Tokyo to Takayama - 13 days

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13 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

18 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 80 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Moderate

Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.

Starts

Tokyo, Japan

Ends

Tokyo, Japan

Highlights

Tokyo - Explore Sensoji Temple district and temple, Harajuku, Takeshita Street, Meiji Shrine and Shibuya Crossing

Kamakura - Visit Big Buddha Statue, Hokokuji Zen Temple and the Bamboo Forest with its delightful village atmosphere. Opt to take part in a traditional tea ceremony

Lake Kawaguchi in Fuji Hakone Izu National Park - Marvel at the spectacular mountain scenery and views of famed Mt Fuji

Stay in a ryokan - Sample Japanese hospitality, bathe in natural hot springs, wearing a Yukata (casual Kimono) and sleep on a futon sleeping on a futon

Kyoto - Uncover UNESCO Listed Nijo Castle, join a walking tour of Gion (the Geisha District), optional Japanese tea ceremony and cooking class

Kyoto - Take part in a walking tour of the famed Geisha District (Gion), with its ancient cobbled streets, streams, bridges and quaint tea houses and the opportunity to see Geisha and Maiko en route to their next engagement

UNESCO Listed Himeji Castle - See the towering 6 story structure is the best preserved and largest of all castles in Japan

Hiroshima - Visit Peace Park, Peace Memorial Museum, UNESCO Listed A-Bomb Dome and Children's Peace Monument (with thousands of paper cranes from children around the world)

Enjoy Miyajima Island with its UNESCO Listed iconic Red Torii Gate (Itsukushima shrine) standing in the sea. Cable to the top of Mt Misen - The highest peak on Miyajima for spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea, some 150 islands and Hiroshima

Takayama - Wander around the beautifully preserved old quarter, local market and visit to sake distillery

UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-gÅ - Explore the scenic mountain village in Gifu Prefecture, famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri thatched-roof houses

UNESCO Listed Himeji Castle - See the towering 6 story structure is the best preserved and largest of all castles in Japan

Hiroshima - Visit Peace Park, Peace Memorial Museum, UNESCO Listed A-Bomb Dome and Children's Peace Monument (with thousands of paper cranes from children around the world)

Takayama - Wander around the beautifully preserved old quarter, local market and visit to sake distillery

UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-gÅ - Explore the scenic mountain village in Gifu Prefecture, famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri thatched-roof houses

Itinerary

This 13 day adventure takes in the must-see sites of Tokyo and Kyoto as well as exploring the mountainous town of Takayama, impressive Himeji Castle and of course well-known Hiroshima and the famed Torii Gate of Miyajima Island. For an authentic Japanese experience ride a bullet train, stay in a ryokan and take a dip in natural hot springs.

day 1 - Tokyo

Saturday. Upon arrival to Tokyo you will be met at either Narita or Haneda International Airport by your guide. Travel by train into the heart of the city and check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to spend at your leisure.

We recommend arriving before 3pm on this day, as there will be a Welcome Meeting at 6pm, where you will meet your guide and the rest of the group.

Average kilometres walked today: 1km (not inclusive of distance walked during free time)

OverNight:Tokyo

day 2 - Sensoji Temple District & Tokyo National Museum

This morning, we take the subway to Asakusa, a lively district of Tokyo which is famous for its historic Sensoji Buddhist temple. After visiting the temple we'll have time to explore the area which has an abundance of interesting souvenir and craft stalls.

This afternoon offers a guided tour of the Tokyo National Museum, housing a number of exhibitions from galleries to Japanese archaeology. The Tokyo National Museum is located in Ueno Park, a large public park within central Tokyo and famous for a number of museums held within it's grounds. The remainder of the day offers free time to independently explore.

Average kilometres walked today: 6.5km (not inclusive of distance walked during free time)

OverNight:Tokyo

day 3 - Kamakura - Big Buddha

Tokyo - Kamakura - Tokyo. Today we head out of the city to Kamakura, Japan’s first feudal capital, which is just an hour from Tokyo. Here, we’ll visit the iconic bronze Big Buddha and the Zen Temple of Hokokuji with its towering bamboo garden where you can drink tea before walking the cobbled pedestrian alleys - adorned with locally made items. Return to Japan’s bustling capital for the night.

