Résumé Be captivated by the beauty and traditions of Japan during this 11-day guided tour. Travel to Kyoto, a cultural hub for the country, where you can bask in the serenity surrounding the iconic Golden Pavilion. See the Giouji Temple — a Buddhist place of worship set amidst a moss-covered forest — and feast on a traditional Kyo-Kaiseki lunch as you watch an apprentice geisha perform beside you. In Tokyo, choose to make decadent sushi rolls using the finest quality fish during a private cooking class or join a Local Expert and explore the fashionable Omotesando and Harajuku neighborhoods before sampling a local lunch. Then discover the river valley of the Oirase Gorge, walking along its crystal-clear waters while marveling at the amber leaves that surround you. Later, journey to a local brewery for a private sake tasting and behind-the-scenes tour, led by a sake brew master. Itinéraire court
- Jour 1
- Welcome To Osaka, Japan
- Jour 2
- Highlights Of Osaka Relaxed Start
- Jour 3
- A Local Perspective On Hiroshima
- Jour 4
- The Temples And Geisha Of Kyoto Relaxed Start
- Jour 5
- Mt. Fuji And On To Tokyo
- Jour 6
- Explore Traditional Tokyo Relaxed Start
- Jour 7
- Journey To Sendai
- Jour 8
- Tsugaru And Hirosaki Castle
- Jour 9
- Exploring Oirase Relaxed Start
- Jour 10
- The Highlights Of Tokyo
- Jour 11
- Farewell Japan
Villes de voyage (10): Hirosaki, Hiroshima, Kawaguchi, Kyoto, Matsushima, Mount Fuji, Narita, Osaka, Sendai, Tokyo |
Points forts Dining Summary - 5 Dinner (D)
- 10 Breakfast (B)
- 7 Lunch (L)
Choice Highlights - Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Mt Fuji: Visit the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, where you’ll enjoy its unique architecture, wander the serene gardens and marvel at its collection of beautiful kimonos.
- Mt Fuji: Ride the Kachi-Kachi Ropeway cable car to fully embrace the breathtaking views of the lake and the mountain.
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Tokyo: Participate in a private sushi-making class in Tokyo and discover why it takes ten years to perfect this 2000-year-old Japanese art from a master sushi chef. Afterwards, enjoy a freshly prepared Highlight Lunch where you can marvel at his culinary brilliance.
- Tokyo: Join a Local Expert and head to the Omotesando and Harajuku neighbourhoods known for their fashion, art and design before indulging in lunch.
Additional Included Highlights - Enjoy seamless personal assistance throughout your journey. From securing exclusive reservations, to organising transportation, your Travel Concierge ensures every aspect of your travel is tailored to your tastes and preferences.
- In select destinations, our network of Local Expert Guides will illuminate your journey on a deeper level.
- Included at all hotels.
- Hotel taxes, porterage and tips, as well as tips for included dining experiences, are included.
- Enjoy breakfast every morning, and an array of incredible dining options throughout your journey, infused with discovery and adventure.
- On days where a Relaxed Start (RS) is indicated, you can select to indulge in breakfast in bed.
- Enjoy complimentary hotel Wi-Fi. And, on select coaches, onboard Wi-Fi may also be available.
- Transfers are included on your journey start and end dates, and where additional accommodation has been booked in advance through Luxury Gold. Transfers to train stations or alternate hotels, in the same start or end city as the itinerary, may be requested.
Curated Experiences - Hiroshima: Experience a truly poignant travel moment, as you meet a survivor of the 1945 Hiroshima atomic bomb, which destroyed most of the city during World War II and changed world history forever.
- Oirase Gorge: Take a gentle walk along the Oirase Gorge in the Hachimantai National Park. Each season brings its own colour palette while unique rock formations and the burbling river is a pleasure to follow.
Exceptional Dining - Osaka: Meet your fellow travellers at your dinner. Raise your glass to the start of your luxury tour of Japan.
- Osaka: Discover why Osaka is known as the kitchen of Japan on a stroll through Donburi street with a Local Expert. Taste local specialities such as rounds of ground octopus wrapped in batter, called Takoyaki.
- Hiroshima: Indulge in the local favourite of okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake dish consisting of wheat flour batter and other ingredients cooked on a teppan.
- Kyoto: Enjoy a performance by a Maiko, an apprentice Geisha, skilled in the art of classical dance and entertainment, as you savour a lunch of traditional Kyo-Kaiseki cuisine. Admire the balance of taste, texture and colour in this Kyoto speciality.
