Best of Japan – 8 days land only

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- Tokyo airport arrival transfer - by train from Narita or Haneda International Airport
- All transportation as per itinerary by buses, trains & rail passes (including Suica Card & Hakone Free Pass)
- 7 nights 3* hotel accommodation (including 2 nights at a ryokan - a traditional Japanese inn)
 - 4 breakfasts and 2 traditional Japanese dinners at the Hakone ryokan
- Guided sightseeing in Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone and Kyoto
- Assistance of a local English speaking guide
- A tour to Fuji Hakone National Park (includes  pirate boat, cable cars & ropeways)
- Baggage forwarding service from Tokyo to Kyoto (one bag per person)
- Highlights include Tokyo  (Sensoji Temple district and temple, Harajuku, Takeshita street and Meiji Shrine); Hakone and Fuji Hakone National Park ( Lake Ashi, spectacular mountain scenery, Owakudani volcanic valley and views of Mount Fuji); Kyoto (UNESCO listed Nijo Castle, walking tour of Gion (the Geisha district), optional Japanese tea ceremony and cooking class & Kamakura ( Big Buddha Statue, Zen temples and beautiful beaches)

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Tokyo
Saturday. Upon arrival in Tokyo you will be met at either Narita or Haneda International Airport by your guide. Travel by train into the heart of the city and check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to spend at leisure.
Overnight: Tokyo

Toyko Sightseeing
Today we explore the capital. Taking the subway to Asakusa we visit the lively Sensoji Temple district, which is home to Tokyo’s first temple and scores of interesting souvenir and craft stalls. In the afternoon we head to Harajuku, which is a magnet for young and fashionable Tokyoites with its hip shops and cafes. Here we’ll visit the impressive Meiji Shrine where the emperor Meiji and his wife are enshrined. Yoyogi Park beside the shrine is a popular hangout for locals and there is always a lot going on especially on Sundays with bands playing, drum circles, dancers and busking.
Overnight: Tokyo

Kamakura
Tokyo - Kamakura - Tokyo. This morning we board a train for a day trip to Kamakura, Japan’s first feudal capital, which is just an hour from Tokyo. Kamakura is a popular tourist spot with its beautiful beaches and stunning Zen temples.  Here we’ll visit the iconic bronze Big Buddha and the Zen Temple of Hokokuji with its beautiful bamboo garden.  Drink tea, relax and enjoy the laid back atmosphere from the tea house before returning to Japan’s bustling capital for the night.
Overnight: Tokyo

Hakone
Tokyo - Hakone. Next stop is the scenic town of Hakone which is renowned for its spectacular mountain scenery and hot springs. Sending our main bags onward to Kyoto we travel light with day bags to Hakone onboard the Romancecar express train. After checking into our accommodation we take a bus to the samurai museum where we’ll see weapons and armour from the feudal days and even have the opportunity to dress up like a samurai! No trip to Japan would be complete without sampling authentic Japanese hospitality at a ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn), which is where we’ll spend the next two nights. At the ryokan, sample tasty traditional cuisine and take a relaxing dip in the communal natural hot spring baths.
Overnight: Hakone  |  Dinner

Fuji Hakone National Park
Today we take in the scenic delights of Fuji Hakone National Park and Lake Ashi, which has Mount Fuji as an iconic backdrop. Enjoy a pirate-ship ride across the lake and a picturesque cable car journey over the mountains, where you’ll be treated to wonderful views of Mount Fuji on a clear day. The area has some great hiking trails to explore and you can sample black eggs at the active volcanic valley of Owakudani, which is full of sulphurous springs. The eggs are boiled in the springs and said to extend your life by 7 years! Other highlights of the day include the historic Hakone Checkpoint, the open air art museum and the beautiful Cedar Avenue.
Overnight: Hakone  |  Breakfast, Dinner

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Kyoto
Hakone – Kyoto. On day 6 a bullet train takes us to Kyoto, Japan’s ancient and cultural capital. As one of the most culturally rich cities in Asia, Kyoto is home to an abundance of UNESCO World Heritage sites, Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Here we enjoy a guided tour of Nijo Castle, one of the city’s most impressive UNESCO sites. Built by the first Tokugawa shogun in 1603, the exquisite Nijo Castle is a wonderful example of Momoyama architecture. This evening we head to Gion, for a walking tour of this famous Geisha district.
Overnight: Kyoto  |  Breakfastl

Kyoto Free Time
Spend the day at leisure discovering the many sights of Kyoto at your own pace or choose from a selection of optional cultural experiences which can be booked locally, including a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony in the morning and a cooking lesson in the afternoon.
Overnight: Kyoto  |  Breakfast

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Kyoto
Saturday. On day 8 our tour comes to an end after hotel check out.
Breakfast