CITIES AND FIELDS
From
7 090
$
CITIES AND FIELDS Tour
22 days
One of Japan Experience’s favourite circuits, enjoying more than 30 years of uninterrupted success.
Very complete, it lets you visit the most famous sights in Japan. Its strong point: it’s both a stopover on the main island of Honshu, and on the large volcanic island in the south, Kyushu.
Change of scenery guaranteed!
+ Mini group of 8 people.
+ Full board : meals, transport (except 3 free days).
+ Supervision by a bilingual English-speaking guide, specialist in Japanese culture.
+ Activities and varied sights : temples, gardens, museums, castles, shops, countryside, tea producer/ceremony, sake factory...
+ Visit unmissable attractions on the main Honshu island, South Kyushu island and some sights off the beaten track.
+ 3/4**** hotels carefully chosen by us with impeccable service. 4 nights in quality traditional accommodation (Ryokan and Buddhist temple), 1 night on board the Sunflower ferry.
+ Discovery world famous Japanese gastronomy during lunches and dinners.
+ Various trips : minibus, shinkansen (Japanese high-speed train), metro, funicular, boat.
Included :
- Visits and activities mentioned in the program are accompanied by a English-speaking specialist from Japan
- Accommodation in 3/4**** hotels, Ryokan, Buddhist temple** and ferry, rooms for two
- Full board unless otherwise stated (3 days free)
- Public transportation card
- Shuttle transfer airport <> hotel
- 21-day JR Pass
- 1 Pocket wifi (unlimited internet access) for the whole group during the trip
- 3 baggage transfers during your stay (1 piece of luggage per person)
- In live or remote information meeting
- A full travel guide sent to you in the mail arriving 20 days before your departure
Not included :
- Optional insurance
- Personal expenses (including expenses during free days: meals, transport and sights).
- Drinks during meals (except water and sometimes tea)
- Everything not in the “Included in the price” section
Personalisation :
Contact us to add :
- Flights in economy class with stopover or direct*
- Upgrade to eco-premium or business class
- Departures from the province or abroad
- A personalised welcome at Tokyo airport
- Other activities during your free days (guided tour of Kamakura, Disneyland Tokyo, robot restaurant, sushi preparation course...)
- An extension to your stay: before (Tokyo and its surroundings) and/or after (Osaka/Kyoto and its surroundings)
- A personal pocket wifi
Note :
Accommodation :
Rooms for two people in Western hotels have 2 single beds (twin room) by default which we can normally push together.
The price of the individual guest is based on sharing a twin room with another participant. Individuals travelling alone who wish to reserve an individual room must pay a supplement of €1100 (€1250 in peak season).
This supplement is due at registration but can be cancelled, on request, if sharing a twin room with another participant.
The individual room supplement is obligatory for any order with an odd number of guests.
Please note the area of an individual room is between 15 and 20m2.
The names of accommodation listed on the site are given as an indication. If unavailable, an equivalent establishment will be used.
** Due to the very small number of 4**** hotel temples in Koya san, there is a possibility, depending on availability, that you stay in a 2/3*** temple of equivalent comfort.
Flights :
*Flight prices by date (with airport transfer included) given as an indication on the "reserve basket" page. This rate includes airport taxes which can be revised if necessary.
The departure (Tokyo) and end of the tour (Osaka) dates relate to your stay in Japan. You will need to leave France the day before. However, the return flight is on the same day taking into account the favourable time difference. Don’t hesitate to contact us for any uncertainty or need for clarification on your choice of international flights.
