These tours are designed for those who wish to see the iconic sites and magnificent treasures of Japan on an excellent value group tour whilst travelling with like-minded people. The tours are on a fully-inclusive basis so you’ll travel with the assurance that all your arrangements are taken care of. You will be accompanied by our dedicated and professional National Escorts and local guides, whose unparalleled knowledge will turn your holiday into an unforgettable experience.

• Return international economy flights, taxes and current fuel surcharges (unless a land only option is selected)
• All accommodation
• All meals
• All sightseeing and entrance fees
• All transportation and transfers
• English speaking National Escorts (if your group is 10 or more passengers) or Local Guides
• Specialist advice from our experienced travel consultants
• Comprehensive travel guides

The only thing you may have to pay for are personal expenditure e.g. drinks, optional excursions or shows, insurance of any kind, customary tipping, early check in or late check out and other items not specified on the itinerary.

Itinerary:

Day 1-2: Osaka Meals: D

Fly overnight to the lively, fast-paced city of Osaka. On arrival you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer to your hotel.

Day 3: Discover Nara Meals: B, L, D

Transfer around 1 hour by coach to Nara and stroll through Nara Park to Todaiji Temple, meeting the resident sika deer en-route. Admire the traditional Isuien Garden before returning to Osaka. Visit the impressive Osaka castle and later take a short cruise down the Yodogawa River

Day 4: Himeji Castle Meals: B, L, D

Journey around 2 hours by coach to Himeji and explore the magnificent 17th Century Himeji Castle and the neighbouring Koko-en, a traditional-style garden.  After the reopening in March 2015, Himeji Castle has welcomed a large number of visitors. As such, they now issue numbered tickets to visitors in order to limit the number of people who can enter the Main Keep, reducing congestion, waiting time, and to protect the cultural properties. Please note that this means that there may be cases where some visitors are not allowed to enter the Main Keep. After lunch, continue around 3.5 hours to Hiroshima.

Day 5: Explore Hiroshima Meals: B, L, D

Transfer to the famous Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Please be aware that the museum may be confronting and upsetting   for some group members and it is at your discretion if you wish to visit or enjoy time at leisure exploring the Peace Memorial Park. After lunch, take a short ferry ride to Miyajima Island, where sightseeing will be at a leisurely pace on foot. Visit Itsukushima Shrine and explore the traditional market town at leisure. Later this afternoon, return by ferry and coach to your Hiroshima hotel for dinner.

Day 6: Bullet Train to Kyoto Meals: B, L, D

This morning, transfer to Hiroshima Station and catch a bullet train to Kyoto, a journey of 1 hour 40 minutes. Capital for a thousand years, this enchanting city is the epitome of traditional Japan. After lunch, visit Ryoanji Temple, with its famous Zen garden, and Kinkakuji Temple, known as the ‘Golden Pavilion’ due to its golden exterior. You will spend approximately 2 hours exploring the temples before continuing to your hotel to check in.

Day 7: Japanese Tea Ceremony Meals: B, L, D

Start the day by visiting the spectacular Kiyomizu Temple. You will spend 1.5 hours on foot exploring the  temple. Later, experience the age-old rituals of a traditional tea ceremony accompanied by a Tea Master. After lunch, visit Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of vermilion torii gates. The Shrine stretches up Mount Inari (233m high). You will walk up part of the mountain and the incline allows a steady-paced walk.

Day 8: Travel to Kanazawa Meals: B, L, D

Depart Kyoto and travel around 4 hours by coach to Kanazawa. After lunch in a local restaurant, wander through the beautiful Kenroku-en Garden before viewing the excellent art collection of the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Continue to your hotel and check in.

Day 9: Washi Paper Making Meals: B, L, D

Visit the Nomura Samurai House and garden before transferring around 1.5 hours to Gokayama. Enjoy lunch and then try your hand on making washi paper. Continue approximately 1 hour to Shirakawago and explore the 300-year-old Gassho style Wada House. Finally, drive around 1.5 hours to reach Takayama and check into your hotel with onsen facilities. Overnight accommodation: In 2023, this will be in a hotel  and bedding will consist of a western bed. Due to the location of the hotel, you may be required to walk a few minutes with your luggage as the road does not allow for large coaches to enter the area.

