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Grand Tour of Japan,
from Tokyo to Osaka

Kyushu-the Birth Place of Japanese Civilization to Neon Iit of Tokyo via Ancient Capital of Kyoto.

Relax in the hot springs ryokan in Beppu and Dogo, Matsuyama, experience the bustling city of Osaka, and enjoy the beautiful coastline of Shikoku Island from the Onaruto bridge, world longest suspension bridge over the Naruto strait. Immerse yourself in culture at Miyahima Island, the site of a very important Shinto shrine with famous floating Torii gate. Experience Kyotofs 1,200 years of history. Enjoy Todaiji Templefs Great Buddha, roaming deer in Nara and tranquility of Hakone & Mt. Fuji, the most famous landmark of Japan. Traveling by bus, bullet train and ferry boats, Grand Tour Japan will bring you the best of Japan in any season.

Starting date, 2012 – 03 ⁄ 19, 04 ⁄ 03.

Land only tour package USD 3,798 ⁄ EUR 2,715

Booking and Contact

Day 1 – Arrival Tokyo
Welcome to Tokyo, you are greeted by a tour guide who will escort you to the hotel.
Hotel – Narita Excel Tokyu or similar.

Day 2Akihabara–Tokyo sightseeing
We have organized for a full day tour around metropolis as the first visiting area of the tour. Our first stop is the Tsukiji Fish Outer Market, the world's largest fish market handling over 2,000 tons of marine products each day. Here you can find all sorts of food related goods, knives, vegetables and fish. At Edo Tokyo Museum, you can get acquainted with the history of Tokyo. Then you will stop by Akihabara where you can experience Japan's latest pop culture scene. After the sightseeing and lunch at Asakusa, we will enjoy Sumida River Cruise. Sights along the way include the 12 bridges of Sumida, traditional neighborhoods of old Edo, the unique Asahi Beer Building and the beautiful Hamarikyu Garden. We will continue our tour of Tokyo to Imperial Palace Plaza, the former site of Edo Castle and now it is the residence of Japan's Royal Family. At last, we will head to Ginza for our farewell dinner and final shopping.
Hotel – Tokyo Prince Hotel or similar.

Day 3 Mt.Fuji–Mt.Fuji, Hakone area
We shall begin today's tour by visiting Japan's most iconic symbol, the sacred Fuji-san (Mt. Fuji). Mt. Fuji is with 3776 meters (12,388 ft.) which is the Japan's highest mountain. It is not surprising that the nearly perfectly shaped volcano has been worshiped as a sacred mountain and experienced big popularity among artists as well as everybody else. Mount Fuji is a dormant volcano, which most recently erupted in 1708. From Mt.Fuji we will continue our journey to Hakone, where we will take a Lake Ashi Cruise, then to Owakudani, the area around a crater created during the last eruption of Mount Hakone some 3000 years ago. Today, much of the area is an active volcanic zone where sulfurous fumes, hot springs, and hot rivers can be experienced. At the late afternoon we will experience the "Bullet train" ride. Of course, the tour would not be complete without a long, relaxing soak in the Onsen hot spring that have rejuvenated the Japanese for many centuries.
Hotel – Hamanako Royal Hotel or similar

Day 4Bullet train –Ninja Experience and Nara
After breakfast in the hotel, we will visit the Iga Ninja Museum. Ninjas were the spies of Japan's feudal ages, gathering information about the enemy and conducting various other acts of espionage. The Iga School of ninjutsu (art of stealth), based in Iga Ueno, used to be Japan's leading ninja school besides the Koga School in Shiga Prefecture. The small but excellent Iga Ninja Museum consists of a ninja residence with revolving walls, trap doors and hidden compartments. The exhibition halls display ninja tools, gadgets, weapons as well as a demonstration zone with spectacular shows featuring ninja skills with real weapons. We then proceed to Nara, where the highlight is the Giant Buddha, who has sat in his meditative state for over 1000 years at Todai-ji. Then we will take a stroll through Deer Park where numerous deer roam freely. Thereafter, we proceed to Kyoto, the ancient capital for over a thousand years. Tonight you are on your own for dinner.
Later we will head to Aso city for over night.
Hotel – Kyoto New Miyako hotel or similar

Day 5the Golden Pavilion –Kyoto sightseeing
For our fifth day, we will begin with a morning visit to the Golden Pavilion followed by a trip to Kiyomizu Temple, considered as one of the Japan's best-loved temple. The Kiyomizu Temple was founded in 780 AD. and in 1994 the temple was added to the list of UNESCO's World heritage sites. It is notable for its vast veranda, supported by hundreds of pillars, that juts out over the hillside and offers impressive views of the city. The popular expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression "to take the plunge". Thereafter, we will visit Ryoanji Temple, famous for its Zen Garden, (Karesansui or Dry landscape rock garden) which describes the spirit of Zen Buddhism meditation. After a dinner, we will visit Gion Geisha District.
Hotel – Osaka Sheraton Hotel or similar.

