Japan Explorer 13 or 15 day tour
A fantastic and comprehensive semi independent tour at a great price...

• Tokyo: city tour (3 nights)
• Nikko or Mt Fuji & Hakone tour (optional)
• Takayama (1 nights)
• Shirakawago (1 nights)
• Kanazawa (1 nights)
• Kyoto: city tour (3 nights)
• Nara tour
• Mt Koya (1 night) Temple stay
• Osaka (1 night)
• Extension options (2 nights)
• Hiroshima & Miyajima
• Matsumoto & Yudanaka Snow Monkey
• Guaranteed departure

View Itinerary

Price & Departure dates

Day 1
Depart from Heathrow or your preferred airport for a scheduled flight to Tokyo. Meals on board.

Day 2 Tokyo
Arrive at Narita Airport in Tokyo, you are met by your tour assistant and transferred to your hotel for a 3 night stay. The rest of the day is at your leisure to adjust to the 9 hours time difference.

Day 3 Tokyo
Morning - City tour of Tokyo visiting a number of the main highlights of this magnificent City. The tour includes a visit to the Tokyo Tower where you can enjoy panoramic views across the city from the observation tower. We proceed to the peaceful picturesque setting of the Meiji Shrine, set in thick woodland and considered to be one of the finest examples of Shinto Architecture. Next we visit the 'Akasaka Guest House' for a photo opportunity. The Guest House is a magnificent 'Western Style Palace' built in the Baroque Architectural style. We then drive alongside the imposing National Diet Building, which is home to the Japanese House of Parliament. Our tour continues across Tokyo to the Imperial Palace East Garden, where we enjoy a pleasant walk in the East Garden of the Imperial Palace, which is filled with scenic and historic beauty. (Alternatively for tours on Monday & Friday we will visit the Imperial Palace plaza and famous Double bridge instead of the East Garden, including a visit to the inner moat and towering Palace walls surrounded by pine trees). Our tour will continue with a drive and stroll along Ginza high street, the famous shopping area of Tokyo. Our tour will disband at Ginza giving you the opportunity for shopping.We also recommend you visit the Sony Centre building to see the futuristic electronics on display. Ginza is also convenient for the subway to explore further.

Afternoon - free at leisure or take optional afternoon city tour, which includes Asakusa Kannon Temple and Sumida river cruise. (ask for details at time of booking).

Day 4 Tokyo
Free day to explore Tokyo at your leisure. We recommend a visit to Akihabara or Ueno shopping districts.

Alternatively purchase an optional full day guided tour excursion to either Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi & Hakone or to Nikko a designated World Cultural Heritage site and home to some of the most spectacular examples of ancient architecture in Japan. Ask for details at time of booking.

Day 5 Tokyo - Takayama
To ensure you have a smooth trip and due to luggage restrictions on bullet trains we offer a free 1 item per person luggage transfer from hotel to hotel between Tokyo & Kyoto. Therefore leave your main luggage with the porter/bell desk by 7.30am. You will need to keep with you the light luggage you need for your 3 nights stay in Takayama, Shirakawago and Kanazawa.

Make you own way to Shinagawa or Tokyo station and transfer to Takayama by Express train (ex Nagoya by bullet train). Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation (approx 5min walk)

Day 6 Takayama - Shirakawago (Dinner)
Free time until departure at 12.50pm by local bus to Kanazawa (13:40pm arrival). Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation (approx 10min walk). Rest of day you are free to explore at your leisure. Shirakawago has World Heritage designation and is truly a spectacular experience, which many believe is the 'hidden treasure' in Japan. Visiting Shirakawago is like stepping back in time, with uniquely crafted traditional wooden farmhouses (Gassho-Zukuri) set in a beautiful mountainous landscape.

Day 7 Shirakawago - Kanazawa (Breakfast)
Free time until departure at 11.10am by local bus to Kanazawa (12.25pm arrival). Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation. Rest of day you are free to explore at your leisure.

Day 8 Kanazawa - Kyoto

Free time until departure in late afternoon where you board an express train to Kyoto (approx 120min). Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation.