Day 10: Explore Takayama Meals: B, L, D

Head to the Miyagawa Morning Market, where you can sample some of the delicious local fruits and vegetables (at your own expense). Next, take a leisurely stroll around the traditional houses of the area and visit some of the local museums including Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall, Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum and Takayama Jinya before spending some free time in Kamisannomachi Street. You will spend around 5 hours on foot today sightseeing around the town of Takayama. Overnight accommodation: You may be required to walk a few minutes with your luggage as the road does not allow for large coaches to enter the area.

Day 11: Travel to Nagano Meals: B, L, D

This morning, depart Takayama and travel around 2.5 hours to Matsumoto to visit the formidable 16th Century Matsumoto Castle. After lunch, stop at a Miso House to

learn about the process of making this Japanese seasoning and try Miso soup. Also visit a wasabi farm to learn about its cultivation before travelling a further 1.5 hours to Nagano to check in at your hotel and enjoy it’s Japanese bath facilities should you wish.

Day 12: Snow Monkeys Meals: B, L, D

Travel deeper into the Japanese Alps to visit the Snow Monkeys at the Jigokudani Monkey Park. There is around a 30-minute walk through the forested valley along paths, occasionally on an incline, from the bus park to the main pool where the monkeys bathe. Accustomed to humans, the monkeys can be observed from up-close and they almost completely ignore their human guests. Enjoy lunch and then continue to Zenkoji, one of Japan’s most prolific Buddhist temples. Return to Nagano.

Day 13: Mount Fuji Meals: B, L, D

Today, travel around 3.5 hours by coach to the Fuji Five Lakes area and ascend by road to Fuji’s 5th station (weather permitting) for fantastic views over the area.

Visit Itchiku Kubota Art Museum to view the elaborate dyed silk creations of artist Kubota Itchiku. Continue to your hotel in Mishima or Gotemba and check in.

Overnight Location: The majority of departures will stay overnight in Mishima. Due to hotel availability, some departures may stay overnight in Gotemba.
For May departures only: Instead of visiting Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, a visit to Fuji Shibazakura Festival has been included. This is the best time of the year and one of the most scenic places in Japan to see the pink moss phlox in full bloom. Please note that the flowers’ bloom is weather dependent.

Day 14: Explore Hakone Meals: B, L, D

This morning, transfer to Hakone, a drive of around 2 hours. Enjoy a boat cruise on the peaceful waters of Lake Ashi before boarding the Hakone ropeway to soar over

the hilltops to the volcanic Owakudani Valley. After lunch, continue around 2 hours to Japan’s capital city, Tokyo.
Please note, if Hakone Ropeway and Owakudani Valley is closed due to volcanic activity, you will visit Hakone Shrine and take the Komagatake Ropeway instead.

Day 15: Discover Tokyo Meals: B, L, D

Tokyo is the ultimate 24-hour city, but look behind its busy, high-tech façade and you will find plenty of tranquil backstreets and old temples to explore. This morning, head to the Imperial Palace East Gardens, the Meiji Jingu Shrine, and walk the famous Shibuya Crossing. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to spend how you wish.

Some May and September departures only: Tickets to a Sumo tournament are included in the afternoon to some of our departures travelling in May and September. Many of Japan’s most ancient traditions are preserved in the sport; the ritual involved in the performance is just as fascinating to watch as the sport itself. Please note that the tickets are subject to availability.

Day 16: Tokyo Panorama Meals: B, L, D

Start your last full day in Tokyo with a stroll in the vibrant Asakusa district and soak up the ambiance of Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. Continue to the 634-metre Skytree and ascend to the observation deck for magnificent views. The afternoon is free at leisure until the evening, when you will board a traditional yakata boat for a dinner cruise.

Day 17-18: Depart Tokyo Meals: B

This morning is free at leisure before transferring to the airport for your return flight home. Please note: Only breakfast is included today. Late check-out is not included in our Japan Uncovered tour. If you wish to book a late check-out for your final day in

Tokyo, please contact our reservations department who can confirm the additional price and make this arrangement for you, subject to availability at the hotel.

Transfers: In the event that your flight departs outside of the majority group departure time, you will be transferred to the airport by a shared coach (not with other Wendy Wu Tours passengers). If you are on a shared coach transfer, you may have to walk for a few minutes to get to the coach