Japanese gardens
From
2 555
$
Japanese gardens Tour
15 days
Visit the most beautiful Japanese gardens in this tour combining culture, tradition and modernism. Discover Japan's must-see places: Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima, as well as Kanazawa and Okayama, well-known for their magnificent gardens.
Thus, you will visit the 3 most beautiful gardens of Japan: the Kenroku-en of Kanazawa, the Kairaku-en of Mito and the Kôraku-en of Okayama ... And many others!
Included :
- Round-trip flight tickets from/to Los Angeles, Sydney or Paris
- 13 nights in 3* equivalent hotels
- Breakfast in Kanazawa, Hiroshima and Kurashiki
- Airport transfers
- 1 prepaid travel card to travel around Tokyo and Kyoto, already loaded with ¥1,500
- 1 7-day Japan Rail Pass for the trains and Shinkansen (bullet train)
- 1 Pocket wifi (with unlimited internet access) for the duration of the trip
- 1 mini travel guide, sent to you at least 20 days before your departure, detailing the tour itinerary, how to get to your hotels, and the tourist sights not to be missed.
- Helpline assistance 24/7 in English
Not included :
- Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Public transportation in cities*
- Tourist tax in Kyoto and Kanazawa**
- Anything not listed in the "included" section above
Customization:
Contact us for:
- Flights from London, New York or any other city required
- Direct flights
- Flight upgrades to premium-economy or business class
- Upgrade to a 4* hotel
- Traditional accommodation
- Child price (11 y/o or younger)
- Extending your stay before or after the tour
- Guided activities
- Other activities (Disneyland, Hello Kitty theme park, robot restaurant, tea ceremony, sake tasting…)
Flights:
The departure and end dates of the tour include your flight and arrival from/to your departure country.
Most flights will require one transfer (less than 5 hours) in Asia or the Gulf States before landing in Tokyo.
Examples of airlines we use:
- Air France
- All Nippon Airways
- Finnair
- Korean Air
Accommodation:
The basic price includes one room for 2 adults in 3* equivalent hotels.
Single room: If a triple room is not available, a single room supplement may be required for any booking with an odd number of participants.
In Japan, a high-density country where everything is more compact, the 3* hotels are good quality but the rooms can be quite small (12 to 24m2) depending on the hotel. For more comfort and space, don't hesitate to contact us for a quote with 4* hotels.
The rooms for 2 people in western-style hotels have 2 separate single beds (twin rooms) as standard. Contact us to request a double bed; there is no supplementary charge but we cannot guarantee availability. Note that double bed rooms are smaller in size than twin rooms.
Terms of payment:
- 35% deposit paid upon booking
- Balance paid 35 days before departure
Note:
This tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
*transportation not covered by the JR Pass (about 80% of public transport within most cities) and after using up the ¥1,500 pre-loaded on your travel card
**$1.70 USD/person/night to be paid directly to the hotel in cash
Detailed Itinerary
TOKYO - KANAZAWA - HIROSHIMA - KURASHIKI - KYOTO
Day
0
Flight to Tokyo.
Overnight on the aeroplane, arrive the next morning at Tokyo.
Day
1
TOKYO
Arrive at Tokyo at Narita or Haneda Airport.
Transfer to central Tokyo by shared limousine bus.
Note: The limousine bus shuttle leaves from the airport and stops either in front of your hotel or at a stop located 1-15 minutes on foot from your hotel.
Detailed explanations are included in your travel guide booklet, with pictures:
- How to find the Limousine Bus at Tokyo Airport
- How to get from the bus stop to your hotel
This transfer is not a private transfer with reception. If you wish to be met personally at the airport you can choose our "airport reception" service as an option.
In rare cases, depending on the arrival time of your flight, it may be the case that the limousine bus is unavailable. In that situation an alternative route using public transport would be offered, the price of which would be included in your package. A detailed explanation of the route, with pictures, would be provided in your travel guide booklet.
Check into your hotel.
TOKYO
Night in your 3* hotel in the Akasaka or Ikebukuro district.
Example of 3* hotels (depending on availability):
- Monterey Akasaka Hotel
- The B Akasaka Hotel
- The B Tokyo Ikebukuro Hotel
Examples of 4* hotels: (optional, contact us to upgrade)
- Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi Hotel
- Keio Plaza Hotel
- Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro Hotel
Note: Breakfasts not included in the package can be added at the reception desk upon arrival at the hotel. However, in Tokyo and Kyoto, you will find many cafes near your hotel serving generous (and often tastier) breakfasts menus.
Day
2
TOKYO
Visit Tokyo and the surrounding area.
Among the various options open to you, here are a few suggestions:
- The Asakusa district and Senso-ji temple
- The Tokyo Skytree, 634 metres high, and Tokyo Tower, a symbol of the city
- Ueno Park and its many museums
- The party districts of Shibuya and Shinjuku
Or why not try a guided tour of the city with one of our guides? (optional, contact us)
TOKYO
Discover Japanese gastronomy in the most Michelin-starred capital in the world.
Day
3
TOKYO
Free time to visit Tokyo and its region.
