TOKYO
to KYOTO and NARA 14Days Our journey takes us through Japanese history from modern Tokyo, known
as Edo during Japan's period of rule by the Shoguns, to end near Kyoto, Japan's
capital for 400 years and the repository of much of the countries cultural heritage.
Highlights - Imperial Kyoto and Nara
- Sake brewery tour
- Snow monkeys of Yudanaka hot spring
- Traditional merchants houses of Takayama
- Shirakawa-go UNESCO World Heritage site
- Natural hot spring baths
- Accommodation in traditional ryokan
- Sacred Mount Koya
- Ultra-modern Tokyo
Introduction Central
Japan is a region of tall mountain ranges and fast-flowing rivers. It wasn't until
recently that roads reached the remoter villages, and today many remain remarkably
well-preserved, and evocative of centuries past. Our journey takes us through
Japanese history from modern Tokyo, known as Edo during Japan's period of rule
by the Shoguns, to end near Kyoto, Japan's capital for 400 years and the repository
of much of the countries cultural heritage. At Obuse we see a museum dedicated
to the woodblock artist Hokusai and visit a local Sake brewery. Nearby is Yudanaka
Onsen hot spring where the famous "snow monkeys" come to enjoy the natural
hot spring baths just like humans.
In feudal times people travelling from Kyoto to Tokyo would use the Nakasendo
- the road through the central mountains - one of a network of ancient highways.
We will visit one of the best preserved sections, where the lovely villages of
Tsumago and Magome have been immaculately restored.
In the Hida region, we will visit the castle town of Takayama, isolated by a barrage
of mountains. The superb local crafts and architecture are much in evidence in
the old town, with the preserved merchants' houses, teahouses, local sake, and
crafts shops specialising in lacquer ware, pottery, and furniture.
Further
north is Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, where will stay
for the night in one of the traditionally thatched gassho-zukkuri houses. These
large wooden houses have steep thatched roofs, designed to withstand heavy snow,
and the term gassho-zukkuri refers to the shape of praying hands formed by the
roofs. The villagers are said to be the descendants of the fugitive Taira clan
who were fleeing defeat by the Minamoto clan in the 12th century.
From the mountains we will move to the city of Kyoto, Japan's capital for more
than a thousand years. The city is home to more than 1600 Buddhist temples, hundreds
of Shinto shrines, imperial palaces and formal gardens. There will be time to
explore this historical city, and also enjoy some of the wonderful Kyoto cuisine,
with its refined preparation and artistic presentation. Our
next stop is Nara, Japan's capital during the 8th century, when Buddhist glory
reached its height in Japan. Todai-ji temple is the largest wooden structure in
the world and home to the Great Buddha, 15 metres high and made of bronze.
Our last night will be spent in a shukubo temple lodging situated on Mount Koya,
the home of Shingon (Pure Word) Buddhism. There will be time to wander amongst
the thousands of ancient tombs and memorials in the Okunoin cemetery, near the
mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, the Buddhist monk who founded the first temple here
in the 9th century.
Along with the beautiful mountain landscapes and wonderful hot springs, we will
enjoy freshly-made local cuisine at each stop, such as hida beef, miso bean paste,
tofu, sweet dumplings and sansai-ryori made from delicately prepared mountain
vegetables.
Itinerary:
Day
1 Meet in Tokyo
Meet at Narita International Airport and transfer by train to Tokyo. You will
have a leisurely walk around central Tokyo. In the evening there will be a welcome
dinner at a city restaurant.
Overnight at city centre hotel.
15:00 Check-in to hotel
15:00/17:00 Rest time in hotel
17:00/19:00 Pre-dinner walk
19:00/21:00 Dinner in local restaurant
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Villa Fontaine Shiodome
A modern 3-star hotel in the Shiodome area of central Tokyo. The hotel is a 10-minute
covered walk from Shinbashi station.
Day
2 Tokyo
Our first full day in Japan will be spent on a walking tour of Tokyo, visiting
Asakusa, the old residential shitamachi neighbourhood around Yanaka, and taking
a cruise on a boat along the Sumida River to the Hamarikyu gardens. We will also
visit the Meiji shrine and its nearby gardens before finishing in Shinjuku - the
ultra-modern neon-soaked symbol of modern Japan.
