BEST OF JAPAN

DAY 1 : TOKYO

Arrival at the airport, after passport control and baggage reclaim, transfer to Tokyo, the current capital.

*Rooms are available from 15:00.

English-speaking assistant available from the airport to the hotel to give information, help validate the Japan Rail Pass and check-in once at the hotel. Airport-hotel transfer by public transport.

Telephone assistance in English for the duration of your stay.

Assistance on arrival and transfer may be shared with other tour participants.

Overnight stay in HOTEL Standard or Superior

DAY 2 : TOKYO

Breakfast at the hotel.

Full day dedicated to visiting Tokyo with an English-speaking guide.

We start with a splendid view of the megalopolis from the observatory of the Bunkyo Civic Center. Then we will visit the Edo Fukagawa Museum where we find a lifesize representation of daily life in the area at the time. Finally, we will take you to visit the characteristic Asakusa district, 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 HOTEL Standard or Superior

DAY 3 : TOKYO

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day free at leisure.

Optional guided tour of Tokyo *Not bookable on site*

"CROSSING" INTO THE PAST :

A whole day dedicated to visiting some of Tokyo's most historic districts.

We will 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 to explore the picturesque 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.

Overnight stay in HOTEL Standard or Superior

DAY 4 : TOKYO - KYOTO

****Luggage will be transported separately to Kyoto by courier****

(Luggage will arrive the next day, please remember to pack an overnight bag)

It is recommended not to carry bulky luggage with you in order to be able to continue with the guided tour in the afternoon.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, departure independently for Kyoto by shinkansen train using the Japan Rail Pass (2nd class), arriving at Kyoto Station in the early afternoon. Meeting with an English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby and departure for the city tour of Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital. The visit will touch on the

Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, the city's iconic temple made famous by the novel by the writer Yukio Mishima, and will continue with the Ryoan-ji Temple, famous for its rock garden whose elements are arranged in such a way that they can never be seen all at once. On the way back, stroll through the ancient Gion district, known for its tea houses and the maiko, would-be geisha, who are occasionally seen wandering its alleys.

Overnight stay in HOTEL Standard or Superior

DAY 5 : KYOTO - (NARA & FUSHIMI) - KYOTO

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day free at leisure.

Optional guided tour *Not bookable on site*

NARA & FUSHIMI :

Departure from Kyoto for Nara by fast regional train using the Japan Rail Pass.

Full day dedicated to visiting Nara in English. 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 semifreedom. Return to Kyoto, stopping en route at the Fushimi Inari Taisha to admire its endless red portals. Meals not included. Return to the hotel.

Overnight stay in HOTEL Standard or Superior

DAY 6 : KYOTO

Breakfast at the hotel.

Full day free at leisure in Kyoto.

A visit to the Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple and the Sanjusangen-do, a building housing 1001 wooden statues of the Bodhisattva Kannon, is recommended.

Alternatively, you can choose to use your Japan Rail Pass to visit places not far from Kyoto such as Uji, famous for its green tea and the UNESCO World Heritage Byodo-in temple, or Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake.

Overnight stay in HOTEL Standard or Superior

DAY 7 : KYOTO - KANAZAWA

****Luggage will be transported separately to Tokyo by courier****

(Please remember to prepare hand luggage for the two overnight stays in Kanazawa and Takayama) Breakfast at the hotel.

Full day without assistance. Departure for Kanazawa by express train (2nd class) using the Japan Rail Pass (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, renowned especially for its fish products; and the Nagamachi Yuzenkan, where splendid kimonos made of Kaga Yuzen silk, the traditional technique of the area, are on display.

Overnight stay in HOTEL Standard or Superior

DAY 8 : KANAZAWA – (SHIRAKAWA-GO) - TAKAYAMA

Breakfast at the hotel.

Full day without assistance. Departure for Takayama by fast shinkansen train (2nd class) to Toyama (approx. 0.5 hours) and then by express train (2nd class) to
Takayama (approx. 1.5 hours), using your Japan Rail Pass. In Takayama, 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.

Optional Tour *NOHI BUS* :

Scheduled bus service between Kanazawa/ Shirakawago/ Takayama.

Unassisted departure for Shirakawago, the village with characteristic thatched-roof houses, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Continue on to Takayama unassisted.

Overnight stay in ryokan HOSHOKAKU or similar.

DAY : 9 TAKAYAMA - NAGOYA - TOKYO

Breakfast at the hotel.

Full day without assistance. Before leaving for Tokyo, we suggest a walk through the morning market in Takayama.

Departure by express train (2nd class) to Nagoya (approx. 2.5 hours). You may stop for lunch in Nagoya, famous for its grilled eel (unagi). You will continue on to Tokyo by HIKARI (2nd class) shinkansen fast train (approx. 2 hrs). You will always use your Japan Rail Pass for trains.

Overnight stay in HOTEL Standard or Superior

DAY 10 : TOKYO

*Rooms are available until 11:00*.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport unassisted using the Japan Rail Pass if active or by limousine bus depending on public transport availability (separate fee).

Departure from Narita / Haneda Airport.

* S A Y O N A R A *