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Essence of Japan with South Korea
| Resort: | South Korea & Japan |
| Operator: | Titan Travel |
| Destination: | Japan, South Korea |
| Price From: | £7695.00 |
OverviewCombine two incredible Asian destinations for an experience-rich trip youll never forget. To start, well follow the route of our bestselling Essence of Japan tour. Tokyos skyscrapers, Kyotos teahouses, snow-tipped mountains, steamy hot springs – well see them all as we journey between cities, hill towns and riverside hamlets by coach and bullet train. Then, its time for South Korea. Visit Seoul and Busan, explore palaces and shrines, browse antique stores and art galleries, and tour the DMZ separating north and south. Well also tap into Koreas foodie heritage with a cooking masterclass and a traditional barbecue. Our Japan and South Korea tours depart in spring and autumn, to make the most of the cherry blossom and leaf-peeping seasons in both countries. ItineraryDay 1 – UK – In flight Titans VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your overnight flight to Tokyo. UK – In flight Day 2 – Tokyo On our Japan tours, we stay in Shinjuku, the futuristic, neon-lit neighbourhood in the heart of Tokyo. On arrival the rest of the day is free. Keio Plaza Hotel, Tokyo (4-star) Day 3 – Tokyo Prepare for a fantastic day of Tokyo sightseeing as our tour guide helps us to embrace this dazzling city. As we walk out amidst skyscrapers and the worlds tallest self-supporting tower (the Tokyo Skytree), we find Tokyos traditional side. Learn the stories behind legendary landmarks like the moated Imperial Palace, Tokyos oldest temple – Sens-ji, and Meiji Shrine, a serene Shinto shrine set on a tree-lined avenue. Keio Plaza Hotel, Tokyo (4-star) Today includes Excursions & visits:Guided city tour of Tokyo (all day) Day 4 – Mount Fuji – Matsumoto It’s time for a Mount Fuji visit this morning. Standing out from its surroundings at 3,776m high, Japans tallest mountain has inspired countless artists and photographers. Clouds often linger around this active volcano, but well keep our fingers crossed to catch a sight of the iconic snow-capped peak as we travel from Tokyo to Matsumoto. If the weather is clear, youll see the volcanos image reflected on the placid waters of Lake Jawaguchi. Matsumoto Buena Vista (3.5-star) Today includes Excursions & visits:Mount Fuji visitor centre (morning) Day 5 – Matsumoto – Takayama Known as one of the most beautiful castles in Japan, Matsumoto is a striking timber and stone structure with a unique moon-viewing turret. In the spring, take your time to stroll among the cherry blossoms in the spacious castle gardens. Stop to sample sake (Japanese rice wine) in a traditional brewery, before we take the breathtaking journey through thick pine forests and snow-tipped peaks of the Japanese Alps to the hill town of Takayama. Well call in at the Hida Folk Village, an open-air museum with a collection of antique houses from the region and displays highlighting crafts and ancient traditions. Takayama Green Hotel (3-star) or Associa Takayama (3-star) Today includes Excursions & visits:Visit to Matsumoto Castle (morning) Day 6 – Takayama Meiji-era inns, hillside shrines and a pretty riverside setting – the hamlet of Takayama is traditional Japan at its finest. Soak in the local character on our walking tour, when well see highlights such as the open-air flower and fruit market and government house. Takayama Green Hotel (3-star) or Associa Takayama (3-star) Day 7 – Kanazawa Next on our Japan itinerary, we transfer by coach to Kanazawa, visiting the World Heritage Shirakawago Village en route. Kanazawa is a historic castle town, boasting beautifully preserved samurai and geisha districts. Our sightseeing tour includes Omicho market and Higashi Chayagai (the teahouse district). Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel (4-star) Day 8 – Kanazawa – Hiroshima We pack overnight bags whilst our luggage is transferred to Kyoto. Well have another sweep of the city, stopping at the gorgeous Kenroku-en Garden and BukeYashiki (Samurais house). Located outside the gates of Kanazawa Castle and covering an area of 11.4 hectares, the Kenroku-en Garden was created in the 1620s and opened to the public in 1874. Its the epitome of a traditional Japanese garden with plum and cherry blossoms, artificial ponds, hills and buildings. From the quaint, quiet streets of Kanazawa, well go full throttle into one of Japans other passions. The Shinkansen (bullet train) will hurtle us from Kanazawa to Hiroshima in perfect comfort. Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima (4-star) Day 9 – Hiroshima Leafy Hiroshima, with its wide boulevards and friendly locals, might not be what you expected. Its a vibrant and cosmopolitan city of peace with a devastating history. Today well catch a ferry over to Miyajima Island to admire the ancient Itsukushima Shrine and its torii gate. We’ll spend some time strolling through the park. In autumn, the maples here are ablaze with rich reds and oranges. Back in Hiroshima, well take a walking tour around the Peace Memorial Park and take some time for reflection at the Atomic Bomb Museum. Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima (4-star) Today includes Excursions & visits:Boat to Miyajima Island (morning) Day 10 – Nara – Kyoto Another bullet train takes us to Osaka, where well board our coach for the onward journey to Nara, a former capital of Japan. The 8th-century Todaiji temple – supposedly the oldest wooden structure in the world – is wondrous, but the real highlight here are the adorable deer roaming through Nara Park. You can buy a packet of crackers to feed them – theyll even bow to you before you feed them. We arrive in Kyoto this afternoon. With its wealth of shrines and temples, colourful gardens and variety of arts and crafts shops, it’s a real highlight of our Japan tour package. Well uncover geisha culture with some time in the Gion area – Japans most famous geisha district. Kyoto Hotel Okura (4-star) Today includes Excursions & visits:Bullet train journey (morning) What’s Included in Your Journey: Meals:
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Tour Highlights – 23 Excursions & Visits:
Free Time:
Perfect Moments with Titan Travel:
Your journey is crafted to perfection with Titan Travel, ensuring a seamless and memorable experience |
