Experience a traditional route in Central Japan, “Rising Dragon Region”. The region features much to delight visitors, including many hot-spring baths, locations of scenic natural beauty, areas of history and culture. The tour is for those who love traditional Japan. Visit the old & new capital of Japan, Kyoto and Tokyo, cover the traditional and modern of Japan. You will visit two beautiful cities, Kanazawa, city of crafts and Takayama, the peal of the Japanese Alps.
Inclusions:
- 9 night partially guided vacation
- 9 nights accommodation in standard hotel or option to upgrade to Superior
– 4 nights Tokyo, 3 nights Kyoto, 1 night Kanazawa, 1 night Takayama (in Ryokan) - 10 meals: 9 Breakfasts, 1 dinner
- Admission tickets for all trips and visits mentioned in the itinerary
- Arrival Airport transfer – with assistance
| Dec 3, 2024 – Mar 4, 2025 | from $3099 |
| Mar 11-Apr 15, 2025 | from $3529 |
| Single traveler | from $1000 more |
| Superior Hotel Upgrade | from $220 more |
*Weekly – Tuesday departures
Prices are subject to change based on availability and currency exchange.
Not included: International Airfare, Japan Rail Pass (which will need to be purchased prior to leaving Canada), Gratuities, airport departure transfer, meals & beverages not mentioned in the itinerary, travel insurance.
Note: Hotels will be assigned by the supplier closer to departure and will be listed on their app for you to view. Travel Best Bets has no control over the hotels and their location that are arranged for this package.
Day 1: Tokyo (D)
Upon arrival at the airport, after passport control and baggage reclaim, transfer to Tokyo, the current capital. * The rooms are available from 15:00.
Assistant in English available from the airport to the hotel to help validate the Japan Rail Pass, for information and check-in once you arrive at the hotel.
Airport-hotel transfer by public transport. Telephone support for the duration of the stay. Assistance upon arrival and transfer could be shared with other tour participants.
Day 2: Tokyo (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Full day dedicated to the visit of Tokyo with an English-speaking guide.
The first stop is the museum of Hokusai, a symbolic artist of Japan, who has lived in Tokyo for all his long life. Then we will take you to visit the characteristic Asakusa district, Senso-ji Temple, the oldest in the city, and the long Nakamise-dori boulevard with its traditional shops are located. The visit proceeds with a walk outside the Imperial Palace, with the famous Nijubashi bridge, and in the elegant Ginza district, and then ends at the Bunkyo Civic Center, a skyscraper with a viewing platform from which to enjoy a splendid view of the megalopolis.
Day 3: Tokyo at Leisure (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Free full day to explore the city on your own or add an optional tour
Optional guided tour ($)
Tokyo visit Full day visit to discover the more lively and animated side of Tokyo, exploring the famous fish market and then continue to the artificial island of Odaiba, where we will visit the Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) and where to you will be able to enjoy the spectacular view of the Rainbow Bridge over Tokyo Bay. Finally, transfer to the popular Shibuya district, famous for its impressive intersection with what is said to be the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world. Meals not included.
Day 4: Tokyo – Kyoto (B)
**** Luggage will be transported separately to Kyoto by courier – It is recommended not to bring bulky luggage with you to be able to easily continue with the guided tour in the afternoon.
Breakfast at hotel.
Departure for Kyoto on your own in the morning by shinkansen train using the Japan Rail Pass (2nd class) to arrive at Kyoto Station in the early afternoon.
English-speaking guide will welcome you at the station and will take you around the city of Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan. You will visit the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, the symbolic temple of the city made famous by the novel by the writer Yukio Mishima, and will continue with the Ryoan-ji Temple, famous for its rock garden whose elements are arranged in a such that they can never be seen all together in a single glance. On the way back, strolled through the ancient district of Gion, known for its tea houses and for the maiko, aspiring geisha, who occasionally can be seen wandering through its alleys.
Upon returning from visits, your luggage will be in the hotel.
Day 5: Kyoto – Day at leisure (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Free full day at your leisure to explore city on your own or book an optional tour.
Optional guided tour ($) — Visit of Nara and Fushimi
Depart Kyoto for Nara by rapid train using the Japan Rail Pass. Full day dedicated to the visit of Nara in English. Visit of Todai-ji, a temple where the Great Buddha is kept, one of the largest bronze statues in the world, and of the great Kasuga Shinto shrine, surrounded by about 10,000 lanterns. Both buildings are located in the park of Nara, where numerous fallow deer live in semi-freedom. Return to Kyoto stopping along the way at the Fushimi Inari Taisha to admire its endless red gates. Meals not included. Return to the hotel.
Day 6: Kyoto at Leisure (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Full day free in Kyoto
We recommend visiting the Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple and the Sanjusangen-do, a building that houses 1001 wooden statues of Bodhisattva Kannon. Alternatively, you can choose to use the Japan Rail Pass to visit places not far from Kyoto such as Uji, famous for green tea and the UNESCO heritage temple of Byodo-in, or Lake Biwa, the largest in Japan.
Day 7: Kyoto – Kanazawa (B)
**** Luggage will be transported separately to Tokyo by courier. We remind you to prepare a hand luggage for overnight stays in Kanazawa and Takayama
Breakfast at hotel.
Full day without assistance. Departure to Kanazawa by express train (2nd class) using the Japan Rail Pass (approx. 2.5 hours).
In Kanazawa we recommend visiting Kenroku-en park, considered one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan; the Omicho-ichiba market, especially renowned for its seafood products; and the Nagamachi Yuzen-kan, where splendid kimonos made of Kaga Yuzen silk, the traditional technique of the area, are displayed.
Day 8: Kanazawa – Shirakawa-go – Takayama (B/D)
Breakfast at hotel. Full day without assistance.
Departure for Takayama by shinkansen train (2nd class) to Toyama (approx. 0.5 hours) and then by express train (2nd class) to Takayama (approx. 1.5 hours), using the Japan Rail Pass.
We recommend visiting the Sanmachi-suji district, the heart of the historic center, walking among sake factories and characteristic houses converted into craft shops. Traditional dinner at the ryokan.
— Optional service — Scheduled coach between Kanazawa / Shirakawa-go / Takayama.
Departure without assistance for Shirakawago, the village with characteristic sloping thatched roof houses, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We then continue to Takayama independently.
Overnight stay in HOSHOKAKU ryokan or similar.
Day 9: Takayama – Nagoya – Tokyo (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Full day without assistance. Before leaving for Tokyo we suggest a walk to the morning market in Takayama.
Departure by express train (2nd class) to Nagoya (approx 2.5 hours). You can stop for lunch in Nagoya, famous for its grilled eel (unagi).
You will continue to Tokyo with the shinkansen train (2nd class) in approx. 2 hours. For trains you will always use the Japan Rail Pass.
Day 10: Tokyo (B)
* Rooms are available until 11:00.
Breakfast at hotel. Regular room check out at 11am.
Transfer to the airport without assistance using the Japan Rail Pass or the other available public transportation such as limousine bus (additional fee).
Departure from Narita / Haneda Airport.
