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Traditional Japan
15 Days/14 Nights - Gateway: Tokyo
Standard Tour: from £1523pp
Superior Tour: from £1854pp
Rail & car upgrades also available.
Prices valid for 2008. Peak supplements may apply.
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| Leave the bright lights and fast living behind and immerse yourself in the more traditional and laid-back side to Japan. This trip will take you off the beaten track and show you a very different Japan, away from the usual tourist haunts whilst also including the must-see cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. |
Day 1: Arrival and Overnight in Tokyo
Your adventures begin when you arrive at Tokyo Narita Airport and are met by one of our representatives. They will escort you to a seat-sharing taxi for the transfer to your hotel in the Asakusa area of Tokyo. Only a few minutes walk from your hotel you will find the oldest temple in Tokyo, Senso-ji. The surrounding back streets offer a great chance to mingle with the locals and and soak up the atmosphere. Asakusa is a fabulous introduction to Japan and Tokyo and is well linked to other districts by the efficient subway system.
Accommodation: Asakusa Sunroute - Reliable and well located business hotel. |
Day 2: Full day guiding in Tokyo
To get your sightseeing off to the perfect start we will provide you with a full days guiding around the city. Your guide will meet you at your hotel before you head off on the subways and trains for a tour of some of the city’s highlights. And of course, if there is anything you particularly wish to see, just ask and your guide will be delighted to take you. Today will be a fantastic opportunity to learn about the city from an expert as well as the perfect chance to get the low-down on Japanese culture from a local. |
Day 3: Full day Tokyo
You will have another whole day to venture out and explore this buzzing city. Whether you want to visit the serene gardens of the Imperial Palace or check out the crazy fashions of Harajuku, there is something for all interests. |
Day 4: Travel to Tsumago
From Tokyo a combination of the futuristic Shinkansen ‘Bullet Train’ and regular express will take you to Tsumago, one of the most important towns on the old Nakasendo, the highway which linked the ancient capital of Kyoto with Matsumoto. Upon arrival at your accommodation, a classic traditional post town inn, the warmest of family welcomes awaits you along with a delicious dinner of rustic home cooking.
Accommodation: Daikichi - Traditional post town inn with home cooked food |
Day 5: Full day Tsumago
With its traditional buildings and flag-stone streets, Tsumago retains much of its character and will make for a unique stop on your journey. You can spend the day exploring locally or perhaps make the hike between Tsumago and Magome, the next stop on the post route - a chance to follow in the footsteps of the travellers of old. |
Day 6: Travel to Matsumoto
From Tsumago you will take a taxi back to the station and then continue your journey by express train to Matsumoto. Surrounded on all sides by the towering peaks of the Japan Alps, this is a cosmopolitan city with a fascinating history and a rich musical and literary heritage. The city is most famous for its original castle which offers a glimpse of feudal Japan, a harsh society ruled by the samurai warrior classes. The city also boasts a number of small sake breweries hidden in the back streets amongst the traditional wooden buildings and a good museum of Ukiyoe wood block prints.
Accommodation: Tokyu Inn - Standard class hotel with modern facilities. |
Day 7: Travel to Takayama
From Matsumoto you will travel two hours by bus to the bustling market town of Takayama. This spectacular journey takes you along the ridge of the valley and literally through the mountains in a series of tunnels. Takayama is famous throughout Japan with its old town of narrow streets lined with traditional wooden buildings. The town was also renowned throughout the Edo era (1603-1868) for its master craftsmen who constructed many of Kyoto’s most famous temples and the elaborate Toshogu in Nikko. Accommodation is at a wonderful old ryokan and tonight you will beserved a fabulous banquet in your room.
Accommodation: Tanabe -A classic ryokan in the heart of the old town |
Day 8: Full day Takayama
With a full day to explore, a great start would be the morning farmers’ market which takes place along the banks of the river. Every trip to Takayama should also include the Hida Folk Village, a collection of old thatched farm houses brought beam by beam from across the region and reconstructed on a hillside overlooking the town. For those who like to sample the local tipple, Takayama has nine breweries, each offering the chance to enjoy a selection of different sakes, both hot and cold. And at the end of the day, your ryokan will off er a peaceful haven in which to unwind and rest your well-travelled feet! |
Day 9: Travel to Shirakawago
A morning bus ride of just under two hours will take you further into rural Japan and to the small World Heritage town of Shirakawa-go. Widely regarded as one of the most scenic places in Japan, the village is surrounded by pine tree-covered mountains and is located along the picturesque Shokawa river. The main attraction are the Gassho Zukuri ‘praying hands’ style thatched-roof farm houses dating from between 200 and 300 years ago. This is a true window to the past and with accommodation in a Gassho house this is as close as you can get to the traditional rural way of life that has all but disappeared from modern Japan.
Accommodation: Shimizu -Traditional Gassho House with home cooking. |
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Day 10: Travel to Kanazawa
Reached in one hour by bus from Shirakawago, Kanazawa is a small, bustling city. Until the turn of the century it was the fourth biggest city in Japan with its wealth built on rice production and traditional crafts such as weaving and gold leaf. Many traditional features still exist and the old samurai district and geisha quarter are both great places to stroll through, with some of the old houses open to the public as museums. The main draw is the exquisite landscape garden of Kenroku-en, considered to be one of the three most beautiful in Japan.
Accommodation: Castle Inn - 4 star hotel coveniently located close to Kanazawa Station. |
Day 11: Travel to Kyoto
Two hours on an express train will bring you to Kyoto, a city full of history, tradition and culture. The hundreds of temples, shrines and places of interest could keep even the most avid sightseer busy for weeks! Kyoto is also home to many tra ditional handicrafts with some of the best artisans in Japan working in the city - a great chance to pick up some souvenirs and gifts.
Accommodation: Izuyasu - Station district ryokan with a 100 year history and truly memorable service. |
Day 12: Full day private guiding in Kyoto
To help you get the most from your stay here we will schedule a full days guiding for you - a chance to take in some of the city’s most famous sights along with a few lesser known attractions. |
Day 13: Full day Kyoto + Geisha walking tour
Perhaps one of the most famous areas of Kyoto is the geisha district of Gion. The hidden world of the geisha has been the subject of many books and movies, evoking eternal images of Japanese art, beauty and mystery. To give you a unique insight into the life and work of a geisha, this afternoon you will take a guided walking tour of Gion with resident geisha expert Peter Macintosh. |
Day 14: Travel to Narita
From Kyoto you will take the Shinkansen to Tokyo and then a local train on to Narita City. Narita has a number of impressive temples and also an Edo era village where you can try on samurai armour, as well as trying your hand at traditional weaving, cooking and dyeing cloth. You’ll also be able to do some last minute shopping!
Accommodation: Ohgiya - Atmospheric ryokan in the centre of town. |
Day 15: Departure
From Narita Station it is only a ten minute train journey to Tokyo Narita Airport for your flight home. |
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14 night tour includes breakfast, 6 evening meals, transport, meet and greet, airport transfers, full day private guiding in Tokyo and Kyoto, Kyoto Geisha district walking tour and complimentary info pack. All prices are based on twin share (excluding international flights, entrance fees, local transport & baggage handling). |
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