08:00 Breakfast
at hotel
09:00/12:30 Sightseeing in Asakusa (travel by subway, walking tour will last around
6 hours of which 1.5 hours are walking)
12:30 Lunch at leisure in Asakusa area
13:30/16:00 Continuation of walking tour to Meiji Shrine and Shinjuku
16:00 Free time
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Villa Fontaine Shiodome
Day
3 Obuse & Yudanaka Onsen
We will board a shinkansen (bullet train) this morning for the journey to Obuse
in Nagano Prefecture north-west of Tokyo. The small, attractive town of Obuse
was where the artist Hokusai, famous for his ukiyo-e woodblock prints lived towards
the end of his life. We will visit the Hokusai-kan, a museum where many of his
works are on display. We will also visit Masuichi-Ichimura Sake Brewery, where
we will have a lunch of kaiseki ryori-style cuisine prepared from fresh local
ingredients. Afterwards, we will make the short journey to Yudanaka Onsen, a hot
spring village famous for its snow monkeys'. The Japanese long-tail monkeys originally
started coming here to warm themselves in the outdoor hot spring bath during the
cold winters, and now come year round.
Overnight in Japanese style minshuku (travelers inn)
08:00
Breakfast at hotel
08:45 Transfer from hotel to Tokyo station by local train
09:48 Shinkansen (bullet) train from Tokyo to Nagano (Dep. 09:48 Arr. 11:25)
11:35 Local train from Nagano to Obuse (Dep. 11:35 Arr. 12:12)
12:15 Luggage left at station, walk to sake brewery
12:30 Tour Masuichi Sake Brewery
13:00 Lunch at Masuichi Sake Brewery
14:00 Visit Hokusai-kan (Museum of Hokusai paintings)
15:00 Transfer to Yudanaka Onsen by taxi
15:30 30 minute walk along forest path to minshuku
16:00 Visit monkey park
18:00 Dinner at minshuku
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Korakukan minshuku
The Korakukan minshuku is a traditional Japanese style minshuku set in a wooded
valley. There are several natural hot springs baths, including one which is outside.
It is 5 minutes walk from the monkey park. Dinner will be served in the dining
room.
Day
4 Narai
We will travel by train this morning to the Kiso valley and the small town of
Narai, an atmospheric example of a post-town on the ancient Nakasendo trail between
Kyoto and Tokyo. There are many well-preserved houses and former inns from the
19th century. The village is also a good place to buy lacquer ware and woodcrafts,
made from Japanese cypress and zelkova. Our accommodation will be an edo-period
house converted into a minshuku (family-run travellers' inn).
08:00 Breakfast
10:00 Train from Obuse to Nagano (Dep. 10:00 Arr. 10:36)
10:50 Train from Nagano to Matsumoto (Dep. 10:50 Arr. 11:41)
12:03 Train from Matsumoto to Narai (Dep. 12:03 Arr. 12:59)
13:00 Leave luggage at minshuku, lunch at leisure
14:00/16:00 Walking in the small village of Narai, visiting shops, some former
inns
16:00/18:00 Check-in to minshuku and free time for shopping
18:00 Dinner in minshuku
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Iseya Minshuku
This minshuku is a traditional wooden building which has been restored. Rooms
are Japanese-style tatami mats with futons. The evening meal is freshly-prepared
local cuisine, served in the dining room.
Day
5 Magome
After breakfast our luggage will be taken and sent ahead to Takayama, so you will
need a small daypack to carry your essential items for the next two days.
A short train journey followed by a 10-minute bus ride will take us to the small
town of Tsumago. Another of the post-towns on the former Nakasendo trail, Tsumago
has been preserved by strict self-imposed rules that prohibit the sale, rental
or destruction of the handsome houses. It's a living museum but one which is still
inhabited by the local residents. We will wander the streets, tasting gohei-mochi,
skewered balls of pounded sticky rice covered in a sweet paste of miso, sesame
and walnuts. There will be time to visit the folk museum, with exhibits on the
old Nakasendo trail and the village. From here, the trail winds its way over the
Magome Pass to the neighbouring town of Magome. There will be the opportunity
of some lovely walking along the ancient trail. We will arrive in time to check
in to our minshuku, a lovely family-run inn with an antique irori (sunken Japanese
hearth) and a bath made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood.
07:00
Breakfast
08:31/09:41 Train from Narai to Nagiso
10:10/10:17 Bus from Nagiso to Tsumago
10:30/13:00 Visit to Tsumago village
13:00 Lunch at leisure
14:00/16:00 free time for shopping
16:00/16:30 By taxi to Magome village
16:30 Check-in to minshuku
17:00/18:00 Visiting Magome village
18:00 Dinner at minshuku
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Minshuku Tajima-ya
The minshuku is situated on the cobbled main street of Magome, with a lovely view
down the hill. It is a small, family-run guesthouse, formerly a house. The rooms
are not en suite, but there are hinoki (Japanese cypress) baths for both men and
women (segregated) in the guesthouse.
