Japan
Three weeks along the Sea of Japan coast, its spa towns and samurai villages
Japan
Little-known Japan, independently and by train: Tokyo, Hakone and its ryokan, Kyoto in a traditional house, the sandbar of Amanohashidate, the spa town of Kinosaki Onsen, Matsue, its castle and the Adachi garden, the samurai village of Tsuwano with a guided tour, a night in a ryokan on Miyajima island, Hiroshima, Okayama (Naoshima island, Kurashiki) and Osaka. Four nights in ryokans, trains and luggage forwarding included.
When
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
Price
From 3 971€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
18 nights
Ideal length
Days 1-8
The capital, the ryokan and a traditional house.
Day 1
Flight to Japan
Flight to Japan. Night on board.
Day 2
Arrival in Tokyo
Welcome at the airport, your pocket wifi handed over and a shuttle transfer to the hotel.
Day 3
Tokyo, Kabukicho and Golden Gai
A free day (Harajuku, Meiji shrine, Shibuya). In the early evening, your guide takes you through the lanes of Kabukicho and Golden Gai.
Day 4
Tokyo, free day
A free day: Ginza, Tsukiji market, Hama-rikyu garden, Asakusa and Senso-ji temple.
Day 5
Tokyo – Hakone
Train to Hakone, a Japanese dinner and a night in a ryokan.
Day 6
Hakone – Kyoto
Shinkansen to Kyoto and check in to a traditional house.
Day 7
Kyoto, free day
A free day: the Zen garden of Ryoan-ji, the Golden and Silver Pavilions, the Philosopher's Path, Nishiki market or the Arashiyama bamboo grove.
Day 8
Kyoto, free day
A free day: the Zen garden of Ryoan-ji, the Golden and Silver Pavilions, the Philosopher's Path, Nishiki market or the Arashiyama bamboo grove.
Days 9-12
A sandbar, a spa town and a castle.
Day 9
Kyoto – Amanohashidate
Train to Amanohashidate, one of Japan's three most famous views, and a night in a ryokan.
Day 10
Kinosaki Onsen
A panoramic train to Kinosaki Onsen, its public baths and willows, dinner and a night in a ryokan.
Day 11
Kinosaki – Matsue
Train to Matsue and its original castle.
Day 12
Matsue and the Adachi garden
A free day: Yushien garden and the Adachi Museum of Art, whose garden is among the finest in the country.
Days 13-21
Samurai, a sacred island and the art island.
Day 13
Matsue – Tsuwano
Train to Tsuwano in the afternoon.
Day 14
Tsuwano
A guided tour of the samurai quarter and the castle ruins, then dinner and a night in a ryokan.
Day 15
Tsuwano – Miyajima
Transfer to Miyajima island (about 3 hours), dinner and a night in a ryokan.
Day 16
Hiroshima – Okayama
Hiroshima at your own pace, then the Shinkansen to Okayama.
Day 17
Naoshima or Kurashiki
A free day: the art island of Naoshima or the town of Kurashiki.
Day 18
Okayama – Osaka
Train to Osaka, with a possible stop at Himeji castle.
Day 19
Osaka
A free day: Osaka castle, the Kaiyukan aquarium and in the evening the neon lights of Dotonbori and Kuromon market.
Day 20
Osaka – flight home
Transfer to the airport and fly to France.
Day 21
Arrival in France
Arrival in France during the day.
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