Average kilometres walked today: 4km

OverNight:Tokyo

day 4 - Harajuku & Shibuya

Today we head to Harajuku, which is a mecca for young and fashionable Tokyoites who flock to the trendy shops and cafes on Takeshita Street.

Here, we’ll visit the revered Meiji Shrine where the emperor Meiji and his wife are enshrined. Our last stop of the day is the famed Shibuya Crossing - regarded as one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world. 'The Scramble' as it's known is an amazing spectacle as people come from all directions at once – sometimes over a thousand with every light change – yet they still manage to duck and weave without causing collision.

Here, we’ll grab a coffee and perch ourselves on a barstool at Starbucks to watch the spectacle. The remainder of the day offers free time to independently explore as you wish. If travelling during May and September you might like spend the evening watching a Sumo tournament (bookings must be made in advance). See our Trip Notes for more information.

Average kilometres walked today: 6km (not inclusive of distance walked during free time)

OverNight:Tokyo

day 5 - Mt Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi

Tokyo - Lake Kawaguchi. This morning we travel by highway bus to Lake Kawaguchi, located at the foot of Mt Fuji in the Fuji Hakone Izu National Park. The scenery is stunning with panoramic views of a snow-capped Fuji most of the year. Upon arrival, we’ll travel along the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway and visit the observatory. For tours staying at Lake Kawaguchi between 15 Apr – 28 May each year, we’ll visit the Springtime Fuji Shibazakura (Phlox Moss) Festival, held at Motosu Lake, where the landscape is covered in a vibrant, hot pink moss with Fuji as the backdrop. Tonight you'll bed down in a Japanese style inn. At the ryokan, we'll be served dinner and you can take a relaxing dip in the natural hot spring baths.

Average kilometres walked today: 5.5km

Meals:1 Dinner

OverNight:Lake Kawaguchi

day 6 - Kyoto - 1000 statues of Kannon & the Geisha District

Lake Kawaguchi – Kyoto. Lake Kawaguchi has some great hiking trails and early this morning you might like to opt for a hike along the foreshores of the lake. We travel by bus to Mishima, then bullet train to Kyoto - Japan’s ancient and cultural capital.

As one of the most culturally rich cities in Asia, Kyoto is home to an abundance of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Here, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of Sanjusagen-do Temple famous for its statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The one thousand life-size statues of Kannon are made of Japanese cypress clad in gold leaf. They stand in 10 rows of 50, each hand crafted and slightly different from the next. Late this afternoon we head to Gion, for a walking tour of the famous Geisha District. After, you may wish to watch a cultural performance at Gion Corner Theatre where you'll have the opportunity to watch a Maiko (apprentice Geisha) performing.

Average kilometres walked today: 6km (not inclusive of distance walked during free time)

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Kyoto

day 7 - Kyoto - Nijo Castle, Golden Pavilion & free time

Today we tour Nijo Castle, one of the city’s most impressive UNESCO sites. Built by the first Tokugawa shogun in 1603, the exquisite Nijo Castle is a wonderful example of Momoyama architecture. After, we visit the stunning Zen Buddhist temple of Kinkakuji (or commonly referred as the Golden Pavilion) which forms part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage Site. Almost completely covered in gold, the shimmering temple sits beside a small lake that reflects it beauty in the calm waters.

This afternoon offers free time for you to relax or to further discover the many sights of Kyoto your own way. Consider visiting iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its winding path lined by thousands of red torii gates. Just a short train ride away from the main Kyoto Station, this must-see sight is free to visit and is open 24 hours a day. You might also wish to hire a Kimono and walk the streets as many Japanese do or take part in a cooking lesson.

Average kilometres walked today: 3.5km (not inclusive of distance walked during free time)

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Kyoto

day 8 - Himeji Castle & Hiroshima

Kyoto - Himeji - Hiroshima. This morning we take the bullet train to Himeji to visit the impressive UNESCO Listed Himeji Castle, perched high on a hill top. The castle is known as the White Egret due to its white walls and elegant shape and it has impressive maze-like defences. After taking in the panoramic views from the top of its 6 story watch tower we take another bullet train to Hiroshima.

If you like baseball consider booking tickets to watch the Carp play. The Carp, Hiroshima beloved professional baseball, play games at home between May - Oct at Mazda Stadium.

