but we can not guarantee their use in advance in any case; They will always be subject to availability upon arrival at each of the hotels. Individual rooms may be, in some cases, smaller than the double rooms.
- In general, people with tattoos are not accepted in the onsen for cultural reasons. If they're small tattoos, they could be covered with a plaster, but access isn't guaranteed if the tattoos are large.
- Check-in time at the hotel on the day of arrival depends on each establishment, but in no case will it be before 3:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.
- The visit and the dinner on the day of arrival in Tokyo will depend on the flight arrival time. Failure to attend due to a delayed flight will not result in compensation.
- In winter, the route that leads to Mount Fuji 5th Station is often closed by snow or as a result of other weather-related reasons. If this happens on your trip, you will reach the point permitted by the authorities.
- On some trips you will not sleep in Nagano, but rather in Matsumoto.
- In autumn in Jigokudani, depending on the abundance of fruit of the mountains, the movement of the monkeys is unpredictable: they may not travel down to the park, so the park could be kept closed. In winter, meteorological factors may affect the monkey park, leading to the planned park visit being suspended. Furthermore, from November to April the Kusatsu visit and the Yumomi show do not operate.
- In the ryokan in Ikaho Onsen there are Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats, as well as more western-style rooms. They will be allocated according to availability upon arrival.
- Due to high hotel occupancy and limited availability in some seasons, hotels selected may be different from those mentioned.
- The order of the itinerary may be altered for logistical reasons, without prior notice, but no scheduled trips will be cancelled (except in the case that adverse weather conditions prevent its realisation).
- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.
- Prices are calculated based on admission fees to the sights as of the date of publication. If there is an increase in these prices, you will be promptly informed.
- If you are a person with reduced mobility, please contact us to confirm the suitability of the trip.
- Consult the necessary documentation to enter the destinations visited and for transit in the countries where air stopovers are made.