Choose a guided tour to discover Tokyo and its secrets through its traditional gardens (optional, subject to availability, please contact us).
Or continue to discover by yourself the megalopolis and its beautiful parks and gardens thanks to the examples detailed in your travelogue.
Day
4
TOKYO
A few examples of day trips possible from Tokyo:
- Mito's Kairaku-en garden, one of the three most beautiful in Japan (approx. 2hrs one way),
- The temples and shrines of Nikko, in the heart of the forest (approx. 2hrs one way),
- The city of Kamakura and its monumental bronze Buddha statue (approx. 1hr one way).
TOKYO
For your last dinner in Tokyo, try "Kaitenzushi" (conveyor belt sushi) for a fun and tasty meal!
Day
5
TOKYO - KANAZAWA
Travel to Tokyo Station (not included). Direct Shinkansen journey to Kanazawa included in the Japan Rail Pass (approx. 2hrs 30mins).
Check into your hotel.
Explore Kanazawa and surrounding area.
Don't miss:
- Kenrokuen garden, one of the finest in the country
- The famous 21st Century Art Museum
- Nagamachi, the Samurai district;
- The Ninja temple, with its secret rooms and hidden staircases.
Or discover the most beautiful hidden sites in the region with a guide (optional, contact us).
KANAZAWA
Free evening and night at your hotel.
Day
6
KANAZAWA
Breakfast at the hotel.
Take your time to visit one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan: the Kenroku-en and the adjoining Seisonkaku mansion.
One hundred and fifty years have been necessary to complete this garden symbolizing the concept of ideal beauty.
KANAZAWA
Free evening and a night at your hotel.
Day
7
KANAZAWA - HIROSHIMA
Breakfast at the hotel.
Train journey to Hiroshima (approx. 4hrs 30min, covered by your JR Pass).
Check into your 3-star hotel.
Essential trip from Hiroshima: Miyajima Island
- Itsukushima-jinja shrine and its huge red gate (ootorii) which rises from the sea. (Note: The ootori may be closed for renovation)
- Daisho-in temple
- The magnificent park of Momijidani – the "valley of maples". Stunning in fall!
HIROSHIMA
Free evening and night at your hotel.
Day
8
HIROSHIMA - KURASHIKI
Breakfast at the hotel.
Don't miss in Hiroshima:
- The Memorial Peace Park and its museum. You can add your own origami crane to those made by the many school children who visit Hiroshima to pay tribute to the victims of the atomic bomb.
- Sukkei-en garden, an unspoilt garden which reveals new surprises as you walk along its pathways.
- Ikari shrine, built long ago by sailors in honour of the god of the sea.
Train journey to Kurashiki (approx. 1hr, covered by your JR Pass).
Check into your 3-star hotel.
KURASHIKI
Free evening and night at your hotel.
Day
9
KURASHIKI
Free evening and night at your hotel.
Day
10
KURASHIKI - KYOTO
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free time to visit Kurashiki:
- the lively districs of Bikan, along the canal
- Honmachi and Higashimachi streets
- Ohara museum
Train journey to Kyoto (approx. 2hrs, covered by your JR Pass).
KYOTO
Free evening and night at your 3* hotel in the city centre, Gion district or near the central station.
Examples of 3* hotels (depending on availability):
- Mitsui Garden Kyoto Shijo
- Hedistar Hotel Kyoto Nijo
- Hokke Club Kyoto Hotel
Examples of 4* hotels: (optional, contact us)
- Monterey Kyoto Hotel
- New Miyako Hotel
- Kyoto Okura hotel
Day
11
KYOTO
Visit Kyoto and the surrounding area.
Don't miss:
- The zen garden in Ryoanji, a famous dry landscape garden
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)
- The traditional Gion district
- Kiyomizu-dera, the incredible thousand-year-old temple that overlooks the city
Or enjoy a new experience with one of our many activities. (optional, contact us)
KYOTO
Free evening and night at your hotel.
Day
12
KYOTO
Continue your visit of Kyoto and its beautiful gardens :
Visit 3 major places renowned for their gardens (registration required):
- The Katsura Villa, a must for architecture enthusiasts.
- The Shûkagu-in Villa and its 53 hectares dedicated to the observation of nature.
- The Moss Temple, Zen meditation garden...
... And other exceptional gardens presented in your travelogue.
KYOTO
Free evening and night at your hotel.
Day
13
KYOTO
Possible day trips from Kyoto:
- The city of Kobe, between ocean and mountains. Visit the port, then catch the cable car up Mt. Rokko and admire the view over the inland sea. (45 minutes).
- Nara, the first capital of Japan. Visit its ancient buildings, classified as Unesco World Heritage sites, such as Todaiji temple or Kasuga Taisha shrine, and buy some shika-sembei, crackers for the fallow deer that roam freely within the city park. (30 to 45 minutes).
- Fushimi-Inari Taisha, a must-see shrine in southern Kyoto. Wander through the tunnels made of hundreds of red torii gates found at this incredible shrine. (approx. 5 minutes).
KYOTO
Free evening and night at your hotel.
Day
14
Transfer to Kansai International Airport from Kyoto by shuttle bus.
Return flight.
Arrive back home.