Day
6 Takayama
After an early breakfast, we will transfer to Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. Takayama
was formally an enclave for skilled carpenters working for the imperial courts
in Kyoto and Nara. It has retained much of its traditional architecture, and we
will explore the San-machi area with its rows of old merchant's houses, some open
as museums. The town is also well-known for its crafts; particularly lacquer ware,
pottery, and furniture. In the evening we will try the local Hida beef, and perhaps
some locally-brewed sake. Luggage sent from Narai will be waiting at the ryokan.
07:00
Breakfast
08:10 Bus from Magome to Nakatsugawa (Dep. 08:10 Arr. 08:39)
09:16 Train from Nakatsugawa to Tajimi (Dep. 09:16 Arr. 09:53)
10:00 Train from Tajimi to Minoo-Ota (Dep. 10:00 Arr. 10:29)
10:35 Train from Minoo-Ota to Takayama (Dep. 10:35 Arr. 12:11)
13:00 Lunch at leisure
15:30 Check-in
16:30 Visit San-machi, old merchant's houses
18:00 Dinner
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Asunaro Ryokan
This all-wooden structure was once the residence of a wealthy merchant, and has
been beautifully restored. The ryokan has an irori (sunken hearth). The rooms
are not en-suite. The food is delicious local 'sansai-ryori', made of delicate
mountain vegetables.
Day
7 Takayama
Today we will have a full day in Takayama. In the morning there will be an opportunity
to visit the morning market along the banks of the river. In the afternoon there
will be free time to wander the old town and hunt for souvenirs or perhaps see
some of the museums, such as the Hirata Kinenkan, a restored house and garden
where ten generations of the Hirata merchant family lived.
08:00
Breakfast
09:00/11:00 Visit to morning market
12:30 Lunch at leisure
13:30/18:00 Free time
Day
8 Shirakawa-go
North-west of Takayama is the village of Ogimachi, within the Shirakawa-go area
of the Sho-kawa valley. The village is home to a large number of gassho-zukuri
houses, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995. These large wooden
houses have steep thatched roofs, designed to withstand heavy snow, and the term
gassho-zukkuri refers to the shape of praying hands formed by the roofs. Inside,
the houses could accommodate large extended families of up to sixty people.
Our accommodation here will be in one of these traditional houses, and dinner
will be served around the irori (sunken hearth).
08:00 Breakfast
09:00/10:00 Free time
10:00 Check-out of ryokan
11:05 Bus from Takayama to Shirakawa-go (Dep. 11:05 Arr. 12:52)
13:00 Lunch at leisure
14:00/16:00 Walk around village
1:600/18:00 Free time for photographs
18:00/19:00 Dinner
20:00/22:00 Optional visit to local hot spring
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Yokichi Minshuku
This minshuku is in a traditional gassho-zukuri house. The phrase gassho-zukuri
means praying-hands and refers to the shape of the steep, thatched roofs. The
minshuku is run by a local family, and dinner is served in the dining room at
6pm.
The minshuku is this village are clean and comfortable, but are simple in nature
due to the limitations of the buildings and the restrictions placed on their development.
Day
9 Kyoto
We will leave the mountains today, travelling bus to Takayama, and then by train
to Kyoto.
We will check into our accommodation, a comfortable modern hotel in central Kyoto.
In the evening we will take a walk through the Gion district famous for its many
ryotei (exclusive private restaurants) and the geisha or maiko (apprentice geisha).
Kyoto Tower hotel
9000/person (1800 dbl or twn)
08:00 Breakfast
10:05 Bus from Shirakawa-go to Takayama (Dep. 10:05 Arr. 11:40)
12:00 Lunch at leisure
13:40 Train from Takayama to Nagoya (Dep. 13:40 Arr. 16:09)
16:17 Shinkansen (Bullet)train from Nagoya to Kyoto (Dep. 16:17 Arr. 16:53)
17:00 Check-in to hotel
18:00 Walking in city centre
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Kyoto Tower Hotel
This modern hotel is located opposite the Kyoto train station. All rooms are en-suite.
Day
10 Kyoto
A full day in Kyoto today. We will have a guided tour of the Ginkakuji (Silver
pavilion) and Kiyomizu-dera temple. In the afternoon there will be free time to
explore the city. Nishiki-koji covered market is a wonderful place to explore,
with a wide selection of food. Overnight in city centre hotel.
