Self Guided World Heritage tour - Japan 13 days or 15 days tour option available - An opportunity to utilise our in depth knowledge and assistance in arranging a fantastic and comprehensive unescorted tour of Japan for an amazing once in a lifetime experience at great value...

• Tokyo: city tour ( 3 nights)
• Mt Fuji & Hakone, Nikko (Optional)
• Takayama, Shirakawago, Kanazawa(3 nights)
• Kyoto: city tour (3 nights)
• Mt Koya (1 nights)
• Osaka (1 night)
• Optional 2 night extension: Hiroshima

View details below...

Day 1
Depart from Heathrow or your preferred airport for a scheduled flight to Tokyo. Meals on board.

Day 2 Tokyo
Arrive at Narita Airport in Tokyo, you are met by your tour assistant and transferred to your hotel by Limousine bus for a 3 nights stay. The rest day is at your leisure to adjust to the 9 hours time difference.

Day 3 Tokyo
Morning City tour of Tokyo visiting a number of the main highlights of this magnificent City. The tour includes a visit to the Tokyo Tower where you can enjoy panorama views across the city from the observation tower. We proceed to the peaceful picturesque setting of the Meiji Shrine considered to be one of the finest example of Shinto Architecture set in thick woodland. Next we visit the 'Akasaka Guest House' for a photo opportunity. The Guest House is a magnificent 'Western Style Palace' built in the Baroque Architectural style. We then drive alongside the imposing National Diet Building, which is home to the Japanese House of Parliament. Our tour continues across Tokyo to the Imperial Palace East Garden, where we enjoy a pleasant walk in the East Garden of the Imperial Palace, which is filled with scenic and historic beauty. (Alternatively for tours on Monday & Friday we will visit the Imperial Palace plaza and famous Double bridge instead of the East Garden, including a visit to the inner moat and towering Palace walls surrounded by pine trees). Our tour will continue with a drive and stroll along Ginza high street, the famous shopping area of Tokyo. Our tour will disband at Ginza giving you the opportunity for shopping (we also recommend you visit the Sony Centre building to see the futuristic electronics on display. Ginza is also convenient for the subway to explore further.

Afternoon - free at leisure or take optional afternoon city tour, which includes Asakusa Kannon Temple and Sumida river cruise. (ask for details at time of booking).

Day 4 Tokyo

Free day to explore Tokyo at your leisure. We recommend a visit to Akihabara or Ueno shopping districts.

Day 5 Tokyo - Takayama
To ensure you have a smooth trip and due to luggage restrictions on bullet trains we offer a free 1 item per person luggage transfer from hotel to hotel between Tokyo & Kyoto. Therefore leave your main luggage with the porter/bell desk by 7.30am. You will need to keep with you the light luggage you need for your 3 nights stay in Takayama, Shirakawago and Kanazawa.

Make you own way to Shinagawa or Tokyo station and transfer to Takayama by Express train (ex Nagoya by bullet train). Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation (approx 5min walk)

Day 6 Takayama - Shirakawago (Dinner)
Free time until departure at 11.10am by local bus to Kanazawa (12.54pm arrival). Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation (approx 10min walk). Rest of day you are free to explore at your leisure. Shirakawago has World Heritage designation and is truly a spectacular experience, which many believe is the 'hidden treasure' in Japan. Visiting Shirakawago is like stepping back in time, with uniquely crafted traditional wooden farmhouses (Gassho-Zukuri) set in a beautiful mountainous landscape.

Day 7 Shirakawago - Kanazawa (Breakfast)
Free time until departure at 11.15am by local bus to Kanazawa (12.30pm arrival). Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation. Rest of day you are free to explore at your leisure.

Day 8 Kanazawa - Kyoto

Free time until departure in late afternoon where you board an express train to Kyoto (approx 120min). Upon arrival make your own way to accommodation.

Day 9 Kyoto

Morning site seeing tour of Kyoto & Nara including a visit to the Kinkakuji temple (Golden Pavilion) centred around one of the best examples of a Japanese Zen gardens in the world, Nijo Castle residence of the Tokugawa Shogun built in 1603, Nijo Castle is noted for its Ornate interior and 'nightingale floor' designed to sing when stepped upon to warn of Ninja assassins.(When closed visit Ryoanji temple). We then travel to the Old Kyoto Imperial Palace (on Sat/Sun & national holidays visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine or Hagashi Honganji temple instead). Finally we explore the Kyoto Handicraft Center where we enjoy demonstrations of Japanese traditional arts and crafts. Tour disbands at Handicraft centre, rest of day free.

Optional afternoon tours are available (at extra cost). Optional afternoon tour to Kyoto includes visiting Heian Shrine, Sanjusangendo and the fabulous not to be missed Kiyomizu temple. Alternative tour options include visiting picturesque Nara which includes a visit Todaiji Temple one of the world's largest wooden buildings housing the Great Buddha and Nara Deer Park with more than 1,000 deer roaming freely around the 1,250 acres park.

