MAJESTIC JAPAN Activity Level: 2
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Japanese Temple Bamboo Forest MAJESTIC JAPAN Activity Level: 2 March 29, 2021 – 16 Days 32 Meals Included: 14 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 11 dinners Experience the ancient traditions and Fares per person: modern life on the first in-depth tour of $12,095 double/twin; $13,755 single Japan we have ever offered. This tour Please add 0.3% GST. explores the highlights of Honshu, starting Experience Points: with two days in bustling Tokyo. A full day is Earn 200 points from this tour devoted to visiting Mount Fuji and Hakone Redeem 200 points if you book by December 16, 2020. National Park. Other notables are a cruise across Ashinoko Lake with views of Mount Fuji, the unique thatched-roof houses of Shirakawago, a tour of the island of Miyajima, a trip over the Owakudani hot springs on the You could add another photo here Hakone Ropeway, and the jaw-drop- ping Todaiji Temple which contains the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue. We ride the famous Bullet Train from Kyoto to Hiroshima and finish the tour with four nights in Kyoto, the historic centre of the country. This tour is an unforgettable journey with many intimate discoveries along the way, rich in both scenic beauty and cultural heritage. ITINERARY Day 1: Monday, March 29 Imperial Palace, home of the Japanese Royal We take an afternoon ferry to Tsawwassen and Family. This classic Japanese castle is surrounded drive to New Westminster. Meet the BC Interior by a moat and has beautiful simplistic greenery. travellers during a get-acquainted dinner. Take a Take a photo in front of the charming Megane- stroll along the Fraser River boardwalk tonight. bashi (or spectacles) bridge which has a distinc- Note: While it may seem unnecessary to travel to tive European flare. Finally, explore some of To- Vancouver the day before your flight, ferries and kyo's latest trends and fashions in Shibuya, a fa- flights can have long delays due to bad weather. mous shopping district. Take in the hectic pace Meals included: Dinner of Tokyo as you attempt to cross the world fa- Accommodation: Inn at Westminster Quay mous "scramble" crossroad. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner Day 2: Tuesday, March 30 Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel We leave in late morning to go to Vancouver Air- port. Our flight on Japan Airlines to Tokyo leaves Day 5: Friday, April 2 about 2 pm, flight time of 10 hours. We cross the We take a day trip to Kamakura, the former de International Date Line, regaining this day on our facto capital of Japan which was the seat of the return. Shogunate during the Kamakura Period (1185 - Meals included: Breakfast 1333). Once the largest city in the world, the Kamakura of today is a small, sleepy seaside town Day 3: Wednesday, March 31 with numerous temples and shrines. Attractions We arrive at Tokyo Narita Airport about 4:30 pm. today are: Enoshima Samuel Cocking Garden, Welcome to Japan! We are met by our local Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, and Komachi-Dori driver and guide, and drive into central Tokyo. Shopping Street. Tonight, we walk to a restaurant Greater Tokyo has a population of 38 million in the Shinjuku area for dinner. people and is considered the world’s most pop- Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner ulous metropolitan area. Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel Day 6: Saturday, April 3 Day 4: Thursday, April 1 We leave busy Tokyo and today is devoted to vis- The first stop on our Tokyo tour is Tokyo Sky Tree iting Mount Fuji and Hakone National Park. First, which is 634 metres high, the tallest free-standing we cruise on a majestic replica pirate ship across broadcasting tower in the world. We ride up to Ashinoko Lake, formed by a volcanic eruption the first observatory for a panoramic view across over 3,000 years ago. Watch for a glimpse of the bustling city. Then we head to the Asakusa Mount Fuji, but keep in mind that he is notori- District — a jolt to the senses where we leave be- ously shy and needs a clear day to be seen in full hind the ultra-modern bustle to discover the splendour. The symmetrical volcano towers to quiet side streets of this traditionally styled dis- 3,776 metres, highest in Japan, and last erupted trict. Asakusa was an entertainment district in the three centuries ago. In Hakone National Park, we Edo era, but lost its role in the modern era. Now- ride the Hakone Ropeway all the way up Mount adays, it is home to charming shops and restau- Owakudani, soaring over sulphurous fumes ema- rants. Walk along Nakamise Street, a centuries nating from hot springs and rivers in this volcanic old souvenir street of 96 shop stalls, do some area. At the top, try the famous hardboiled egg, shopping for that perfect souvenir, or pick up a cooked at the source of the springs, and