08:00 Breakfast
09:00/12:00 Walking tour of Ginkaku-ji temple and Kiyomizu-dera
12:30 Lunch at leisure
13:30/18:00 Free time
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Kyoto Tower Hotel
Day
11 Nara
The ancient city of Nara, which preceded Kyoto as Japan's capital from 710 to
784, is one hour south of Kyoto by train. We will visit the old merchant district
of Nara-machi with its narrow streets, shops, cafes and restaurants. Next we will
visit Todai-ji temple, with its bronze statue of Buddha, said to be the largest
wooden structure in the world. Overnight in city-centre hotel.
08:00 Breakfast
09:50 Local train from Kyoto to Nara (Dep. 09:50 Arr. 10:33)
11:00 Walking tour of Nara-machi (old town)
12:30 Lunch at leisure
13:00 Check-in to hotel
13:30 Visit Todai-ji temple
16:00/18:00 Free time
18:30 Dinner at hotel
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Fujita
The Hotel Fujita is centrally located in Nara about 5 minutes walk from the train
station. Rooms are western-style twins with en suite facilities.
Day
12 Mount Koya
From the Nara plain we will travel by train along the scenic Nankai railway line
to Mount Koya, a bowl-shaped valley filled with stands of cedar trees 800 metres
up in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula. Since the 9th century, when the monk
Kukai (also known as Kobo Daishi) founded the first temple and the shingon sect
of Buddhism, Mount Koya has been a place of religious devotion and ceremony. Today
there are more than 100 monasteries, many of which have shukubo (temple lodgings).
We will stay in one of the elegant temples, run by the monks, and dine on shojin-ryori
(Buddhist vegetarian cuisine). There will be a guided walk through the vast Okuno-in
cemetery, with thousands of graves and memorials to feudal lords and other past
luminaries.
08:00 Breakfast
10:20 Train from Nara to Shin-Imamiya (Dep. 10:20 Arr. 10:55)
11:02 Train from Shin-Imamiya to Gokuraku-bashi (Dep. 11:02 to 12:40)
12:48 Funicular railway from Gokuraku-bashi to Koya-san (Dep. 12:48 Arr. 12:53)
12:58 Bus from Koya-san to Shukubo Daien-in
13:15 Lunch at leisure
14:15 Walking tour of Okuno-in cemetery and shrine
18:00 Dinner
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Shukubo Daien-in
Daien-in is a shukubo (pilgrim's lodgings) attached to a Buddhist temple. The
rooms are spacious Japanese-style rooms most looking onto a small courtyard garden.
The building is part of the temple itself, with large wooden beams and polished
wooden floors. As Koya-san is at 800 metres above sea-level, and the temple is
not centrally heated it can be cold in some of the rooms. Temperatures in June
will be around 15 degrees, while in November it may be as low as 10 degrees. Long-sleeve
shirts, sweaters, and a jacket are advisable for the November trip, while for
June a sweater would suffice.
Day
13 Transfer to Tokyo
This morning you will have the opportunity to get up early (5am!) to join in the
Buddhist service at the temple. After breakfast we will check-out and return to
Tokyo via Osaka.
05:00 Optional Buddhist early morning service
06:00 Breakfast
08:00 Check-out
08:58 Funicular railway from Koya-san to Gokuraku-bashi (Dep. 08:58 Arr. 09:03)
09:10 Train from Gokuraku-bashi to Osaka (Dep. 09:10 Arr. 10:46)
11:00/14:00 Walking in Osaka & lunch at leisure
14:43 Shinkansen (Bullet train) from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo (Dep. 14:43 Arr. 17:43)
18:00 Check-in to hotel
Day
14 Tour ends
The tour will end today and your tour leader will help you transfer to Tokyo's
Narita Airport for your flight home.
Wednesday April 2 - Tuesday 15 2008
Wednesday 9 April - Tuesday 22 April 2008
Saturday 17 May - Friday 30 May 2008
Sunday 1 June - Saturday 14 June 2008
Sunday 12 October - Saturday 25 Oc
Wednesday 5 November - Tuesday 18 November 2008
Group size
Maximum: 12 Clients
Minimum: 5 Clients
Includes
All domestic transport, accommodation, entrance fees, breakfasts.
10 evening meals are included.
Does not include
International flights, drinks with meals, lunches and 3
evening meals in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara are not included for reasons of choice
and convenience, but your guide will be available to help with recommendations
and ordering.