Day 9 Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto (Lunch)
Full day sight-seeing tour of Kyoto & Nara including a visit to the Kinkakuji temple (Golden Pavilion) centred around one of the best examples of a Japanese Zen garden in the world.Then to Nijo Castle, residence of the Tokugawa Shogun. Built in 1603, Nijo Castle is noted for its Ornate interior and 'nightingale floor' designed to sing when stepped upon to warn of Ninja assassins.(When closed visit Ryoanji temple). We then travel to the Old Kyoto Imperial Palace (on Sat/Sun & national holidays visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine or Hagashi Honganji temple instead). Finally we explore the Kyoto Handicraft Center where we enjoy demonstrations of Japanese traditional arts and crafts. Buffet lunch is provided at the Kyoto handicraft centre. After lunch we travel to the ancient capital of Japan, Nara. Our tour includes a visit to Todaiji Temple, one of the world's largest wooden buildings housing the Great Buddha. We proceed to the Kasuga Shinto Shrine the most famous and beautiful Shinto shrine in Nara with 3,000 antique stone and bronze lanterns. Finally we explore Nara Deer Park with more than 1,000 deer roaming freely around the 1,250 acres park. Return to your hotel in Kyoto.

Day 10 Kyoto
Free day to explore Kyoto at your leisure. We recommend a visit to Kiyomizu temple and Heian Shrine.

Day 11 Kyoto - Mt Koya (Dinner)
Free luggage transfer to Osaka, therefore leave your main luggage with the porter/bell desk by 7.30am. (1 item per person). Recommend you take overnight bag for nights stay at Mt Koya.

You will be met in the hotel reception by our English speaking assistant and transfered to Shin Imamiya. Leave Shin Imamiya for Mt Koya by train and cable car via Gokurakubashi by yourself. Afternoon free at leisure to explore Mt Koya.

Mount Koya is home to over 117 temples and is where we stay overnight in 'Japanese style' accommodation at the magnificent Temple for the Shingon Esoteric sect of Buddhism, which is still in use by monks today. The peaceful temple is set in beautiful wooded mountainous countryside, 1000m above sea level and is ideal to relax, meditate and learn more of buddhist monk rituals (include: Vegetarian 'monk style' Dinner at Temple).

Day 12 Mt Koya - Osaka (Breakfast)
Wake early to see the morning Buddhist Ceremony with the monks at the temple and for your Vegetarian Breakfast. The monks are more than happy for you to attend or watch the ceremony, however this tour is designed for cultural interest and not for any particular religious practice. Leave Mt Koya to Osaka by cable car and train via Gokurakubashi by yourself. Upon arrival at Osaka make own way to accommodation. Afternoon free at leisure.

Day 13 Osaka (Departure)

Take airport limousine bus from your hotel to the futuristic Kansai International Airport in Osaka for departure to UK.

Extension option 1- Hiroshima (2 nights) - from £380 per person based upon twin share

Day 12 Mt Koya - Hiroshima
Leave Mt Koya to Hiroshima via Osaka by cable car and bullet train by yourself. Upon arrival make own way to accommodation. Afternoon free at leisure.

Day 13 Hiroshima - Miyajima

Free day to explore Hiroshima at your leisure. Optional tours available to Hiroshima & Miyajima. Contact us for details.

Day 14 Hiroshima - Osaka
Leave Hiroshima to Osaka by Bullet train by yourself. Afternoon free at leisure. (Optional 1 night extension to Okayama is available to see the beautiful Castle & Korakuen gardens which are regarded as one of the best gardens in Japan).

Day 15 Osaka - Homeward
Take airport bus from hotel to the futuristic Kansai International Airport in Osaka for your departure flight.

Extension Option 2 (2 nights) - from £350 pp
Yudanaka (Japanese Snow Monkeys) - Matsumoto

2 nights tour including all transport between destinations including bullet train, local trains, Nohi bus and meeting assistant at Nagano to help you board the train to Yudanaka. Departs from Tokyo to Yudanaka by bullet train, where you stay one night in a traditional Ryokan with outdoor spa facilities (incudes dinner in Ryokan). Later visit the nearby snow monkey park on your own (entrance fee not included). After breakfast in your Ryokan transfer by train to Matsumoto where you are free to visit the famous 'crow' castle. stay overnight in Matsumoto. The next day travel by train & Nohi bus to Takayama.