Average kilometres walked today: 7.5km

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Hiroshima

day 9 - Miyajima Island - Floating Torii Gate

A local train and ferry takes us to the island of Miyajima today, which is famous for its iconic ‘floating’ Torii Gate at the revered Itsukushima-jinja Shrine. The iconic gate seems to float on the water but at low tide can reached by foot. It stands 16 metres high and is made from camphor wood. Miyajima is a beautiful island with UNESCO Listed primeval forests and inquisitive, tame deer. As we explore the island we'll see further Shinto shrines, pretty pagodas and pavilions before taking in the magical views offered from our cable car ride to the top of Mount Misen. Free time is offered before we return to Hiroshima for the night. Tonight, we'll make a reservation for Okonomiyaki - a mix between a savoury pancake and omelette a local speciality of Hiroshima. Okonomiyaki is always a fun night, its inexpensive and is washed down perfectly with a Asahi beer.

Average kilometres walked today: 9km (not inclusive of distance walked during free time)

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Hiroshima

day 10 - Hiroshima Peace Park, Museum & Children's Memorial

Hiroshima - Takayama. Hiroshima is a city that needs little introduction, it is of course infamous for being the first site where one of two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan at the end of World War II. This morning we visit Peace Park and Peace Park Museum which are a moving reminder of Hiroshima’s tragic past. We’ll see the iconic A-Bomb Dome one of the very few buildings left standing after the blast and visit the Children's Peace Monument, a memorial to the children killed, and where schools from around the world donate paper origami cranes, signifying hope and peace.

This afternoon we take the bullet train to Nagoya, followed by another scenic train journey up the mountains to Takayama. This evening offers free time where you may wish to try the local specialty, Hida beef. The guide will offer local suggestions and may book a local restaurant for dinner. This will be at an additional cost.

Average kilometres walked today: 3.5km

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Takayama

day 11 - Hida Mountains

Takayama is a delightful town in the heart of the Hida Mountains. Established in the 16th century as the castle town of the Kanamori family, Takayama is now famous throughout Japan for its beautifully preserved old-quarter, which has a series of streets lined with Edo style wooden buildings. The town also has many shrines and temples, giving rise to the title of ‘Little Kyoto’. This morning, we explore Takayama’s Old Quarter, where you can wander around the shops and market which sells everything from vegetables and pickles to craft, ceramics and tools. After, there's a visit to a sake distillery to sample the town’s famous sake. Then we take the bus to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-gō - a scenic mountain village in Gifu Prefecture, famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri thatched-roof houses.

Average kilometres walked today: 7.5km (not inclusive of distance walked during free time)

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Takayama

day 12 - Scenic Higashiyama walk

Takayama – Tokyo. This morning we embark on the scenic Higashiyama walk (Eastern Mountain Walk) which takes in a number of temples set into the hillside and offers wonderful views over the city. Later, we take the train back down the mountains to Nagoya to catch the bullet train to Tokyo.

Average kilometres walked today: 5km

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Tokyo

day 13 - Tokyo

Thursday. Our tour comes to an end today. Travel (unescorted) back to Narita or Haneda International Airport by train. We offer post-tour accommodation for those interested in staying in Tokyo a little longer, please enquire.

For information about visas, top travel tips and much more, take a look through our travel guide.

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What's Included

Accommodation

12 nights 3 star accommodation (including 1 night at a Japanese style inn

Meals

7 breakfasts and 1 dinner at the Lake Kawaguchi ryokan

Transport

Airport arrival transfer on day 1 (by train) from Narita or Haneda International AirportDeparture transfer on day 13 (unescorted) - by train to Narita or Haneda International Airport (unescorted)All transportation and transfers - buses, trains and bullet trains including Suica swipe card

Guide

Escorted by a licensed English speaking Japanese tour guide

Others

Guided sightseeing and walking tours in Tokyo, Kamakura, Lake Kawaguchi, Kyoto, Himeji, Hiroshima, Miyajima Island, TakayamaLake Kawaguchi and Mt Fuji - Kachikachi-yama Ropeway and Observatory. For tours staying at Lake Kawaguchi between 14 Apr – 28 May each year we'll visit to the Fuji Shibazakura (Moss Phlox) Festival with Mt Fuji in the distanceFerry to Miyajima Island and cable car to the top of Mt MisenBaggage forwarding service from Tokyo to Kyoto (one bag per person)Maximum Group size: 18 persons

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

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