Accommodation
Hotel (Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara)
Modern western-style hotels are used in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara. The rooms are generally
smaller than equivalent hotels in the West. All have en-suite facilities, air-conditioning,
TV and fridges in rooms.
Ryokan (Takayama)
Ryokan are traditional Japanese-style inns. They may be in modern concrete or
older wooden buildings but the rooms are always in the Japanese style with tatami
(straw) matting and futons laid out in the evening by the ryokan staff. Evening
meals are served together usually in the dining room, and are exquisitely prepared
multi-course meals. Many ryokan have both en suite bathrooms (with the exception
of some older buildings) and communal hot spring style baths (segregated by sex).
They are the classic Japanese experience.
Minshuku (Yudanaka Onsen, Narai, Tsumago)
Minshuku are usually family-run traditional Japanese-style inns. They have tatami-mat
rooms, with futons laid out in the evening for sleeping. Most minshuku do not
have en suite bathrooms as they are in older tradional wooden buildings. Compared
with a ryokan, they are usually (but not always) slightly less formal, but the
service and food is just as good.
Shukubo (Koya-san)
These are lodgings in Buddhist temples originally meant for pilgrims, but now
open to anyone. The rooms are similar to ryokan or minshuku, though without ensuite
facilities. The food is excellent vegetarian Buddhist 'shojin-ryori' cuisine.
It is a wonderful experience to stay in a shukubo and there is also the opportunity
to join the early morning religious service.
Service is provided by Buddhist monks, who are courteous and friendly, but it
should be kept in mind that they are not hotels and are attached to temples in
sacred places such as Koya-san.
Single rooms
We offer the option of a single room in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara. Single rooms are
generally not available in ryokan, minshuku and shukubo.
In traditional Japanese accommodations guests are expected to share with same-sex
tour group members in these accommodations and there can be up to 4 people in
one room as is the style in Japan. They will not be expected to share with members
of the opposite sex, even if they are the only man or woman in the group.
Meal Plan
Breakfasts and 10 evening meals are included. Lunches and
3 evening meals in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara are not included for reasons of choice
and convenience, but your tour leaderwill be available to help with recommendations
and ordering.
Mode of travel
Trains(shinkansen 'Bullet train' and local), bus
Tour leader
Full time services of Japanese-speaking British tour leader.
*Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary,
but we cannot make absolute guarantees! Changes to the itinerary will normally
be to introduce an improvement. Weather conditions, road and transport conditions,
and the health of travellers can all contribute to changes. The guide will ensure
that the trip runs according to plan, but an easy-going nature is an asset!
How to book
To book a tour or for more information,
please contact :
or
0870 033 9577
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will be applied to regulations of the sponsoring company. In any cases, Gendai
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Central
Japan is a region of tall mountain ranges and fast-flowing rivers. It wasn't until
recently that roads reached the remoter villages, and today many remain remarkably
well-preserved, and evocative of centuries past. Our journey takes us through
Japanese history from modern Tokyo, known as Edo during Japan's period of rule
by the Shoguns, to end near Kyoto, Japan's capital for 400 years and the repository
of much of the countries cultural heritage. At Obuse we see a museum dedicated
to the woodblock artist Hokusai and visit a local Sake brewery. Nearby is Yudanaka
Onsen hot spring where the famous "snow monkeys" come to enjoy the natural
hot spring baths just like humans.
Further
north is Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, where will stay
for the night in one of the traditionally thatched gassho-zukkuri houses. These
large wooden houses have steep thatched roofs, designed to withstand heavy snow,
and the term gassho-zukkuri refers to the shape of praying hands formed by the
roofs. The villagers are said to be the descendants of the fugitive Taira clan
who were fleeing defeat by the Minamoto clan in the 12th century.
Our
next stop is Nara, Japan's capital during the 8th century, when Buddhist glory
reached its height in Japan. Todai-ji temple is the largest wooden structure in
the world and home to the Great Buddha, 15 metres high and made of bronze.
Day
1 Meet in Tokyo
Day
2 Tokyo
Day
3 Obuse & Yudanaka Onsen
Day
4 Narai
Day
5 Magome
Day
6 Takayama
Day
7 Takayama
Day
8 Shirakawa-go
Day
9 Kyoto
Day
10 Kyoto
Day
11 Nara
Day
12 Mount Koya
Day
13 Transfer to Tokyo
Day
14 Tour ends
0870
033 9577 
