Tri-City Trips

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Essential Japan and Hakone – 8 Days

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From €2,338

Departure date: Every Friday from April to November

Itinerary:

Day 1: Tokyo | Friday

  • Welcome to Japan! Transfer by coach (SHUTTLE BUS) to hotel. 18H30.- Meeting with guide. Late in the afternoon, we will pay a visit to this fascinating country by taking a trip on the metro (tickets included) to the Shinjuku district and see the crowds of people who use this modern and efficient collective transport system. Shinjuku is one of the most important nightlife districts. Dinner included and return to hotel by metro with our guide

NOTE: This visit may take place on the day of arrival or after the panoramic city tour next day, depending on the passenger flight arrival times.

Day 2: Tokyo | Saturday

  • In the morning, we take part in a 5-hour trip with our guide to see this amazing city, with its hustle and bustle and ex- tremely modern districts that coexist with quiet, peaceful areas. Brief stop at the Zojoji Temple to make a beauti- ful photograph of the Tokyo Tower. Pay attention to the hundred of Jizos, stone traditional protecting deities who guide us on our travels, give power to those who are weak (such children) and those in dangerous places, and who are dressed including hats, robes and windmills. Then we head to the junction of Shibuya, a junction that is said to be the most crowded in the world. The Meiji Temple is dedicated to the Emperor Meiji, his wife, and their spirits. We continue on our bus along the elegant street of Omotesando. We will edge the most beautiful part of the Imperial Palace and the gardens. Stop to visit the famous Nijubashi Bridge. We will pass through the district of Akihabara, the “electric town” with icons from the popular Japanese Manga and Anime cul- ture and then see Kokugikan, the Sumo stadium, home of this Japanese sport. We will also visit the Buddhist temple of Sensoji, the oldest and most important temple in Tokyo, with its 55-metre high pagoda. Then we will have some free time to visit the traditional commercial street of Nakamise in the district of Asakusa. Lunch included in a local restau- rant. Return to hotel
  • Free time in the afternoon.

Day 3: Tokyo- Kamakura- Enoshima- Odawara – Gora | Sunday

  • We will leave Tokyo for KAMAKURA. This “oasis of peace” for two centuries was the capital of Japan, and treasures nu- merous sanctuaries, temples and gardens. In the Zen temple of Hokoku-ji we will stroll through its bamboo forest (ad- mission included) and we can have a green tea. We also see Sugimoto-dera, the oldest temple in the city, founded in 734. Time in the pleasant city centre before seeing the Great Buddha (Daibutsu – admission included). Our route is sub- sequently one of scenic beauty following the Pacific Ocean. Free time for lunch and a stroll in ENOSHIMA, a small island in the ocean connected by a bridge. We continue to ODAWARA; here we include admission to the castle, an imposing medieval fortress (restored in the twentieth century) from the Edo era, one of Japan´s main castles. Continuation to the beautiful area of Hakone, a region of lakes and moun- tains near Mount Fuji. Accommodation in the pleasant town of GORA (or a nearby place).

Day 4: Gora- Owakudani- Oshino Hakkai- Kawaguchiko- Mount Fuji- Kawaguchiko | Monday

  • Today´s stage is spectacular. We start the day going up OWAKUDANI, the “hell valley”, steam boiler, bubbling mud and sulphurous gases- Note: Access is sometimes closed due to high volcanic activity or toxic gases, in which case we would include the Arakurayama Sengen Park. After that we go on to OSHINO HAKKAI, a small, picturesque village with 8 ponds and views of Mount Fuji. We continue to KAWAGUCHIKO, an idyllic city of small houses, flowers and mountains next to its beautiful lake, where we include a beautiful boat trip. Later we start to climb Mount Fuji where, on the road that takes us to the “fifth station” amidst spectacular for- ests and views, we reach a height of 2305 metres. Return to Kawaguchiko, where there will still be time for a stroll by the lake. We will stay in a Ryokan (traditional Japanese hotels), where we can enjoy its ONSEN (public bath). Dinner included.

Note: In the planned Ryokan some rooms are Japanese style, accommodation on tatamis and others in western style. Accom- modation may sometimes be in a western type hotel
Note: In winter, the climb to Mount Fuji is often closed by snow or other weather conditions; if this is so, we will go as far as we are authorised.

Day 5: Kawaguchiko – Iyasi no Sato Nenba – Toyota – Kyoto | Tuesday

  • We are only 130km (81 miles) from KYOTO. In the morn- ing, we continue along the pretty road bordered by lakes to IYASHI NO SATO NENBA, a tiny village destroyed by a typhoon in 1966 and later restored as a traditional openair mountain village and museum. Its traditional houses have been transformed into arts and crafts shops, restaurants and traditional museums. We then have the opportunity to ad- mire the SHIRAITO FALLS, considered done of the most at- tractive sites in Japan, with a waterfall height of 150 metres. We will then continue to NAGOYA, the third most important city of Japan, on the shores of the Pacific. Here we will visit the TOYOTA MUSEUM (admission included), a must-see for motor lovers. We continue to KYOTO, accommodation.

Day 6: Kyoto | Wednesday

  • We spend all day in the city that was the capital of Japan from the year 794 to 1868 and home to the Imperial Court. During World War II the city was the only major Japanese to escape the bombardments, and so it still preserves its wealth of artistic heritage; the famous protocol restricting green- house gas emissions was signed in Kyoto in 1997. We head for the outskirts of Kyoto to Arashiyama, where we cross the Togetsukyo Bridge (¨bridge over the moon¨), which has fantastic views. We will visit the Tenryuji temple, one of the ¨five major Zen temples of Kyoto¨ and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by a walk through its mystic bamboo forest. The visit includes a trip to one of the most important parts of the city. We will see the marvellous Shinto Shrine of Fushimi Inari, the Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji temple, “the golden pavilion” and its wonderful gardens. Free time before visiting GION, a busy traditional quarter famous for its Geisha. Free time.

Day 7: Kyoto – Nara – Osaka | Thursday

  • We leave for NARA and visit Todaiji, a magnificent Buddhist temple built in 752, which has a giant Buddha and where passengers can take photos and touch and feed the deer that wander through the park. Lunch included. After the visit, we will see HORYUJI Buddhist temple, a World Heritage Site that includes a seminary, monasteries and temples. Its main pagoda temple is one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world and is the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan and an im- portant place of worship.
  • We continue to OSAKA, where we arrive in the evening. Ac- commodation in this modern city (Japan’s second city). We will visit Dotonbori, a colourful district filled with nightlife.

Day 8: Osaka | Friday

  • After breakfast, end of our services

Includes:

  • Includes arrival transfer
  • Boat: Kawaguchiko Lake.
  • City tour in: Tokyo, Kyoto.
  • Evening Transfer: Shinjuku in Tokyo, Traditional quarter of Gion in Kyoto, Dotonbori in Osaka.
  • Ticket admission: Metro, Zojoji Temple, Meiji Temple, Sensoji Temple in Tokyo, Temple of Hokoku-ji and bamboo forest, Sugimoto-dera Temple, Great Buddha (Daibutsu) in Kamakura, Castle in Odawara, Fuji Sengen Shrine in Kawaguchiko, Village Museum in Iyasi No Sato\ Nenba, Toyota Museum, Tenryu-ji Temple, Arashiyama bamboo forest in Kyoto, Fushimi Inari, Imperial Palace, Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto, Todai-ji Temple and Horyu-ji Temple. in Nara.
  • 4 Lunch or Dinner Included in: Tokyo, Tokyo, Kawaguchiko, Nara.

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