Day 10 Kyoto
Free day to explore Kyoto at your leisure. We recommend a visit to Kiyomizu temple and Heian Shrine.

Day 11 Kyoto - Mt Koya
Free luggage transfer to Osaka, therefore leave your main luggage with the porter/bell desk by 7.30am. (1 item per person). Recommend you take overnight bag for night at Mt Koya.

You will be met at hotel reception with English speaking assistant and transfered to Shin Imamiya. Leave Shin Imamiya for Mt Koya by train and cable car via Gokurakubashi by yourself. Afternoon free at leisure to explore Mt Koya.

Mount Koya is home to over 117 temples and is where we stay overnight in 'Japanese style' accommodation at the magnificent Temple for the Shingon Esoteric sect of Buddhism, which is still in use by monks today. The peaceful temple is set in beautiful wooded mountainous countryside, 1000m above sea level and is ideal to relax, meditate and learn more of buddhist monk rituals (include: Vegetarian 'monk style' Dinner at Temple).

Day 12 Mt Koya - Osaka
Leave Mt Koya to Osaka by cable car and train via Gokurakubashi by yourself. Upon arrival at Osaka make own way to accommodation. Afternoon free at leisure.

Day 13 Osaka (Departure)

Take airport limousine bus from hotel to the futuristic Kansai International Airport in Osaka for departure to UK.

Extension option - Hiroshima (2 nights)

Day 12 Mt Koya - Hiroshima
Leave Mt Koya to Hiroshima via Osaka by cable car and bullet train by yourself. Upon arrival make own way to accommodation. Afternoon free at leisure.

Day 13 Hiroshima

Free day to explore Hiroshima at your leisure. Optional tours available to Hiroshima & Miyajima. Contact us for details.

Day 14 Hiroshima - Osaka
Leave Hiroshima to Osaka by Bullet train by yourself. Afternoon free at leisure.

Day 15 Osaka to UK
Take airport bus from hotel to the futuristic Kansai International Airport in Osaka for departure to UK. Arriving UK later the same day.

Departure Dates & Price 2008 Land-only (£)

Ref	Twin share	Triple share	Single traveller	Child(6-11yrs)	Upgrade to Sup/Deluxe (twin share)
GWH	1525	1385	1920	1255	240

This is a self guided tour. Departure date can be arranged according to your requirements. Arriving in Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, please add £60 per person.

Price Includes (The prices shown above are 'per person')

• Airport to hotel transfers.
• Meeting assistance at Narita airport.
• Local bus Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa.
• Trains: As specified in itinerary, Ordinary class reserved seats.
• Sightseeing tours by professional English-speaking tour guide.
• Selections of quality accommodation in well furnished hotel rooms with private facilities.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary.
• Free luggage transfer from hotel to hotel between Tokyo & Kyoto, Kyoto & Osaka (1 item per person).

Price Does Not Include

• Travel Insurance.

• International Flights
  

• Optional tours

Flights As agent of many airline consolidators, we can obtain flights in various class, with reputable airlines such as BA, Virgin, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Finnair etc. We will book airline ticket according to availability unless you specify at the booking stage. We can also provide land-only tours if you prefer to organise your own flights and save air miles.

Your Accommodation for this tour Carefully selected quality accommodations in ideal locations, with upgrade to deluxe level available.

Your Meals Breakfast at hotel can be booked in advance at £13 per person per day. Alternatively, there are many places around the hotels that you can buy meals from.

Other fact of our tour arrangement Upon arrival at Tokyo Airport, you will be met by our assistant and directed to the limousine bus terminal.

Magical Japan operates with top quality tour guide service. We also recommend Ryokan experience (Japanese guest house) on the last day while you in Kyoto. The supplement starts from £160 per person for 1 night with Japanese Dinner included.

Nijo Castle (Kyoto) is closed (Tue in Jul & Aug), therefore if your tour falls on these dates, we will visit Ryoanji Temple instead. Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed on weekends and national holidays, we will visit Kitano Tenmangu, or Ryoanji Temple instead.

Suitable for all age travellers who are capable and prepared to arrange their own transfers without guided assistance. Add on tours and city extension available, for details visit optional tours page.

The itinerary is designed according to the most updated information of flights schedules available, although occasionally the sequence in which cities are visited and duration of time spent in each city can change due to local conditions which are out of our control. The above itinerary highlights the main attractions that are to be visited each day. We reserve the right to change or amend our tour itinerary due to heavy traffic conditions or bad weather. We reserve the right to change, amend or alter the itinerary, although we will act in your best interests to handle any amendments. Please refer to the booking form for detailed terms & conditions.