Examples of airlines :
- Air France (direct flights)
- KLM
- All Nippon Airways
- Japan Airlines
- Eva Air
- Finnair
Recommended dates for seeing blossoms :
- Seeing plum blossoms : mid-February to mid-March
- Seeing cherry blossoms (sakura) : 10 days between 20 march and 15 April (dates change from one year to another)
- Seeing wisteria, iris or azaleas blossom : mid-April to end of May
- Seeing hydrangeas blossom: June
- Seeing lotus blossoms : August
- Seeing autumn leaves : mid-November
- Seeing Zen gardens in the snow : mid-December to mid-February
Please note : this tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
The guide is free to modify the program at the margin according to the constraints of the day. In addition, they will exchange JR passes for you during your stay in Tokyo.
Transportation
Upcoming Departures
Detailed Itinerary
TOKYO - HAKONE - FUJI - HAKONE - KYOTO - NARA - KOYA-SAN - OSAKA - KOBE - TAKACHIHO - KUMAMOTO - NAGASAKI - HIROSHIMA - MIYAJIMA - OSAKA
Day
1
TOKYO
SUNDAY - ようこそ (Yōkoso) ! WELCOME !
Arrive at Tokyo airport (Narita or Haneda).
Direct transfer to your hotel via shuttle bus. However, this transfer is unaccompanied. You can also be personally greeted at the airport by one of our staff (optional, only for planes arriving between 10am and 6pm, contact us).
Stay in hotel ; welcome at 6pm from the guide.
Presentation of tour by guide during welcome dinner.
Dinner provided by Japan Experience.
Please note : rooms are often only available from 3pm.
TOKYO
Night at Metropolitan Hotel Ikebukuro (4* hotel) or equivalent, located in the lively Ikebukuro district and very close to public transport, especially the Yamanote line which lets you travel the city.
Day
2
TOKYO
MONDAY - TRADITIONAL AND MODERN
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart at 8:30am, accompanied tour of :
- Ginza, Tokyo's chic district ;
- Tsukji(*), the little outdoor market ;
- The Hamarikyû shogunal garden ;
- Cross the Sumida river to the traditional Asakusa district where you can visit Sensô-ji, the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo and Nakamise Dôri, a long and narrow alley lined with traditional stalls, popular for over 1000 years.
- Panoramic view of the Tokyo megalopolis at the top of the Sky Tree Tower(**).
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
(*)The “big” Tsukiji market was relocated to Toyosu in October 2018. Only the “outdoor market” remains accessible.
(**)One of the three tallest towers in the world, measuring 643m. In case of bad weather or reduced visibility, Japan Experience reserves the right to replace this visit with another viewpoint.
Daily trips by public transport, boat and on foot (about 8 km in total).
TOKYO
Night at Metropolitan Hotel Ikebukuro (4* hotel) or equivalent.
Day
3
TOKYO
TUESDAY - THE EFFERVESCENT METROPOLIS
Breakfast at the hotel.
- Visit to Ueno district : The park full of cherry trees and the lotus pond Shinobazu ;
- The trendy district of Harajuku ;
- The imperial Meiji Jingû temple ;
- The young and crazy Takeshita-Dori alley ;
- The Japanese "Champs-Elysées": Omotesando, fashion capital ;
- Shibuya and its famous “crossing”.
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
Daily trips by public transport and on foot (about 10 km in total).
TOKYO
Night at Metropolitan Hotel Ikebukuro (4* hotel) or equivalent.
Day
4
TOKYO
WEDNESDAY - FREE DAY
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free day(*), which you can spend seeing many other monuments and interesting sites of the capital and its surroundings: your guide will be able to advise you.
In the capital:
- Tokyo Museum (Edo Tokyo Museum) ;
- Shinjuku Gyôen (park) ;
- Akihabara : electronic and manga district ;
- Vintage districts of Yanaka and/or Shimokitazawa.
Around Tokyo, we offer a guided tour of Kamakura (from Kamakura station) and its large bronze Buddha statue (not included in the tour, contact us).
(*)Please note only breakfast at the hotel is provided by Japan Experience. The other meals, transport and visits are your choice.
TOKYO
Free evening : Enjoy discovering Japanese cuisine in the capital with the most Michelin stars in the world !
