Japan Unrivalled

Company : Contiki
Activities: Cultural Tours / Tours
Duration: 1 week to 2 weeks
Approx Costs: 2000 to 2500 £ Pound (UK)

Say konnichiwa to the land of sushi, samurai & sake with our sexy new destination…incredible Japan!

With the hottest cities, the best inclusions at the best price, you'll be hard pushed to get a better experience of Japan's best without the hassle. Let us help you discover it all, from temples & teppanyaki to geishas, gardens & great times - this is one trip that you need in your travel diary.

Itinerary

1 ARRIVE TOKYO
Welcome to the bright lights & big city…it's Tokyo baby! And with 3 nights here, there's so much time for sights, exploring, shopping & more.

2 TOKYO
We dive right into this fascinating city with a locally guided tour of the city's must-sees. With our Local Guide leading the charge, you'll get the inside track on the city & it's monuments & temples.

3 TOKYO
Wake up, grab a bite & enjoy a free day in Tokyo, to explore your way. Chill or opt to experience the traditional Japanese hot-spring baths with an Onsen experience - which many consider a must-do tradition!

4 TOKYO TO HAKONE
Enjoy your final free morning in Tokyo; take in one of the many museums or art galleries in the city or head to Tokyo Sky Tree & take in the cityscape from the observatory deck at the 634m tower. After lunch, we say goodbye to the bright lights & buzz of Tokyo & head south to Hakone where you'll take in the breathtaking views of some of Japan's most famous sights from the Hakone Ropeway.

5 HAKONE TO TAKAYAMA
Next up, it's back on the road to Takayama via Matsumoto. Located at the southern end of a long valley between the peaks of the Japanese Alps, Matsumoto has a long & rich history.Our adventure continues onto Takayama.

6 TAKAYAMA
We head out to explore by foot this morning on a locally guided walking tour.

7 TAKAYAMA TO HIROSHIMA
We'll head to our next destination on the famous Japanese transport - the bullet train! These trains head up to 320km/hr - so will thrill those with a need for speed! On arrival in Hiroshima spend your ME Time discovering the city remembered as the world's first atomic bomb target during World War ll.

8 HIROSHIMA
Start the day with a ferry ride over to Miyajima Island, see the beautiful scenery, the traditional Japanese gates at the entrance to the shrine & the island's famous & super cute residents - miniature deer, on the way to the stunning Itsukushima Shrine. In the afternoon, visit the Peace Memorial Museum & explore individual's stories from the horrific incident on August 6 1945, and the affect it's had on the city. Then relish some free time in Hiroshima to dig a little deeper into Hiroshima's noble history or enjoy some of the city sights.

9 HIROSHIMA TO KYOTO
After breakfast we're off to our next spot, Kyoto!

10 KYOTO
With a full day here, it's all about fully immersing yourself into this awesome city to see what makes it tick, so we've got all the must-sees covered.

11 KYOTO TO WAKAYAMA
Enjoy a free morning to take in the last of Kyoto then hop on the train to Wakayama, one of the villages at Mount Koya, known as the world headquarters of the Koyasan sect of Shingon Japanese Buddhism. Tonight is another experience to remember forever as we stay overnight at one of their local guesthouses & enjoy a traditional Buddhist meal.

12 WAKAYAMA TO OSAKA
Wake up & join in the tradition of an early morning Buddhist Service. We'll then head out with our Local Guide for an in-depth tour of the Koyason area before departing early afternoon for the final stop on our Japanese adventure, Osaka. There's free time in Osaka on arrival before the final evening kicks off with a final optional dinner & what is also considered a must-do in Japan... Karaoke!

13 DEPART OSAKA
Our trip ends after breakfast, so it's time to swap email addresses as you say farewell to your Trip Manager & new friends.