add local delicacy for lunch. Afterwards, we visit the seven years to your life, according to local lore! more about daily life in this remote area. We con- Back on our coach, we drive to Suwa. tinue to Kanazawa near the north coast. During Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner the afternoon, we stroll around Kenrokuen Gar- Accommodation: Rako Hananoi Hotel den and go to Sakuda Crafts to make your own gold-leaf chopsticks. Day 7: Sunday, April 4 Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Matsumoto Castle is one of the most complete Accommodation: ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel and beautiful castles in Japan. Built over 500 years ago, the wooden interiors provide an au- Day 10: Wednesday, April 7 thentic experience quite different to the large re- Note: Please pack a carry-on bag with your over- built castles in other cities. The observation deck night things because your suitcase is shipped by on the sixth floor of the main keep offers a view courier to Hiroshima and arrives tomorrow. over the surrounding city. Later, we visit the Daio Today, we have an exciting experience aboard Wasabi Farm, known for its watermills. This after- Japan’s efficient railway system. We ride on the noon, we drive to Takayama and stay two nights. Limited Express Train (Thunderbird) from Kana- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner zawa to Kyoto, then switch to the famous Bullet Accommodation: Hotel Associa Takayama Resort Train (Shinkansen). These trains have a maximum operating speed with passengers of 320 kph, Day 8: Monday, April 5 although tests have reached over 600 kph. It What sets Takayama apart from most large Japa- takes us only 1 hour and 40 minutes to travel 354 nese cities is that it has retained many of its orig- km to Hiroshima across western Honshu. A Bento inal wooden houses and there are few modern box lunch is provided on this train. This afternoon, high-rise buildings. Founded in the late 16th cen- we visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and tury, its compact old town, known as ‘Little Kyoto’, A-Bomb Dome which was one of the few build- is home to traditional tea houses and shops. This ings that survived the 1945 atomic bomb. A morning, we visit the Miyagawa Open Air Market, UNESCO World Heritage Site, the A-Bomb Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum, and Kami San- Dome is a tangible link to Hiroshima's unique nomachi Town with its old homes, shops, coffee past. houses, and sake breweries. This afternoon, we Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner are at the Yatai Kaikan Festival Float Museum Accommodation: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima where you can see some of the elaborately crafted floats or 'yatai' that are paraded through Day 11: Thursday, April 8 the streets during festivals in spring and autumn. Miyajima Island is situated in southwestern Hiro- Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner shima. It is a scenic site where the mountains, sea, Accommodation: Hotel Associa Takayama Resort and red shrine buildings blend together in har- mony, and the entire island is designated as a his- Day 9: Tuesday, April 6 toric site. A 15-minute ferry ride takes us over to Enjoy a scenic drive through the picturesque the island. The Itsukushima-jinja Shrine, built in countryside to the rural region of Shirakawago, a the 10th century, along with the O-torii Gate in UNESCO World Heritage Site where we see fas- the sea are world icons and create a wonderful cinating examples of old steep thatched roof contrast with the dark green woods and deep houses. This unique architectural style, harmo- blue sea. There is a shopping opportunity at the nized into the magnificent mountain landscape, Miyajima Traditional Handicrafts Centre. was developed over 100 years ago to survive the Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner harsh winters. We visit Wada House and learn Accommodation: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima Day 12: Friday, April 9 is about aesthetics, preparing a bowl of tea from We walk to Hiroshima station and take a one- your heart. hour ride on the Bullet Train to Himeji. Himeji Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch Castle is also known as White Heron Castle due Accommodation: Kyoto Century Hotel to its white walls and elegant appearance. The Day 14: Sunday, April 11 castle complex is over 400 years old and com- First, we visit the jaw-dropping Todaiji Temple, prises over 80 buildings, connected by a series of the world’s largest wooden building. Enter the gates and winding paths. This afternoon, we enormous wooden gateway, towering over 25 drive into Kyoto and stay four nights. metres high and fashioned from 800-year old Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner trees, passing the guardian king statues of the Accommodation: Kyoto Century Hotel temple.