Night at Metropolitan Hotel Ikebukuro (4* hotel) or equivalent.
Day
5
HAKONE - FUJI
THURSDAY - ON THE ROAD TO MOUNT FUJI
Breakfast at the hotel.
Baggage transfer to Kyoto organised by Japan Experience (1 bag per person). Take a small bag for the night in Hakone - Mount Fuji.
Travel by train and shinkansen to your hotel in the centre of Hakone - Mount Fuji (around 1 and a half hours).
Depart by minibus to the heights of Hakone for a breath-taking view of Mount Fuji*
- Promenade along the old Tokaido road which linked Tokyo to Kyoto ;
- Lake Ashi-no-ko and its Japanese portico torii with feet in the water ;
- The incredible volcanic site of Owakudani**.
Stay in your Ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel).
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
*If weather conditions allow it.
**The sight can be inaccessible due to volcanic activity.
Daily trips by train, minibus and on foot (about 2 km in total).
FUJI
Traditional Japanese dinner and night in your Ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel) with private bath and toilets.
Day
6
HAKONE - KYOTO
FRIDAY - FROM MOUNT FUJI TO THE FORMER CAPITAL
Traditional Japanese breakfast at Ryokan (quite salty).
Depart on foot and public transport to open air sculpture museum in Hakone.
At the end of the morning, leave for Kyoto by shinkansen (2 hours).
Visit to sake brewery.
Tasting several kinds of this traditional Japanese alcohol (between 12 and 20 degrees) to celebrate your arrival in the historic Japanese capital.
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
Daily trips by public transport, ultra-fast shinkansen train, and on foot (about 5 km)
KYOTO
Night at Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo (4* hotel) or equivalent in the heart of the former Japanese capital.
Day
7
KYOTO
SATURDAY - MILLENNIUM TREASURES
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit Kyoto by minibus :
- Ryoan-ji zen garden ;
- Kinkaku-ji (Gold Pavilion) and Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion), the bewitching path of philosophy ;
- The charming village of Ohara, in the suburbs of Kyoto : the Sanzen’in green temple and visit the surrounding Japanese countryside (rice field, Japanese vegetable fields: tsukemono, shiso, etc.).
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
Daily trips by minibus.
KYOTO
Night at Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo (4* hotel) or equivalent.
Day
8
KYOTO
SUNDAY - CASTLES AND TRADITIONS
Breakfast at the hotel.
- Excursion by shinkansen (50 minutes) to Himeji castle (UNESCO heritage sight) ;
- Lunch at Himeji and return to Kyoto by shinkansen ;
- Visit the fabulous sanctuary of Fushimi Inari to discover an incredible sunset* ;
- Evening stroll in the Pontocho district.
* If weather conditions allow it.
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
Daily trips by shinkansen, taxi and on foot (around 7 km in total including ascent and descent of Fushimi Inari).
KYOTO
Night at Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo (4* hotel) or equivalent.
Day
9
KYOTO
MONDAY - FREE DAY
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free day(*): enjoy the former capital’s incredible sights at your own pace. Your guide will be able to advise you.
We invite you to visit Kyoto :
- The International Manga Museum ;
- The Arashiyama district: romantic Togetsukyo bridge, garden and bamboo grove of the Tenryuji zen temple, villa Okochi Sanso, Gioji moss garden, etc.
- The Imperial Palace and the Sento Gosho garden ;
- The Daitokuji temple ;
- The Saihoji moss temple (Kokedera) ;
- The private Murin’an villa.
(*)Please note only breakfast at the hotel is provided by Japan Experience. The other meals, transport and visits are your choice.
KYOTO
Night at Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo (4* hotel) or equivalent.
Day
10
KYOTO
TUESDAY - COUNTRY ESCAPE
Breakfast at the hotel.