Day 6 Ritsurin Garden–Shikoku Driving
To get our second half of the trip off to the best possible start, we will begin from Ritsurin Garden, built during the Edo Period. The garden is considered the best in Japan. Ritsurin Garden was awarded "3 stars" by "Le Guide Vert", the sightseeing guidebook by Michelin guide. In Matsuyama, we will visit Ishiteji Temple. The name literally meaning "stone hand temple" due to a local legend, is number 51 of the 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. It is also Matsuyama's most famous temple, located near Dogo Onsen. Then, we will visit Dogo Onsen Honkan, a wooden public bathhouse, dating from 1894. It is said to have served as an inspiration for Miyazaki's popular animated film "Spirited Away". And of course, the tour would not be complete without a long, relaxing soak in the Onsen (spa) that have rejuvenated the Japanese people for many centuries. Here, guests can try wearing the Yukata (Japanese robe) and enjoy the Kaiseki dinner.
Hotel – Mielparque Matsuyama Hotel or similar.

Day 7Blood pond hell – Kyushu Driving
Today, we will take a three hour ferry ride to Beppu, Kyushu, renowned for being a spa heaven and famous spa resort in Japan. The "Hells" (Jigoku) of Beppu are nine spectacular hot springs suited for viewing rather than bathing. Seven of the hells are located in the Kannawa district and are very popular tourist spots in Beppu. We will visit Umi-jigoku (sea hell), made up of bright cobalt blue hot water, the Chi-no-ike-jigoku (blood pond hell) where hot water containing red melted clay gushes out, and the Tatsumaki-Jigoku (tornado hell). Later we will head to Aso city for over night.
Hotel – Beppu Royal Hotel or similar.

Day 8Mt.Aso–Nagasaki
This morning, we will take a Ropeway to enjoy the panoramic view of Mt. Aso, an active volcano and its ancient caldera ranks among the world's largest, with a diameter of up to 15miles and a circumference of over 60miles. Nagasaki, one of Japan's closest ports to the Asian mainland, has played a prominent role in foreign trade relations for many centuries and was the only port opened to foreign traders during Japan's period of isolation. Nagasaki is also known as the home of Kakure Kirishitan (Hidden Christian), a Japanese Roman Catholic Church that went underground for over 200 years due to the persecution of Christianity in 1630. In more recent history, Nagasaki became the second city destroyed by an atomic bomb. Our Nagasaki tour includes Glover Garden, a garden with the story of Madame Butterfly, Oura Tenshudo, the oldest standing Christian church in Japan, and Nagasaki Peace Memorial Park.
Hotel – Monterey Nagasaki or similar.

Day 9Kintai-Kyo Bridge–Sanyo Driving
Today, we will experience a ride on the "Bullet Train" to Shin-Shimonoseki. At Mohri Museum and Gardens, we will see the beautiful Zen garden and its displays including Japanese paintings, armory, textiles, pottery, Japanese lacquer ware, antique books and documents that belonged to the Mohri family of Choshu. Mohri is the feudal daimyo domain located in Yamaguchi. In 1866, samurai from Choshu and Satsuma (Kagoshima) allied to fight the Tokugawa shogunfs armies and establish the Meiji Restoration. Then we will visit the Kintai-Kyo Bridge, which was completely made of wood and without the use of any nails in 1673. This bridge makes five bold arches over the Nishiki River.
Hotel – Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima or similar.

Day 10Miyajima –Hiroshima and Miyajima
Our last day, we will take a morning tour of Hiroshima. Our first stop is Miyajima, a small island less than an hour outside the city of Hiroshima. Miyajima is most famous for its giant torii gate, which at high tide seems to float on top of the water. While officially named Itsukushima, the island is more commonly referred to as Miyajima, Japanese for "shrine-island". Like the torii gate, the shrine's main buildings are built over water. Enjoy the beautiful sight ranked as one of Japan's three best views. Then we will visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum. We will continue our journey to the East, Himeji Castle, considered Japan's most beautiful castle which was never destroyed in wars, earthquakes or fires and it keeps its original form. It is a national treasure of Japan and a UNESCO world heritage site. In the evening we will arrive at Osaka and enjoy the last evening of the tour.
Hotel – Nikko Kansai Airport hotel or similar

Day 11 –Departure
Sadly, your pleasant and memorable Japan Tour ends today.
Fly home with cherished memories or enjoy your extended stay in Japan or in Asian Cities.

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