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Best of Japan
Best of Japan
MH

Highlights: Tokyo - Hiroshima - Kyoto


Other departures: Manchester - £1805, Birmingham - £1729, Glasgow - £1819, Edinburgh - £1845, George Best Belfast City - £1875, Bristol - £1879, Norwich - £1875, Southampton - £1779, Newcastle - £1819


Hotels:
Tokyo - Hotel Sunroute Asakusa 2*
Hiroshima - Hotel New Hiroden 3*
Kyoto - The B Kyoto Sanjo 3*


Itinerary:


Day 1: Arrive Tokyo
Arrive in the frenetic city of Tokyo, Japan’s current capital. Your driver will be waiting with your name on a sign board to transfer you by private transfer to your downtown city hotel.


Meals: Nil
Hotel: Hotel Sunroute Asakusa (Double Room)


Day 2: Tokyo Full Day Private Tour
Take a day tour of this fascinating city with a local guide, making use of Tokyos comprehensive and user friendly public transport system.


The day begins with a visit to Meiji Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji and a popular place for traditional Japanese weddings. Take a walk down Omotesando shopping street, a broad tree lined avenue home to the flagship stores of the worlds top fashion brands.


Head across town to Asakusa, Tokyos old town and soak in the atmosphere of the Tokyo of old. Visit Sensoji, Tokyos oldest temple and wander down Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries.


Take a boat cruise on the Sumida River passing under 12 bridges. Disembark in Hamarikyu garden, an Edo Period Japanese garden surrounded by the Shiodome district's futuristic skyscrapers, a great example of how Japan is the land of contrasts. Stop for a cup of steaming matcha and Japanese sweets in a tea house on a small island in the park's lake before returning to your hotel.


Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hotel Sunroute Asakusa (Double Room)


Day 3: Tokyo Free Day
Today you’re free to peel back the layers of Tokyo, and can do whatever you fancy.


If you’re a food lover, wake up early and head to Tsukiji Fish Market to explore the bustling stalls with a wide array of fresh seafood.


For the urban explorer, head to the famously busy scramble crossing at Shibuya, before venturing to the Maid Cafés and comic book stores of Akihabara “electric town”.


For a break from the buzz of the city, take a leisurely stroll around the Imperial Palace grounds for some quiet serenity.


To see the city in full swing, spend the evening in Shinjuku to take advantage of some of the country's best restaurants, bars, clubs and karaoke boxes.


A 7 day Japan Rail Pass will be included in this tour. Japan Rail Pass is a joint offering of the six companies comprising the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) and is the most efficient means of travelling throughout Japan.


Train: JR Pass 7 Days Ordinary Car


Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hotel Sunroute Asakusa (Double Room)


Day 4: Tokyo to Kyoto
Make your own way to Tokyo station. Travel in comfort on Japan's fast and efficient high speed rail network.


Ride the Shinkansen or Bullet Train at speeds of up to 300km/hr and cover the 514km distance to Kyoto in under 3 hours.


Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: The B Kyoto Sanjo (Double(17m2))


Day 5: Kyoto Full Day Private Tour
Explore the former imperial capital of Japan with a knowledgeable local guide, utilizing Kyoto’s comprehensive bus system to visit some of the city’s famous World Heritage Sites. Start your day with a visit to Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) which was originally built as a retirement villa for the Shogun but, at his request, became a Buddhist Temple after his death.
Next, make your way to Nijo Castle, an ornamental castle built by the founder of the Edo Shogunate and surrounded by stunning gardens. Then, head to Heian Shrine, famous for its architecture, decorated sliding doors and ‘chirping’ nightingale floors. The Shrine was built on the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of the capital's foundation in Kyoto and is dedicated to the spirits of the first and last emperors who reigned from the city, Emperor Kammu and Emperor Komei.
Take a walk to Nishiki Market, a narrow shopping street lined with over 100 shops and restaurants. Known as "Kyoto's Kitchen", this lively retail market specializes in all things food related, and is a great place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties, such as Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood and sushi.
Finally, make a visit to Kiyomizu Temple (Pure Water Temple) and enjoy the panoramic views of Kyoto from the 13 metre high veranda jutting out from the Main Hall. Learn about the interesting history of the building and how both the Main Hall and Veranda were built without the use of nails or any kind of joiners.


Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: The B Kyoto Sanjo (Double(17m2))


Day 6: Kyoto Free Day
A full day to further explore Kyoto and it's surrounding area.


Why not take a short trip to Nara which has significant temples and artwork dating back to the 8th century when it was Japan's Capital. Deer roam freely in the grounds of Todai-ji Temple, home to Daibutsuden, the largest wooden building in the world.


You could either make a stop at Uji on the way to Nara and visit Byodoin Temple famous for it's Phoenix Hall. Constructed in 1053, this hall now graces the back of the 10 yen coin, or Fushimi Inari famous for it's corridors of tori gates as seen in the movie Memoirs of a Geisha.


Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: The B Kyoto Sanjo (Double(17m2))


Day 7: Kyoto to Hiroshima
Make your own way to Kyoto train station. Shinkansen from Kyoto to Hiroshima takes under 2 hours to cover 381km. The Shinkansen early in the day are direct, after 8.30am a transfer will need to be made at Shin-Osaka or Shin-Kobe.


Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hotel New Hiroden (Twin Room)


Day 8: Hiroshima Full Day Private Tour
Today enjoy a day tour of Hiroshima with a local guide, starting with a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.


The area where the park now lies was ground zero for the Atomic Bomb on 6th August 1945. After the bombing, the Memorial Park was created and dedicated to those who lost their lives in the attack. Stroll through the park and discover the many memorials, monuments and statues in the park before heading into the Museum itself.


After some free time for lunch, a short ferry ride will take visitors to Miyajima Island. A small sacred island located in the Inland Sea, it has been a holy place of Shintoism since the earliest times. Here one will find perhaps the most photographed site in Japan - The Floating Torii Gate. Designated as one of Japan's '3 Most Beautiful Views', the shrine it belongs to dates back to the 6th century with the present structure dating back to the 12th century.


The harmoniously arranged buildings reveal great artistic and technical skill, and have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mere 'commoners' were not allowed to set foot on this holy place, and even now it is forbidden to give birth or die on the island!


Enjoy some time to explore the island and its many shrines and temples, sample local goodies like maple leaf shaped cakes before heading back to your hotel.


Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hotel New Hiroden (Twin Room)


Day 9: Hiroshima to Tokyo
Make your own way to Hiroshima station. Ride the Shinkansen or Bullet Train at speeds of up to 300km/hr and cover the 894km distance to Tokyo in approximately 5 hours. You will need to change Shinkansens at either Shin-Osaka or Shin-Kobe depending on the train from the Sanyo Shinkansen Line to the Tokaido Shinkansen Line.


Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hotel Sunroute Asakusa (Double Room)


Day 10: Depart Tokyo
Your driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to Haneda Airport for your onward flight.


Meals: Breakfast



Offer Includes

  • Flights from London with Malaysia Airlines
  • Airport taxes
  • 9 nights accommodation as per itinerary
  • English-speaking guide on each city as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Tours and transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Sightseeing fees and permits during guided time

Meal Plans

  • Bed & Breakfast