- Depart by minibus for Miho museum* built on the top of a mountain by the architect I. M. Pei. (Famous for his design of the Louvre Pyramid) ;
- Excursion off the beaten track, in the Kyoto countryside, to discover the fields and tea producer ;
- Evening walk through the picturesque Sannen-zaka & Ninnen-zaka streets of the Gion district.
We must draw your attention to the fact that it is strictly forbidden to take photos in the historic district of Gion.
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
Daily trips by minibus and by foot in the evening (around 3km).
*On certain dates, not currently defined, the museum will be temporarily closed to renew their collections.
KYOTO
Night at Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo (4* hotel) or equivalent.
Day
11
NARA
WEDNESDAY - THE FIRST CAPITAL
Breakfast at the hotel in Kyoto.
Baggage transfer to Osaka organised by Japan Experience (1 bag per person). Take a small bag for your two nights in Nara and Koyasan : Train journey to Nara (50 minutes).
Visit Nara, the first Japanese capital in the 8th century.
- The Shinto Kasuga Taisha temple and its thousands of lanterns ;
- Todaiji, with its large bronze Buddha and the imposing Nan-Daimon gate ;
- The Kofukuji temple and its lovely pagoda.
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
Daily trips by train and on foot (about 4 km in total).
NARA
Night at Hotel Fujita Nara (4* hotel) or equivalent near Nara central station.
Day
12
KOYA-SAN
THURSDAY - ATTACK ON THE SACRED MOUNT
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart on train and cable car to the sacred mountain of Koya-san (2h30).
- Visit the sumptuous Kongobuji temple,
- Visit Danjo-Garan, one of the main religious sights in the village.
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
Daily trips by train and on foot (around 3 km in total).
KOYA-SAN
Enjoy a unique experience with a traditional vegan dinner and stay overnight in a temple with the monks.
Due to the altitude, the temperature in Koyasan is often lower than other cities you’ve previously visited.
Note: Due to the very small number of 4**** hotel temples, there is a possibility, depending on availability, that you stay in a 2/3*** temple of equivalent comfort.
Day
13
OSAKA
FRIDAY - THE GASTRONOMY CAPITAL
Traditional vegan breakfast served in the temple.
Depending on availability of the monks, possibility to attend a Buddhist ceremony (availability not guaranteed currently).
- In the morning, discover the fabulous mystical necropolis of Okunoin ;
- Head to Osaka by train (2 hours), afternoon shopping, and night tour of the city : the lively district of Namba and Dôtonbori street.
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
Daily trips by train and on foot (about 4 km in total).
OSAKA
Night at Ichiei Namba Hotel (4* hotel) or equivalent.
Day
14
KOBE
SATURDAY - TAKE OFF
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart for Kobe, cosmopolitan city :
- Sannomiya and Kitano districts ;
- Explore an old sake brewery ;
- Visit the Hanshin earthquake museum, depending on the time left.
Board the ferry and cruise overnight to the port of Oita on Kyushu island.
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
The Sunflower company reserves the right to move the departure to Osaka, Japan Experience may have to modify the program for the day. The visit to Kobe can be replaced by this city: vintage Shinsekai district (Tsutenkaku tower) and Keitakuen garden. The ferry will arrive in Beppu in this case, the group will visit two of the most famous offshore lighthouses (jigoku) there, before continuing on the normal route (Usuki).
Daily trips by minibus, on foot and ferry.
KOBE
Dinner and evening aboard Sunflower ferry.
Day
15
TAKACHIHO
SUNDAY - SPIRITUAL AND NATURAL
Breakfast aboard the ferry
Route to Usuki: visit to stone Buddha sights.
Route to the sacred Takachiho sight, mountain village known for its Japanese legends and magnificent ravines.
Takachiho :
- Gokase river gorges, one of the most beautiful natural sites in Kyushu ;
- Amanoiwato Jinja Shinto temple, Japan's second most sacred site ;
- Evening show of sacred dances (divine gestures) Iwato Kagura.
