Japan of Wonders

Be enchanted by your first encounter with Japan! In this proposal we have combined the most classic stops for an unforgettable trip. Modern and ancient cities, mountain resorts, museums, parks and historical buildings that will amaze you with their beauty unparalleled in the world. We offer, included in the tour, guided tours in Italian to the three capitals that have made the country's history: Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara, three unique and fascinating cities.

Day 1 TOKYO
Upon arrival at the airport, after passport control and baggage claim, transfer to Tokyo, the country's capital.
*Rooms are available from 15:00. Italian-speaking assistant available from the airport to the hotel to give information and help with check-in once at the hotel.
Airport-hotel transfer by public transport. Telephone support throughout your stay. Arrival assistance and transfer may be shared with other tour participants. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 2 TOKYO
Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day dedicated to visiting Tokyo with a guide in Italian. We begin with a splendid view of the megalopolis from the observatory of the Bunkyo Civic Center. Then we will visit the Edo Fukagawa Musem where we find life-size representations of daily life in the area at the time. Finally, we will take you to visit the characteristic Asakusa district, where the 7th-century Senso-ji Temple, the oldest in the city, and the long Nakamise-dori boulevard with its traditional shops stand. Finally, a walk to the Ginza district where the visit ends.
Overnight stay in a hotel

Day 3 TOKYO
Breakfast at the hotel. Entire day at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.

- Optional guided tour -
A crossing into the past with an Italian guide from €190 per person - Not bookable on site
Entire day dedicated to visiting some of Tokyo's most historic districts.
We start by visiting the Tsukiji fish market, the outer market. Although a new location for the fish market has recently been created, the original location is still there, alive and full of excellent places selling and cooking excellent fresh fish. We will continue on to discover the charming Yanaka district and in particular the folkloristic Yanaka Ginza street full of local restaurants, street food, and small shops and where you can breathe in a bygone era.
Finally, transfer to the popular Shibuya district, famous for its impressive intersection with what is said to be the world's busiest pedestrian crossing. Meals not included.

Day 4 TOKYO - KANAZAWA
****Your luggage will be transported separately to Takayama by courier. Remember to prepare hand luggage for an overnight stay in Kanazawa****
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day unassisted. Departure for Kanazawa by fast shinkansen train using the Japan Rail Pass (in 2nd class) approx. 2.5 hours. In Kanazawa, we recommend a visit to Kenroku-en Park, considered one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan; the Omicho-ichiba market, especially renowned for its fish products; and the Nagamachi Yuzen-kan, where splendid kimonos made of Kaga Yuzen silk, the traditional technique of the area, are on display. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 5 KANAZAWA - SHIRAKAWA-GO - TAKAYAMA
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day unassisted. Scheduled coach between Kanazawa/Shirakawa-go/Takayama. Departure for Shirakawa-go, the village with characteristic thatched-roof houses, twinned with Alberobello and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On to Takayama, where we recommend a visit to the Sanmachi-suji district, the heart of the old town, strolling among saké factories and characteristic houses converted into craft shops. Traditional dinner at the ryokan included. Overnight stay in ryokan HOSHOKAKU or similar.

Day 6 TAKAYAMA - NAGOYA - HIROSHIMA
****Your luggage will be transported separately to Kyoto by courier. Please remember to pack hand luggage for two nights in Hiroshima****
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day without assistance. Before departure, visit the morning markets and the Takayama Jin'ya, former residence of the Kanamori clan lord and later seat of the governor of the ancient Hida province. Transfer to Hiroshima via Nagoya with the Japan Rail Pass. Takayama - Nagoya (JR express 2.5 hours) - Hiroshima (JR shinkansen 2.5 hours). Overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 7 HIROSHIMA
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day at leisure in Hiroshima. We recommend a trip to the island of Miyajima by boat (covered by Japan Rail Pass), to discover the splendid Itsukushima Shrine, consisting of a series of stilted structures dating back to the 6th century, known mainly for its majestic torii⁕, a sacred gateway that rises in the shoreline. In Hiroshima, visit the Peace Memorial Museum and Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome. Overnight stay in a hotel.
⁕ The sacred portal may be covered due to ongoing restoration. Completion of restoration expected in December 2022.