Departure date can be arranged according to your requirements.

Group Departure Dates & Prices (£)

Ref	Month	Land Only (twin share)
JE	Jan, Feb, June, Jul, Aug, Dec	1999
JE	Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov	2070

We are happy to provide your flight tickets with the airline and departure airport of your choice - Flights from £550pp with full ATOL Protection...

The price may be different around festival periods in Japan. Please contact us for confirmation.

Price Includes (The prices shown above are 'per person')

• Airport to hotel transfers.
• Meeting assistance at Narita airport.
• Local bus tickets Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa.
• Trains: As specified in itinerary, Ordinary class reserved seats.
• Sightseeing tours by professional English-speaking tour guide.
• All entrance fees whilst on guided tours.
• Selections of quality accommodation in well furnished hotel rooms with private facilities.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary.
• Free luggage transfer from hotel to hotel between Tokyo & Kyoto, Kyoto & Osaka (1 item per person).

Price Does Not Include

• International Flights: We are happy to provide flights with full ATOL Protection.
  
• Optional tours
• Travel Insurance.

Why choose to travel with Magical Japan?
From the moment you talk to our travel consultants, who have all travelled extensively in Japan, our experience ensures you will have a magical holiday.Our service includes meet & greet at airport and free luggage transfer from hotel to hotel etc. There are no additional entrance fees or transportation costs on any sightseeing tours that are already listed in our programme. Your tours are with officially qualified professional English speaking tour guides. Airport transfers and guided city tours are by air-conditioned deluxe coach and you will have time to enjoy each sightseeing place on foot. The tour itineraries are regularly checked and provide an ideal length of time to show you the sights, with free time to explore according to your own interests. Most importantly we Guarantee departure.

Flights If you require international flights, as an agent for many airline consolidators, we can obtain flights in various classes with reputable airlines such as ANA, BA, Virgin, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Finnair etc. For the cheapest deal we recommend you book your international flights at time of booking, as this can save you pounds off your final holiday price. Full ATOL Protection Available.

Your Accommodation for this tour Carefully selected quality accommodation in ideal locations, with upgrade to deluxe level available. Overnight accommodation on Mount Koya is in 'Japanese style' rooms.

Your Meals Meals are as specified in the itinerary. Breakfast at hotels can be booked in advance or purchased in Japan on a daily basis. Alternatively, there are many places around the hotels where you can buy meals.

Other details of our tour arrangements Upon arrival at Tokyo Airport, you will be met by one of our assistants and directed to the limousine bus terminal. For each day of your itinerary (excluding free time), you will be met by English speaking guides at your hotel for escorted tours. You will be met and transfered from hotel in Kyoto to Osaka Airport by private transportation.

To ensure our travellers have a relaxing and enjoyable holiday, a hotel to hotel luggage transfer service (1 piece of luggage per person) is provided from Tokyo to Kyoto.

We also recommend taking a Ryokan experience (Japanese guest house) on the last day in Kyoto. The supplement starts from £160 per person for 1 night with Japanese breakfast & Dinner included.

This tour is suitable for travellers of all ages, who are reasonably fit and healthy. Add on tours and city extensions are available, for details visit optional tours page.

Nijo Castle (Kyoto) is closed (Tue in Jul & Aug), therefore if your tour falls on these dates, we will visit Ryoanji Temple instead. Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed at weekends and on national holidays, we will visit Kitano Tenmangu, or Ryoanji Temple instead.

Our itinerary is designed according to the most up to date information available at the time. The above itinerary highlights the main attractions that are to be visited each day. In regards to expected transfer times and train times these may vary as they are subject to schedules and availability controlled by the various railway companies. It is extremely rare that itineraries ever need changes and we will always act in your best interest to handle any amendments if this did occur. However we reserve the right to change, amend or alter the itinerary if required, for example occasionally the tour sequence and duration of time spent in each city can change due to local conditions which are out of our control or due to heavy traffic conditions or bad weather. Please refer to the booking form for detailed terms & conditions.