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Japan, 9 Days · Classic tour
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima
Capture the essence of the Land of the Rising Sun by taking a fascinating journey through the places that have made it a fabled tourist destination
Open your eyes wide, because we're going to show you the treasures of Japan, the places that best exemplify the myriad of possibilities it offers to travellers: ultra-modern Tokyo, full of surprises unfolding among neon lights; traditional Kyoto, where time stands still in silent shrines; Nara and its Buddha of monumental proportions; Osaka and its vibrant nightlife; the stunning Himeji Castle; the traditional houses of the laid-back Inbe; Okayama, home to Korakuen Garden, considered to be one of the three most beautiful in Japan; Miyajima, with its stunning torii that have come to symbolise the country; and Hiroshima, the city that is a beacon for world peace.]
Are you ready?
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 on public transport. Meet-up with the guide. Late in the afternoon, we'll head out to explore this fascinating city by taking the underground (tickets included) to the Shinjuku area. We'll be able to see the sheer number of people who use this ultramodern and efficient public transport system, and we'll also soon discover that Shinjuku is one of the liveliest places to visit at night. Welcome dinner (included). Return to hotel. Accommodation.
Tokyo
Breakfast. In the morning, we'll set out on a five-hour tour of this impressive city with our guide. The city's frenetic activity and ultramodern neighbourhoods stand alongside in perfect harmony with fantastically peaceful areas. We start with a brief stop at the Zojoji Temple to take a good photo of the Tokyo Tower. This temple is home to hundreds of jizo statues (stone deities that act as guardians of children), to which knitted hats, bibs and windmills are given. 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. Afterwards, we'll cross through the Akihabara district, known as Electronics City and the centre of Japanese manga and anime. Later, we'll pass by the Kokugikan Sumo Stadium, the sport of sports in Japan. We'll also pay a visit to the Buddhist temple of Sensoji, the oldest and most important temple in Tokyo with its 55-metre-high pagoda, and the Nakamise Shopping Street, full of cute stalls ideal for picking up some souvenirs. Lunch at a local restaurant included. Return to hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Accommodation.
Tokyo - Kyoto
Breakfast. Transfer to the station to take the Tokyo-Kyoto bullet train, which we'll do without a guide. Early departure, taking just over two hours to travel almost five hundred kilometres between the two cities. On arrival, we'll meet up with the guide to start the visits. We'll have all day to spend in the city that was the capital of Japan from 794-1868, when the seat of the Imperial Court was located there. This was the only major Japanese city that escaped bombing in the Second World War, and has therefore retained its rich artistic heritage. What's more, the Kyoto Protocol, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, was signed here in 1997. We'll also get to see the main sights in the city. We'll visit the wonderful Shinto shrine of Fushimi Inari, the Imperial Palace, and the Kinkakuji Temple, better known as the Golden Pavilion, with its truly 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. Free time. Accommodation.
Kyoto - Nara - Osaka
Breakfast. We'll then set off for Nara to visit Todaiji, a magnificent Buddhist temple built in the year 752, home to a giant Buddha and some sacred deer that we can photograph, stroke and feed as they roam around the park. Lunch at a local restaurant included. After that, we'll head off to see Hōryū-ji, a Buddhist temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site. This complex houses a seminary, monasteries and temples. The temple pagoda, one of the world's oldest wooden buildings and believed to be Japan's most ancient Buddhist temple, is an important place of worship. Onward journey to Osaka, with arrival in the early afternoon. We'll stay overnight in this modern city, Japan's second largest, and have some time at leisure here as well. In the evening, we'll wander around Dotonbori, an area full of lights and activities after dark. Accommodation.
Osaka - Himeji - Engyo-ji - 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 included. 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. Accommodation.
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 impressive 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. Dinner included. Accommodation.
Hiroshima - Tokyo
Breakfast. Transfer to the station to take a bullet train to Tokyo. We arrive there after travelling 800 kilometres in just four hours. Upon arrival, make your own way to the hotel and enjoy free time for the rest of the day. Accommodation.
Tokyo - City of origin
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport at the prearranged time and end of our services. 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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Train segments as per 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: 7 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.
- For the return to Tokyo from Hiroshima, the transfer to the hotel is not included and you will have to make your own way there.
- Due to high hotel occupancy and limited availability in some seasons, hotels selected may be different from those mentioned.
- The queues to enter Himeji Castle are sometimes long, so in some cases only the gardens will be visited.
- 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.