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Japan, 11 Days · Classic tour
Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Okayama, Hiroshima and Kobe
The country of skyscrapers and tatamis
We recommend you take this journey with us, travelling through the history, daily life and Japanese culture that begins in Tokyo, the exciting capital, where modernity and tradition go hand in hand. The next stop on our journey will be the old Imperial capital of Kyoto, an urban haven of peace of immense cultural heritage, and neighbouring Nara, where we will mingle with the sacred deer that live in the park. Central Japan occupies the bulk of what follows, since we will become acquainted with historical cities such as Hiroshima and Shikoku, the territory of thousands of islands. Our itinerary ends in Kobe and Osaka.
Shall we take a trip?
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
Arrival in Tokyo and transfer to the hotel by shuttle bus. In the afternoon, we'll take the underground to the Shinjuku area. Welcome dinner. Return journey to the hotel by metro for overnight stay.
Tokyo
Breakfast. We dedicate the morning to an extended, five-hour tour of this impressive city, accompanied by our guide. The frenetic buzz 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 pay a visit to the Meiji Shinto shrine, which is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife. 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 will cross the neighbourhood of Akihabara, known as the city of electronics and the home of manga and Japanese anime; we then pass by the Kokugikan, the Sumo stadium, the king of Japanese sport. We will also pay a visit to the Buddhist temple of Sensoji, also known as Asakusa Kannon, the oldest and most important temple in Tokyo with its 55-metre-high pagoda, and the Nakamise Shopping Street, full of small stalls ideal for buying souvenirs. Lunch at a local restaurant and rest of the afternoon free. Overnight stay in Tokyo.
Tokyo - Kyoto
Breakfast. In the morning we'll take the bullet train to Kyoto almost 500 kilometres away. Upon arrival, we will spend the day becoming acquainted with what was the capital of Imperial Japan between 794 and 1868. It was the only large Japanese city that did not suffer bombing during the Second World War, so it retains a rich artistic heritage. What is more, in 1997 a protocol was signed there which seeks to limit emissions of greenhouse gases. We will visit the Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine - whose pathways are guarded by thousands of 'vermilion torii' gates, making it one of the most photographed places in Japan - the Imperial Palace and the Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion, with its magnificent gardens. Later on we will take a stroll through Gion, which is full of life and one of the city's most traditional neighbourhoods. With a bit of luck we can see some elusive geisha. Accommodation.
Kyoto - Nara - Osaka
Breakfast. We will go to Nara to visit the Buddhist temple of Todaiji, which dates back to the year 752, to marvel at its giant Buddha, and enjoy the park well known for its sacred deer. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we will visit the Buddhist temple of Horyuji, a complex that brings together a seminary, monasteries and temples. Its main pagoda is one of the oldest preserved wooden buildings in the world and is considered the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan, besides being an important place of worship. Continue to Osaka. At night we will walk through the neighbourhood of Dotonbori, glistening with neon lights and buzzing with all sorts of nightlife. Accommodation.
Osaka - Himeji - Okayama
Breakfast. Departure to Mount Shosha along Osaka Bay. Mount Shosha is home to the Engyo-ji Temple, a complex with more than a thousand years of history and where some of the film 'The Last Samurai' was shot. Cable car ride included. We'll then leave for Himeji, where we'll head into the immense castle that typifies Japanese castle architecture. Lunch at a local restaurant. We then move on to Okayama to visit Korakuen, one of Japan's most beautiful gardens where we can enjoy lakes, waterfalls and traditional tea houses. Overnight stay in Okayama.
Okayama - Kurashiki - Miyajima - Hiroshima
Breakfast. Next stop will be Kurashiki, a city with a very well-preserved historic quarter. We'll have time to stroll around this charming town and soak up its atmosphere reminiscent of a bygone era. We'll then head to Hiroshima, the city sadly known for being hit and completely destroyed by an atomic bomb in 1945. We'll wander around the Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome, and the chilling Peace Museum. Next stop is Miyajima, the island where 'people and Gods live together', with the shrine of Itsukushima dedicated to the guardian of the seas and built partially on the waters of the bay. We'll get to the island by ferry. Time at leisure to visit the temple and stroll around the beautiful town centre. In the afternoon, return journey to Hiroshima for dinner and overnight stay.
Hiroshima - Matsuyama
Breakfast. Today, we'll take a ferry to the island of Shikoku, a pleasant two-and-a-half-hour crossing. In Matsuyama, we'll take a cable car up to its magnificent castle. We'll then visit Ishite-ji, a stunning Buddhist temple and place of pilgrimage. Lunch at a local restaurant. We will end our afternoon in Dogo Onsen, a traditional Japanese hot spring built in the 19th century. Overnight stay in Matsuyama.
Matsuyama - Kotohira - Takamatsu - Naruto - Kobe
Breakfast. We'll set off for Kotohira, the site of a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of sailors and a place of pilgrimage. Built atop Mount Zozu, we'll get there by climbing 785 steps. Later on in Takamatsu, we'll head over to Ritsurin Garden, one of the most beautiful in Japan. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, we'll head to Naruto, where an impressive bridge spans the sea. We'll stop to learn about the bridge and walk along its glass floor, admiring the impressive swirling whirlpools from forty-five metres above. Afterwards, having driven across huge bridges from island to island, we'll arrive in Kobe. Accommodation.
Kobe - Osaka
Breakfast. In Kobe we visit the Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum, which serves as a memorial to the tragic earthquake that devastated the city in 1995 and a record of its impeccable reconstruction. Later, we continue to Osaka, where we will have the rest of the day free. Accommodation.
Osaka - City of origin
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport at the prearranged time. 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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Overnight stay in the listed hotels, or similar.
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Ferry crossings according to the itinerary.
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Transport in vehicles appropriate to the size of the group.
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Transfers according to the itinerary.
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Regular tours mentioned in the itinerary, not stated 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: 9 breakfasts, 5 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.
- Due to high hotel occupancy and limited availability in some seasons, hotels selected may be different from those mentioned.
- To make it easier to meet up with the transfer staff, we will need your mobile phone number.
- 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.