Day 8 HIROSHIMA - (HIMEJI) - KYOTO
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day unassisted. Departure from Hiroshima for Kyoto with the Japan Rail Pass. A stop at Himeji (Hiroshima - Himeji approx. 1 hour by shinkansen), where the castle of the same name stands. Nicknamed 'White Heron Castle', it underwent restoration work completed in 2015. This castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site not only for its beauty, but also because it is a rare example of an original structure that has remained intact to this day. Continue to Kyoto (Himeji - Kyoto approx. 1 hour by shinkansen). Overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 9 KYOTO
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day dedicated to visiting Kyoto with a guide in Italian. The visit includes the Kiyomizu-dera temple, founded in 798 (the present buildings are reconstructions from 1633) and its surroundings (Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka), the Ryoan-ji temple with its Zen garden of rocks, the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, the symbol of the city, and the Sanjusangen-do temple, a building housing 1,001 wooden Kannon statues. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 10 KYOTO - NARA - FUSHIMI - KYOTO
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Kyoto for Nara by fast regional train. Full day dedicated to visiting Nara with guide in Italian. Visit Todai-ji, a temple housing the Great Buddha, one of the world's largest bronze statues, and the large Shinto shrine Kasuga, surrounded by some 10,000 lanterns. Both buildings are located in Nara Park, where numerous deer live in semi-freedom. Return to Kyoto, stopping en route at the Fushimi Inari Taisha to admire its endless red portals. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

Day 11 KYOTO - OSAKA(KANSAI)
Breakfast at the hotel. * Rooms are available until 11:00 a.m. Independent transfer without assistance to the airport by public transportation subject to availability (separate fee). Departure from Kansai Airport. Return to Italy.

The group will consist of a maximum of 10 participants

HOTELS PROVIDED (or similar):
Standard category:
TOKYO: Sunshine City Prince Hotel
KANAZAWA : Kanazawa New Grand Hotel Premier
HIROSHIMA: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Hiroshima
KYOTO: Hotel Elcient Kyoto
TAKAYAMA: Hoshokaku (Ryokan)

Superior category:
TOKYO: Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro
KANAZAWA : Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel
HIROSHIMA : Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima
KYOTO: Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto
TAKAYAMA: Hoshokaku (Ryokan)

The fee includes:
Overnight stays: Tokyo (3 nights), Kanazawa (1 night) Takayama (Ryokan / 1 night) Hiroshima (2 nights) Kyoto (3 nights) in the chosen category. 10 breakfasts, 1 dinner. (Breakfast at the hotel on the last day will not be served or reimbursed in case the return flight from Japan is too early in the morning). Assistant from the airport to the hotel in Italian (day 1) ** Guide in Italian (days 2, 9 and 10). Telephone support for the duration of the tour (emergency number). Japan Rail Pass 7 days in second class. Higher class and longer pass available at extra charge. Seats are not guaranteed during peak season. Regular bus ticket between Kanazawa - Shirakawa-go - Takayama. Baggage: Tokyo - Takayama, Takayama - Kyoto (1pc / pp). Any additional pieces at extra charge. Transfer from Tokyo Airport on arrival to hotel in Tokyo by public transport

** Assistance service available for a maximum of 4 hours. After 2 hours from the original scheduled landing time, the assistant may no longer be available. During peak season, assistance may be available separately at the airport and at the hotel. In case of arrival during the closure of the JR offices at the airport and in Tokyo, customers will not be able to be accompanied to validate their Japan Rail Pass and will therefore have to make changes and reservations independently on the following days.

The fee does not include:
flights from/to Italy, airport taxes; booking fee and medical/luggage insurance; optional cancellation insurance. Tips, porterage and extras in general. Transfer Kyoto-Kansai Airport; meals not mentioned and drinks with meals; all personal extras; everything not expressly mentioned in the "price includes". Optional tours of your choice. Optional optional services. Optional guided tours of your choice. Night assistance supplement for arrivals in Japan between 8 pm and 7 am

OPTIONAL GUIDED TOURS:
It is possible to book guided tours of Tokyo in Italian on the pre-arranged day of the itinerary with other travellers (from a minimum of 2 people to a maximum of 16). These tours can only be sold in combination with our tours and must necessarily be requested before departure.

N.B.: The programme contents and conditions indicated above may vary

DEPARTURE DATES
November 2024: 5, 12, 19, 26
December 2024: 3, 10, 17, 31
January 2025: 7, 14, 21, 28
February 2025: 4, 11, 18, 25
March 2025: 4, 11, 18, 25
April 2025: 1, 15, 22