- Tokyo: During a Your Choice Evening, choose from two hand-picked restaurants, each specialising in local delicacies. Try Shabu-shabu, sizzling hotpots of meat and vegetables, or Teppan-yaki, where rice, meats and vegetables are freshly cooked on the grill in front of you.
- Sendai: Experience a truly Japanese tradition when you enjoy a tea ceremony at a traditional tea house. Learn the art of making the perfect matcha green tea as you follow the custom.
- Oirase: Enjoy a rare opportunity to meet a brewmaster, Takeshi Miura, and learn about the essence of sake in a special guided visit of his brewery. Share some of the sacred drink of Japan in the stunning surroundings of Oirase.
- Tokyo: Tradition meets innovation as you enjoy a fine dining experience with new friends at Hoshinonaruki. Using age-old Japanese culinary techniques and seasonal ingredients, this is a dining experience that truly brings the flavour of the country to life.
Magnificent Stays - Oirase Gorge: Ideally situated moments away from the serene Oirase Keiryua stream, the Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel is a luxurious resort hotel and offers spacious bedrooms, five-star facilities and easy access to natural hot springs situated in the nearby forest.
Passport Moments - Osaka: Explore the fascinating Osaka Castle, a famous landmark that was pivotal in the reunification of Japan during the 16th century. Marvel at the variety of cultural artefacts showcasing the history of Osaka.
- Osaka: Visit the top of the Floating Garden Observatory in the Umeda Sky Building for incredible city views.
- Hiroshima: Experience travelling like a local as you ride the high-speed bullet train. Catch views of snow capped mountains and quaint Japanese towns as you journey between each city. This feat of modern engineering brings new joy to train rides.
- Hiroshima: Spend some quiet moments in the emotive Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and see the A-Bomb Dome, the only structure left standing.
- Kyoto: Wander around the famous Giouji Temple, where the bamboo trees and green groves inspire relaxation. This tiny temple with the thatched roof entrance is a sanctuary and one of the most scenic temples you’ll see in the city.
- Kyoto: Join your Travel Concierge for an orientation of Gion neighbourhood, known as Kyoto's geisha district. See well-preserved wooden machiya houses and perhaps experience the electric ambiance of a local bar or restaurant.
- Kyoto: Visit the stunning Zen Buddhist temple of Kinkaku-ji, with its glittering Golden Pavilion and hear about its intriguing history. Then, explore the vibrant Gion neighbourhood, where you may spot a Geisha or two.
- Tokyo: Take a sightseeing tour of Tokyo with your Travel Concierge to spot many places of interest in this bustling capital city.
- Matsushima Bay: Take in views of the many pine clad islets in Matsushima Bay on a private cruise. Hear about the many haikus featuring the bay describing it as a place of love and wonder.
- Matsushima Bay: Meet the owner of a traditional Japanese inn set in the dazzling Matsushima Bay, which has inspired poetry over the centuries. Hear more about her life and local traditions in the pine covered islands as you cruise between them.
- Hirosaki: Learn about the meticulous care and nurturing of cherry blossom trees from a specialised cherry blossom doctor who ensures that each one, from sapling to mature tree, is healthy and thriving during the beautiful season each April.
- Tsugaru han Neputa Village: See the colourful decorations, which take a year to create, being prepared for the summer Neputa Festival by local craftsmen. Witness a private musical performance of Tsugaru Shamisen and Taiko, a traditional style of Japanese guitar and drumming.
- Tokyo: Pay a visit to the Sensō-ji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo and the site of a large late spring festival, which many international visitors attend. This significant place of worship is dedicated to Kannon Bosatsu, the Bodhisattva of compassion.
- Tokyo: Wander down one of Japan's oldest shopping streets, Nakamise Street, which dates back to the 17th century. If you're feeling peckish, visit Kappabashi, the back street that is also known as the foodie hub of Tokyo.
Personalise your day - Mt Fuji: Visit the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, where you’ll enjoy its unique architecture, wander the serene gardens and marvel at its collection of beautiful kimonos.
- Mt Fuji: Ride the Kachi-Kachi Ropeway cable car to fully embrace the breathtaking views of the lake and the mountain.
- Tokyo: Participate in a private sushi-making class in Tokyo and discover why it takes ten years to perfect this 2000-year-old Japanese art from a master sushi chef. Afterwards, enjoy a freshly prepared Highlight Lunch where you can marvel at his culinary brilliance.
- Tokyo: Join a Local Expert and head to the Omotesando and Harajuku neighbourhoods known for their fashion, art and design before indulging in lunch.
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