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
Daily trips by minibus and by foot.
TAKACHIHO
Traditional Japanese meal and night at your family-run hotel.
Day
16
KUMAMOTO
MONDAY - TO ASO!
Breakfast at the family-run hotel.
Before going to Kumamoto, visit the famous Mount Aso en route. It’s the largest volcano in Japan, and has an unmissable caldera and its volcano museum.
In Kumamoto, the magnificent Suizen-ji garden.
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
Daily trips by minibus, public transport and by foot.
KUMAMOTO
Night in your 3/4* hotel in Kumamoto.
Day
17
NAGASAKI
TUESDAY - THE VENICE OF KYUSHU
Breakfast at the hotel.
We head to Yanagawa, the Venice of Kyushu.
Located in the south west of Fukuoka prefecture, the city of Yanagawa is surrounded by hundreds of canals which you can travel by gondola.
Depart from Yangawa to Nagasaki via Okawachiyama, birthplace of pottery and ceramics.
In Nagasaki, discover the Megane Bashi “glasses” bridge.
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
Daily trips by ferry, minibus, and on foot.
NAGASAKI
Night in Nagasaki in your 3/4* hotel.
Day
18
NAGASAKI
WEDNESDAY - FREE DAY
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free day(*): enjoy the charms of the old port, gardens, churches and temples at your own pace.
Your guide will be able to advise you.
We can offer you tours of the following sights :
In Nagasaki
- Glover's garden (former foreign concession) and Oura basilica ;
- Dejima museum-polder (former Dutch concession) ;
- The memorial and museum of 26 martyrs ;
- The Sôfukuji Chinese temple ;
- The Atomic Bomb Museum.
Around Nagasaki :
- Gunkanjima ghost island tour.
(*)Please note: only breakfast at the hotel is provided by Japan Experience. The other meals, transport and visits are your choice and not organised by Japan Experience.
NAGASAKI
Night in your hotel in Nagasaki.
Day
19
HIROSHIMA - MIYAJIMA
THURSDAY - A HISTORIC CITY
Breakfast at the hotel and baggage transfer to Osaka organised by Japan Experience (1 bag per person). Take a small bag for the night in Miyajima.
In the morning, take the shinkansen train to Hiroshima (3 hours) :
The Peace Memorial Park and its museum (Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum) ;
The peace monuments (the dome, the memorial to the young Sadako Sasaki, one of the many victims of the radiation).
Ferry to Miyajima, sacred Shinto island.
Visit to Itsukushima-jinjia sanctuary and its big entrance gate (ootorii)*.
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
Daily trips by public transport, by shinkansen, by boat and on foot.
*The ootorii is under construction until an indefinite date.
MIYAJIMA
Night in Nagasaki in your 3/4* Ryokan.
Day
20
MIYAJIMA - OSAKA
FRIDAY - THE SACRED ISLAND
Breakfast at Ryokan
Visit to Miyajima : between temples and deer.
- Folklore museum (Egami house) ;
- Senjôkaku Shinto temple and pagoda ;
- Shopping street for your final purchases.
Depart for Osaka : ferry to Miyajimaguchi (Miyajima), train then shinkansen (2 hours 50 minutes).
Meals (lunch, dinner), provided by Japan Experience.
Daily trips by public transport, by shinkansen, by boat and on foot.
OSAKA
Night at Ichiei Namba Hotel (4* hotel) or equivalent.
Day
21
OSAKA
SATURDAY - YOUR NEXT TRIP
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Kansai International airport (KIX) from your hotel :
- By shared taxi for customers taking the direct flight Paris AF291 taking off at 10:30am ;
- By direct train for customers taking another flight (take off between 8am and 2am the next day).
The transfer to Itami Airport (ITM) is not provided by Japan Experience.
Meals not covered by Japan Experience.
Return flight to Europe.
OSAKA
Arrive in Europe the same day or the next day.
